Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Sunday December 6, 2009
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Pecos River 23 cfs below Terrero; Slow
The upper Pecos is fishing pretty slow with the cold snap that rolled in this week. If your willing to go small and throw nymphs, you may be able to catch a few, but I've had better reports down river at Villanueva State Park. It was recently stocked so get it while it lasts. Egg patterns, red and green copper johns, and prince nymphs were all working on the stockers. 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 464 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 most of the 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. Yes, BWO's are back but only for a little while. If you are willing to change frequently, 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. Lake turn over hasn't happened yet, so get up there beore it does.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 194 cfs at Cerro; Fair: 322 cfs at Pilar; Good for pike, Fair for trout, Poorw for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is somewhat clear at 3 feet of visibility. For trout, show them a crane fly larvae, stonelfy nymphs, 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.
Cimarron River .11 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Slow to Fair
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. The release is near ZERO and fishing is slow. Once again, I'll say it, but it needs to be said to the right people and by more people. This is a river that can offer year round angling and is a big economic draw for this part of New Mexico. WE NEED YEAR ROUND INSTREAM FLOWS! As winter progresses, fishing will slow even more and you'll have top go elsewhere. The lower river is more open and downstream of a few small tributaries and can offer easier casting and more water 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 23 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 fair from mid-day on. Forest Road 376 is closed limiting access on the Guadalupe.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poorw: 59 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Fair: 179 cfs below El Vado Dam; Good: and 175 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Fair to Good
I am 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. Construction of another turbine facility at Abiquiu Dam can muddy up the river, but fishing edges and riffles can still be good. 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 334 cfs at Granite; Slow: 444cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
The release out of Twin Lakes is up, limiting your wading, however fishing is good near Salida. The brown trout spawn is mostly done and fish are holding in their 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.
Animas River 130 cfs at Durango; Fair
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 23 cfs below Terrero; Slow
The upper Pecos is fishing pretty slow with the cold snap that rolled in this week. If your willing to go small and throw nymphs, you may be able to catch a few, but I've had better reports down river at Villanueva State Park. It was recently stocked so get it while it lasts. Egg patterns, red and green copper johns, and prince nymphs were all working on the stockers. 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 464 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 most of the 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. Yes, BWO's are back but only for a little while. If you are willing to change frequently, 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. Lake turn over hasn't happened yet, so get up there beore it does.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 194 cfs at Cerro; Fair: 322 cfs at Pilar; Good for pike, Fair for trout, Poorw for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is somewhat clear at 3 feet of visibility. For trout, show them a crane fly larvae, stonelfy nymphs, 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.
Cimarron River .11 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Slow to Fair
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. The release is near ZERO and fishing is slow. Once again, I'll say it, but it needs to be said to the right people and by more people. This is a river that can offer year round angling and is a big economic draw for this part of New Mexico. WE NEED YEAR ROUND INSTREAM FLOWS! As winter progresses, fishing will slow even more and you'll have top go elsewhere. The lower river is more open and downstream of a few small tributaries and can offer easier casting and more water 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 23 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 fair from mid-day on. Forest Road 376 is closed limiting access on the Guadalupe.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poorw: 59 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Fair: 179 cfs below El Vado Dam; Good: and 175 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Fair to Good
I am 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. Construction of another turbine facility at Abiquiu Dam can muddy up the river, but fishing edges and riffles can still be good. 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 334 cfs at Granite; Slow: 444cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
The release out of Twin Lakes is up, limiting your wading, however fishing is good near Salida. The brown trout spawn is mostly done and fish are holding in their 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.
Animas River 130 cfs at Durango; Fair
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 Thursday, November 19, 2009
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