Fly Fishing Report for Saturday May 17, 2008
It's spring time in New Mexico and water and fishing condtitions are changing daily! Please CALL the fly shop for the latest in stream flows and water conditions.
Jicarilla Nation Lakes. Fishing has slowed at Stone Lake. The false spawning behavior is gone and most of the fish have left the shallows. Most anglers have reported slow fishing and the wind has definitely been a limiting factor. Stone Lake does have special regulations, but most people are keeping the bigger fish that they catch. While this lake does grow big fish, the attempts at it being a trophy fishery are almost futile because of people taking the more mature fish. Enbom and Mundo will both be stocked with larger fish next Tuesday. Get in on the action when it does happen because I suspect that those fish will end up on a stringer as well! The best fly fishing has been in the early mornings during the midge hatch and before the wind kicks up. Midges and midge emergers in red and gray in a size 12 and damsel nymphs seem to pick up most of the fish. Overall, the prospects for fishing on the Jicarilla Nation look good. Drought years of the past have taken their toll, but this years snowpack means ample water for the lakes. Most rivers like the Chama, San Juan, Conejos, and Rio Grande are going to have an extended runoff, so dust off your float tube and get out to the Jicarilla lakes this spring; fishing is going to be awesome!
San Juan River 1010 cfs below Navajo Dam; Fair
The Bureau of Rec. has announced a revised release schedule for Navajo Dam. For the details and dates of the releases, please see our Announcements Page. The release has been decreased to 1000 cfs last week. The water is still a little murky but clearing with visibility of about 3 feet. I'v had some very good reports over the past few days. The best reports are still coming from the upper flats, cable hole, and lower flats. Midge nymphing has been the most productive and expect to use flies as large as #18's and 20's. Flies with white colors are the hot ticket right now. White and cream midge larvae, chamois leeches, flesh flies or white bunny leeches, or cheese egg patterns have been the better producers. There has been mixed reports of debris in the water, so you may have to clean your rig often.
Rio Grande 1590 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 2310 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow for trout, Poor for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is very murky and will likely remain so until late June or July. Most of the tributaries have also started to come up dramatically in the past weeks. Even though the water is quite murky, you can pick up fish on the edges dry fly dropper style with caddis nymphs. Fish move into the shallows to feed when they can no longer see in deeper water and heavy currents. Pike hunt by feel and they'll take large streamers that move water regardless of water clarity, just be sure to cover the water more thoroughly. There is no rafting and kayaking and clearer water above John Dunn Bridge and further upstream into the gorge. Flies for the Rio are black or olive woolly buggers, autumn splendors, zoo cougars, conehead madonna’s, caddis nymphs, and pheasant tails. For pike, show them big rabbit strip flies, large streamers or diving flies in dark colors.
Pecos River 268 cfs below Terrero; Slow to Fair
The river above the village of Pecos has remained fairly stable with the cooler waether over the past few days. Fishing is better mid-day during the downward trend in flows, but slows down by 3pm when the colder melt water hits the river. While the flows are high, look for big rock outcroppings and shelves which slow the current. Fish move into these places during heavy current. They will eat your flies, so long as they are pasted tight to the bottom. The best producers have been a stonefly nymph with a trailing pheasant tail or black midge with lots of weight. The Pecos and most of it's tributaries were heavily stocked this past week. Egg patterns, and red and chartreuse copper johns generally work on the stockers. The river adjacent to Monastery Lake and all the way up to and behind the fish hatchery is private. Please respect all of the landowners along the Pecos and stay out of all posted private waters. The FIRST PUBLIC access is Dalton Day Use. Dalton is approximately 6 miles upstream of the village of Pecos. Please report anyone over harvesting fish or poaching to New Mexico Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263.
Cimarron River 21 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. Releases out of the dam are 21 cfs today. There is more water at the eastern end of the park below Clear Creek, but the river does get murkier. The least murky water is just below Tolby Creek. Fishing has picked up with the increase in the release from Eagle Nest dam. Flies for the Cimarron are golden stonefly nymphs, black midge larvae, hares ear nymphs, Barr's emergers, and gray and olive scuds.
Jemez Mountain Streams 183 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good
Runoff on the Jemez streams is waning, but some waters are in still high and murky. The Guadalupe and Rio de las Vacas are still high so fish the upper reaches of the East Fork, Cebolla, or the San Antonio above La Cueva. The best reports have come from the East Fork draining the Caldera and upper Cebolla above Seven Springs Hatchery. Dry fly fishing has picked up. Size 12-14 yellow stimulators, red quills, and small parachute adams picked up quite a few fish for one of my customers yesterday. also try fishing small dark flashy nymphs under a buoyant dry fly. Forest Road 376 is open from Highway 126 to the Gilman Tunnels. Upper 376 to the San Antonio Hot Springs will open on June 1st.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: 2050 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Poor: 614 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 754 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Poor
The fishing is generally fair below El Vado using big nymphs with flash and sparkle or streamers, however the current flows make the river hard to wade and the water is still murky. Fish the edges and obvious eddies. The Chama River above the village of Chama is in full runoff and is very high and quite cold. The tailwater sections usually fish best at about 150 cfs. The nearby Brazos is also in runoff. The Chama River above El Vado and below Abiquiu are Special Trout Waters with reduced bag limits. The density of fish is very low there and is not stocked. Please report anyone over harvesting here to New Mexico Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263.
In Southern Colorado:
Conejos River 186 cfs below Platoro Reservoir, 778 cfs at Mogote; Fair to Good
"May 15, 2008. More incredible fishing on the upper river, today the flows were dropped again to 189 and it has been somewhere between good and incredible this week up higher. Wednesday we hiked up the Lake Fork which is home to pure Rio Grande Cutts. The fishing for brown trout and some to 16" was really good just below Rock Lake so we thought that by the time we got to the Cutthroat water above Rock it should be bordering easy! Not so. Tough fishing periiod in the meadow until we put a Pizza bet on it and 2 minutes later Devan was hooked up to a nice Rio Grande and won a SLV Pizza! He said "never make a food bet with a poor hungry fishiing guide"! We continued on to Big Lake and proceeded to hook over a 100 fish in about an hour and a half. All Rio Grande Cutts all incredible to see. They were fat and healthy. The fishing was so good no one would pick up the video camera. Our hands were so numb after the spree that we built a stick fire to warm up before the trek back but we had to leave Devan at the lake casting my 4 weight Scott G2 after we realized that when he said "Ok, this is my last fish" he was lying! Just a great afternoon and alot of fun. Lake Fork is a gorgeous stream and looking forward to going back when the bugs are flying and the water warmer. Please read below for a more detailed report. May 9, 2008. Possibly one of the most unlikely "epic" days happened yesterday! The water is off color and high but the fish just killed flies yesterday on the upper river. Conejos River Angler guides, Devan Ence and Troy Smith got enough "big fish" photos to stack a fish diary for months. Multiple fish over 20" and about half bows and half browns and lots of wild rainbows in all sizes from 9" to 22". Two fish straightened out hooks fishing 3x flouro and were never seen. We will post some of them on the site next week. As far as fishing here on the Conejos goes, our upper Hamilton Ranch and the Meadows is the place to be. The lower river is big. If the releases will top out right now we will continue to have some great fishing. Not a soul fishing - amazing! Jon Harp, of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report.
Rio Grande 646 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge near Creede; Slow to Fair
The upper Rio Grande has been fishing fair lately although it appears that releases are fluctuating daily out of Rio Grande Reservoir. Thay were raised again yesterday. There is decent water and the fish are feeding. Big stonefly nymphs and pheasant tails and midges seem to be picking up the most fish. There is lots of water below Wagon Wheel Gap making the river floatable past South Fork.
Arkansas River 1270 cfs at Salida: Fair
The Arkansas River is fishing fair above Salida in the mornings before the colder snowmelt hits. Move downriver during the day to find better water temps. The river downstream of Salida is fishing fair towards Canon City. Release from Twin Lakes Reservoir are up again. Despite the extra cold water, there has been sporadic caddis hatchesfrom Caoldale to Wellsville. Blue Winged olives are still making ther afternoon appearance, especially with the cloudy conditions this past week. Streamers, midges, caddis, and baetis are the flies for the Ark.
Animas River 2400 cfs at Durango; Poor
The Animas River near Durango is high and roiling. The river is stirred up and the water is cold, and the kayak hatch is underway. The Delores below McPhee is also way up and currently flowing at a whopping 1990 cfs! The upper forks of the Delores are in runoff, with the most fishable section just below Rico. Spring fishing may be tough here as it seems as runoff has already started and is expected to last well into June.
Please see our announcements page for more news and upcoming events!
Call us at the shop for conditions on waters not listed here. 888-988-7688 out of Santa Fe or 988-7688 in Santa Fe.
For the latest in stream flows, see our links page and click on New Mexico Stream Flows.
Jicarilla Nation Lakes. Fishing has slowed at Stone Lake. The false spawning behavior is gone and most of the fish have left the shallows. Most anglers have reported slow fishing and the wind has definitely been a limiting factor. Stone Lake does have special regulations, but most people are keeping the bigger fish that they catch. While this lake does grow big fish, the attempts at it being a trophy fishery are almost futile because of people taking the more mature fish. Enbom and Mundo will both be stocked with larger fish next Tuesday. Get in on the action when it does happen because I suspect that those fish will end up on a stringer as well! The best fly fishing has been in the early mornings during the midge hatch and before the wind kicks up. Midges and midge emergers in red and gray in a size 12 and damsel nymphs seem to pick up most of the fish. Overall, the prospects for fishing on the Jicarilla Nation look good. Drought years of the past have taken their toll, but this years snowpack means ample water for the lakes. Most rivers like the Chama, San Juan, Conejos, and Rio Grande are going to have an extended runoff, so dust off your float tube and get out to the Jicarilla lakes this spring; fishing is going to be awesome!
San Juan River 1010 cfs below Navajo Dam; Fair
The Bureau of Rec. has announced a revised release schedule for Navajo Dam. For the details and dates of the releases, please see our Announcements Page. The release has been decreased to 1000 cfs last week. The water is still a little murky but clearing with visibility of about 3 feet. I'v had some very good reports over the past few days. The best reports are still coming from the upper flats, cable hole, and lower flats. Midge nymphing has been the most productive and expect to use flies as large as #18's and 20's. Flies with white colors are the hot ticket right now. White and cream midge larvae, chamois leeches, flesh flies or white bunny leeches, or cheese egg patterns have been the better producers. There has been mixed reports of debris in the water, so you may have to clean your rig often.
Rio Grande 1590 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 2310 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow for trout, Poor for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is very murky and will likely remain so until late June or July. Most of the tributaries have also started to come up dramatically in the past weeks. Even though the water is quite murky, you can pick up fish on the edges dry fly dropper style with caddis nymphs. Fish move into the shallows to feed when they can no longer see in deeper water and heavy currents. Pike hunt by feel and they'll take large streamers that move water regardless of water clarity, just be sure to cover the water more thoroughly. There is no rafting and kayaking and clearer water above John Dunn Bridge and further upstream into the gorge. Flies for the Rio are black or olive woolly buggers, autumn splendors, zoo cougars, conehead madonna’s, caddis nymphs, and pheasant tails. For pike, show them big rabbit strip flies, large streamers or diving flies in dark colors.
Pecos River 268 cfs below Terrero; Slow to Fair
The river above the village of Pecos has remained fairly stable with the cooler waether over the past few days. Fishing is better mid-day during the downward trend in flows, but slows down by 3pm when the colder melt water hits the river. While the flows are high, look for big rock outcroppings and shelves which slow the current. Fish move into these places during heavy current. They will eat your flies, so long as they are pasted tight to the bottom. The best producers have been a stonefly nymph with a trailing pheasant tail or black midge with lots of weight. The Pecos and most of it's tributaries were heavily stocked this past week. Egg patterns, and red and chartreuse copper johns generally work on the stockers. The river adjacent to Monastery Lake and all the way up to and behind the fish hatchery is private. Please respect all of the landowners along the Pecos and stay out of all posted private waters. The FIRST PUBLIC access is Dalton Day Use. Dalton is approximately 6 miles upstream of the village of Pecos. Please report anyone over harvesting fish or poaching to New Mexico Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263.
Cimarron River 21 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. Releases out of the dam are 21 cfs today. There is more water at the eastern end of the park below Clear Creek, but the river does get murkier. The least murky water is just below Tolby Creek. Fishing has picked up with the increase in the release from Eagle Nest dam. Flies for the Cimarron are golden stonefly nymphs, black midge larvae, hares ear nymphs, Barr's emergers, and gray and olive scuds.
Jemez Mountain Streams 183 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good
Runoff on the Jemez streams is waning, but some waters are in still high and murky. The Guadalupe and Rio de las Vacas are still high so fish the upper reaches of the East Fork, Cebolla, or the San Antonio above La Cueva. The best reports have come from the East Fork draining the Caldera and upper Cebolla above Seven Springs Hatchery. Dry fly fishing has picked up. Size 12-14 yellow stimulators, red quills, and small parachute adams picked up quite a few fish for one of my customers yesterday. also try fishing small dark flashy nymphs under a buoyant dry fly. Forest Road 376 is open from Highway 126 to the Gilman Tunnels. Upper 376 to the San Antonio Hot Springs will open on June 1st.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: 2050 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Poor: 614 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 754 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Poor
The fishing is generally fair below El Vado using big nymphs with flash and sparkle or streamers, however the current flows make the river hard to wade and the water is still murky. Fish the edges and obvious eddies. The Chama River above the village of Chama is in full runoff and is very high and quite cold. The tailwater sections usually fish best at about 150 cfs. The nearby Brazos is also in runoff. The Chama River above El Vado and below Abiquiu are Special Trout Waters with reduced bag limits. The density of fish is very low there and is not stocked. Please report anyone over harvesting here to New Mexico Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263.
In Southern Colorado:
Conejos River 186 cfs below Platoro Reservoir, 778 cfs at Mogote; Fair to Good
"May 15, 2008. More incredible fishing on the upper river, today the flows were dropped again to 189 and it has been somewhere between good and incredible this week up higher. Wednesday we hiked up the Lake Fork which is home to pure Rio Grande Cutts. The fishing for brown trout and some to 16" was really good just below Rock Lake so we thought that by the time we got to the Cutthroat water above Rock it should be bordering easy! Not so. Tough fishing periiod in the meadow until we put a Pizza bet on it and 2 minutes later Devan was hooked up to a nice Rio Grande and won a SLV Pizza! He said "never make a food bet with a poor hungry fishiing guide"! We continued on to Big Lake and proceeded to hook over a 100 fish in about an hour and a half. All Rio Grande Cutts all incredible to see. They were fat and healthy. The fishing was so good no one would pick up the video camera. Our hands were so numb after the spree that we built a stick fire to warm up before the trek back but we had to leave Devan at the lake casting my 4 weight Scott G2 after we realized that when he said "Ok, this is my last fish" he was lying! Just a great afternoon and alot of fun. Lake Fork is a gorgeous stream and looking forward to going back when the bugs are flying and the water warmer. Please read below for a more detailed report. May 9, 2008. Possibly one of the most unlikely "epic" days happened yesterday! The water is off color and high but the fish just killed flies yesterday on the upper river. Conejos River Angler guides, Devan Ence and Troy Smith got enough "big fish" photos to stack a fish diary for months. Multiple fish over 20" and about half bows and half browns and lots of wild rainbows in all sizes from 9" to 22". Two fish straightened out hooks fishing 3x flouro and were never seen. We will post some of them on the site next week. As far as fishing here on the Conejos goes, our upper Hamilton Ranch and the Meadows is the place to be. The lower river is big. If the releases will top out right now we will continue to have some great fishing. Not a soul fishing - amazing! Jon Harp, of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report.
Rio Grande 646 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge near Creede; Slow to Fair
The upper Rio Grande has been fishing fair lately although it appears that releases are fluctuating daily out of Rio Grande Reservoir. Thay were raised again yesterday. There is decent water and the fish are feeding. Big stonefly nymphs and pheasant tails and midges seem to be picking up the most fish. There is lots of water below Wagon Wheel Gap making the river floatable past South Fork.
Arkansas River 1270 cfs at Salida: Fair
The Arkansas River is fishing fair above Salida in the mornings before the colder snowmelt hits. Move downriver during the day to find better water temps. The river downstream of Salida is fishing fair towards Canon City. Release from Twin Lakes Reservoir are up again. Despite the extra cold water, there has been sporadic caddis hatchesfrom Caoldale to Wellsville. Blue Winged olives are still making ther afternoon appearance, especially with the cloudy conditions this past week. Streamers, midges, caddis, and baetis are the flies for the Ark.
Animas River 2400 cfs at Durango; Poor
The Animas River near Durango is high and roiling. The river is stirred up and the water is cold, and the kayak hatch is underway. The Delores below McPhee is also way up and currently flowing at a whopping 1990 cfs! The upper forks of the Delores are in runoff, with the most fishable section just below Rico. Spring fishing may be tough here as it seems as runoff has already started and is expected to last well into June.
Please see our announcements page for more news and upcoming events!
Call us at the shop for conditions on waters not listed here. 888-988-7688 out of Santa Fe or 988-7688 in Santa Fe.
For the latest in stream flows, see our links page and click on New Mexico Stream Flows.
posted by High Desert Angler at Saturday, May 17, 2008
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