Animas River: Below Durango (Gold Medal)

Animas River: Below Durango (Gold Medal) — Fishing Report for April 24, 2026

Quick Stats

Flow: 475 CFS | Trend: Stable | Fishability: Good | Weather: Sunny, High 66°F

The Bite

With snowpack running at just 10% of normal across the southwest basin, the runoff pulse that typically muddies the Animas by late April is shaping up to be a shadow of itself this year. That's genuinely good news for anglers — the Gold Medal section is holding at 475 CFS, clear, and well within its fishable sweet spot. The window that usually closes by early May may stay open longer than expected. Fish it while it lasts.

Today's sunny skies and 66°F high are a double-edged sword. The warmth is welcome, but full sun tends to suppress the BWO hatches that make this section special in April. Don't expect the dense midday emergences you'd see on an overcast afternoon — instead, look for surface activity to build gradually through the afternoon and potentially peak between 3 and 5 PM as the sun angle drops and light softens. The trophy browns in this section are opportunistic but not reckless; they'll come up when conditions feel right. If you're not seeing risers, stay patient and work the nymph rig through the deeper pools and undercut banks.

First caddis adults are beginning to appear in the evenings — sparse, but the fish recognize them. If you're on the water near dusk, it's worth having an Elk Hair Caddis or soft hackle ready. The biggest browns in this section have seen a lot of BWO imitations; something slightly different at last light can produce a memorable eat.

What to Fish

• Sparkle Dun BWO #18-20 — Lead dry fly when risers appear; fished drag-free in the foam lines and slower current seams
• RS2 #20 — Dropper off a buoyant Parachute BWO, 16–18" below; covers fish feeding just below the surface on emergers
• Pheasant Tail #16-18 — Point fly in a double-nymph rig for prospecting deeper runs and pools
• Caddis Larva (green) #14-16 — Anchor fly in the nymph rig; increasingly relevant as late April caddis activity builds
• Parachute BWO #18 — Slightly larger profile for the afternoon hatch window; easier to track in broken water
• Woolly Bugger (olive) #6 — Worth a few swings through the deeper pools and along undercut banks, especially if water color changes over the weekend

Tactics & Rigging

For the afternoon dry fly window, rig a Parachute BWO as your indicator fly with an RS2 dropped 16–18" below on 6X fluorocarbon. This setup lets you cover fish feeding on emergers just under the film as well as those taking duns on the surface. Present it with a reach cast into the slower current seams along the far bank — let it ride untouched through the full drift before picking up. These fish are educated; a single drag-free pass beats three sloppy ones.

If risers haven't materialized by early afternoon, run a double-nymph setup with a Caddis Larva on point and a Pheasant Tail 14–16" above it, under a strike indicator set to roughly 1.5x the water depth. The wider runs in this section concentrate drifting food — target the transition zones where fast water meets slower glides. Use 4X or 5X fluorocarbon on the leader; the water is clear and the fish are large enough to test light tippet.

Access & Logistics

Public access along the Gold Medal section runs south of Durango via CR 213 and several pull-offs along the river corridor. Wading is moderate at 475 CFS — manageable with a wading staff, but watch your footing on the larger cobble. Crowds are typically moderate on weekdays; expect more pressure Saturday before the weather turns. If you're cleaning gear between waters, rinse and dry everything thoroughly — the Animas has a history with aquatic invasive species and keeping clean gear is part of fishing here responsibly. Verify current regulations with CPW before fishing — Gold Medal rules (artificial flies and lures only, 2-fish limit at 16"+) are in effect, but always confirm.

Stop by Duranglers Flies & Supplies for flies, local intel, and to support the shops that keep this fishery healthy.

Looking Ahead

Sunday brings showers and thunderstorms that could push flows up and cloud the water into next week — get on the water today or Saturday while conditions are prime. With the light snow year in the basin, any rise should be modest and short-lived, so the Gold Medal may return to form faster than a typical runoff year.