Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Saturday January 16, 2010
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As part of a cost saving plan for the State of New Mexico, state employees will be have to take some unpaid days off for the next few months. Unfortunately, that means that State Parks will be closed on some of the busiest three day weekends on some of the places we like to fish like Navajo Lake State Park (San Juan River below Navajo Dam is within the state park) and Villanueva State Park on the Pecos River. In accordance with the furlough plan, New Mexico State Parks will not be open to the public on the following days:
• Tuesday, February 9, 2010
• Tuesday, March 2, 2010
• Tuesday, March 23, 2010 State Parks will ropen the following day at 7:00 am. State parks will remain open on all holidays as usual, including Christmas, New Years Day, Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Be careful if decide to go on those days anyway, they have threatened to issue citations for trespassing.
Pecos River below Terrero; Poor: At Villanueva State Park; Slow
The upper Pecos is pretty well iced over in most places. The only fishable stretch is all the way down at Villanueva State Park. Villanueva hasn't been stocked since early December and last reports are that it is fishing slow to poor. 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 493 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
Sorry for the late report. The lake has turned over and visibilty on the river has been reduced to 2-3 feet. This obviously reduces any dry fly fishing, but fishing is still good on the usual midge fare. Red, cream, and orange larva size 18-22, olive and gray larva size 18-22, and midge pupa olive and gray size 22-24, along with black or olive bunny leeches. Fish the deeper slower runs especially after a very cold night. Navajo State Park will close next on Tuesday February 9th. This is part of the plans to furlough state employees and save the state some money. Contact New Mexico State Parks before you make any plans. 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 276 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 434 cfs at Pilar; Fair to Good for pike, Slow to Fair for trout, Poor for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is somewhat clear at 2-3 feet of visibility. For trout, show them a crane fly larvae, stonelfy nymphs, or work streamers around structure. 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; Poor
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. The release is near ZERO and fishing is poor. 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 to go elsewhere.
Jemez Mountain Streams above Jemez Pueblo; Slow to Fair
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 main stem Jemez River did get stocked again this past week.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow: 121 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair to Good: and 157 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Fair to Good
The fishing is fair 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 326 cfs at Granite; Slow: 493 cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
The release out of Twin Lakes has been increased about a month ago and is holding steady. Fishing is fair near Salida. The 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 160 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. I've had some month old or so reports of good fishing from town south into Southern Ute water.
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 the middle of winter in New Mexico and water and fishing condtitions can 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.
As part of a cost saving plan for the State of New Mexico, state employees will be have to take some unpaid days off for the next few months. Unfortunately, that means that State Parks will be closed on some of the busiest three day weekends on some of the places we like to fish like Navajo Lake State Park (San Juan River below Navajo Dam is within the state park) and Villanueva State Park on the Pecos River. In accordance with the furlough plan, New Mexico State Parks will not be open to the public on the following days:
• Tuesday, February 9, 2010
• Tuesday, March 2, 2010
• Tuesday, March 23, 2010 State Parks will ropen the following day at 7:00 am. State parks will remain open on all holidays as usual, including Christmas, New Years Day, Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Be careful if decide to go on those days anyway, they have threatened to issue citations for trespassing.
Pecos River below Terrero; Poor: At Villanueva State Park; Slow
The upper Pecos is pretty well iced over in most places. The only fishable stretch is all the way down at Villanueva State Park. Villanueva hasn't been stocked since early December and last reports are that it is fishing slow to poor. 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 493 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
Sorry for the late report. The lake has turned over and visibilty on the river has been reduced to 2-3 feet. This obviously reduces any dry fly fishing, but fishing is still good on the usual midge fare. Red, cream, and orange larva size 18-22, olive and gray larva size 18-22, and midge pupa olive and gray size 22-24, along with black or olive bunny leeches. Fish the deeper slower runs especially after a very cold night. Navajo State Park will close next on Tuesday February 9th. This is part of the plans to furlough state employees and save the state some money. Contact New Mexico State Parks before you make any plans. 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 276 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 434 cfs at Pilar; Fair to Good for pike, Slow to Fair for trout, Poor for smallmouth bass
The Rio Grande is somewhat clear at 2-3 feet of visibility. For trout, show them a crane fly larvae, stonelfy nymphs, or work streamers around structure. 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; Poor
The Cimarron River is dam controlled for the most part by Eagle Nest dam. The release is near ZERO and fishing is poor. 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 to go elsewhere.
Jemez Mountain Streams above Jemez Pueblo; Slow to Fair
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 main stem Jemez River did get stocked again this past week.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow: 121 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair to Good: and 157 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Fair to Good
The fishing is fair 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 326 cfs at Granite; Slow: 493 cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
The release out of Twin Lakes has been increased about a month ago and is holding steady. Fishing is fair near Salida. The 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 160 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. I've had some month old or so reports of good fishing from town south into Southern Ute water.
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 the middle of winter in New Mexico and water and fishing condtitions can 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, January 16, 2010
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