Stream Report for November 23, 2005

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fishing Report fo November 23, 2005

Attention All Anglers!

Our wild trout friends, brown trout are into their
spawn in New Mexico right now. Take extreme care not to damage their
spawning beds know as redds, by careless wading. A redd is an area
usually located in the tail of a pool where the spawning fish have
cleaned a
circular spot of gravel and is quite visible. You may also see the
spawing pair
over their redds. Please do not cast to these fish as they clearly have
something more important to do. With the droughts of the past few
years, we should all put forth the effort to ensure that our wild
friends are successful in making more trout.

Rio Grande Flows Currently 363 cfs in the Upper Box and 565 cfs at
Pilar

Fishing is on the rebound with clearing water and wadable flows. Fish
bigger flies with flash and
sparkle as long as the water remains off color. Flies to use are
flashback pheasant tails,
red midge larva, and black woolly buggers. Some late evening dry fly
action on size18-20
adams or parachute adams. Pike can still be caught in this murky
water. They hunt by "feel" and will be able to detect flies that move
water. Big rabbit strip flies and wool headed streamers are working for
pike.

San Juan River Flows Currently at 587 cfs at Navajo Dam

Fishing has been mixed. For some has been good and tough for others.
Water is murky and visibility is about 3 feet. Best reports have been
below the Lower Flats and from anglers throwing streamers. Not much in
the way of dry fly fishing lately as it's been to sunny. Baetis hatches
should improve with any cloudy weather. Red and
black midge larvae fished behind an attractor in the mornings and an
attractor with a baetis nymph trailer in th afternoons. Flies that are
working include #20 pheasant tails, brown baetis emergers, rs2's,
parachute adams, bwo's, and olive wooly buggers or bunny leeches.

Pecos River Flows Currently at 47 cfs above the Village of Pecos

Fishing is still good on the Pecos. Good dry fly
fishing for brown trout has a few anglers going to the Pecos. Fishing
is slower with the latest cold snap, and is definitely tougher fishing
above Terrero. Keep the flies small. Dry fly dropper
rigs using stimulators or caddis and #18-20 bead heads with a small
shot have been working the best.

Jemez River

Fishing has slowed over much of the Jemez due to low water and spooky
fish. Mid-day fishing is best with the arrival of colder water. Best
reports have been from deeper sections of the Jemez mountains streams.
Some fish are being caught on dry flies but, most are caught on dry
dropper
rigs using small beadheads.

Chama River

I've had some good reports from the Chama River below El Vado and
Abiquiu dams. Releases from El Vado are at 335 cfs and 130 from
Abiquiu. Water is murky below El Vado and may be even more so since the
releases
came up. Fly choices are the same as the Rio Grande.
The water below Abiquiu is clearing. Small midge, baetis
nymphs and dries or streamers are what's working there as well as
streamers. Please report anyone taking more than the limit at Abiquiu.
It is a Special Trout
Water with a reduced bag limit of three fish. Overharvesting is a
serious problem below Abiquiu dam and elsewhere in New Mexico. Better
fishing will not happen through complacency.

Cimarron River below Eagle Nest dam

Flows out of Eagle Nest dam are at ZERO cfs. Unfortunately there is no
minimum flow requirements from the dam operators here, so the fish are
really under pressure. The Cimarron is a predominately brown trout
river. Browns are into their spawn and have a tough time of it in what
water is left in the stream. Please refrain from fishing the Cimarron
until Spring.

Conditions can change daily on some of these streams and lakes. Please
call the fly shop for the absolute latest conditions.

High Desert Angler
435 S. Guadalupe
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505 988 7688
www.highdesertangler.com
Fall/Winter hours: 10am-6pm Mon-Sat 12pm-5pm Sun