Fly Fishing Report for Thursday June 12, 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 510 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 water is clearing with visibility of about 6 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, 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 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 1380 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 2230 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 254 cfs below Terrero; Good
The river above the village of Pecos has started to come down slowly over the past few days. Runoff is waning. 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. 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. 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 6.6 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 late last week. 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 42 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Very Good
The bottom dropped out of the Jemez streams this past week and runoff is over. The Guadalupe and Rio de las Vacas are a little 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: 1100 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Poor: 682 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 1580 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 high and quite cold. The tailwater sections usually fish best at about 150 cfs. The nearby Brazos is coming down and clearing. 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. 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 154 cfs below Platoro Reservoir, 1230 cfs at Mogote; Slow
"June 11, 2008. I have been guiding every day but one for a while and the water clarity on the Conejos has gotten very good on the lower river. Water level was about 1280 cfs and slightly tea colored fished really well. Stonefly nymphs and wine/tan tungsten worms were the ticket. A nice brown took a #10 R.L.Royal stimmy. Upper river water levels are perfect and crystal clear. Time to tune up your presentation again in the clear water. I am seeing browns spook from 60' if approached to boldly. Saturday Rob Scott of Albuquerque landed and photod a Rainbow that was about 5 lbs maybe 22 or 23"! A male with a big kype and beautiful colors ate a #12 golden stone on the upper river. Here is my tip for all of you regardless of your casting ability, Buy a 6 weight! It has been breezy here at at times and we are also fishing heavy tippet in heavy water for heavy fish. Almost every guide trip I do at least one 6 comes along (on the main river) and it has made a big difference in casting, mending, and landing fish. It looks like we are going to have the big stones crawling out soon. They are congrigating on the edges en mass at this time. Nymph fishing is excellent with stoneflies especially on the lower river." Jon Harp, of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report. Keep looking at the releases out of Platoro Reservoir. If they stay below 200 cfs, the meadows below the dam will fish well.
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 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 2200 cfs at Salida: Fair
Visibility has improved and the edgewater is becoming more fishable, especially if one is rock-hopping down in the canyon. Up towards Buena Vista, the clarity improves to where it is really not an issue. 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 well.
Animas River 3420 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 964 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 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 510 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 water is clearing with visibility of about 6 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, 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 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 1380 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 2230 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 254 cfs below Terrero; Good
The river above the village of Pecos has started to come down slowly over the past few days. Runoff is waning. 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. 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. 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 6.6 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 late last week. 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 42 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Very Good
The bottom dropped out of the Jemez streams this past week and runoff is over. The Guadalupe and Rio de las Vacas are a little 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: 1100 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Poor: 682 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 1580 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 high and quite cold. The tailwater sections usually fish best at about 150 cfs. The nearby Brazos is coming down and clearing. 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. 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 154 cfs below Platoro Reservoir, 1230 cfs at Mogote; Slow
"June 11, 2008. I have been guiding every day but one for a while and the water clarity on the Conejos has gotten very good on the lower river. Water level was about 1280 cfs and slightly tea colored fished really well. Stonefly nymphs and wine/tan tungsten worms were the ticket. A nice brown took a #10 R.L.Royal stimmy. Upper river water levels are perfect and crystal clear. Time to tune up your presentation again in the clear water. I am seeing browns spook from 60' if approached to boldly. Saturday Rob Scott of Albuquerque landed and photod a Rainbow that was about 5 lbs maybe 22 or 23"! A male with a big kype and beautiful colors ate a #12 golden stone on the upper river. Here is my tip for all of you regardless of your casting ability, Buy a 6 weight! It has been breezy here at at times and we are also fishing heavy tippet in heavy water for heavy fish. Almost every guide trip I do at least one 6 comes along (on the main river) and it has made a big difference in casting, mending, and landing fish. It looks like we are going to have the big stones crawling out soon. They are congrigating on the edges en mass at this time. Nymph fishing is excellent with stoneflies especially on the lower river." Jon Harp, of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report. Keep looking at the releases out of Platoro Reservoir. If they stay below 200 cfs, the meadows below the dam will fish well.
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 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 2200 cfs at Salida: Fair
Visibility has improved and the edgewater is becoming more fishable, especially if one is rock-hopping down in the canyon. Up towards Buena Vista, the clarity improves to where it is really not an issue. 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 well.
Animas River 3420 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 964 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 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 Thursday, June 12, 2008
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