Fly Fishing Report for Monday April 20, 2009
Take the Clean Angling Pledge at www.cleanangling.org
The new fishing license year started April 1st! The new licenses are available now at the fly shop. Anglers in New Mexico spent an estimated $295,874,000 in 2006. More than $125 million was spent on trip-related expenses, and more than $50 million was spent on food and lodging. As you can see, fishing is an important part of New Mexico's economy. Consider that fishing is still an affordable form of recreation. Just about wherever you live, there is some fishing to be had within an hour's drive. And please take a kid fishing. It's free if they are 11 and under and only $15 for ages 12 to 17.
San Juan River 504 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
Not much change here except more baetis are coming off in the afternoons. The release from the dam is still murky but improving with visibilty reportedly at 2-4 feet. Despite the visibility, fishing is fair for some, better for others. Midge nymphing is the most productive. Size #20-24 red, black, and brown midges, and size #22 gray and chocolate RS2's and gray and chocolate foam back emergers with an egg attractor are still the better producers. Good reports from Simon Point up to Cable Hole. A bunny leech or woolly bugger cast and stripped or dead drifted in black or white can end your slump. The high spring time release is scheduled for the third week of May. We'll post the exact schedule as we get closer to that date. There is a two fly only rule for the quality waters of the San Juan. This rule went into effect on July 1st. Game and Fish officers are out and they have been checking people for licenses, barbless flies, and the number of flies on your rig!
Rio Grande 477 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 711 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Fair for trout, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is murky, but clearing and the flows have come way down over the past couple of days. Trout fishing is slow but should improve if we don't get a lot of snowmellt. There are lots of caddis about and the fish are taking larvae imitations. Streamers fished in the pockets or in the tailouts can also pick up some trout at Pilar. Show them a crane fly larvae with a trailing pheasant tail or caddis larvae. 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. Cover the deeper slower runs and change flies frequently to see which ones trigger a strike.
Pecos River approximately 206 cfs below Terrero; Fair
The river is going back up in flow and is getting a little off color. There is a little less water in the morning and is your best chance at clearer water. Despite the extra water, fishing is fair upstream of the village of Pecos to Mora Campground. Big, dark stonefly nymphs and small black midges and pheasant tails are the way to go. Water temps are in the high-thirties and only warming by several degrees, so you'll have to get your flies down to the fish and put them in front of the fish' nose. 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 34 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Fair
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. The release is up for now. There are sporadic midge hatches and baetis hatches. There are a few tributaries to the Cimarron that are showing signs of runoff. You will find clearer water in the mornings. Flies for the Cimarron are bwo's, Griffith's gnats, hares ear nymphs, and Barr's emergers. Coyote Creek Stae Park, somewhat near the Cimarron has been fishing well lately. The runoff here is minimal. Small beadheads drifted under an indicator or a dry fly are the current tactics.
Jemez Mountain Streams 119 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair
The Jemez streams collectively have been showing increased runoff. The East Fork up high, the Rio San Antonio, and Cebolla are you best bets. Nymphing with a dry and a dropper with size 16-18 prince nymphs, pheasant tails, and black or blue copper johns.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: 490 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Poor: 541 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair to Slow: and 568 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The Chama River upstream of Tierra Amarilla is fishing slow and the flows are high. Runoff has apparently hit the Chama and may take a few weeks or a month to clear up, so keep checking the reports. Also, 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. The release is also a bit high for easy wading. Nymphing is tough with the bad visibility but, streamer fishing is still good. Focus on the obvious seams and tailouts for a feeding fish. Releases from Abiquiu Dam are fluctuating and it's definitely affected the fishing in a negative way. The flows are quite high for safe wading and the water is stirred up. Baetis nymphs, midges, and crane fly larva are the usual 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 273 cfs at Salida: Good
The releases out of Twin Lakes have been reduced and the main stem Ark is at a great flow for wading. Release out of the reservoirs is being held back because of the negative response to last year's releases. Baetis are hatching reliably in the afternoons and the caddis hatch here should be a couple of weeks away. The water temps are still around 40 degrees. Fishing the gravel bars with stonefly nymphs and a trailing pheasant tail or caddis nymph will pick up fish. Good water is from Buena Vista downstream towards Bighorn Sheep Canyon. 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 608 cfs at Durango; Slow
Much like every other lower elevation freestone stream, the water levels are rising. Also much like every other lower elevation freestone stream, stonefly nymphs with a trailing midge or pheasant tail was working the best. Make sure they are drifted tight to the bottom and cover the obvious seams and tailouts once the water starts clearing. If it stays warm, it may take a month or so.
Conejos River 180 cfs at Mogote; Fair
The water here is remarkably clear with about four feet of visibility. Runoff could really start this week with some warm daytime temps. Wanna guess what flies are working on the Conejos? Well, like every other lower elevation freestone stream, a big, dark stonefly nymph with a smaller trailing nymph seems to be the way to go. If the fishing trend continues, it's going to be a nymph fisher's paradise fishing pre-runoff. Congratulations to all of the winners at the Superfly!
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 a warm, early spring 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 most current stream flows, see our links page and click on New Mexico Stream Flows.
The new fishing license year started April 1st! The new licenses are available now at the fly shop. Anglers in New Mexico spent an estimated $295,874,000 in 2006. More than $125 million was spent on trip-related expenses, and more than $50 million was spent on food and lodging. As you can see, fishing is an important part of New Mexico's economy. Consider that fishing is still an affordable form of recreation. Just about wherever you live, there is some fishing to be had within an hour's drive. And please take a kid fishing. It's free if they are 11 and under and only $15 for ages 12 to 17.
San Juan River 504 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
Not much change here except more baetis are coming off in the afternoons. The release from the dam is still murky but improving with visibilty reportedly at 2-4 feet. Despite the visibility, fishing is fair for some, better for others. Midge nymphing is the most productive. Size #20-24 red, black, and brown midges, and size #22 gray and chocolate RS2's and gray and chocolate foam back emergers with an egg attractor are still the better producers. Good reports from Simon Point up to Cable Hole. A bunny leech or woolly bugger cast and stripped or dead drifted in black or white can end your slump. The high spring time release is scheduled for the third week of May. We'll post the exact schedule as we get closer to that date. There is a two fly only rule for the quality waters of the San Juan. This rule went into effect on July 1st. Game and Fish officers are out and they have been checking people for licenses, barbless flies, and the number of flies on your rig!
Rio Grande 477 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 711 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Fair for trout, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is murky, but clearing and the flows have come way down over the past couple of days. Trout fishing is slow but should improve if we don't get a lot of snowmellt. There are lots of caddis about and the fish are taking larvae imitations. Streamers fished in the pockets or in the tailouts can also pick up some trout at Pilar. Show them a crane fly larvae with a trailing pheasant tail or caddis larvae. 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. Cover the deeper slower runs and change flies frequently to see which ones trigger a strike.
Pecos River approximately 206 cfs below Terrero; Fair
The river is going back up in flow and is getting a little off color. There is a little less water in the morning and is your best chance at clearer water. Despite the extra water, fishing is fair upstream of the village of Pecos to Mora Campground. Big, dark stonefly nymphs and small black midges and pheasant tails are the way to go. Water temps are in the high-thirties and only warming by several degrees, so you'll have to get your flies down to the fish and put them in front of the fish' nose. 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 34 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Fair
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. The release is up for now. There are sporadic midge hatches and baetis hatches. There are a few tributaries to the Cimarron that are showing signs of runoff. You will find clearer water in the mornings. Flies for the Cimarron are bwo's, Griffith's gnats, hares ear nymphs, and Barr's emergers. Coyote Creek Stae Park, somewhat near the Cimarron has been fishing well lately. The runoff here is minimal. Small beadheads drifted under an indicator or a dry fly are the current tactics.
Jemez Mountain Streams 119 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair
The Jemez streams collectively have been showing increased runoff. The East Fork up high, the Rio San Antonio, and Cebolla are you best bets. Nymphing with a dry and a dropper with size 16-18 prince nymphs, pheasant tails, and black or blue copper johns.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: 490 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Poor: 541 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair to Slow: and 568 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The Chama River upstream of Tierra Amarilla is fishing slow and the flows are high. Runoff has apparently hit the Chama and may take a few weeks or a month to clear up, so keep checking the reports. Also, 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. The release is also a bit high for easy wading. Nymphing is tough with the bad visibility but, streamer fishing is still good. Focus on the obvious seams and tailouts for a feeding fish. Releases from Abiquiu Dam are fluctuating and it's definitely affected the fishing in a negative way. The flows are quite high for safe wading and the water is stirred up. Baetis nymphs, midges, and crane fly larva are the usual 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 273 cfs at Salida: Good
The releases out of Twin Lakes have been reduced and the main stem Ark is at a great flow for wading. Release out of the reservoirs is being held back because of the negative response to last year's releases. Baetis are hatching reliably in the afternoons and the caddis hatch here should be a couple of weeks away. The water temps are still around 40 degrees. Fishing the gravel bars with stonefly nymphs and a trailing pheasant tail or caddis nymph will pick up fish. Good water is from Buena Vista downstream towards Bighorn Sheep Canyon. 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 608 cfs at Durango; Slow
Much like every other lower elevation freestone stream, the water levels are rising. Also much like every other lower elevation freestone stream, stonefly nymphs with a trailing midge or pheasant tail was working the best. Make sure they are drifted tight to the bottom and cover the obvious seams and tailouts once the water starts clearing. If it stays warm, it may take a month or so.
Conejos River 180 cfs at Mogote; Fair
The water here is remarkably clear with about four feet of visibility. Runoff could really start this week with some warm daytime temps. Wanna guess what flies are working on the Conejos? Well, like every other lower elevation freestone stream, a big, dark stonefly nymph with a smaller trailing nymph seems to be the way to go. If the fishing trend continues, it's going to be a nymph fisher's paradise fishing pre-runoff. Congratulations to all of the winners at the Superfly!
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 a warm, early spring 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 most current stream flows, see our links page and click on New Mexico Stream Flows.
posted by High Desert Angler at Monday, April 20, 2009
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