Stream Report for Wednesday May 3, 2006

 

“The High Desert Angler, Santa Fe’s oldest and most respected fly shop is moving! Our new location is two blocks east of the current store at 451 Cerrillos Road. We’re still in downtown Santa Fe across from the Design Center. We will be at the new store starting Monday May 15^tth. Our Grand Opening will be Saturday June 3^rd. We will have refreshments, door prizes, and a special Grand Opening Sale on that day.

 

 

Stream Report for Wednesday My 3, 2006

 

San Juan River   flows are 371 cfs below Navajo Dam

Good fishing continues on the San Juan. Baetis hatches have been good.  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 267 cfs in the Wild and Scenic section and 440 cfs at Pilar

The Rio has murked up a bit from the recent snow we received and is now melting. The caddis hatch is pretty well done although fish will still feed on caddis nymphs. 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 37 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam

The water is a little stained as the flows keep changing. Small non-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 53 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 done already in the Jemez. The higher elevation streams like San Antonio and Cebolla are fishing better because of more favorable water temps. 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 365 cfs below El Vado dam and 429 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. 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

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.