Fly Fishing Report for Thursday October 2, 2008
San Juan River 702 cfs below Navajo Dam; Fair
The release out of Navajo Dam are back on their way down. We were rather fortunate to have decent releases through the winter last year. Let's hope that the release doesn't go below the current level of 702 cfs. Midge nymphing in the morning is the most productive, and fish may start to rise for baetis and midges in the afternoon. Size 24-26 olive, black, brown, and cream midge larvae, and size 22-24 gray and chocolate rs2's and gray and chocolate foam back emergers have been the better producers. The smaller versions of most flies (size #26) tend to out fish a larger size. On bright sunny days expect the fish to be in deeper water. Texas hole and cable hole have been the better spots. Simon Canyon blew out and the lower river from there down is VERY sandy. There is a two fly only rule for the quality waters of the San Juan. This rule went into effect on July 1st. On Friday October 3rd, KNME channel 5 television station will air a show on the San Juan. It starts at 7pm. While the San Juan is still a great place to fish, there was a time when it was even better. The show will focus on the current woes of the San Juan and can help bring some solutions to light that can return the river fishery to it's former glory.
Rio Grande 72 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 252 cfs at Pilar; Fair for pike, Good for trout, Fair for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is a little murky with about three feet of visibility. 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 are feeding well in anticipation of winter. The best time to fish for trout is early morning or in the evenings. Smallmouth inhabit the eddies and can be picked up on crayfish patterns or woolly buggers on a long leader or 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. Flies for the Rio are autumn splendors, zoo cougars, conehead madonna’s, caddis nymphs, and Barr's emergers, and RS2'S. For pike, show them big rabbit strip flies, large streamers or diving flies.
Pecos River 43 cfs below Terrero; Good
The river above the village of Pecos continues to fish well. Caddis hatches in the afternoons are bringing up some fish as well as lots of Blue Winged Olives during cloud cover. It's early autumn and still the time to use terrestrials. Hoppers, ants, and small beetles, especially an ant fished wet can help you catch when the fish won't eat anything else. 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. Red quills, tan fluttering caddis, blue winged olives, ants, hoppers, RS2's, Barr's emegers, and Furimsky's peeking caddis are all working pretty much the length of the public water. Pecos National Historical Park has opened up their section of the Forked Lightning Ranch on the Pecos River to fishing. Please see our announcements page for the details. 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 1.1 cfs below Costilla Reservoir; Poor; Fair below Commanche Creek
Arguably the most beautiful stream in New Mexico, however the release has been reduced to near zero. Fishing below the confluence with Commanche Creek is still good. These fish have seen alot over he past two months, so focus on nymphing during high sun with a crane fly larvae under the cut banks. Cast dry flies tight to the banks early or late in the day and set hooks quickly. Shuree Ponds are continuing to fish very well. Buggers, damsel nymphs, and aquatic snails are the flies for Shuree. The flies for the Valle Vidal are Royal Wulffs, irrestibles, humpies, and stimulators, as well as crane fly larvae and big pheasant tails.
Cimarron River 37 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Fair
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. We Currently have nice flows on the Cimarron, but it will change any day now when the call for irrigation water is reduced. There are sporadic caddis hatches and blue winged olives. There is more water at the eastern end of the park below Clear Creek. Fishing is fair with hatches of caddis, blue winged olives, and pmd's. Expect fish to be quite spooky. Flies for the Cimarron are golden stonefly nymphs, yellow stimulators, pink cahills, pmd's, bwo's, hares ear nymphs, Barr's emergers, and gray and olive scuds.
Jemez Mountain Streams 17 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good
The Jemez streams are all fishing well. The lower Jemez streams fish well mid-day and the headwater stretches are better in the afternoons. The headwaters are low and clear making a stealthy approach a challenge. Dry fly fishing with size 14-16 yellow stimulators, small parachute adams, dennis hoppers, ants, and yellow sallies has been good. The Valles Caldera Trust has opened the East Fork to fishing on the Valles Caldera National Preserve. To apply, use this link to their website at /www.vallescaldera.gov/comevisit/fish/EastFork.aspx. Otherwise access the East Fork reservation page from their home page by clicking on Come Visit. Then click on the fishing tab and select East Fork. I do have to report that fishing the East Fork was marginal at best for me as they pastured 300 head or so of cattle that had a direct impact on water quality and consequently the fishing. The elk watching was incredible however!
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Very Good: 46 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Good: 593 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow to Fair: and 739 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The Chama River above the village of Chama has good visibility. There are caddis hatches in the afternoons and BWO's and other sporadic mayfly hatches coming off between Tierra Amarilla and Chama and the fall colors are just starting to show. The fishing is generally fair below El Vado using big nymphs with flash and sparkle or streamers, but the water is murky. The releases below El Vado has been steady but is a little too high for good fishing or safe wading. High releases and murky water from Abiquiu Dam have made the Chama below it unfishable most of the time. It will however be fishing well soon when water demands are reduced and the dam release as well. The tailwater sections usually fish best below 300 cfs. 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 87 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 145 cfs at Mogote; Good
September 30, 2008 I know this is supposed to be a fishing report but the fall colors are nothing short of breathtaking, with that said we are catching fish on on streamers, nymphs, and dries. Water releases out of Platoro are supposed to be up until the 15th of October and at that time they will be lowered to do some repairs to the dam. The Browns are definately in the pre spawn mode and some of the bigger browns are in the small tribs looking like whales caught in the wrong bay. Fish seem to be eating alot of small nymphs and smaller adult mayflies. Hoppers are moving fish especially on the edges and along cutbanks and structure. Dark streamers medium to large have at times been great and moving big fish. Water is low and clear and so that opens the door to fish being more surface conscious and I think that throwing small BWO adults should move some fish even large fish will move for the adults. The Hofer Rainbows were stocked last week. Say a prayer for the little guys that they would be able to survive predation, 30 below 0 winters, and that their brains would kick in sooner than later." Jon Harp, of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report.
Rio Grande 37 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge near Creede; Good: 210 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
Fishing has been good on the upper Rio. Mornings have been a little slow and hopper fishing may be done for as there already have been some frosts north of Alamosa. Green Drakes, BWO's, and caddis are all out and maybe still some grasshoppers bringing up some 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 stimulators or Green Drakes in the shallower water.
Arkansas River 311 cfs at Salida: Good
The river has come down dramatically now that the releases from Clear Creek Reservoir and Twin Lakes have been lowered. There is good fishing and easier wading upstream of Buena Vista. There have been some afternoon mahogany dun and caddis hatches and Blue Winged Olives on the cloudy days. Near Salida, the state leases are fishing well on the same bugs, just make sure to cover the edges in the mornings and evenings and the deeper runs in the afternoons. Don't overlook the fast water mid-day especially if it's cloudy. PMD's, caddis, blue winged olives, yellow sallies, hoppers, with a trailing pheasant tails or Barr's emerger are all working on the Ark.
Piedra River 83 cfs at Arboles; Good: San Juan River 62 cfs at Pagosa; Good
The rivers are quite clear and very wadeable. The Pagosa area waters have another month or so of decent fishing. Expect mornings to be a little slow with nymphs picking up most if not all of the fish. The Williams Creek below the dam has also has been fishing well. Some of the smaller tributaries are clear and fishable.
Animas River 276 cfs at Durango; Good
The flows on the Animas are stable and the water is clear. The river near Durango has good visibility and has been fishing well especially on streamers. There has also been lots of caddis coming off right through town. The Delores below McPhee is down and currently flowing at 40 cfs. The upper forks of the Delores are still 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 autumn in New Mexico and water and fishing condtitions are changing frequently! 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 release out of Navajo Dam are back on their way down. We were rather fortunate to have decent releases through the winter last year. Let's hope that the release doesn't go below the current level of 702 cfs. Midge nymphing in the morning is the most productive, and fish may start to rise for baetis and midges in the afternoon. Size 24-26 olive, black, brown, and cream midge larvae, and size 22-24 gray and chocolate rs2's and gray and chocolate foam back emergers have been the better producers. The smaller versions of most flies (size #26) tend to out fish a larger size. On bright sunny days expect the fish to be in deeper water. Texas hole and cable hole have been the better spots. Simon Canyon blew out and the lower river from there down is VERY sandy. There is a two fly only rule for the quality waters of the San Juan. This rule went into effect on July 1st. On Friday October 3rd, KNME channel 5 television station will air a show on the San Juan. It starts at 7pm. While the San Juan is still a great place to fish, there was a time when it was even better. The show will focus on the current woes of the San Juan and can help bring some solutions to light that can return the river fishery to it's former glory.
Rio Grande 72 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 252 cfs at Pilar; Fair for pike, Good for trout, Fair for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is a little murky with about three feet of visibility. 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 are feeding well in anticipation of winter. The best time to fish for trout is early morning or in the evenings. Smallmouth inhabit the eddies and can be picked up on crayfish patterns or woolly buggers on a long leader or 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. Flies for the Rio are autumn splendors, zoo cougars, conehead madonna’s, caddis nymphs, and Barr's emergers, and RS2'S. For pike, show them big rabbit strip flies, large streamers or diving flies.
Pecos River 43 cfs below Terrero; Good
The river above the village of Pecos continues to fish well. Caddis hatches in the afternoons are bringing up some fish as well as lots of Blue Winged Olives during cloud cover. It's early autumn and still the time to use terrestrials. Hoppers, ants, and small beetles, especially an ant fished wet can help you catch when the fish won't eat anything else. 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. Red quills, tan fluttering caddis, blue winged olives, ants, hoppers, RS2's, Barr's emegers, and Furimsky's peeking caddis are all working pretty much the length of the public water. Pecos National Historical Park has opened up their section of the Forked Lightning Ranch on the Pecos River to fishing. Please see our announcements page for the details. 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 1.1 cfs below Costilla Reservoir; Poor; Fair below Commanche Creek
Arguably the most beautiful stream in New Mexico, however the release has been reduced to near zero. Fishing below the confluence with Commanche Creek is still good. These fish have seen alot over he past two months, so focus on nymphing during high sun with a crane fly larvae under the cut banks. Cast dry flies tight to the banks early or late in the day and set hooks quickly. Shuree Ponds are continuing to fish very well. Buggers, damsel nymphs, and aquatic snails are the flies for Shuree. The flies for the Valle Vidal are Royal Wulffs, irrestibles, humpies, and stimulators, as well as crane fly larvae and big pheasant tails.
Cimarron River 37 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Fair
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. We Currently have nice flows on the Cimarron, but it will change any day now when the call for irrigation water is reduced. There are sporadic caddis hatches and blue winged olives. There is more water at the eastern end of the park below Clear Creek. Fishing is fair with hatches of caddis, blue winged olives, and pmd's. Expect fish to be quite spooky. Flies for the Cimarron are golden stonefly nymphs, yellow stimulators, pink cahills, pmd's, bwo's, hares ear nymphs, Barr's emergers, and gray and olive scuds.
Jemez Mountain Streams 17 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good
The Jemez streams are all fishing well. The lower Jemez streams fish well mid-day and the headwater stretches are better in the afternoons. The headwaters are low and clear making a stealthy approach a challenge. Dry fly fishing with size 14-16 yellow stimulators, small parachute adams, dennis hoppers, ants, and yellow sallies has been good. The Valles Caldera Trust has opened the East Fork to fishing on the Valles Caldera National Preserve. To apply, use this link to their website at /www.vallescaldera.gov/comevisit/fish/EastFork.aspx. Otherwise access the East Fork reservation page from their home page by clicking on Come Visit. Then click on the fishing tab and select East Fork. I do have to report that fishing the East Fork was marginal at best for me as they pastured 300 head or so of cattle that had a direct impact on water quality and consequently the fishing. The elk watching was incredible however!
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Very Good: 46 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Good: 593 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow to Fair: and 739 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The Chama River above the village of Chama has good visibility. There are caddis hatches in the afternoons and BWO's and other sporadic mayfly hatches coming off between Tierra Amarilla and Chama and the fall colors are just starting to show. The fishing is generally fair below El Vado using big nymphs with flash and sparkle or streamers, but the water is murky. The releases below El Vado has been steady but is a little too high for good fishing or safe wading. High releases and murky water from Abiquiu Dam have made the Chama below it unfishable most of the time. It will however be fishing well soon when water demands are reduced and the dam release as well. The tailwater sections usually fish best below 300 cfs. 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 87 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 145 cfs at Mogote; Good
September 30, 2008 I know this is supposed to be a fishing report but the fall colors are nothing short of breathtaking, with that said we are catching fish on on streamers, nymphs, and dries. Water releases out of Platoro are supposed to be up until the 15th of October and at that time they will be lowered to do some repairs to the dam. The Browns are definately in the pre spawn mode and some of the bigger browns are in the small tribs looking like whales caught in the wrong bay. Fish seem to be eating alot of small nymphs and smaller adult mayflies. Hoppers are moving fish especially on the edges and along cutbanks and structure. Dark streamers medium to large have at times been great and moving big fish. Water is low and clear and so that opens the door to fish being more surface conscious and I think that throwing small BWO adults should move some fish even large fish will move for the adults. The Hofer Rainbows were stocked last week. Say a prayer for the little guys that they would be able to survive predation, 30 below 0 winters, and that their brains would kick in sooner than later." Jon Harp, of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report.
Rio Grande 37 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge near Creede; Good: 210 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
Fishing has been good on the upper Rio. Mornings have been a little slow and hopper fishing may be done for as there already have been some frosts north of Alamosa. Green Drakes, BWO's, and caddis are all out and maybe still some grasshoppers bringing up some 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 stimulators or Green Drakes in the shallower water.
Arkansas River 311 cfs at Salida: Good
The river has come down dramatically now that the releases from Clear Creek Reservoir and Twin Lakes have been lowered. There is good fishing and easier wading upstream of Buena Vista. There have been some afternoon mahogany dun and caddis hatches and Blue Winged Olives on the cloudy days. Near Salida, the state leases are fishing well on the same bugs, just make sure to cover the edges in the mornings and evenings and the deeper runs in the afternoons. Don't overlook the fast water mid-day especially if it's cloudy. PMD's, caddis, blue winged olives, yellow sallies, hoppers, with a trailing pheasant tails or Barr's emerger are all working on the Ark.
Piedra River 83 cfs at Arboles; Good: San Juan River 62 cfs at Pagosa; Good
The rivers are quite clear and very wadeable. The Pagosa area waters have another month or so of decent fishing. Expect mornings to be a little slow with nymphs picking up most if not all of the fish. The Williams Creek below the dam has also has been fishing well. Some of the smaller tributaries are clear and fishable.
Animas River 276 cfs at Durango; Good
The flows on the Animas are stable and the water is clear. The river near Durango has good visibility and has been fishing well especially on streamers. There has also been lots of caddis coming off right through town. The Delores below McPhee is down and currently flowing at 40 cfs. The upper forks of the Delores are still 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 autumn in New Mexico and water and fishing condtitions are changing frequently! 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 Thursday, October 02, 2008
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