Fly Fishing Report for Saturday February 21, 2009
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San Juan River 493 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
Navajo Lake has turned over and the release from the dam is murky with visibilty reportedly at 1-3 feet. Despite the poor visibility, fishing is good. Midge nymphing is the most productive. Size #20-24 red, black, and gray midges, and size #22 gray and chocolate RS2's and gray and chocolate foam back emergers with an egg attractor have been the better producers. Good reports from Simon Point up to Cable Hole. 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 white can end your slump. 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: 515 cfs at Pilar; Good for pike, Slow for trout, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande gets a little murky with melt off by mid-afternoon. Trout fishing is slow but will improve as we move into March with longer days and warmer weather. Nymphs presented on a long leader in the deeper runs can get you a few fish if you cover the water thoroughly. Show them a crane fly larvae with a trailing pheasant tail or black midge. You also can't go wrong with big bodied nymphs tied with peacock herl. 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. We've been seeing bigger pike lately, These are generally older females that have seen everything. If you see a laid up pike, it probably won't eat. Cover the deeper slower runs and change flies frequently to see which ones trigger a strike. Old Faithful, a red and white pike fly, doesn't have as much game as it usually does right now.
Pecos River approximately 25 cfs below Terrero; Slow
The Pecos River upstream of the village of Pecos has lost most of the ice along the edges and has been fishing fair for some. Big, dark stonefly nymphs and small black midges were working. Water temps are in the lower to mid-thirties so you'll have to get your flies down to the fish and put them in front of the fish' nose. Game and Fish hasn't stocked Villanueva State Park since January 12th. Red and chartreuse copper johns and egg patterns work well on the stockers. Given the better fishing and lack of stocking at Villanueva, your best bet is the upper Pecos from Dalton to Terrero. If you are fishing in the village of Pecos and even Camino Rincon, you are trespassing. Don't be a poacher! 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 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 until spring. There are sporadic midge hatches but the fish are very spooky. There is more water at the eastern end of the park below Clear Creek. Flies for the Cimarron are bwo's, Griffith's gnats, hares ear nymphs, and Barr's emergers.
Jemez Mountain Streams 20 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Slow to Fair
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 main stem Jemez was recently stocked.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow: 56 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair to Good: and 53 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow to Fair
The Chama River upstream of Tierra Amarilla is fishing slow, but much like the Pecos, fishing a large nymph attractor with a trailing midge can be productive. Check the flows before you make that drive to one of the tailwaters. 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. Focus on the obviuos seams and tailouts for a feeding fish. Releases from Abiquiu Dam have come back down yestertday. This stretch was also recently stocked. 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 412 cfs at Salida: Slow
Releases out of Twin Lakes have brought the Arkansas up a 100 cfs over last week. The extra cool water may slow the fishing. Midge hatches are still the only dry fly action. Most 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 Bighorn Sheep Canyon towards Canon City or below Pueblo Reservoir. Fish the seams and tailouts. Other fair fishing can be had on the South Platte below Spinney Reservoir, that is if you can deal with the wind.
Animas River 212 cfs at Durango; Slow
Much like every other lower elevation freestone stream, stonefly nymphs with a trailing midge or pheasant tail is working the best. Make sure they are drifted tight to the bottom and cover the obvious seams and tailouts.
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 493 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
Navajo Lake has turned over and the release from the dam is murky with visibilty reportedly at 1-3 feet. Despite the poor visibility, fishing is good. Midge nymphing is the most productive. Size #20-24 red, black, and gray midges, and size #22 gray and chocolate RS2's and gray and chocolate foam back emergers with an egg attractor have been the better producers. Good reports from Simon Point up to Cable Hole. 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 white can end your slump. 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: 515 cfs at Pilar; Good for pike, Slow for trout, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande gets a little murky with melt off by mid-afternoon. Trout fishing is slow but will improve as we move into March with longer days and warmer weather. Nymphs presented on a long leader in the deeper runs can get you a few fish if you cover the water thoroughly. Show them a crane fly larvae with a trailing pheasant tail or black midge. You also can't go wrong with big bodied nymphs tied with peacock herl. 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. We've been seeing bigger pike lately, These are generally older females that have seen everything. If you see a laid up pike, it probably won't eat. Cover the deeper slower runs and change flies frequently to see which ones trigger a strike. Old Faithful, a red and white pike fly, doesn't have as much game as it usually does right now.
Pecos River approximately 25 cfs below Terrero; Slow
The Pecos River upstream of the village of Pecos has lost most of the ice along the edges and has been fishing fair for some. Big, dark stonefly nymphs and small black midges were working. Water temps are in the lower to mid-thirties so you'll have to get your flies down to the fish and put them in front of the fish' nose. Game and Fish hasn't stocked Villanueva State Park since January 12th. Red and chartreuse copper johns and egg patterns work well on the stockers. Given the better fishing and lack of stocking at Villanueva, your best bet is the upper Pecos from Dalton to Terrero. If you are fishing in the village of Pecos and even Camino Rincon, you are trespassing. Don't be a poacher! 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 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 until spring. There are sporadic midge hatches but the fish are very spooky. There is more water at the eastern end of the park below Clear Creek. Flies for the Cimarron are bwo's, Griffith's gnats, hares ear nymphs, and Barr's emergers.
Jemez Mountain Streams 20 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Slow to Fair
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 main stem Jemez was recently stocked.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow: 56 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair to Good: and 53 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow to Fair
The Chama River upstream of Tierra Amarilla is fishing slow, but much like the Pecos, fishing a large nymph attractor with a trailing midge can be productive. Check the flows before you make that drive to one of the tailwaters. 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. Focus on the obviuos seams and tailouts for a feeding fish. Releases from Abiquiu Dam have come back down yestertday. This stretch was also recently stocked. 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 412 cfs at Salida: Slow
Releases out of Twin Lakes have brought the Arkansas up a 100 cfs over last week. The extra cool water may slow the fishing. Midge hatches are still the only dry fly action. Most 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 Bighorn Sheep Canyon towards Canon City or below Pueblo Reservoir. Fish the seams and tailouts. Other fair fishing can be had on the South Platte below Spinney Reservoir, that is if you can deal with the wind.
Animas River 212 cfs at Durango; Slow
Much like every other lower elevation freestone stream, stonefly nymphs with a trailing midge or pheasant tail is working the best. Make sure they are drifted tight to the bottom and cover the obvious seams and tailouts.
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 Saturday, February 21, 2009
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