Fly Fishing Conejos River - Pinnacles

Overview

The Conejos River’s Pinnacles reach runs through a narrow canyon between Saddle Creek and the South Fork confluence in southern Colorado. Rock walls and spruce-fir forest frame deeper pools, boulder pockets and undercut banks. Brown and rainbow trout inhabit these varied lies, where a short drift beside cover can matter more than a long cast across the current.

Canyon Water and Fishing

Boulders and ledges divide the current into small feeding lanes. Work a nymph close to a seam or undercut bank, adjusting weight to reach the chosen lie. Deeper pools offer room for a slower presentation, while tight pockets favor compact casts. Steep banks and abrupt depth changes can limit fishing positions.

Late-spring and summer stonefly and caddis activity provides opportunities to fish nymphs in faster seams. Pale morning duns and green drakes can draw surface feeding in the pools. Watch for rises before changing to a dry fly, and use a terrestrial pattern along vegetated margins when fish respond to insects falling from the banks.

As the water drops later in summer, small midge larvae and mayfly nymphs can cover pockets beside boulders or fallen wood. An emerger or soft hackle offers another presentation when trout feed close to the surface. Fall brings cooler water and small-fly opportunities around quieter eddies; light pheasant tails, midge patterns and parachute dries suit precise drifts through these lanes.