Stream Report for Tuesday April 11, 2006

Stream Report for Tuesday April 11, 2006

 

San Juan River   flows are 361 cfs below Navajo Dam

Good fishing continues on the San Juan. Baetis hatches have been good and predictable with the cloudy days we’ve had over the past few weeks. This may slow as high pressure will push most storms clear of the Four Corners. I’ve had good reports from most of the river especially around the new structure put in place last fall. Flies for the Juan include griffith’s gnats, parachute adams, BWO’s, small pheasant tails, red and black midge larvae, baetis emergers, and johnny flash.

 

Rio Grande     flows are 156 cfs in the Wild and Scenic section and 317 cfs at Pilar

There are lots of caddis flying around Pilar, but the fish don’t seem to keyed in on them. Very few fish are coming up to dry flies. Baetis hatches have been pretty good also. Pheasant tails, caddis larvae and pupa, poundmeisters, double hackle peacocks, and woolly buggers are picking up most of the fish. The river is still fishable for pike although I’ve had no reports.

 

Cimarron River     flows are 7.8 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam

Not much water flowing down the Cimarron yet. The water is low is clear and fish are very spooky. Small flies are the key here like black midge larva, pheasant tails, parachute adams, and Griffiths gnats.

 

Pecos River     flows are 49 cfs below Terrero

In spite of the cold nights and lack of snowpack, the Pecos is fishing well. Still a little cold early in the mornings, fishing does pick up after noon. Stonefly nymphs are crawling around and midges and BWO’s are coming off most days. Small dark bodied flies like pheasant tails, prince nymphs, WD40’s, copper johns, stonefly nymphs, and parachute adams are what’s working.

 

Jemez Mountain streams

The pre-runoff window on the Jemez is open. Only the higher elevations of the streams like San Antonio and Cebolla are fishing slow because of colder water temps. The best reports are from the East Fork draining the Caldera, East Fork and mainstem Jemez at Battleship Rock and the Guadalupe. The San Antonio was recently stocked. Dry fly dropper rigs usinf stimulators or caddis dry flies and small beadhead nymphs are picking up most of the fish.

 

Chama River     flows are 606 cfs below El Vado dam and 614 cfs below Abiquiu dam

Releases on the Chama go up as the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy district fills up the irrigation canals. This has slowed the fishing dramatically below Abiquiu dam and the water is very murky. There is a little better fishing below El Vado but much more difficult wading. Game and Fish has stocked the Chama at Coopers as well as above the lake. Big heavy beadhead nymphs and sreamers are the flies for the Chama.

 

MacAllister Lake

I’ve had only two reports from MacAllister. The high winds kept quite a bit of anglers from heading out to MacAllister. Big red and rootbeer midge larvae, double hackle peacocks and stonefly nymphs fished just above the weeds was working for one angler. Fishing will pick up with warmer water temps and hatching damsel flies.

 

Elephant Butte

Striper fishing has picked up here with the water warming up. A great place to make use of that un or under used saltwater gear. The dirt dam area can be fished without a boat and, depending on wind direction, can offer a sheltered place to cast. 8-10 weight rods, sinking lines, and #2 to 2/0 clousers and deceivers in gray over white and blue over white should cover the bases.