Fly Fishing Report for Tuesday January 20, 2009
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San Juan River 504 cfs below Navajo Dam; Fair to Good
Navajo Lake has turned over and the release from the dam is murky with visibilty reportedly at 1-2 feet. Midge nymphing is the most productive, just use larger flies like #18's through #22's. Size #18-22 red, black, brown, and cream midges, and size #20 gray and chocolate rs2's and gray and chocolate foam back emergers with an egg attractor have been the better producers. If you absolutely must feel the weight of a fish on the end of your line, a bunny leech or woolly bugger in black or olive can end your slump. Texas hole and cable hole have been the better spots. There is a two fly only rule for the quality waters of the San Juan. This rule went into effect on July 1st.
Rio Grande at Cerro; Slow: 470 cfs at Pilar; Fair for pike, Slow for trout, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande has gotten a little murky with the latest precipitation melting off. Trout fishing has slowed now that water temps are below forty degrees. Nymphs presented on a long leader in the deeper runs can get you a few fish if you cover the water thoroughly. There can also be some riser coming up to midges mid-day, but they are not very frequent. The best time to fish for trout is mid-day until dark. 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 approximately 25 cfs below Terrero; Poor
The Pecos River upstream of the village of Pecos has some ice along the edges and covering some of the larger eddies. It'll take some warming up here to be worth fishing. Water temps are in the lower thirties so you'll have to get your flies down to the fish and put them in front of the fish' nose. Olive RS2's, Barr's emegers, and red and black midge larvae under an indicator are all working. Game and Fish has finally stocked Villanueva State Park on January 12th. Villanueva was last stocked on December 9th! Red and chartreuse copper johns and egg patterns work well on the stockers. Please respect all of the landowners along the Pecos and stay out of all posted private waters. Please report anyone over harvesting fish or poaching to New Mexico Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263.
Cimarron River 1.9 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Poor
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. The release is way down and likely to remain so until spring. The better fishing has come and gone on the Cimarron. There are sporadic hatches of blue winged olives and midge hatches as well. There is more water at the eastern end of the park below Clear Creek. Expect fish to be quite spooky. Flies for the Cimarron are bwo's, Griffith's gnats, hares ear nymphs, Barr's emergers, and gray and olive scuds.
Jemez Mountain Streams 23 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Slow
The lower Jemez streams fish ok mid-day. The streams are low and clear making a stealthy approach a challenge. Dry fly fishing is pretty well done here except for a few gullible fish looking up. Nymphing with a dry and a dropper is more productive with size 16-18 prince nymphs, pheasant tails, and black or blue copper johns. The better spots have been the lower Guadalupe, Jemez River, and the East Fork upstream of Battleship Rock.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow: 86 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair to Good: and 108 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow to Fair
The Chama River upstream of Tierra Amarilla is fishing slow and much like the Pecos, alot of the river is hemmed in by ice. I suspect now that the city of Albuquerque has started diverting their share of Chama/San Juan water, that we might see a higher release out of the reservoirs that empty into the Chama. Check the flows before you make that drive. The fishing is generally fair below El Vado using big nymphs with flash and sparkle or streamers, but the water is murky. Nymphing is tough with bad visibility but, streamer fishing is still good. Releases from Abiquiu Dam have come down to a fishable level for the time being. The water clarity is better here, so start reducing the size of your flies. Baetis nymphs, midges, and crane fly larva are the flies for the Chama below Abiquiu. Even though this stretch does have some decent natural reproduction, most of the fish that get caught get kept. 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:
Arkansas River 364 cfs at Salida: Slowr
With midge hatches being the only dry fly action, the most successful anglers are fishing double or triple nymph rigs. Stonefly nymphs, big copper johns, or a big prince nymph with a trailing black or red midges, or small flashback pheasant tails can pick up some fish. Best time to fish is noon to 4:00 with the better water being in Big Horn Sheep Canyon towards Canon City or below Pueblo Reservoir. Better fishing can be had on the South Platte below Spinney Reservoir, that is if you can deal with the wind.
Animas River 189 cfs at Durango; Slow
I haven't had any recent reports, but I suspect that fishing is slow now that winter has come to the San Juans. Streamers and nymphs drifted tight to the bottom should be the way to go on the Animas.
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 winter 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.
San Juan River 504 cfs below Navajo Dam; Fair to Good
Navajo Lake has turned over and the release from the dam is murky with visibilty reportedly at 1-2 feet. Midge nymphing is the most productive, just use larger flies like #18's through #22's. Size #18-22 red, black, brown, and cream midges, and size #20 gray and chocolate rs2's and gray and chocolate foam back emergers with an egg attractor have been the better producers. If you absolutely must feel the weight of a fish on the end of your line, a bunny leech or woolly bugger in black or olive can end your slump. Texas hole and cable hole have been the better spots. There is a two fly only rule for the quality waters of the San Juan. This rule went into effect on July 1st.
Rio Grande at Cerro; Slow: 470 cfs at Pilar; Fair for pike, Slow for trout, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande has gotten a little murky with the latest precipitation melting off. Trout fishing has slowed now that water temps are below forty degrees. Nymphs presented on a long leader in the deeper runs can get you a few fish if you cover the water thoroughly. There can also be some riser coming up to midges mid-day, but they are not very frequent. The best time to fish for trout is mid-day until dark. 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 approximately 25 cfs below Terrero; Poor
The Pecos River upstream of the village of Pecos has some ice along the edges and covering some of the larger eddies. It'll take some warming up here to be worth fishing. Water temps are in the lower thirties so you'll have to get your flies down to the fish and put them in front of the fish' nose. Olive RS2's, Barr's emegers, and red and black midge larvae under an indicator are all working. Game and Fish has finally stocked Villanueva State Park on January 12th. Villanueva was last stocked on December 9th! Red and chartreuse copper johns and egg patterns work well on the stockers. Please respect all of the landowners along the Pecos and stay out of all posted private waters. Please report anyone over harvesting fish or poaching to New Mexico Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263.
Cimarron River 1.9 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Poor
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. The release is way down and likely to remain so until spring. The better fishing has come and gone on the Cimarron. There are sporadic hatches of blue winged olives and midge hatches as well. There is more water at the eastern end of the park below Clear Creek. Expect fish to be quite spooky. Flies for the Cimarron are bwo's, Griffith's gnats, hares ear nymphs, Barr's emergers, and gray and olive scuds.
Jemez Mountain Streams 23 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Slow
The lower Jemez streams fish ok mid-day. The streams are low and clear making a stealthy approach a challenge. Dry fly fishing is pretty well done here except for a few gullible fish looking up. Nymphing with a dry and a dropper is more productive with size 16-18 prince nymphs, pheasant tails, and black or blue copper johns. The better spots have been the lower Guadalupe, Jemez River, and the East Fork upstream of Battleship Rock.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow: 86 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair to Good: and 108 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow to Fair
The Chama River upstream of Tierra Amarilla is fishing slow and much like the Pecos, alot of the river is hemmed in by ice. I suspect now that the city of Albuquerque has started diverting their share of Chama/San Juan water, that we might see a higher release out of the reservoirs that empty into the Chama. Check the flows before you make that drive. The fishing is generally fair below El Vado using big nymphs with flash and sparkle or streamers, but the water is murky. Nymphing is tough with bad visibility but, streamer fishing is still good. Releases from Abiquiu Dam have come down to a fishable level for the time being. The water clarity is better here, so start reducing the size of your flies. Baetis nymphs, midges, and crane fly larva are the flies for the Chama below Abiquiu. Even though this stretch does have some decent natural reproduction, most of the fish that get caught get kept. 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:
Arkansas River 364 cfs at Salida: Slowr
With midge hatches being the only dry fly action, the most successful anglers are fishing double or triple nymph rigs. Stonefly nymphs, big copper johns, or a big prince nymph with a trailing black or red midges, or small flashback pheasant tails can pick up some fish. Best time to fish is noon to 4:00 with the better water being in Big Horn Sheep Canyon towards Canon City or below Pueblo Reservoir. Better fishing can be had on the South Platte below Spinney Reservoir, that is if you can deal with the wind.
Animas River 189 cfs at Durango; Slow
I haven't had any recent reports, but I suspect that fishing is slow now that winter has come to the San Juans. Streamers and nymphs drifted tight to the bottom should be the way to go on the Animas.
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 winter 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 Tuesday, January 20, 2009
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