Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Thursday September 23, 2010
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The Rio Costilla 69 cfs below Costilla Reservoir; Fair to Good
Time is running short on the Costilla. In about a month or so, the water managers usually shut the dam OFF, and very little water will be left in the stream save for a couple of tiny tribs. Cold night recently have also slowed the fishing. This area is truly a scenic gem for New Mexico. It's loaded with elk, bison, and turkey, but it usually draws people for the fishing. The Rio Costilla is one place you can reliably catch a Rio Grande Cutthroat and Shuree Ponds are known for it's large rainbows. The stream is dry fly fishing at it's best. High riding attractor like PMX's and Aerial Assault's, and yellow sallies and caddis flies work very well on those quick striking cutties. Take damsel nymphs, diving caddis, and some aquatic snail patterns for the lunkers at Shuree. All of the streams in the Valle Vidal are no kill. The bag limit for Shuree is only 2 fish over 15 inches. Please report anyone breaking thes rules to New Mexico Game and Fish at 800-432-4263 or the Forest Service at 575-586-0520.
San Juan River 761 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The release is Back up below Navajo Dam as flows have declined on the Animas. From Texas Hole up to the Cable, fishing is good on #22-26 tan, black, or brown midge pupa and larva in the morning and up towards the dam all day. Afternoons below Texas Hole have been best with chocolate or gray baetis emergers like a #22-24 foam wing, RS2, or WD40. The baetis are active from 11:00 am to about 5:00 pm. It's back to the olive, brown, or black midge pupa/larva after 5. There is a two fly only rule for the quality waters of the San Juan. Also, the Special Trout Water section is all catch and release. If you see someone in violation, turn them into Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263. 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!
Pecos River 146 cfs below Terrero; Good:
Yesterday's rain did murk up the river but it is coming down ad clearing rather quickly. Once the water goes back down, expect the water is very clear and low so think about approaching the river with some stealth. A longer cast, a longer leader, and finer tippets are in order. Caddis hatches, yellow sallies, and blue winged olives have been keeping the fish's interest. Ants either drowned or dry seem to fool the pickier fish. Remember, the first public access is at Dalton Day Use. Fly choices would be RS2's, wonder baetis, batwing emergers, headlight sallies, neversink caddis, and CDC biot coparaduns. The fall fishing program at Pecos National Historical Park begins on Thursday September 2nd and runs through October 25th. To get a fishing day on Pecos NHP, see their website at http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm or call 505-757-7272. 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.
Rio Grande 63 cfs at Cerro; Fair: 247 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Fair for trout, Fair for smallmouth bass
The Rio was murky but clearing with about three feet of visbility before yesterday's rain, but I think the impacts will be minimal. The Taos area didn't get as much rain as we did. Trout fishing at Pilar is fair early or late in the day or better most of the day up in the gorge where there is more spring inflow and cooler water. Smallmouth, however will eat during the heat of the day and can be picked up on small streamers and crayfish patterns. If you're going to go for trout, try a crane fly larvae or stonefly nymphs with a trailing caddis pupa or flashback pheasant tail. I've already had two reliable pike reports!
Jemez Mountain Streams 36 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Good
There was a big spike on the stream guage here yesterday, but the streams are almost back down to normal. Long casts and long leaders with small tippets and flies are the tactics. The upper streams like the East Fork just west of the Caldera, the San Antonio, and the Cebolla are fishing well. Fish are taking dries early and late in the day. As far as flies go, try beetles, small neversink caddis, headlight sallies, or go to a red legged hopper in the afternoons. Keep the droppers on the small side like #16-18. The Valles Caldera is open to fishing. They no longer have the lottery system in place there. To reserve a space, you can call, visit the website, or take a chance and walk-on after 8:00 am: See the Caldera's website at http://www.vallescaldera.gov/ for more details.
Cimarron River 43 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good: 46 cfs at Cimarron
The release is back up which is a good thing especially for the fish on the lower river, but make sfor tough fishing on the upper few miles where it's really brushy. Golden stones, tricos, blue winged olives, scuds, and caddis round out the current fare. The Red River around the corner is also fishing well on pretty much the same flies as the Pecos.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Good: 91 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Fair: 927 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow to Fair: and 189 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The best fishing on the Chama is the stretch above the town of Chama. Access can be had through the Sargent Wildlife Area. Good dry fly fishing on caddis, blue winged olives, and grasshoppers. The river flowing into El Vado above the Heron Dam outlet is fishing slow. Cooler days and the recent rains may have helped out this stretch above Heron Dam. They are releasing alot of water out of Heron and the Chama below the outlet is high and murky. Below El Vado, you can use big nymphs with flash and sparkle, but your better off with streamers in the murky water coming out of the dam. Cover the tailouts of pools and hit the obvious seams and be careful with the higher flows. The stretch below Abiquiu typically doesn't typically fish well until fall when the release is much lower and the water clearer. Currently the release is down, although water calls downstream may increase the release. Even though this stretch does have some decent natural reproduction, most of the fish that get caught, get kept. 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 161 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 211 cfs at Mogote; Good
September 21, 2010. "The last few days we have had some really nice rain and I see tonight the flows down here by the shop are up 50 cfs. I already look forward to guiding tomorrow! I had a chance to make a few casts myself today and it was really good. I threw streamers for an hour and hooked about 7 bigger fish on that and then walked up the South Fork and threw a dry with a ping G'String behind it and caught some really nice browns. It was raining steady all day up high. This morning I went and got to see the CDOW operater and fisheries biologist begin work on the Hidden Mile. It was beatiful to see that huge machine in the water moving giant bolders like they were pebbles. It looks like they are going to do a good job and I thank all of you who made donations. Over 12,000.00 have been raised and the Alamosa Chapter of TU has agreed to match funds and will make it possible to do a whole other project. Daryl Lewis the chapter president called me this am and it was great to here the support for the river and realize without all of their help we would not be seeing machines drop bolders into the Conejos. We will be asking for donations again this year and they are tax deductable so if you had a good year and would like to help you can write the check to Trout Unlimited and earmark it for the Conejos Habitat Project. Today I watched Devan guiding a client and they were doing good on eggs, stonefly nymphs and Tailwater Tiny's. Seems like Platoro is turning over right now because there is alot of junk in the water and the color is a little off. Should make life a little easier to get close to the fish up high. Troy saw alot of big fish in the La Jara yesterday and a couple days ago I went up the South Fork and the water was low but we began to see some really nice fish 15 to 22" and they ate the G String hard. Did not seem to be interested in it in the main river but the tribs it is great. We fished some almost dead channels that were very shallow and they just absolutely were so committed to an ant pattern. The most deliberate rises I can remember. With the rain I would not be suprised to see some fish pushing into some of the tribs to fight for some prime spawning substrate. The colors, cool weather, and perfect flows???" Jon Harp of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report.
Rio Grande 113 cfs below Thirty Mile Bridge; Good: 453 cfs below Wagon Wheel Gap; Fair
Releases out of Rio Grande Reservoir were low but the stream guage is trending upward. It may be from yeserday's rainfall, but it looks like release to me. We'll see. The upper river around Creede should still be very fishable. Still some PMD's and lots of Blue Wings. Below Creede, nymphing with stonefly imitations and baetis patterns has been productive.
Pagosa Area Piedra River 349 cfs at Arboles; Good: San Juan at Pagosa 399 cfs; Good
Alot of rain fell here again yesterday. The main stems are on there way down, however the tribs may be more fishable, and Williams Creek below the dam is probably the best bet. The upper forks of the Piedra as well as The San Juan and trubutaries above Pagosa we reported to be fishing well. On the upper forks of the Piedra, use caddis, golden stones, yellow sallies, and tricos. On the San Juan there are lots of caddis and some PMD's, PED's, and baetis. Get local advice before heading there. Turkey and Fourmile are also fishing well and I've had good reports from the South Fork of the Rio Grande.
Arkansas River 121 cfs at Granite; Good: 252 cfs at Salida; Good
The summer augmentation program has ended on the Ark and we'll see a natural flow out of the tribs and the Arkansas for the rest of the year. The river around Buena Vista still has fish eating sonefly nymphs and midges and baetis in the deeper runs. A double nymph rig with a stonefly and a trailing midge in the morning and substitut the midge for a baetis in the afternoon. At Hayden Meadows, try hoppers, yellow sallies, and blue winged olives. The water is low and clear so use some stealth. Around Salida, look for fish in any current break. They've moved off the edges and are taking up feeding stations where there is more current. The browns tend to like the riffles and the rainbows like their water a little deeper. They'll both key into baetis patterns all afternoon.
Animas River 281 cfs at Durango; Good
The Animas watershed didn't get as much rain as the Pagosa area. The reports I've been getting however is that the fishing was on the slow side until the evenings. Alot of it is going to depend on clarity. Even though it's along way till spawn, the browns seem to be feeding hard in anticipation of that and winter. Some of caddis around as well increasing amounts of blue winged olives. Best fishing is in the afternoons, especially for dry fly action.
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 in New Mexico and water and fishing condtitions can change with the weather! 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.
For the most current fire information go to http://nmfireinfo.wordpress.com/
Click on Public Lands Information Center from our links page for a list of fire restrictions or closures.
The Rio Costilla 69 cfs below Costilla Reservoir; Fair to Good
Time is running short on the Costilla. In about a month or so, the water managers usually shut the dam OFF, and very little water will be left in the stream save for a couple of tiny tribs. Cold night recently have also slowed the fishing. This area is truly a scenic gem for New Mexico. It's loaded with elk, bison, and turkey, but it usually draws people for the fishing. The Rio Costilla is one place you can reliably catch a Rio Grande Cutthroat and Shuree Ponds are known for it's large rainbows. The stream is dry fly fishing at it's best. High riding attractor like PMX's and Aerial Assault's, and yellow sallies and caddis flies work very well on those quick striking cutties. Take damsel nymphs, diving caddis, and some aquatic snail patterns for the lunkers at Shuree. All of the streams in the Valle Vidal are no kill. The bag limit for Shuree is only 2 fish over 15 inches. Please report anyone breaking thes rules to New Mexico Game and Fish at 800-432-4263 or the Forest Service at 575-586-0520.
San Juan River 761 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The release is Back up below Navajo Dam as flows have declined on the Animas. From Texas Hole up to the Cable, fishing is good on #22-26 tan, black, or brown midge pupa and larva in the morning and up towards the dam all day. Afternoons below Texas Hole have been best with chocolate or gray baetis emergers like a #22-24 foam wing, RS2, or WD40. The baetis are active from 11:00 am to about 5:00 pm. It's back to the olive, brown, or black midge pupa/larva after 5. There is a two fly only rule for the quality waters of the San Juan. Also, the Special Trout Water section is all catch and release. If you see someone in violation, turn them into Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263. 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!
Pecos River 146 cfs below Terrero; Good:
Yesterday's rain did murk up the river but it is coming down ad clearing rather quickly. Once the water goes back down, expect the water is very clear and low so think about approaching the river with some stealth. A longer cast, a longer leader, and finer tippets are in order. Caddis hatches, yellow sallies, and blue winged olives have been keeping the fish's interest. Ants either drowned or dry seem to fool the pickier fish. Remember, the first public access is at Dalton Day Use. Fly choices would be RS2's, wonder baetis, batwing emergers, headlight sallies, neversink caddis, and CDC biot coparaduns. The fall fishing program at Pecos National Historical Park begins on Thursday September 2nd and runs through October 25th. To get a fishing day on Pecos NHP, see their website at http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm or call 505-757-7272. 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.
Rio Grande 63 cfs at Cerro; Fair: 247 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Fair for trout, Fair for smallmouth bass
The Rio was murky but clearing with about three feet of visbility before yesterday's rain, but I think the impacts will be minimal. The Taos area didn't get as much rain as we did. Trout fishing at Pilar is fair early or late in the day or better most of the day up in the gorge where there is more spring inflow and cooler water. Smallmouth, however will eat during the heat of the day and can be picked up on small streamers and crayfish patterns. If you're going to go for trout, try a crane fly larvae or stonefly nymphs with a trailing caddis pupa or flashback pheasant tail. I've already had two reliable pike reports!
Jemez Mountain Streams 36 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Good
There was a big spike on the stream guage here yesterday, but the streams are almost back down to normal. Long casts and long leaders with small tippets and flies are the tactics. The upper streams like the East Fork just west of the Caldera, the San Antonio, and the Cebolla are fishing well. Fish are taking dries early and late in the day. As far as flies go, try beetles, small neversink caddis, headlight sallies, or go to a red legged hopper in the afternoons. Keep the droppers on the small side like #16-18. The Valles Caldera is open to fishing. They no longer have the lottery system in place there. To reserve a space, you can call, visit the website, or take a chance and walk-on after 8:00 am: See the Caldera's website at http://www.vallescaldera.gov/ for more details.
Cimarron River 43 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good: 46 cfs at Cimarron
The release is back up which is a good thing especially for the fish on the lower river, but make sfor tough fishing on the upper few miles where it's really brushy. Golden stones, tricos, blue winged olives, scuds, and caddis round out the current fare. The Red River around the corner is also fishing well on pretty much the same flies as the Pecos.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Good: 91 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Fair: 927 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow to Fair: and 189 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The best fishing on the Chama is the stretch above the town of Chama. Access can be had through the Sargent Wildlife Area. Good dry fly fishing on caddis, blue winged olives, and grasshoppers. The river flowing into El Vado above the Heron Dam outlet is fishing slow. Cooler days and the recent rains may have helped out this stretch above Heron Dam. They are releasing alot of water out of Heron and the Chama below the outlet is high and murky. Below El Vado, you can use big nymphs with flash and sparkle, but your better off with streamers in the murky water coming out of the dam. Cover the tailouts of pools and hit the obvious seams and be careful with the higher flows. The stretch below Abiquiu typically doesn't typically fish well until fall when the release is much lower and the water clearer. Currently the release is down, although water calls downstream may increase the release. Even though this stretch does have some decent natural reproduction, most of the fish that get caught, get kept. 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 161 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 211 cfs at Mogote; Good
September 21, 2010. "The last few days we have had some really nice rain and I see tonight the flows down here by the shop are up 50 cfs. I already look forward to guiding tomorrow! I had a chance to make a few casts myself today and it was really good. I threw streamers for an hour and hooked about 7 bigger fish on that and then walked up the South Fork and threw a dry with a ping G'String behind it and caught some really nice browns. It was raining steady all day up high. This morning I went and got to see the CDOW operater and fisheries biologist begin work on the Hidden Mile. It was beatiful to see that huge machine in the water moving giant bolders like they were pebbles. It looks like they are going to do a good job and I thank all of you who made donations. Over 12,000.00 have been raised and the Alamosa Chapter of TU has agreed to match funds and will make it possible to do a whole other project. Daryl Lewis the chapter president called me this am and it was great to here the support for the river and realize without all of their help we would not be seeing machines drop bolders into the Conejos. We will be asking for donations again this year and they are tax deductable so if you had a good year and would like to help you can write the check to Trout Unlimited and earmark it for the Conejos Habitat Project. Today I watched Devan guiding a client and they were doing good on eggs, stonefly nymphs and Tailwater Tiny's. Seems like Platoro is turning over right now because there is alot of junk in the water and the color is a little off. Should make life a little easier to get close to the fish up high. Troy saw alot of big fish in the La Jara yesterday and a couple days ago I went up the South Fork and the water was low but we began to see some really nice fish 15 to 22" and they ate the G String hard. Did not seem to be interested in it in the main river but the tribs it is great. We fished some almost dead channels that were very shallow and they just absolutely were so committed to an ant pattern. The most deliberate rises I can remember. With the rain I would not be suprised to see some fish pushing into some of the tribs to fight for some prime spawning substrate. The colors, cool weather, and perfect flows???" Jon Harp of Conejos River Anglers provided the preceeding report.
Rio Grande 113 cfs below Thirty Mile Bridge; Good: 453 cfs below Wagon Wheel Gap; Fair
Releases out of Rio Grande Reservoir were low but the stream guage is trending upward. It may be from yeserday's rainfall, but it looks like release to me. We'll see. The upper river around Creede should still be very fishable. Still some PMD's and lots of Blue Wings. Below Creede, nymphing with stonefly imitations and baetis patterns has been productive.
Pagosa Area Piedra River 349 cfs at Arboles; Good: San Juan at Pagosa 399 cfs; Good
Alot of rain fell here again yesterday. The main stems are on there way down, however the tribs may be more fishable, and Williams Creek below the dam is probably the best bet. The upper forks of the Piedra as well as The San Juan and trubutaries above Pagosa we reported to be fishing well. On the upper forks of the Piedra, use caddis, golden stones, yellow sallies, and tricos. On the San Juan there are lots of caddis and some PMD's, PED's, and baetis. Get local advice before heading there. Turkey and Fourmile are also fishing well and I've had good reports from the South Fork of the Rio Grande.
Arkansas River 121 cfs at Granite; Good: 252 cfs at Salida; Good
The summer augmentation program has ended on the Ark and we'll see a natural flow out of the tribs and the Arkansas for the rest of the year. The river around Buena Vista still has fish eating sonefly nymphs and midges and baetis in the deeper runs. A double nymph rig with a stonefly and a trailing midge in the morning and substitut the midge for a baetis in the afternoon. At Hayden Meadows, try hoppers, yellow sallies, and blue winged olives. The water is low and clear so use some stealth. Around Salida, look for fish in any current break. They've moved off the edges and are taking up feeding stations where there is more current. The browns tend to like the riffles and the rainbows like their water a little deeper. They'll both key into baetis patterns all afternoon.
Animas River 281 cfs at Durango; Good
The Animas watershed didn't get as much rain as the Pagosa area. The reports I've been getting however is that the fishing was on the slow side until the evenings. Alot of it is going to depend on clarity. Even though it's along way till spawn, the browns seem to be feeding hard in anticipation of that and winter. Some of caddis around as well increasing amounts of blue winged olives. Best fishing is in the afternoons, especially for dry fly action.
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 in New Mexico and water and fishing condtitions can change with the weather! 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.
For the most current fire information go to http://nmfireinfo.wordpress.com/
Click on Public Lands Information Center from our links page for a list of fire restrictions or closures.
posted by High Desert Angler at Thursday, September 23, 2010
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