Fly Fishing Report for Saturday June 28, 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 513 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The San Juan is at it's lowest flow in a long time. We may see a higher summer time release once spring snowmelt on the Animas is done. This is thought by many guides and anglers to be the best time to fish the Juan. A lot of fish that usually see every drift good and bad, hadn't seen much during the higher release. As a result, those fish are usually quite hot and willing to eat. Also this time of year brings large ant falls with the summer rains. Midge nymphing will still be the most productive. Size 20 and 22 gray, black, and cream midge larvae, and olive rs2's and baetis nymphs have been the better producers. The mosquitoes are out in force especailly at Texas hole so don't forget the bug repellent! 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 994 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 1510 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow for trout, Fair for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is murky and will likely remain so until July. Contrary to other reports, you can pick up trout 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 111 cfs below Terrero; Good
The river above the village of Pecos has started to come down slowly over the past few weeks. Wading is a lot easier and a lot of the pockets are starting to reappear and there is more soft water on the edges. The stonefly hatch is pretty well done although there are a few small ones coming off up past Terrero. Caddis hatches in the afternoons are bringing up fish as well as some sporadic mayfly activity. The Pecos and most of it's tributaries were heavily stocked recently. 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 59 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 23 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: 463 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Poor: 764 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 890 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.
In Southern Colorado:
Conejos River 530 cfs below Platoro Reservoir, 1200 cfs at Mogote; Slow to Fair
June 25, 2008. "All the flows on the river headed towards much better. Water clarity good everywhere. Large caddis hatches, salmon flies, and goldens starting on the lower river. Upper river very good nymphing with occasional fish taking the dry, expect all that to change very soon. Just seems like the river is about to burst with bug life and expect the fish to match the activity level of the bugs. Still mostly nymph fishing below the dam on very small midge and mayfly insects. Water flows at this time were 140 cfs at Platoro and about 900 at Mogote. The nymph fishing has been very predictable and very good on the lower with mostly stonefly nymphs. The dry fly fishing has been sporadic but we are seeing more and more fish each day looking up. Great week of weather on tap with mild daytime temps (80 or so) should continue to cook up more bugs." Jon Harp, of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report.
Rio Grande 1100 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 2640 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 2330 cfs at Durango; Poor
The Animas River near Durango is still high and roiling. The water is cold, and the kayak hatch is underway. The Delores below McPhee is finally down and currently flowing at 132 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. 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 513 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The San Juan is at it's lowest flow in a long time. We may see a higher summer time release once spring snowmelt on the Animas is done. This is thought by many guides and anglers to be the best time to fish the Juan. A lot of fish that usually see every drift good and bad, hadn't seen much during the higher release. As a result, those fish are usually quite hot and willing to eat. Also this time of year brings large ant falls with the summer rains. Midge nymphing will still be the most productive. Size 20 and 22 gray, black, and cream midge larvae, and olive rs2's and baetis nymphs have been the better producers. The mosquitoes are out in force especailly at Texas hole so don't forget the bug repellent! 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 994 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 1510 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow for trout, Fair for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is murky and will likely remain so until July. Contrary to other reports, you can pick up trout 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 111 cfs below Terrero; Good
The river above the village of Pecos has started to come down slowly over the past few weeks. Wading is a lot easier and a lot of the pockets are starting to reappear and there is more soft water on the edges. The stonefly hatch is pretty well done although there are a few small ones coming off up past Terrero. Caddis hatches in the afternoons are bringing up fish as well as some sporadic mayfly activity. The Pecos and most of it's tributaries were heavily stocked recently. 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 59 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 23 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: 463 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Poor: 764 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 890 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.
In Southern Colorado:
Conejos River 530 cfs below Platoro Reservoir, 1200 cfs at Mogote; Slow to Fair
June 25, 2008. "All the flows on the river headed towards much better. Water clarity good everywhere. Large caddis hatches, salmon flies, and goldens starting on the lower river. Upper river very good nymphing with occasional fish taking the dry, expect all that to change very soon. Just seems like the river is about to burst with bug life and expect the fish to match the activity level of the bugs. Still mostly nymph fishing below the dam on very small midge and mayfly insects. Water flows at this time were 140 cfs at Platoro and about 900 at Mogote. The nymph fishing has been very predictable and very good on the lower with mostly stonefly nymphs. The dry fly fishing has been sporadic but we are seeing more and more fish each day looking up. Great week of weather on tap with mild daytime temps (80 or so) should continue to cook up more bugs." Jon Harp, of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report.
Rio Grande 1100 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 2640 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 2330 cfs at Durango; Poor
The Animas River near Durango is still high and roiling. The water is cold, and the kayak hatch is underway. The Delores below McPhee is finally down and currently flowing at 132 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. 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 Friday, June 27, 2008
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