Fly Fishing Report for Monday June 9, 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.
San Juan River 5160 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
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 is scheduled to go down to 3400 cfs on Tuesday for an outlet works inspection. It remain only for 24 hours or less. The water is clearing with visibility of about 5 feet. The best reports are coming from people fishing from drift boats. For the wading fly fisher, the upper flats, cable hole, and lower flats have been fishing well. Look for fish holding tight to the banks. Midge nymphing has been the most productive. Size 24 red and orange midge larvae, chamois leeches, and egg patterns have been the better producers. The mosquitoes are out in force especailly at Texas hole so don't forget the bug repellent! A wading staff is also highly rcommended! Please note; the New Mexico State Game Commission has enacted a two fly only rule for the quality waters of the San Juan. This rule will go into effect on July 1st. As a result, Game and Fish officers are starting to make their appearnce on the San Jaun. They are informing fly fishers of the "two fly" rule, but also checking licenses and for barbed flies. They recommend that you completely file the barb down or risk a citation as a pinched barb may still snag the tippet that is being used to check barbs!
Rio Grande 1370 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 2280 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow for trout, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is very murky and will likely remain so until late June. Even though the water is quite murky, you can pick up fish on the edges dry fly dropper style with caddis nymphs, pheasant tails, or crane fly larvae. Trout move into the shallows to feed when they can no longer see in deeper water and heavy currents. Smallmouth inhabit the eddies and can be picked up on crayfish patterns or woolly buggers on a sinking tip or sinking line. 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 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 328 cfs below Terrero; Fair
The river above the village of Pecos has started to come down slowly over the past few days. Runoff appears to be waning. Wading is still almost impossible. While the flows are high, look for big rock outcroppings and shelves which slow the current. Fish move into these places during heavy current. Also fish the edges where fish are waiting for crawling stonefly larvae or the molting adults. Stoneflies have began to make ther appearance around Dalton this past weekend. The Pecos and most of it's tributaries were heavily stocked this past week and may offer an alternative to the Pecos if it is too high to fish. 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 7.0 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 went down a couple of days ago. There is more water at the eastern end of the park below Clear Creek. Flies for the Cimarron are golden stonefly nymphs, yellow stimulators, pink cahills, hares ear nymphs, Barr's emergers, and gray and olive scuds.
Jemez Mountain Streams 60 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Very Good
The bottom dropped out of the Jemez streams this past weekend and runoff is over. The Guadalupe and Rio de las Vacas are a little high and stained, but the stoneflies are coming off and the river is at a wadeable level. The upper reaches of the East Fork, Cebolla, or the San Antonio above La Cueva are fishing very well. Dry fly fishing with size 12-14 yellow stimulators, red quills, and small parachute adams has been excellent mid-day. Upper Forest Road 376 to the San Antonio Hot Springs is open.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: 1340 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Poor: 1410 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 1810 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 impossible to wade and the water is very murky. Fish the edges and obvious eddies. The Chama River above the village of Chama is in runoff and is 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.
Jicarilla Nation Lakes Slow to Good Fishing has slowed considerably at Stone Lake. The false spawning behavior is gone and most of the fish have left the shallows. The opportunity for 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, damsel nymphs, and calibaetis nymphs are in abundance. Stone Lake does have special regulations, but most people are keeping the bigger fish that they catch. Enbom and Mundo were both stocked with larger fish on Tuesday May 13th. Mundo is murky but fishing well. Mundo has bass and catfish as well as trout and can prevent a bust if the other lakes are tough. Enbom has had some pressure and as such a float tube is absolutely invaluable there.
In Southern Colorado:
Conejos River 145 cfs below Platoro Reservoir, 1400 cfs at Mogote; Slow
"June 6. Flows way down today after a couple of cooler days. Very fishable levels on the upper river. Water clarity very good. Lower river water clarity much improved but still off which of course to the fish does not matter. For those planning some fishing expect to see this river at a very fishable level for the Stonefly hatch. The lower elevation streams will clear and fish first and then the Conejos. All the while the upper river should fish. Those of you waiting for it to get "good" in the middle of July I undererstand but just know that June is going to give up alot of big fish. The water is very high but these fish are gorging even in the big water. The only water that I think will be off the grid for a while longer is the high elevation streams. Jon Harp, of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report. Keep looking at the releases out of Platoro Reservoir. If they drop below 200 cfs, the meadows below the dam will fish better.
Rio Grande 1170 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge near Creede; Slow
Releases have been changing out of Rio Grande Reservoir seemingly every other day. Today the release has been increased and is currently at 1170 cfs. There is decent water and the fish are feeding. Big stonefly nymphs and pheasant tails seem to be picking up the most fish on a heavily weighted leader in the deeper runs and pools. There is lots of water below Wagon Wheel Gap making the river floatable past South Fork.
Arkansas River 2110 cfs at Salida: Slow
Visibility has improved and the edgewater is becoming more fishable. Try a stimulator or PMX with a big prince or copper john dropper, or go deep into the slower holding water with a double stonefly nymph rig. Get your nymph to the bottom if it isn't on the fish's nose, he won't take it
Animas River 3810 cfs at Durango; Poor
The Animas River near Durango is very high and roiling. The river is stirred up, the water is cold, and the kayak hatch is underway. The Delores below McPhee is also way up and currently flowing at 793 cfs. The upper forks of the Delores are in runoff. Closer to Pagosa Springs, the Piedra and San Juan are also still in runoff. Williams Creek below the dam may be the only fishable water in the area. Spring fishing may be tough here as runoff 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.
San Juan River 5160 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
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 is scheduled to go down to 3400 cfs on Tuesday for an outlet works inspection. It remain only for 24 hours or less. The water is clearing with visibility of about 5 feet. The best reports are coming from people fishing from drift boats. For the wading fly fisher, the upper flats, cable hole, and lower flats have been fishing well. Look for fish holding tight to the banks. Midge nymphing has been the most productive. Size 24 red and orange midge larvae, chamois leeches, and egg patterns have been the better producers. The mosquitoes are out in force especailly at Texas hole so don't forget the bug repellent! A wading staff is also highly rcommended! Please note; the New Mexico State Game Commission has enacted a two fly only rule for the quality waters of the San Juan. This rule will go into effect on July 1st. As a result, Game and Fish officers are starting to make their appearnce on the San Jaun. They are informing fly fishers of the "two fly" rule, but also checking licenses and for barbed flies. They recommend that you completely file the barb down or risk a citation as a pinched barb may still snag the tippet that is being used to check barbs!
Rio Grande 1370 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 2280 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow for trout, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is very murky and will likely remain so until late June. Even though the water is quite murky, you can pick up fish on the edges dry fly dropper style with caddis nymphs, pheasant tails, or crane fly larvae. Trout move into the shallows to feed when they can no longer see in deeper water and heavy currents. Smallmouth inhabit the eddies and can be picked up on crayfish patterns or woolly buggers on a sinking tip or sinking line. 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 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 328 cfs below Terrero; Fair
The river above the village of Pecos has started to come down slowly over the past few days. Runoff appears to be waning. Wading is still almost impossible. While the flows are high, look for big rock outcroppings and shelves which slow the current. Fish move into these places during heavy current. Also fish the edges where fish are waiting for crawling stonefly larvae or the molting adults. Stoneflies have began to make ther appearance around Dalton this past weekend. The Pecos and most of it's tributaries were heavily stocked this past week and may offer an alternative to the Pecos if it is too high to fish. 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 7.0 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 went down a couple of days ago. There is more water at the eastern end of the park below Clear Creek. Flies for the Cimarron are golden stonefly nymphs, yellow stimulators, pink cahills, hares ear nymphs, Barr's emergers, and gray and olive scuds.
Jemez Mountain Streams 60 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Very Good
The bottom dropped out of the Jemez streams this past weekend and runoff is over. The Guadalupe and Rio de las Vacas are a little high and stained, but the stoneflies are coming off and the river is at a wadeable level. The upper reaches of the East Fork, Cebolla, or the San Antonio above La Cueva are fishing very well. Dry fly fishing with size 12-14 yellow stimulators, red quills, and small parachute adams has been excellent mid-day. Upper Forest Road 376 to the San Antonio Hot Springs is open.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: 1340 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Poor: 1410 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 1810 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 impossible to wade and the water is very murky. Fish the edges and obvious eddies. The Chama River above the village of Chama is in runoff and is 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.
Jicarilla Nation Lakes Slow to Good Fishing has slowed considerably at Stone Lake. The false spawning behavior is gone and most of the fish have left the shallows. The opportunity for 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, damsel nymphs, and calibaetis nymphs are in abundance. Stone Lake does have special regulations, but most people are keeping the bigger fish that they catch. Enbom and Mundo were both stocked with larger fish on Tuesday May 13th. Mundo is murky but fishing well. Mundo has bass and catfish as well as trout and can prevent a bust if the other lakes are tough. Enbom has had some pressure and as such a float tube is absolutely invaluable there.
In Southern Colorado:
Conejos River 145 cfs below Platoro Reservoir, 1400 cfs at Mogote; Slow
"June 6. Flows way down today after a couple of cooler days. Very fishable levels on the upper river. Water clarity very good. Lower river water clarity much improved but still off which of course to the fish does not matter. For those planning some fishing expect to see this river at a very fishable level for the Stonefly hatch. The lower elevation streams will clear and fish first and then the Conejos. All the while the upper river should fish. Those of you waiting for it to get "good" in the middle of July I undererstand but just know that June is going to give up alot of big fish. The water is very high but these fish are gorging even in the big water. The only water that I think will be off the grid for a while longer is the high elevation streams. Jon Harp, of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report. Keep looking at the releases out of Platoro Reservoir. If they drop below 200 cfs, the meadows below the dam will fish better.
Rio Grande 1170 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge near Creede; Slow
Releases have been changing out of Rio Grande Reservoir seemingly every other day. Today the release has been increased and is currently at 1170 cfs. There is decent water and the fish are feeding. Big stonefly nymphs and pheasant tails seem to be picking up the most fish on a heavily weighted leader in the deeper runs and pools. There is lots of water below Wagon Wheel Gap making the river floatable past South Fork.
Arkansas River 2110 cfs at Salida: Slow
Visibility has improved and the edgewater is becoming more fishable. Try a stimulator or PMX with a big prince or copper john dropper, or go deep into the slower holding water with a double stonefly nymph rig. Get your nymph to the bottom if it isn't on the fish's nose, he won't take it
Animas River 3810 cfs at Durango; Poor
The Animas River near Durango is very high and roiling. The river is stirred up, the water is cold, and the kayak hatch is underway. The Delores below McPhee is also way up and currently flowing at 793 cfs. The upper forks of the Delores are in runoff. Closer to Pagosa Springs, the Piedra and San Juan are also still in runoff. Williams Creek below the dam may be the only fishable water in the area. Spring fishing may be tough here as runoff 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 Monday, June 09, 2008
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