Ouray Colorado

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Are you an angler dying to wet your line in the streams, rivers, and lakes of Colorado? If you are, there are excellent catch-and-release areas as well as more serene small alpine lakes and creeks located within a short distance of Ouray. And if you're looking for trout then you're in the right place. The major draw for visiting anglers is our rainbow trout. However, there are brown, cutthroat, and brook trout as well. The Colorado Division of Wildlife describes fishing in southern Colorado as a place "where the rivers run wilder and the trout grow larger".

Whether your preference is big rivers, the serenity of the small alpine creeks, lakes or reservoirs, the Ouray region has great fishing for everyone! Stay in Ouray for several days and experience them all.

A Fishing Guide to fishing in the rivers and lakes around Ouray is available for download or you can pick one up at the Ouray Visitor Center.

Rivers

Cimarron River: The Cimarron River offers great angling opportunities for wild rainbows and browns. This often overlooked fishery can provide excellent dry fly-fishing throughout the year. Public access to the Lower Cimarron is limited. Target the bottom three miles, starting at the confluence of the Gunnison River. A good piece of water lies just below Silver Jack Reservoir. Access the river along forest Road 858 and at the big Cimarron Campground. The Forks of the cimarron offer excellent public access, solitude, scenery and fun action on dry flies. You never know if it is going to be a rainbow, cutthroat or brook trout that grabs your fly. Mid summer is the best, with fall being the most beautiful. Caddis and mayflies work well but do not overlook big attractor patterns in mid to late summer.

San Miguel River: The region's only un-dammed, free-flowing river is the San Miguel River. The fishing can range from outstanding to very poor depending on snow pack and runoff. The fishing starts to pick up in early to mid summer after the runoff. Rainbows and cutbows are the most common, with browns and cutthroats being less common. Public access is outstanding with the road only a short distance away. Look for the turnouts along the road and a nice hole or run lies only a short hike away. This free-stone river has great hatches of caddis, stoneflies, mayflies and midges. Every day is diferent so it pays to come prepared and ask the local shops what is going on.

Gunnison River: The Black Canyon is the most famous trout fishery in the region. The best time of year is late spring and early summer during the "Salmon Fly Hatch". These giant bugs really get the big browns and rainbows fired up! Look for it to start in mid May in the lower Gunny (near confluence with the North Fork) and continue all the way up river to the East Portal and beyond by late June. Mid summer and fall can be good. Look for consistent caddis and mayfly hatches. Match the hatches with nymphs and/or dry flies.

Uncompahgre River For the avid fly-fisherman there is a fantastic one-mile section of catch-and-release only fishing in the Uncompahgre River below the dam at the Ridgway State Park. Only artificial flies and lures are allowed. Brown, Rainbow and Cutthroat trout await. Great fishing days can happen here at any time of the year.

Mountain Creeks

Dallas Creek: This large feeder creek flows into Ridgway State Park Reservoir and is home to an excellent trout population, access is limited.

Canyon Creek: One of the few good streams in the Ouray area for fly fishers. Both brook and rainbow trout are found here.

Cow Creek: Upper Cow Creek offers excellent opportunities for those seeking solitude. The more difficult the access (bushwhacking required), the bigger the trout.

Alpine Lakes

Blue Lakes: These three lakes sit at an elevation of approximately 11,000'with stunning views and some nice size trout as an added benefit. Unfortunately, access to these beautiful lakes is accomplished by hiking four miles into the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness area on TR #201. The three lakes range from 6 to 16 acres in size. Remember to go prepared for all types of conditions.

Ptarmigan Lake: This lake is at 12,939 feet of elevation accessible by TR #869 from Imogene Pass. This 5-acre lake is stocked by the DOW and does not get much use.

East Dallas Lake: This lake is located 11 miles from Ridgway on East Dallas Divide Road at the Willow Swamps Camp-ground. Regular stocking of this small lake can provide good family fishing opportunities

Accessible Reservoirs

Ridgway State Recreation Area--Ridgway Reservoir: Ridgway State Park is rated as one of the best parks in the state. This 1,000-acre reservoir provides great fishing in a beautiful setting. In the in-flowing streams and reservoir, any bait or lure is allowed and anglers can keep all fish, up to the legal limit. Sport fish in these areas include Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Kokanee salmon and Yellow perch. Boaters can reach secluded coves on the west shore of the reservoir to try their luck with catch-and-keep fishing. Kokanee salmon are available with sinkers in the deeper waters of the reservoir. There are three main areas in the park for catch-and-keep fishing from shore.

Silver Jack Reservoir: This reservoir is primarily used for irrigation, resulting in major fluctuations in the water levels. The DOW does stock this body of water that covers 250 acres. There is no boat ramp so flat tubes and canoes are the best way to access these waters. There are excellent campsites located below the dam.

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