Stream Report for Wenesday April 19, 2006

Stream Report for Wednesday April 19, 2006

 

San Juan River   flows are 371 cfs below Navajo Dam

Good fishing continues on the San Juan. Baetis hatches have been good. 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 214 cfs in the Wild and Scenic section and 360 cfs at Pilar

There are lots of caddis flying around Pilar,and fishing has been very good. A few fish are coming up to dry flies in the late afternoon.  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 43 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam

It’s nice to have more water flowing down the Cimarron. The water is a little stained. Small beadheaded flies are the key here like black midge larva, pheasant tails, as well as scuds, 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 runoff seems to be tapering off already in the Jemez. The higher elevation streams like San Antonio and Cebolla are fishing better because of more favorable water temps and less murky water. The best reports are from the East Fork draining the Caldera, upper San Antonio. The San Antonio was recently stocked. Dry fly dropper rigs using stimulators or caddis dry flies and small beadhead nymphs are picking up most of the fish.

 

Chama River     flows are 599 cfs below El Vado dam and 578 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.