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Los Pinos River

Should I go fishing?

Go with caution.

Flow is high for this time of year.

Best option: Floating. A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.

Rating updatedRiver local time:

Why this recommendation?

USGS shows 531 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (2019-2026, 8 readings) show a median near 45 cfs and the upper quartile near 72 cfs; today's flow is high for the date. Fishable water may exist, but do not rate it highly without a safe access, clarity, and wading or boat plan.

Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes

If you go

Check first
RiverReports gives the flow chart for this page, with USGS 09352800 as official backing near the lower river context.
Try
Confirm access first. If the reach is private or unclear, do not fish it just because the water looks good.
Leave when
Skip when access is unclear, the river is in heavy runoff, storms are building, or lower water is too warm for trout.

Flow and weather

Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
Flow
531 cfs
From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
Air forecast
45°F
Next 24h high
67.0°F

NWS air forecast near

Rain chance
0%

This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Check the water with a stream thermometer before fishing in hot weather.

Latest stored weather check

Mostly Clear

Wind
5 mph
Weather checked
More forecast and source details

Mostly Clear

National Weather Service

Los Pinos forecast point

The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.

Live data

Where these readings come from

RiverReports gauge: Los Pinos River

Official USGS station Opens in a new tab.RiverReports gauge Opens in a new tab.Official NWS forecast Opens in a new tab.

Flies for this time of year

Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.

See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try

Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.

More fishing tips

Methods, fish species and trip notes

How to fish Los Pinos River today.

The best public-facing plan is usually a summer or early fall trip after runoff settles, with clear access boundaries and a backup if the river is too high, warm, or restricted.

Low clear water

Use smaller dries and nymphs, longer leaders, and careful approach angles.

Moderate stable flow

Best condition for dry-dropper rigs, caddis activity, and riffle-edge nymphing.

Runoff

Fish only protected edges if safe and legal, or wait for a clearer drop.

Warm lower water

Carry a thermometer and shift away from trout when temperatures are stressful.

Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Best access methodFloating

These scores compare the risks of wading, bank fishing, and floating.

Wading36/100

Wading is the most sensitive plan today. Use protected edges only, avoid crossings, and downgrade quickly if clarity or current feels wrong.

Bank fishingNot recommended

This report does not recommend bank fishing on this reach.

Floating · Best fit60/100

A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.

Full river report

Is Los Pinos River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Colorado before you go.

The Los Pinos can be very useful for trout planning, but access is the first filter. Use flow and weather checks, then confirm whether your plan is on public land, a legal easement, or private or tribal water.

Fishing words used on this page
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
Cubic feet per second (cfs)
Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
Nymph
A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
Riffle
A riffle is shallow, fast water broken by rocks.
Seam
A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
Blue-winged olive (BWO)
Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
Caddis
Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
Dry-dropper
A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
Emerger
An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
Midge
Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
Why this call

Why this score

FlowUse caution

USGS shows 531 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (2019-2026, 8 readings) show a median near 45 cfs and the upper quartile near 72 cfs; today's flow is high for the date. Fishable water may exist, but do not rate it highly without a safe access, clarity, and wading or boat plan.

SeasonUse caution

This month is not listed as a top seasonal window in this page's reviewed season notes. Use current regulations, flow, temperature, and access checks before treating the score as a slam dunk.

Best mode nowUse caution

Float: A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.

WeatherHelps

The current NWS air forecast is about 45F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 67F. Mostly Clear.

Public alertsHelps

No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.

Trip notes

Check these before you choose a reach.

Best flows

Stable post-runoff flows with clear banks, safe wading, and trout-safe water temperatures.

When to leave

Skip when access is unclear, the river is in heavy runoff, storms are building, or lower water is too warm for trout.

Local plan

Start with access boundaries, check flow and weather, fish one clearly legal reach, and keep the Animas as a backup.

Backup water

Animas River is the easiest nearby backup when access or flow makes the Los Pinos plan uncertain.

Los Pinos River access and rules.

Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.

Before you go

Check current Colorado fishing rules and local access rules before fishing. Parts of the broader drainage involve private land or Southern Ute Reservation context, so public access should be verified before you step in.

Where to access the river

San Juan National Forest river and stream fishing areas

Use Forest Service access information as the public-land planning starting point.

Pine River Trail context

A useful upper-drainage public-land concept, with distance and road planning required.

Lower valley checks

Useful for flow and condition awareness, but private and tribal boundaries require extra care.

  • The public-access question is the main planning issue on this river.
  • Some lower-river opportunities are private, guided, or connected to tribal jurisdiction. Do not rely on secondhand access assumptions.
  • Use official public-land and rule sources before choosing a reach.

If this water does not fit the day, check another report before you start the drive.

ColoradoAnimas River fishing reportA larger nearby drainage with more town-based planning.ColoradoDolores River fishing reportAnother southwest Colorado option with its own access and flow checks.ColoradoArkansas River fishing reportA bigger public-water option for a different trip plan.
See all Colorado fly fishing reports

Sources and report details

Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.

Rules and closures

Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

Access and land

Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.

See all 6 checked sources

Rules and closures

Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

Access and land

Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.

Source check is old. Last checked . Open the official links now and check for changes.

See something wrong? Report a source problem. Please do not send private spots or private access notes.

How this report was checked

How this report was checked

Trip guidance checked

What was checked: This report uses official regulation, flow, weather, access, and public-land sources first, then adds practical planning guidance for fly anglers.

Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.

First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.

Quick questions

Is the Los Pinos River all public?

No. Access is the first thing to verify because parts of the drainage involve private land or tribal context.

What flow source should I check?

Use RiverReports for the quick chart and USGS 09352800 for official backing.

What is the best fishing style?

Once flows settle, a dry-dropper or light nymph rig through banks, riffles, and soft seams is the practical starting point.