Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Saturday August 15, 2009
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Rio Costilla 75 cfs below Costilla Reservoir Good
The Rio Costilla is absolutely the most beautiful trout stream in the state and a place where you can reliably catch a Rio Grande Cutthroat. Shuree Ponds also located within the Valle Vidal are giving anglers a shot at catching a lunker over 20 inches. The release out of Costilla Reservoir is a little high for optimum fishing, so high riding and visible dry flies cast tigh to the banks will be the tactics for the Rio Costilla. Diving caddis or damsel nymphs on a long leader and floating line for Shuree Ponds. Remember that all streams of the Valle Vidal is No Kill, Catch and Release only.
Pecos River 47 cfs below Terrero; Good
The river is fishing fairly well with a few hatches of late summer bugs. Blue Winged Olives, yellow sallies, and small caddis have been on the trout's menu lately. Fishing does slow some mid-day, and dry dropper rigs work better than dries. Once you get above Mora Creek, it's a dry fly game. Game and Fish put some Rio Grande Cutthroats in the Pecos earlier this summer. Go catch and RELEASE one of these beauties. 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.
San Juan River 983 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The release below Navajo Dam went up as flows declined on the Animas. In order to maintain sufficient flows in the critical reach habitat for native fishes downstream of Farmington, the release was increased out of Navajo Dam. No word on how long we'll see the higher flows so take advantage of this. There is a midge hatch early morining till 10 or 11 am. Fish cream, gray, or olive midge emergers and larvae before 11 am. Below Texas Hole, the baetis hatch starts from lunch time til 5 pm. Olive or gray RS2's, johnny flashes, or foam wings seem to be the colors for the emergers and small 22-24 BWO dries. Midge fishing will pick back up in the evenings on black or gray emergers. Time to go back to the small stuff and fluorocarbon tippets. Streamers in the deeper runs can be incredible. Pale Morning Duns have made it to just below Texas Hole. The hatch is from 2 pm to 6 pm. Dry fly fishing with PMD's and hoppers has been good on the lower river float if you arrange for a guide. Remember to take your sunscreen and insect repellent with you!There is a two fly only rule for the quality waters of the San Juan. This rule went into effect on July 1st of 2008. Game and Fish officers have been heavy handed and are checking people for licenses, barbless flies, and the number of flies on your rig! File those barbs or go barbless, as the fines are steep!
Rio Grande 66 cfs at Cerro; Fair: 247 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow for trout, Fair for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is somewhat clear at 3 feet of vivbility. Hurry, it usually doesn't last long. Smallmouth eat crayfish patterns and wooly buggers in the eddies and you can pick out some trout in the tailouts of larger runs or in the pockets. For trout, show them a crane fly larvae, stonelfy nymph, or work streamers around structure. The best trout fishing is from 4 pm until dusk. Game and Fish stocked some Rio Grande Cutthroats into the gorge. Kinda cool to have the river's namesake fish swimming in it's waters again. Please treat these fish as no kill. The low flows we are currently seeing should make casting to pike alot easier. Pike hunt by feel and they'll take large streamers that move water regardless of water clarity, just be sure to cover the water thoroughly. Cover the deep, slower runs and change flies frequently to see which ones trigger a strike.
Cimarron River 47 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. The release is up and fishing is good. The lower river is more open and can offer easier casting than the brushy stuff on the upper end. There are caddis, yellow sallies, baetis, and PMD hatches over the river. Flies for the Cimarron are yellow stimulators, PMD's, caddis, yellow sallies, scuds, hares ear nymphs, and Barr's PMD emergers.
Jemez Mountain Streams 20 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Good
The Cebolla, the East Fork, and the San Antonio are fishing well with a dries or a dry with a small dropper. The more open stretches of meadow water are fishing slower mid-day. Generally the more shaded water or the higher you go will beat that mid-day slump. It's the perfect place for light tackle, so take your onie and go high. There are hatches of little yellow sallies, caddis, and lots of grasshoppers andm beetles.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Good: 80 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Fair: 943 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair: and 969 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The Chama River upstream of Tierra Amarilla is fishing well, except the river can murk up after a thunder shower. The Chama can take a day or two to clear up, so keep checking the reports. Currently, the Sargent Wildlife Area is the place to fish with caddis, PMD's and little yellow sallies. I've had mixed reports from the section above El Vado Reservoir. Large nymphs like craneflies and stoneflies or streamers like slumpbusters are best there. 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. The release is high. Cover the tailouts of pools and hit the obvious seams. The release out of Abiquiu fluctuates greatly depending on irrigation need and municipal water supplies so it's best to find someplace else to fish most of the summer. 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 best fishing here is up on the lake for smallmouth and walleye from the shore. 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 330 cfs below Platoro, 391 cfs at Mogote; Good
August 13th. "Devan is making some improvement and is supposed to make an appearance in the shop tomorrow. It appears that it is an extremely rare case of Colorado Tick Fever?! Only 10 cases ever reported here but still to early to be sure. The fishing has been interesting. Some great stuff and big fish landed and plenty of the usual Conejos where are they? Or I dont think there are any fish in the river stuff. It does seem that the fish have begun to look up again and we had a good couple days with dry flies. Meadow had a beautiful BWO hatch this am and down low Randy and his group stuck alot of fish on Trudes on top and #18 Zebras below. If you are fishing eeeeaarly you are doing yourself a huge favor (I just felt a hateful vibration from the trout for saying that). If you go fishing at 2:00 on these bright hot days and wonder whats going on, dont. Its tough at that time. The flows were bumped up to 319 out of Platoro and that should make the meadow and low river fish really well. No problem of high temps and stressed out August fish here so good news for the trout. Fishing the Pinnacles or the Canyon water until the flow is lowered should not be done. To high. Fish the tribs which are good right now even if some are a little low or the upper or lower river. It has been alot of fun to see some lunkers hooked lately. We wondered if there were any that survived winter because we did not see many in the spring and during the Superfly. A young boy fishing with Randy today made the book of 20's by landing a pig that could have been measured in pounds and not inches. Congratulations. Will see if I can get his name later but plenty have been breaking that mark. Another angler landed 6 over 20 in a day. Tomorrow we will try it all over and Devan claims he is tying the flies tonight that they wont be able to help themselves!!!!! We'll see!" Jon Harp of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceding report.
Arkansas River 485 cfs at Granite; Good: 699 cfs at Salida; Good
Flows are finally down and much more of the river is wadable and fishable from Hayden Meadows down into Bighorn Sheep Canyon. Caddis on either ends of the day or dry dropper rigs mid-day are working in the Salida area. From Brown's Canyon to Granite, try caddis, PMD,s and attractor dries with a dropper or full nymph rig for the mid-day slump. From Granite upstream to Hayden Meadows, it's hoppers, ants, caddis, and PMD's.
Animas River 255 cfs at Durango; Slow to Fair
The Animas can get murky after the typical summer thunder shower. Caddis nymphs with a trailing midge or pheasant tail drifted and swung along the banks will pick up some fish. The release on the Delores below McPhee is currenlty at 70 cfs. The fish here are very skittish making for some technical presentations. The Delores above McPhee is seeing the big crowds of summer but better fishing.
Pagosa Area: Piedra River 65 cfs at Arboles; Fair to Good: San Juan River 80 cfs at Pagosa Springs; Fair
The Pagosa area streams are all fishing well. The upper Piedra is good on PMD's, caddis, and yellow sallies. Warmer water has slowed fishing on the lower San Juan below Trujillo bridge, the lower Piedra, and Williams Creek below the reservoir. Please don't fish these waters if they are anywhere near 70 degrees. Lots of caddis especially in the evening has made for great fishing on the San Juan near Pagosa. I've had great reports from South Fork of the Rio Grande, Turkey Creek, Fourmile Creek, and the East Fork of the San Juan. Much like everywhere else, fishing is bettter in the mornings or evenings, than mid-day.
Rio Grande 91 cfs at Creede; Slow to Fair: 302 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
Releases out of Rio Grande Reservoir have been down for about two weeks now. The oxbows below the reservor have been fishing very well as has most of the river. Terrestrials, caddis, stoneflies, and PMD's are all over the place. The South Fork of the Rio has fishing well on big cicadas, brownstones, hoppers, and big attractors.
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 summer time in New Mexico and water and fishing condtitions change 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.
Rio Costilla 75 cfs below Costilla Reservoir Good
The Rio Costilla is absolutely the most beautiful trout stream in the state and a place where you can reliably catch a Rio Grande Cutthroat. Shuree Ponds also located within the Valle Vidal are giving anglers a shot at catching a lunker over 20 inches. The release out of Costilla Reservoir is a little high for optimum fishing, so high riding and visible dry flies cast tigh to the banks will be the tactics for the Rio Costilla. Diving caddis or damsel nymphs on a long leader and floating line for Shuree Ponds. Remember that all streams of the Valle Vidal is No Kill, Catch and Release only.
Pecos River 47 cfs below Terrero; Good
The river is fishing fairly well with a few hatches of late summer bugs. Blue Winged Olives, yellow sallies, and small caddis have been on the trout's menu lately. Fishing does slow some mid-day, and dry dropper rigs work better than dries. Once you get above Mora Creek, it's a dry fly game. Game and Fish put some Rio Grande Cutthroats in the Pecos earlier this summer. Go catch and RELEASE one of these beauties. 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.
San Juan River 983 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The release below Navajo Dam went up as flows declined on the Animas. In order to maintain sufficient flows in the critical reach habitat for native fishes downstream of Farmington, the release was increased out of Navajo Dam. No word on how long we'll see the higher flows so take advantage of this. There is a midge hatch early morining till 10 or 11 am. Fish cream, gray, or olive midge emergers and larvae before 11 am. Below Texas Hole, the baetis hatch starts from lunch time til 5 pm. Olive or gray RS2's, johnny flashes, or foam wings seem to be the colors for the emergers and small 22-24 BWO dries. Midge fishing will pick back up in the evenings on black or gray emergers. Time to go back to the small stuff and fluorocarbon tippets. Streamers in the deeper runs can be incredible. Pale Morning Duns have made it to just below Texas Hole. The hatch is from 2 pm to 6 pm. Dry fly fishing with PMD's and hoppers has been good on the lower river float if you arrange for a guide. Remember to take your sunscreen and insect repellent with you!There is a two fly only rule for the quality waters of the San Juan. This rule went into effect on July 1st of 2008. Game and Fish officers have been heavy handed and are checking people for licenses, barbless flies, and the number of flies on your rig! File those barbs or go barbless, as the fines are steep!
Rio Grande 66 cfs at Cerro; Fair: 247 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow for trout, Fair for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is somewhat clear at 3 feet of vivbility. Hurry, it usually doesn't last long. Smallmouth eat crayfish patterns and wooly buggers in the eddies and you can pick out some trout in the tailouts of larger runs or in the pockets. For trout, show them a crane fly larvae, stonelfy nymph, or work streamers around structure. The best trout fishing is from 4 pm until dusk. Game and Fish stocked some Rio Grande Cutthroats into the gorge. Kinda cool to have the river's namesake fish swimming in it's waters again. Please treat these fish as no kill. The low flows we are currently seeing should make casting to pike alot easier. Pike hunt by feel and they'll take large streamers that move water regardless of water clarity, just be sure to cover the water thoroughly. Cover the deep, slower runs and change flies frequently to see which ones trigger a strike.
Cimarron River 47 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. The release is up and fishing is good. The lower river is more open and can offer easier casting than the brushy stuff on the upper end. There are caddis, yellow sallies, baetis, and PMD hatches over the river. Flies for the Cimarron are yellow stimulators, PMD's, caddis, yellow sallies, scuds, hares ear nymphs, and Barr's PMD emergers.
Jemez Mountain Streams 20 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Good
The Cebolla, the East Fork, and the San Antonio are fishing well with a dries or a dry with a small dropper. The more open stretches of meadow water are fishing slower mid-day. Generally the more shaded water or the higher you go will beat that mid-day slump. It's the perfect place for light tackle, so take your onie and go high. There are hatches of little yellow sallies, caddis, and lots of grasshoppers andm beetles.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Good: 80 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Fair: 943 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair: and 969 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The Chama River upstream of Tierra Amarilla is fishing well, except the river can murk up after a thunder shower. The Chama can take a day or two to clear up, so keep checking the reports. Currently, the Sargent Wildlife Area is the place to fish with caddis, PMD's and little yellow sallies. I've had mixed reports from the section above El Vado Reservoir. Large nymphs like craneflies and stoneflies or streamers like slumpbusters are best there. 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. The release is high. Cover the tailouts of pools and hit the obvious seams. The release out of Abiquiu fluctuates greatly depending on irrigation need and municipal water supplies so it's best to find someplace else to fish most of the summer. 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 best fishing here is up on the lake for smallmouth and walleye from the shore. 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 330 cfs below Platoro, 391 cfs at Mogote; Good
August 13th. "Devan is making some improvement and is supposed to make an appearance in the shop tomorrow. It appears that it is an extremely rare case of Colorado Tick Fever?! Only 10 cases ever reported here but still to early to be sure. The fishing has been interesting. Some great stuff and big fish landed and plenty of the usual Conejos where are they? Or I dont think there are any fish in the river stuff. It does seem that the fish have begun to look up again and we had a good couple days with dry flies. Meadow had a beautiful BWO hatch this am and down low Randy and his group stuck alot of fish on Trudes on top and #18 Zebras below. If you are fishing eeeeaarly you are doing yourself a huge favor (I just felt a hateful vibration from the trout for saying that). If you go fishing at 2:00 on these bright hot days and wonder whats going on, dont. Its tough at that time. The flows were bumped up to 319 out of Platoro and that should make the meadow and low river fish really well. No problem of high temps and stressed out August fish here so good news for the trout. Fishing the Pinnacles or the Canyon water until the flow is lowered should not be done. To high. Fish the tribs which are good right now even if some are a little low or the upper or lower river. It has been alot of fun to see some lunkers hooked lately. We wondered if there were any that survived winter because we did not see many in the spring and during the Superfly. A young boy fishing with Randy today made the book of 20's by landing a pig that could have been measured in pounds and not inches. Congratulations. Will see if I can get his name later but plenty have been breaking that mark. Another angler landed 6 over 20 in a day. Tomorrow we will try it all over and Devan claims he is tying the flies tonight that they wont be able to help themselves!!!!! We'll see!" Jon Harp of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceding report.
Arkansas River 485 cfs at Granite; Good: 699 cfs at Salida; Good
Flows are finally down and much more of the river is wadable and fishable from Hayden Meadows down into Bighorn Sheep Canyon. Caddis on either ends of the day or dry dropper rigs mid-day are working in the Salida area. From Brown's Canyon to Granite, try caddis, PMD,s and attractor dries with a dropper or full nymph rig for the mid-day slump. From Granite upstream to Hayden Meadows, it's hoppers, ants, caddis, and PMD's.
Animas River 255 cfs at Durango; Slow to Fair
The Animas can get murky after the typical summer thunder shower. Caddis nymphs with a trailing midge or pheasant tail drifted and swung along the banks will pick up some fish. The release on the Delores below McPhee is currenlty at 70 cfs. The fish here are very skittish making for some technical presentations. The Delores above McPhee is seeing the big crowds of summer but better fishing.
Pagosa Area: Piedra River 65 cfs at Arboles; Fair to Good: San Juan River 80 cfs at Pagosa Springs; Fair
The Pagosa area streams are all fishing well. The upper Piedra is good on PMD's, caddis, and yellow sallies. Warmer water has slowed fishing on the lower San Juan below Trujillo bridge, the lower Piedra, and Williams Creek below the reservoir. Please don't fish these waters if they are anywhere near 70 degrees. Lots of caddis especially in the evening has made for great fishing on the San Juan near Pagosa. I've had great reports from South Fork of the Rio Grande, Turkey Creek, Fourmile Creek, and the East Fork of the San Juan. Much like everywhere else, fishing is bettter in the mornings or evenings, than mid-day.
Rio Grande 91 cfs at Creede; Slow to Fair: 302 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
Releases out of Rio Grande Reservoir have been down for about two weeks now. The oxbows below the reservor have been fishing very well as has most of the river. Terrestrials, caddis, stoneflies, and PMD's are all over the place. The South Fork of the Rio has fishing well on big cicadas, brownstones, hoppers, and big attractors.
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 summer time in New Mexico and water and fishing condtitions change 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 Saturday, August 15, 2009
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