Stream Report for Monday September 11, 2006

Stream Report for Saturday September 11, 2006

 

San Juan River      574 cfs below Navajo Dam    Very Good

The San Juan is fishing well and one of the more consistent places to get out that hasn’t been affected by the recent rains. Baetis hatches have been bringing some fish to the surface, but long line nymphing remains the most productive way to fish. Flies for the San Juan are baetis emergers in chocolate and gray, small pheasant tails, disco midges, desert storms, ufo’s, grasshoppers and blue wing olive dries.

 

Rio Grande       428 cfs at Pilar     Fair

The Rio Grande was starting to clear and fish better but the recent rains murked it up a bit. Some fly fishers are catching some smallmouth bass in the bigger eddies and slower runs. Trout fishing is a little fickle as our scattered cloud cover is producing intermittent baetis hatches. I expect trout fishing to improve as the monsoons taper off and September brings fairer weather.

 

The Rio Costilla      44 cfs below Costilla Reservoir    Good

The Costilla is another place that rarely is affected by the rains because it is mainly dam release being fished in the Valle Vidal. Good dry fly fishing for almost any species even the rare Rio Grande Cutthroat that even a few years ago was more prolific here. Little yellow sallies, hoppers. small elk hair caddis, humpies, and royal wulffs seem to be among the better catching flies. The entire Valle Vidal is no kill and all catch and release. Please report violators to New Mexico Game and Fish or the US Forest Service. The number of Cutthroats here is very small.

 

The Cimarron River     11 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam    Fair

The Cimarron got tough to fish once they reduced the flows over week ago. There is a little more water at the east end of the state park below the confluence of the Cimarron and Clear Creek but not much. Flies for the Cimarron are ginger duns, pink cahills, small yellow stimulators, and yellow elk hair caddis. Other are streams are fishing better.

 

Pecos River   49 cfs below Terrero       Good

Barring any more deluges, the Pecos should start to get even better by as we head into September. Lots of caddis have been out in the evening in spite of the recent conditions. Caddis larvae and pupa, small light bodied caddis dries, small pheasant tails, baetis emergers and parachute adams have all produced recently. Some of the fall colors are showing on the upper Pecos,

 

Jemez Mountain Streams     38 cfs on main stem Jemez above Jemez Pueblo     Fair

The Jemez streams have been clearing and fishing well. Even if the higher elevation waters are muddied up, because of the varying topography and geology of the Jemez there is usually some place to fish, although it requires some scouting. Hoppers, dark bodied caddis, little yellow sallies, and parachute adams are some top fly choices.

 

The Chama River     190 cfs below El Vado Dam   Fair                and 227 cfs below Abiquiu Dam      Poor

The fishing was good fishing below El Vado until mid-day yesterday when the releases went from 71 cfs to over 500 and now back down to 197 cfs. Big nymphs like double hackle peacocks and hares ears and streamers like woolly buggers work best here as the water is certainly off color. The flows below Abiquiu are up as well and the water is murky and fishing is slow.

 

Rio Pueblo and Santa Barbara       Good

Flows are fairly normal on these two streams and it looks like they didn’t get as much rain as the Pecos watershed. Fishing has been good, although the mornings have been a little slow. Some of the fall colors are showing on the Santa Barbara. Royal wullfs, hoppers, red humpies, and little yellow sallies were the better catching flies.