Fly Fishing Report for Saturday July 26, 2008
San Juan River 508 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. There have already been a coouple of ant falls following some heavy rain. Midge nymphing in the morning is the most productive, and fish start to rise for baetis and midges as well as ants in the afternoon. Size 20 and 22 gray, black, brown, and cream midge larvae, and size 22-24 gray rs2's and gray foam back emergers have been the better producers. The mosquitoes are out in force 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 Juan. 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 344 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 633 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Fair for trout, Fair for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is still a little murky and will likely remain so now that we are into our summer monsoon season. 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. The best time to fish for trout is early morining or in the evenings. 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 cooler water and easier wading around 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 77 cfs below Terrero; Very Good
The river above the village of Pecos is fishing very well. Caddis hatches in the afternoons are bringing up fish as well as lots of Blue Winged Olives during cloud cover. PMD's are out as well. The Pecos and most of it's tributaries were heavily stocked a couple of weeks ago. Egg patterns, and red and chartreuse copper johns generally work on the stockers. Pmd's, red quills, tan elk hair caddis, yellow stimulators, blue winged olives, and little yellow sallies are all working pretty much the length of the public water. 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.
Rio Costilla 69 cfs below Costilla Reservoir; Very Good
Arguably the most beautiful stream in New Mexico just opened to fishing earlier in the month. The release is a little high for an optimum flow. Generally the release is higher during the week than the weekend and makes for better fishing. The reports I had recently have been very good especially on dry flies. Royal Wulffs, irrestibles, humpies, and stimulators, as well as crane fly larvae and big pheasant tails.
Cimarron River 23 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. The release from the dam went back up a couple of days ago. There is more water at the eastern end of the park below Clear Creek. Fishing is good with hatches of golden stones, caddis, and pmd's. Flies for the Cimarron are golden stonefly nymphs, yellow stimulators, pink cahills, pmd's, hares ear nymphs, Barr's emergers, and gray and olive scuds.
Jemez Mountain Streams 23 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Good
The Jemez streams are all fishing well especially in the morings and evenings. Afternoon thundershowers have been murking up the water. Fortunately there are lots of streams and the rain storms have been rather isolated leaving you some where to fish. The lower reaches of the Jemez streams can get warm and slow mid-day but they fish well mornings and evenings. The headwater streams don't slow as much mid-day, but are low and clear making a stealthy approach a challenge. Dry fly fishing with size 12-14 yellow stimulators, red quills, and small parachute adams, dennis hoppers, ants, and yellow sallies has been excellent.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Very Good: 180 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Good: 795 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair: and 240 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow to Fair
The Chama River above the village of Chama has decent visibility between rain storms. There are caddis hatches in the afternoons and PMD's, BWO's and other sporadic mayfly hatches coming off between Tierra Amarilla and Chama. The fishing is generally fair below El Vado using big nymphs with flash and sparkle or streamers, but the current flows are high and the water is murky. The release below El Vado usually goes up on Friday afternoons this time of year for the rafters. Expect flows to drop to 100 or so cfs on Sunday afternoon. Reduced releases from Abiquiu Dam have made the Chama below it fishable, but I've had no reports from there yet. The tailwater sections usually fish best below 300 cfs. The nearby Brazos is fishing well. 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 226 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 516 cfs at Mogote; Good
July 21. "Our small team of fisherman have been very busy so I apologize for the lack of reports. Flows on almost every tributary and the Conejos are almost perfect. Drakes continue to sputter off daily on the upper river and even the tribs. The lower river with the full moon and warmer days has been more moody but for those hitting the fish in the head with a good presentation fishing continues to be good. Expect the fishing to slow on hot sunny afternoons but the group that fished the lower river with us yesterday was into fish all day including nice fish. Lots of Drakes and stones of almost every variety. Hot sunny afternoon shut things down about 2:30 but alot of fun prior. Expect the fishing in the high country to just get better and the upper Conejos to continues to be a bug factory. Meadows below Platoro have been hit pretty hard and fish are tough most days. Fly water has fished really well the last few weeks, expect that to continue for certain parts of the day. I would fish it starting really early until it got hot or the bugs slowed down. PMD's, caddis, yellow sallies, and assorted mayflies. The old Chironocone is now heading back into all of the guides boxes and expect the fish to look more and more at small midge offerings." Jon Harp, of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report. The release out of Platoro is still too high to fish the pinnacles safely. Look for flows below 180 cfs and don't forget the bug repellent; there are mosqitoes everywhere!
Rio Grande 265 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge near Creede; Good: 658 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
Fishing has been good mon the upper Rio. Green Drakes PMD's and caddis are all out in abundance, with Green Drakes bringing up most of the fish. 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. Cast tight to the banks with hoppers or Green Drakes in the shalllower water.
Arkansas River 1100 cfs at Salida: Slow to Fair
The river still has above average flows but the fishing is good. There have been some afternoon PMD and caddis hatches and Blue Winged Olives on the cloudy days. The better wading is above Lake Creek from above Granite to Hayden Meadows. Fish the softer pocket water with dry fly dropper rigs. Large patterns like stimulators, hoppers, parachute madam x's, with a trailing copper johns, princes, pheasant tails, and stonefly nymphs in size #8-12.
Piedra River 397 cfs at Arboles; Fair: San Juan River 247 cfs at Pagosa; Good
Finally we have some fishable flows on the Piedra, although locally heavy rainfall over the last several days have muddied up the river. It's still a little high to venture into the boxes but the edges are holding lots of fish. The Williams Creek below the dam also has been fishing well. The San Juan is also experiencing daily rainfall affecting the clarity. Still a little high but not as murked up as the Piedra. Some of the smaller tributaries are clear and fishable.
Animas River 1170 cfs at Durango; Fair to Good
The Animas River near Durango is a little high but has good visibility. There have been lots of caddis coming off right through town. The Delores below McPhee is finally down and currently flowing at 108 cfs. The upper forks of the Delores are still a little high but clear and fishing well.
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.
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.
For the latest in stream flows, see our links page and click on New Mexico Stream Flows.
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. There have already been a coouple of ant falls following some heavy rain. Midge nymphing in the morning is the most productive, and fish start to rise for baetis and midges as well as ants in the afternoon. Size 20 and 22 gray, black, brown, and cream midge larvae, and size 22-24 gray rs2's and gray foam back emergers have been the better producers. The mosquitoes are out in force 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 Juan. 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 344 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 633 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Fair for trout, Fair for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is still a little murky and will likely remain so now that we are into our summer monsoon season. 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. The best time to fish for trout is early morining or in the evenings. 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 cooler water and easier wading around 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 77 cfs below Terrero; Very Good
The river above the village of Pecos is fishing very well. Caddis hatches in the afternoons are bringing up fish as well as lots of Blue Winged Olives during cloud cover. PMD's are out as well. The Pecos and most of it's tributaries were heavily stocked a couple of weeks ago. Egg patterns, and red and chartreuse copper johns generally work on the stockers. Pmd's, red quills, tan elk hair caddis, yellow stimulators, blue winged olives, and little yellow sallies are all working pretty much the length of the public water. 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.
Rio Costilla 69 cfs below Costilla Reservoir; Very Good
Arguably the most beautiful stream in New Mexico just opened to fishing earlier in the month. The release is a little high for an optimum flow. Generally the release is higher during the week than the weekend and makes for better fishing. The reports I had recently have been very good especially on dry flies. Royal Wulffs, irrestibles, humpies, and stimulators, as well as crane fly larvae and big pheasant tails.
Cimarron River 23 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. The release from the dam went back up a couple of days ago. There is more water at the eastern end of the park below Clear Creek. Fishing is good with hatches of golden stones, caddis, and pmd's. Flies for the Cimarron are golden stonefly nymphs, yellow stimulators, pink cahills, pmd's, hares ear nymphs, Barr's emergers, and gray and olive scuds.
Jemez Mountain Streams 23 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Good
The Jemez streams are all fishing well especially in the morings and evenings. Afternoon thundershowers have been murking up the water. Fortunately there are lots of streams and the rain storms have been rather isolated leaving you some where to fish. The lower reaches of the Jemez streams can get warm and slow mid-day but they fish well mornings and evenings. The headwater streams don't slow as much mid-day, but are low and clear making a stealthy approach a challenge. Dry fly fishing with size 12-14 yellow stimulators, red quills, and small parachute adams, dennis hoppers, ants, and yellow sallies has been excellent.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Very Good: 180 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Good: 795 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair: and 240 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow to Fair
The Chama River above the village of Chama has decent visibility between rain storms. There are caddis hatches in the afternoons and PMD's, BWO's and other sporadic mayfly hatches coming off between Tierra Amarilla and Chama. The fishing is generally fair below El Vado using big nymphs with flash and sparkle or streamers, but the current flows are high and the water is murky. The release below El Vado usually goes up on Friday afternoons this time of year for the rafters. Expect flows to drop to 100 or so cfs on Sunday afternoon. Reduced releases from Abiquiu Dam have made the Chama below it fishable, but I've had no reports from there yet. The tailwater sections usually fish best below 300 cfs. The nearby Brazos is fishing well. 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 226 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 516 cfs at Mogote; Good
July 21. "Our small team of fisherman have been very busy so I apologize for the lack of reports. Flows on almost every tributary and the Conejos are almost perfect. Drakes continue to sputter off daily on the upper river and even the tribs. The lower river with the full moon and warmer days has been more moody but for those hitting the fish in the head with a good presentation fishing continues to be good. Expect the fishing to slow on hot sunny afternoons but the group that fished the lower river with us yesterday was into fish all day including nice fish. Lots of Drakes and stones of almost every variety. Hot sunny afternoon shut things down about 2:30 but alot of fun prior. Expect the fishing in the high country to just get better and the upper Conejos to continues to be a bug factory. Meadows below Platoro have been hit pretty hard and fish are tough most days. Fly water has fished really well the last few weeks, expect that to continue for certain parts of the day. I would fish it starting really early until it got hot or the bugs slowed down. PMD's, caddis, yellow sallies, and assorted mayflies. The old Chironocone is now heading back into all of the guides boxes and expect the fish to look more and more at small midge offerings." Jon Harp, of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report. The release out of Platoro is still too high to fish the pinnacles safely. Look for flows below 180 cfs and don't forget the bug repellent; there are mosqitoes everywhere!
Rio Grande 265 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge near Creede; Good: 658 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
Fishing has been good mon the upper Rio. Green Drakes PMD's and caddis are all out in abundance, with Green Drakes bringing up most of the fish. 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. Cast tight to the banks with hoppers or Green Drakes in the shalllower water.
Arkansas River 1100 cfs at Salida: Slow to Fair
The river still has above average flows but the fishing is good. There have been some afternoon PMD and caddis hatches and Blue Winged Olives on the cloudy days. The better wading is above Lake Creek from above Granite to Hayden Meadows. Fish the softer pocket water with dry fly dropper rigs. Large patterns like stimulators, hoppers, parachute madam x's, with a trailing copper johns, princes, pheasant tails, and stonefly nymphs in size #8-12.
Piedra River 397 cfs at Arboles; Fair: San Juan River 247 cfs at Pagosa; Good
Finally we have some fishable flows on the Piedra, although locally heavy rainfall over the last several days have muddied up the river. It's still a little high to venture into the boxes but the edges are holding lots of fish. The Williams Creek below the dam also has been fishing well. The San Juan is also experiencing daily rainfall affecting the clarity. Still a little high but not as murked up as the Piedra. Some of the smaller tributaries are clear and fishable.
Animas River 1170 cfs at Durango; Fair to Good
The Animas River near Durango is a little high but has good visibility. There have been lots of caddis coming off right through town. The Delores below McPhee is finally down and currently flowing at 108 cfs. The upper forks of the Delores are still a little high but clear and fishing well.
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.
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.
For the latest in stream flows, see our links page and click on New Mexico Stream Flows.
posted by High Desert Angler at Saturday, July 26, 2008
