Durango, Colorado advice

I need some advice on a *family* vacation in Colorado?
We are going the last week before Memorial Day and I will be
taking my family (wife + 5 kids - baby to 9 years old +
mother-in-law aka babysitter).

So, it is not a pure fishing trip, but I want to stay somewhere
where I can fish close by, you know a few hours here, a couple
of hours there. Plus I need other activities for the kiddos.

We've more or less settled on a cabin around Vallecito Lake.
The lake looks to be good - I have a fishing kayak. And there
seems to be several streams, creeks, and small rivers feeding
into the lake.

Any advice on accomodations at this location? There seem to be
several to choose from. Any fishing advice? Optional Colorado
locations?

Cordially,

Bill Doublewide

William Doublewide wrote:
I need some advice on a *family* vacation in Colorado?
We are going the last week before Memorial Day and I will be
taking my family (wife + 5 kids - baby to 9 years old +
mother-in-law aka babysitter).

So, it is not a pure fishing trip, but I want to stay somewhere
where I can fish close by, you know a few hours here, a couple
of hours there. Plus I need other activities for the kiddos.

The Animas has good fishing right in town, and the San Juan isn't far away.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

You might want to concentrate on stillwater because the runoff will be
raging and the San Juan will be ramped up pretty high too. The Animas
is Colorado's longest free flowing river I'm told. It'll be ripping
the first week before Labor Day. I'd check in with
http://www.duranglers.com for good advice. You could try the RW method
or the BH method but that's another story...

bh

wrote:
: You might want to concentrate on stillwater because the runoff will be
: raging and the San Juan will be ramped up pretty high too. The Animas
: is Colorado's longest free flowing river I'm told. It'll be ripping
: the first week before Labor Day. I'd check in with
: http://www.duranglers.com for good advice. You could try the RW method
: or the BH method but that's another story...

: bh


Thanks for the advice. Will try duranglers. Will be staying in a
cabin at the lake (Vallecito Reservoir), sounds like there won't be too
much luck hiking to incoming creeks. (Probably will anyway).

Vallecito Lake sounds pretty good anyway as far as lakes go.
Maybe I'll get an 8-wt and try to land a pike.

Cordially,

Bill Doublewide

About a month or so ago, I posted a question about Durango, CO advice.
I appreciate those who responded. So, here is a brief but not terribly
useful report on that trip.

I took the family to Vallecito Lake, about 20 miles or so East and North
of Durango. This is a beautiful area, but not yet as beautiful again
as it was prior to the Missionary Ridge fire of 2002. That fire affected
some 70k acres. You can see patches of dead trees all along the valley
that the lake lies in. It must have been a truly horrible fire. The
place is recovering though and at a pretty decent pace.

As far as fishing goes, however, I was looking forward more to hitting
the rivers and creeks that feed into and run nearby the lake.
Fortunately for the region, the recent drought ended this winter as there
was an excellent snowpack this winter. Unfortunately for my vacation
timing, they've had a pretty warm spring and the rivers and creeks were
absolutely raging. I expect it's been well documented here, but the
Animas which runs through Durango was running hard and dirty brown as
was all of the moving water in the region. Essentially unfishable.
The nice fellows at Duranglers were running no guides in the region.

So, I was left with the lake. Not exactly a fly fishing dream, but
there are opportunities. As it turns out, the cabin we stayed at,
though very nice, and with a pool for the kids (which we used frequently),
the lake access was a pain. I was hoping to be able walk out the door
and be casting within hollerin' distance of the cabin, but instead
it required a drive down the road and wasn't terribly convenient for
a family man.

Still, I got a few mornings in a row out at the north end of the lake
where the pike were supposed to be. It was beautiful in the mornings.
I had the place to myself, for the most part and the snow-peaked mount-
ains in view, casting on the clear cold water with my new TFO 8-wt.
That 8-weight with a big heavy pike fly is a different game than my
5-wt with little dry at the end of the line. I got the hang of it
eventually, but to no avail. I got no action from the big pike that
allegedly populate the lake. Obviously hooking up would have been a
better, but still living in Texas I can appreciate how awesome just being
out in the water working the cool (cold!) clear water. I can attest
to the cold part as the lake was filling up everyday, which my excuse
for taking a step too far and dumping some that icewater into my waders
and trying to drown myself. It took my breath away for a moment, but
I got my wits and was able to kick my way back to a place where I
could stand back up.

Anyway, I was shut out. My next outing will be better. Need to
change my vacation time - this is the 3rd time and the 3rd location
that a late May vacation was fouled up by excessive water flow. Either
earlier or later would be better I think.

Thanks,

Bill D.

On Mon, 13 Jun 2005, Bill Doublewide wrote:

better, but still living in Texas I can appreciate how awesome just being
out in the water working the cool (cold!) clear water.

I've head there is great fishing in this part of Texas:

http://www.lagunamadre.net/Guide.htm

Mu

Mu Young Lee wrote:
: On Mon, 13 Jun 2005, Bill Doublewide wrote:

: better, but still living in Texas I can appreciate how awesome just being
: out in the water working the cool (cold!) clear water.

: I've head there is great fishing in this part of Texas:

: http://www.lagunamadre.net/Guide.htm

: Mu

Oh, absolutely. Laguna Madre is terrific. But Texas is big. And that is
3 or 400 miles away from me.

There are places to go that are good. But I long for the small stream
trout experience.

-Bill

On Wed, 15 Jun 2005, William Doublewide wrote:

There are places to go that are good. But I long for the small stream
trout experience.

Oddly enough, we here in Los Angeles have several wild trout streams
within 1 hour drive.

Mu

Mu Young Lee wrote:
: Oddly enough, we here in Los Angeles have several wild trout streams
: within 1 hour drive.


Really? We were looking at visiting relatives in Oceanside just to the
south of you. What are these places and how far from Oceanside might
they be?

You are fortunate. Except for the earthquakes. And the cost of
real estate. Just kidding. I really wish there was trout fishing
closer by here, because I otherwise really do like living in the
Dallas area.

Cordially,
Bill