El Rancho Pinoso
Travel & Tackle Guide

Welcome to your Fly Water Travel trip guide. We’re excited to help you prepare for your upcoming adventure! Inside, you’ll find everything you need: your to-do list, travel logistics, destination notes, and a curated tackle guide tailored to your trip.

Getting Ready

We’ve created a quick checklist of essential tasks to make sure you’re fully prepared for the journey ahead. If questions come up or you need anything at all, just give us a call, we’re here to help every step of the way.

To-Do List:

✓ Arrange flights to/from Durango, CO

✓ Arrange transfer from airport to lodge

✓ Purchase fishing license

✓ Complete personal online guest registration

El Rancho Pinoso
Travel Guide

From how to get there and what documents you’ll need to tipping guidelines and destination details, this section covers the practical information to ensure smooth travels.

Getting to the Lodge:
To get to El Rancho Pinoso, most guests fly into Durango, Colorado (DRO), rent a vehicle, and take a scenic 1 ½ hour drive to the ranch. Those traveling via private aircraft can land at the Stevens Field airport (PSO) in Pagosa Springs. With advance notice, the ranch can arrange an airport shuttle for an additional fee.

Directions to El Rancho Pinoso (from Durango-La Plata County Airport):

  • Start out driving NORTH on Airport Rd./County Hwy. 309
  • Turn LEFT onto Airport Rd./County Hwy. 309
  • Turn LEFT onto CO-172/Highway 172
  • Turn RIGHT onto Highway 160/US-160 E and continue to follow for approximately 29 miles
  • Turn SLIGHT RIGHT to stay on W Highway 160/US-160 E and continue for another 22 miles to Pagosa Springs
  • Continue driving through Pagosa Springs until leaving town on the east side
  • Turn RIGHT onto Hwy. 84 and drive for approximately 8 miles
  • Turn LEFT onto Blanco Basin Road (CR326) and drive for approximately 9 ½ miles to a bridge on the right
  • Turn RIGHT over the bridge on Castle Creek Road (CR660) and drive ¼ mile to the cattle guard
  • Turn LEFT past the cattle guard and drive 1 mile to the ranch

Arrival Day:
Guests are asked to arrive at the ranch anytime after 4:00 PM

Departure Day:
Guests are asked to depart the ranch by 11:00 AM

Travel Cash:
We recommend each guest travel with enough cash for staff and guide gratuities. The lodge asks that guests pay all gratuities in cash.

Credit Cards:
The lodge accepts credit cards

Gratuities:
We recommend gratuities of 15-20% of the package price before taxes. Gratuities may be given to the ranch manager at the end of the week for distribution to guides, chefs, wranglers and housekeeping staff.

Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are not included. Anglers are responsible for getting their licenses before reaching the ranch. We recommend stopping at one of the two City Markets in Pagosa Springs. They are open until approximately 10:00 PM.

Fishing licenses are also available at the local fly shop, Let It Fly.

Let It Fly
132 Pagosa Street
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147

Guests may also purchase licenses online HERE.

Cell Coverage and Wi-Fi:

  • Cell Coverage: Cell phones do not work on the property
  • Wi-Fi: The lodge has a computer and complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Emergency Phone: The lodge has a landline

Power:
The lodge has 24-hour power with a propane backup generator

Laundry:
Washers, dryers and detergent are on-site for guests to use free of charge

Water:
Water at the ranch is potable

Beverages/Alcohol:
Guests are responsible for bringing their own alcohol. Full-strength beer and wine can be purchased in grocery stores and at all the liquor stores in Pagosa Springs.

Emergency Medical Assistance:
The nearest medical facility is in Pagosa Springs, approximately 45-minutes from the ranch. Guests have the responsibility to disclose any special medical, physical or dietary needs to the lodge ahead of time.

Recommended Medical Evacuation Carrier and Insurance Provider:
Global Rescue

El Rancho Pinoso
Tackle Guide

Here you’ll find everything you need to be ready on the water. You’ll find our preferred setups, favorite flies, recommended packing list, and notes on tackle available at the lodge.

El Rancho Pinoso Fishing Tackle Overview

El Rancho Pinoso proudly provides all necessary fly fishing equipment, including premium rods, reels, terminal tackle, waders, and boots, though you are welcome to bring your own gear tailored to the region's rivers. For these waters, a 9-foot 5-weight rod serves as the primary workhorse, while a 9-foot 4-weight offers excellent precision for technical sections, and a 9-foot 6-weight is ideal for handling afternoon mountain winds and larger patterns. Weight-forward floating lines are standard, but double tapers are also acceptable. For comfortable walk-and-wade fishing, breathable waders and rubber-soled boots are required, though wet wading is an excellent option on warm summer days. Finally, while your guides supply an extensive assortment of the most effective local fly patterns as part of your package price, you are always welcome to bring along your own favorite flies.

El Rancho Pinoso Primary Setup

A 9-foot 5-weight is the most versatile rod for the area. It’s delicate enough to present dry flies cleanly on the Rio Blanco but has the backbone to punch through the afternoon wind in the Weminuche meadows. It easily manages dry-dropper rigs and weighted nymphs, and it gives you the leverage you need to quickly land the ranch's larger trout without exhausting them.

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El Rancho Pinoso Secondary Setup

A 9-foot 4-weight is the perfect secondary setup to have rigged for technical situations. While your 5-weight handles the heavy lifting, this lighter rod gives you the precise accuracy needed for matching hatches on the Weminuche. It is ideal for targeting rising trout with small dries or light dry-dropper rigs on the Rio Blanco, offering a sporty, sensitive feel for the ranch's trout.

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El Rancho Pinoso Flies

The guides have an excellent assortment of the most effective flies and they supply them as part of your package price. With that said, you are welcome to bring along as few or as many of your own flies as you like.

If you would like to pack your own box, five regional favorites for Southern Colorado include:

  • Chubby Chernobyl
  • Parachute Adams
  • Bead-Head Flashback Pheasant Tail
  • Elk Hair Caddis
  • Bead-Head Woolly Bugger

Please feel free to call Fly Water Travel for assistance in putting together a selection of flies best suited to your trip.


Support Your Local Fly Shop

If you need assistance with assembling your gear for your upcoming travels, we encourage you to support your local fly shop. This curated list of tackle is handpicked for your destination by our experts and can serve as your shopping list to get your ready for your next adventure. Find your local Far Bank dealer.

Suggested Packing List

We understand packing for an adventure is not easy. On a trip like this it is very important to have everything you need and nothing you do not. As the climate is extremely changeable and a wide range of temperatures and conditions can be expected, we recommend layering clothes. Anglers should be prepared with thermal underwear, fleece/soft shell jacket, and a rain jacket. Synthetic fabrics are preferred to cotton. Dress at the lodges/camps is neat but casual.

Documents:
Passport, plane tickets, itinerary, credit card, cash, business cards

Socks:
Four pairs of wool or synthetic socks to wear under your waders. Two pairs of town socks.

Base layers:
One to two pairs of synthetic or merino wool long underwear (tops and bottoms) to wear beneath your waders. One mid-weight and one heavyweight. These can be worn alone or together depending on conditions.

Shirts:
Two or three long sleeve fishing shirts. One or two lodge shirts.

Pants:
One to two pairs of long pants

Shorts:
One pair of quick-dry shorts

Warm Layers:
One or two warm insulating layers. Down, synthetic or fleece mid layers are good options. Avoid cotton.

Warm Jacket:
One warm jacket

Rain Jacket:
One high quality rain jacket

Gloves:
One pair of sun gloves and one pair of warm fishing gloves

Waders/Boots:
Some guests choose not to wear waders during the warm summer months. When fishing early or late in the season lightweight breathable waders are recommended. Neoprene socks are recommended when wet wading.

Hats:
Two fishing/baseball hats. One warm cap.

Shoes:
One pair of sturdy walking shoes

Buff:
One “Buff” facial sun protector (good for bugs too)

Sunglasses:
One pair of polarized sunglasses. It is great to have a lens cleaner and a soft cleaning cloth as well.

Sunscreen:
One bottle SPF 30+

Lip Balm:
One tube of SPF 30+ lip balm

Backpack:
One waterproof backpack or boat bag for day gear

Headlamp:
One small LED headlamp with batteries

Camera:
Camera with extra batteries

Toiletries Kit:
Toothpaste and toothbrush, deodorant, razor, lotion, mini shampoo bottle, anti-inflammatory, sleep aid, earplugs, band aids, anti-bacterial ointment, antihistamines

Max Salzburg: Western Trout Destinations Manager

Max is Fly Water Travel's Destination Manager for Europe, New Zealand, and the trout fisheries of the Rockies and Pacific Northwest. The joke within Max's family is that he has always been a tour guide at heart who loves nothing more than traveling to new places and being a stranger in a strange land.

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