Fly Fishing Report for Saturday June 21, 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 3060 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 will remain around this level through the 22nd, then will drop to 1700 cfs on the 23rd, down to 1000 on the 24th, and finally down to 500 on June 25th. We may see a higher summer time release once flows on the Animas drop. The best reports were 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, with a trailing cream midge or chocolate emerger 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 appearance 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 1520 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 2220 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow for trout, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is murky and will likely remain so until late June. Contrary to other reports, 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 157 cfs below Terrero; Good
The river above the village of Pecos has started to come down slowly over the past two weeks. Wading is a little difficult in places. A lot of the pockets are starting to reappear and there is more soft water on the edges. Make sure to fish the edges where fish are waiting for crawling stonefly larvae or the molting adults. The stonefly hatch is up to Terrero. The Pecos and most of it's tributaries were heavily stocked recently and may offer an alternative to the Pecos. 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 19 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. 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 35 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Very Good
The bottom dropped out of the Jemez streams and runoff is over. The Guadalupe and Rio de las Vacas are a little stained, but 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, dennis hoppers, and yellow sallies has been excellent mid-day on the headwaters. On the lower reaches, mid-day fishing does slow some but picks up once the shadows start hitting the water again.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: 789 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Poor: 756 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 1250 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 difficult 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 still high. The tailwater sections usually fish best below 300 cfs. The nearby Brazos is coming down and clearing, but still high. 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 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 it appears that most people are keeping the bigger fish that they catch. Mundo will be stocked soon with larger trout for there upcoming 3 Species Derby to be held on June 28th. 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 is currently fishing well on damsel nymphs, calibaetis nymphs, and pheasant tails. Enbom has had some pressure and as such a float tube is absolutely invaluable there.
In Southern Colorado:
Conejos River 1975 cfs below Platoro Reservoir, 1500 cfs at Mogote; Slow to Fair
June 19,2008. "Today had the opportunity of fishing with Bill DeCamp of Kansas and we fished up high for a half day and spent 2 hours trying to find where the fish were. The next 3 hours was mayhem in every way. I have never seen fish hold in a torrent but they were absolutely stuffed in the raging current. Lower river is still big but I think it will loose its mustard soon. There continue to be large Salmonflies crawling out at night and expect to see them around for 6 to 10 days. Goldens and caddis should start soon and hopefully the Drakes will take their time. The new report from the NRCS says that the snowpack has been dramatically reduced with the dry warm weather so don't expect to see this monster runoff to last for that long. As soon as we get some clouds, cooler weather or the snowfields start to loose there steam the lower river will mellow out and should be really good and buggy." Jon Harp, of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report. Keep looking at the releases out of Platoro Reservoir. If they get below 200 cfs, the meadows below the dam will fish well.
Rio Grande 1180 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge near Creede; Slow to Fair
Releases have been changing out of Rio Grande Reservoir seemingly every other day. Today the release has been hovering abetween 1000 to 1200 cfs. There is decent water clarity 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 all the way to South Fork.
Arkansas River 3840 cfs at Salida: Slow
Visibility has declinded although the edgewater is still rather fishable. The clarity improves above Buena VIsta. 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. Hayden Meadows stretch is a little high but there is good clarity and it is fishing fair.
Animas River 3720 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 672 cfs. The upper forks of the Delores are still in runoff. Closer to Pagosa Springs, the Piedra and San Juan are also still in runoff. Williams Creek below the dam is also high with dam release. 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 3060 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 will remain around this level through the 22nd, then will drop to 1700 cfs on the 23rd, down to 1000 on the 24th, and finally down to 500 on June 25th. We may see a higher summer time release once flows on the Animas drop. The best reports were 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, with a trailing cream midge or chocolate emerger 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 appearance 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 1520 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 2220 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow for trout, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is murky and will likely remain so until late June. Contrary to other reports, 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 157 cfs below Terrero; Good
The river above the village of Pecos has started to come down slowly over the past two weeks. Wading is a little difficult in places. A lot of the pockets are starting to reappear and there is more soft water on the edges. Make sure to fish the edges where fish are waiting for crawling stonefly larvae or the molting adults. The stonefly hatch is up to Terrero. The Pecos and most of it's tributaries were heavily stocked recently and may offer an alternative to the Pecos. 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 19 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. 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 35 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Very Good
The bottom dropped out of the Jemez streams and runoff is over. The Guadalupe and Rio de las Vacas are a little stained, but 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, dennis hoppers, and yellow sallies has been excellent mid-day on the headwaters. On the lower reaches, mid-day fishing does slow some but picks up once the shadows start hitting the water again.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: 789 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Poor: 756 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 1250 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 difficult 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 still high. The tailwater sections usually fish best below 300 cfs. The nearby Brazos is coming down and clearing, but still high. 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 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 it appears that most people are keeping the bigger fish that they catch. Mundo will be stocked soon with larger trout for there upcoming 3 Species Derby to be held on June 28th. 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 is currently fishing well on damsel nymphs, calibaetis nymphs, and pheasant tails. Enbom has had some pressure and as such a float tube is absolutely invaluable there.
In Southern Colorado:
Conejos River 1975 cfs below Platoro Reservoir, 1500 cfs at Mogote; Slow to Fair
June 19,2008. "Today had the opportunity of fishing with Bill DeCamp of Kansas and we fished up high for a half day and spent 2 hours trying to find where the fish were. The next 3 hours was mayhem in every way. I have never seen fish hold in a torrent but they were absolutely stuffed in the raging current. Lower river is still big but I think it will loose its mustard soon. There continue to be large Salmonflies crawling out at night and expect to see them around for 6 to 10 days. Goldens and caddis should start soon and hopefully the Drakes will take their time. The new report from the NRCS says that the snowpack has been dramatically reduced with the dry warm weather so don't expect to see this monster runoff to last for that long. As soon as we get some clouds, cooler weather or the snowfields start to loose there steam the lower river will mellow out and should be really good and buggy." Jon Harp, of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report. Keep looking at the releases out of Platoro Reservoir. If they get below 200 cfs, the meadows below the dam will fish well.
Rio Grande 1180 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge near Creede; Slow to Fair
Releases have been changing out of Rio Grande Reservoir seemingly every other day. Today the release has been hovering abetween 1000 to 1200 cfs. There is decent water clarity 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 all the way to South Fork.
Arkansas River 3840 cfs at Salida: Slow
Visibility has declinded although the edgewater is still rather fishable. The clarity improves above Buena VIsta. 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. Hayden Meadows stretch is a little high but there is good clarity and it is fishing fair.
Animas River 3720 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 672 cfs. The upper forks of the Delores are still in runoff. Closer to Pagosa Springs, the Piedra and San Juan are also still in runoff. Williams Creek below the dam is also high with dam release. 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 Saturday, June 21, 2008
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