Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Saturday November 7, 2009
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Pecos River 42 cfs below Terrero; Fair to Good
The Pecos is fishing fairly well if your willing to go small and throw nymphs. These fish aren't the gullible ones of early summer. Use fluorocarbon tippets and fish small baetis nymphs and midges. Yes, take your San Jaun box to the Pecos. Dalton and Windy Bridge have warmer water and are fishing better than most of the river upstream. 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 487 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
Fish midges upstream from the upper flats to the cable hole. The upper flats has good sight fishing with midges all day. Size 24 to 26 for the midges and size 20-22 for the baetis in an olive or gray, RS2's, johnny flash, or foam wings. If you are willing to go small, the fish will eat. Time to go to the small stuff and 6X or even 7X fluorocarbon tippets. Bunny leech type streamers in the deeper runs can be incredible. 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. Also, the Special Trout Water section is all no kill as of September 15th. If you see someone in violation, turn them into Game and Fish. Officers have been 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 188 cfs at Cerro; Fair: 405 cfs at Pilar; Good for pike, Good for trout, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is somewhat clear at 3 feet of visibility. For trout, show them a crane fly larvae, stonelfy nymph, or work streamers around structure. If you see some brown trout paired up or see a redd, please avoid them. A redd is their spawning bed and is marked by an area of clean gravel compared to the rest of the stream, and can usually be found in the tailouts. 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. The Del Norte Canal in Colorado has had a reduction in flow and we should see anothe 100 cfs in the river this weekend.
Cimarron River 26 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Very Good
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. The release is near perfect and fishing is good. The lower river is more open and can offer easier casting than the brushy stuff on the upper end. Midges are in the bug in the biggest numbers. Flies for the Cimarron are scuds, hares ear nymphs, miracle nymphs, UV midge emergers, and BLM's.
Jemez Mountain Streams 27 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good
The lower streams like the East Fork above Battleship Rock and the main stem Jemez have more water and are fishing well from mid-day on. Forest Road 376 is scheduled to close on November 15th, limiting access on the Guadalupe.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Fair: 51 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Fair to Good: 150 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 182 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Fair to Good
I hoping that major releases are done out of both dams. We should be in stable winter flows and therefore better fishing. I'd still check the flows before you make that drive to one of the tailwaters. The fishing is good below El Vado using big nymphs with flash and sparkle or streamers. Cover the tailouts of pools and hit the obvious seams. The release out of Abiquiu is also down and fishing is good. 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:
Conejos River 58 cfs below Platoro, 124 cfs at Mogote; Fair to Good
November 3, 2009. "The beautiful October that never showed up is now here. Spent some time up high today and the fish were eating hard. Some very large fish now exposed by the lower water and relaxed by the absense of people are showing themselves. The long range weather looks great and the water temps that were so low last week are now bumping nicely. The high water temp today was 43.1 and the high temp was 62. Cant make a November any better than that. Some fish eating dries but mostly nymphing and expect to fish some small midge stuff behind an attractor bigger nymph. As long as the weather stays nice and the water temps dont drop back to 33 for long time it will be good. Very weird to feel like you and Troy and maybe another or so have an entire drainage to yourself. The Pike fishing (on the Rio Grande east of Antonito) in this weather is also very good so a few options." Jon Harp of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceding report.
Arkansas River 142 cfs at Granite; Fair to Good: 345 cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
The brown trout spawn is mostly done and fish are holding in theire winter lies in the deeper pools. They tend to feed harder with the warmer weather, and seem to be rather selective. Big stone fly nymphs with a size 20 black midge pupa has been the most productive set up. Warmer weather has also melted some of the lower elevation snows around Salida and adds some color to the river.
Animas River 181 cfs at Durango; Fair to Good
The Animas is fairly clear and fishing well. A weighted nymphs with a trailing midge or pheasant tail drifted and swung along the banks will pick up some fish. Some good streamer fishing early morning or at dusk.
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 late summer 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.
Pecos River 42 cfs below Terrero; Fair to Good
The Pecos is fishing fairly well if your willing to go small and throw nymphs. These fish aren't the gullible ones of early summer. Use fluorocarbon tippets and fish small baetis nymphs and midges. Yes, take your San Jaun box to the Pecos. Dalton and Windy Bridge have warmer water and are fishing better than most of the river upstream. 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 487 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
Fish midges upstream from the upper flats to the cable hole. The upper flats has good sight fishing with midges all day. Size 24 to 26 for the midges and size 20-22 for the baetis in an olive or gray, RS2's, johnny flash, or foam wings. If you are willing to go small, the fish will eat. Time to go to the small stuff and 6X or even 7X fluorocarbon tippets. Bunny leech type streamers in the deeper runs can be incredible. 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. Also, the Special Trout Water section is all no kill as of September 15th. If you see someone in violation, turn them into Game and Fish. Officers have been 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 188 cfs at Cerro; Fair: 405 cfs at Pilar; Good for pike, Good for trout, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is somewhat clear at 3 feet of visibility. For trout, show them a crane fly larvae, stonelfy nymph, or work streamers around structure. If you see some brown trout paired up or see a redd, please avoid them. A redd is their spawning bed and is marked by an area of clean gravel compared to the rest of the stream, and can usually be found in the tailouts. 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. The Del Norte Canal in Colorado has had a reduction in flow and we should see anothe 100 cfs in the river this weekend.
Cimarron River 26 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Very Good
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. The release is near perfect and fishing is good. The lower river is more open and can offer easier casting than the brushy stuff on the upper end. Midges are in the bug in the biggest numbers. Flies for the Cimarron are scuds, hares ear nymphs, miracle nymphs, UV midge emergers, and BLM's.
Jemez Mountain Streams 27 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good
The lower streams like the East Fork above Battleship Rock and the main stem Jemez have more water and are fishing well from mid-day on. Forest Road 376 is scheduled to close on November 15th, limiting access on the Guadalupe.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Fair: 51 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Fair to Good: 150 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 182 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Fair to Good
I hoping that major releases are done out of both dams. We should be in stable winter flows and therefore better fishing. I'd still check the flows before you make that drive to one of the tailwaters. The fishing is good below El Vado using big nymphs with flash and sparkle or streamers. Cover the tailouts of pools and hit the obvious seams. The release out of Abiquiu is also down and fishing is good. 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:
Conejos River 58 cfs below Platoro, 124 cfs at Mogote; Fair to Good
November 3, 2009. "The beautiful October that never showed up is now here. Spent some time up high today and the fish were eating hard. Some very large fish now exposed by the lower water and relaxed by the absense of people are showing themselves. The long range weather looks great and the water temps that were so low last week are now bumping nicely. The high water temp today was 43.1 and the high temp was 62. Cant make a November any better than that. Some fish eating dries but mostly nymphing and expect to fish some small midge stuff behind an attractor bigger nymph. As long as the weather stays nice and the water temps dont drop back to 33 for long time it will be good. Very weird to feel like you and Troy and maybe another or so have an entire drainage to yourself. The Pike fishing (on the Rio Grande east of Antonito) in this weather is also very good so a few options." Jon Harp of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceding report.
Arkansas River 142 cfs at Granite; Fair to Good: 345 cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
The brown trout spawn is mostly done and fish are holding in theire winter lies in the deeper pools. They tend to feed harder with the warmer weather, and seem to be rather selective. Big stone fly nymphs with a size 20 black midge pupa has been the most productive set up. Warmer weather has also melted some of the lower elevation snows around Salida and adds some color to the river.
Animas River 181 cfs at Durango; Fair to Good
The Animas is fairly clear and fishing well. A weighted nymphs with a trailing midge or pheasant tail drifted and swung along the banks will pick up some fish. Some good streamer fishing early morning or at dusk.
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 late summer 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 Friday, November 06, 2009
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