Fly Fishing Report for Tuesday July 15, 2008
San Juan River 519 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. Yesterday was the first day of the ant fall. 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 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 431 cfs at Cerro; Slow: at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow 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. 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 94 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 as Rithrogenia (Red Quills) and Golden Stones in the morning. 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. Pmd's, red quills, tan elk hair caddis, yellow stimulators, 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 74 cfs below Costilla Reservoir; Good
Arguably the most beautiful stream in New Mexico just opened to fishing last week. 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 34 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Very 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: 184 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Good: 105 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 244 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 afternoons. 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 coming down, but still a little high and murky. 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 235 cfs below Platoro Reservoir, 480 cfs at Mogote; Good
July 5, 2008. "Sorry for the delay we have been on the water and fairly busy this week. The Conejos this am is right at 700 cfs and looks great. Drakes were sputtering off yesterday at around their usual time of just before high noon and we had a great couple of hours throwing a #10 Meaty Drake and they ate that with no hesitation. Green Drake nymphs before the hatch seemed to be the best bugs. Hatch was light but that should change day by day. Still alot of caddis in the air and the Goldens and Salmon flies are up higher Flows in the meadow are still perfect for nymph fishing but expect some bugs to pop up there very soon as well if not already. No good reports from there in 6 days. Still the flows up in the high country are very pushy and probobly not ready for a fly yet." 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 162 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge near Creede; Good: 825 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
Releases have been coming down out of Rio Grande Reservoir seemingly every other day. 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. Green drakes are appearing around South Fork as well as PMD's and lots of caddis. There is lots of water below Wagon Wheel Gap making the river floatable all the way to South Fork.
Arkansas River 1460 cfs at Salida: Slow to Fair
Flows this morning are 1460 in Salida. 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 in 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 206 cfs at Arboles; Good: San Jaun River 330 cfs at Pagosa; Fair
Finally we have some fishable flows on the Piedra. 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, but can be crowded, at least until flows drop even more on the Piedra. The San Juan is still a little high but some of the smaller tributaries are clear and fishable.
Animas River 1050 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 119 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. Yesterday was the first day of the ant fall. 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 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 431 cfs at Cerro; Slow: at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow 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. 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 94 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 as Rithrogenia (Red Quills) and Golden Stones in the morning. 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. Pmd's, red quills, tan elk hair caddis, yellow stimulators, 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 74 cfs below Costilla Reservoir; Good
Arguably the most beautiful stream in New Mexico just opened to fishing last week. 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 34 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Very 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: 184 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Good: 105 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 244 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 afternoons. 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 coming down, but still a little high and murky. 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 235 cfs below Platoro Reservoir, 480 cfs at Mogote; Good
July 5, 2008. "Sorry for the delay we have been on the water and fairly busy this week. The Conejos this am is right at 700 cfs and looks great. Drakes were sputtering off yesterday at around their usual time of just before high noon and we had a great couple of hours throwing a #10 Meaty Drake and they ate that with no hesitation. Green Drake nymphs before the hatch seemed to be the best bugs. Hatch was light but that should change day by day. Still alot of caddis in the air and the Goldens and Salmon flies are up higher Flows in the meadow are still perfect for nymph fishing but expect some bugs to pop up there very soon as well if not already. No good reports from there in 6 days. Still the flows up in the high country are very pushy and probobly not ready for a fly yet." 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 162 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge near Creede; Good: 825 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
Releases have been coming down out of Rio Grande Reservoir seemingly every other day. 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. Green drakes are appearing around South Fork as well as PMD's and lots of caddis. There is lots of water below Wagon Wheel Gap making the river floatable all the way to South Fork.
Arkansas River 1460 cfs at Salida: Slow to Fair
Flows this morning are 1460 in Salida. 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 in 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 206 cfs at Arboles; Good: San Jaun River 330 cfs at Pagosa; Fair
Finally we have some fishable flows on the Piedra. 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, but can be crowded, at least until flows drop even more on the Piedra. The San Juan is still a little high but some of the smaller tributaries are clear and fishable.
Animas River 1050 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 119 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 Tuesday, July 15, 2008
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