Planning a trip to SW Colorado

[Forgetful]

Does anyone have suggestions on a fishing trip to the Ouray/Telluride area? I want to spend ~4 days up there with the wife fishing. I'm not opposed to a guide service for a day or 2. I have only hiked and skied the areas. AZ fishing seems completely different than up there.

I don't want to end up at the woods canyon/Tonto creek type places, but I also have no idea what productive trout water is there. Our favorite days here in az are long hard hikes.

[joe]

Read the CO fishing regs booklet (online) for that area. You should be set.

[jak]

I was at Silverton, Ouray stretch last week and saw a few people fishing the river.
Not sure which river flows by Ouray.

[maddoxdave]

Lots of options, depending on how you'll get there. We were supposed to get up there this year, but not gonna make it.

The river that runs through Ouray is the Uncompaghre, it continues north into Ridgeway Reservoir, then there is a gold medal area just below that dam. It's a pretty developed place, but I've always had good luck and caught big fish there.

If you actually get to Silverton, try dries on the Animas above town. There's easy access and easy casting, not big fish but usually fun. Avoid the HardRockers festival, I think it's going on right now, they take up all the space when going on.

If you're really feeling adventurous, you can rent an ATV or Jeep in Silverton and drive over the Continental Divide East, there's a pass that will eventually drop you out near Lake City on the eastern slope...the headwaters of the Rio Grande are in that area. Crazy beautiful country.

The Animas runs all the way from Silverton down through and past Durango, it can get pretty big but if you're willing to hike there are ways to access it. There's a decent fly shop in the town of Ridgeway (just north of Ouray), and Duranglers in Durango is a good choice for gear, advice, guide.

Have fun, it's a great area.