Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Friday January 7, 2011
Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Learn more at http://www.tu.org/science/aquatic-invasive-species-ais
Sorry it's been a while since this was last updated. I cut my time back here at the shop to a couple of days and I sometimes just don't get it changed before I have to go. Please feel free to call the shop for the latest in conditions. You can leave a message if you don't reach us and we'll call you back. Thanks, Ed.
San Juan River 464 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The lake has turned over and visiblity is about two feet in the river below the dam. Despite the murky water, big midge hatches continue to come off late mornings. Egg patterns are also a hot producer right now with orange and yellow being the best colors. red and orange midge larvae as well as dark bodied midge larvae that stand out in the murk are also getting attention. The Special Trout Water section is all catch and release and has a two fly only rule. 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 ICE cfs below Terrero; Poor: at Villanueva State Park; Fair
The fishing is really slow above the town of Pecos. Mid-thirty degree water temps have the fish very tight lipped. Better fishing down at Villanueva State Park if you can get it on a weekday. It was last stocked on the 4th. The best fishing is when the sun is on the water. Nymph fishing is better than dry flies. Egg patterns, red or green copper johns, prince nymphs, and scuds tend to fool most of the stocked fish. 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 247 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 452 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow for trout, Poor for smallmouth bass
The Rio is at it's natural winter flows as the river isn't being diverted into irrigation canals in Colorado. Fishing is slow right now, probably because of the extremely cold temps we've been seeing especially up aroud Taos. Be persistent and focus on the tailouts of pools and right below the gravel bars. For trout, try a crane fly larvae or stonefly nymphs with a trailing caddis pupa or flashback pheasant tail. Pike hunt by feel. Large streamers that moves water will still get a pikes attention. Vary your retrieves and change up the color of your flies to see which ones trigger a bite.
Jemez Mountain Streams 23 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair
The main stem Jemez was stocked for winter fishing a few weeks ago. The best fishing is when the sun is on the water. The flows are quite low here as well making the fish easy to spook. Fish are taking small dries and small nymphs presented on a dry dropper rig. As far as flies go, use buoyant fry flies to suspend a bead head dropper. Keep the droppers on the small side like #16-18.
Cimarron River 1 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Poor: 8 cfs at Cimarron
It's done. Find another place to fish until they release more water in the spring. Tell anyone whose ear you can bend, like a new governor, that we need instream flows in this state!
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow: 90 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow to Fair: and 171 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Fair to Good
Below El Vado, use big nymphs with flash and sparkle. Crane fly larva and egg patterns were reported to be the hot flies. Cover the tailouts of pools and hit the obvious seams. The stretch below Abiquiu is fishing well. Get it here before the meat hunters take the bigger fish. 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:
Arkansas River ICE cfs at Granite; Fair: 401 cfs at Salida; Fair
The better fishing is from Salida downstream through Bighorn Sheep Canyon. The fish are eating midges and baetis most of the day and a few are stuffing themselves with caddis pupa. The fish that are eating are stationed in the deeper runs and are most active from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Blackk midge larvae has been the most productive fly.
Animas River ICE cfs at Durango; Fair
Streamers in the deep and dark as well as dark stone fly nympsh and baetis patterns have been fooling the feeders. Best fishing is in the afternoons giving the water time to warm up.
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 fall 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.
Sorry it's been a while since this was last updated. I cut my time back here at the shop to a couple of days and I sometimes just don't get it changed before I have to go. Please feel free to call the shop for the latest in conditions. You can leave a message if you don't reach us and we'll call you back. Thanks, Ed.
San Juan River 464 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The lake has turned over and visiblity is about two feet in the river below the dam. Despite the murky water, big midge hatches continue to come off late mornings. Egg patterns are also a hot producer right now with orange and yellow being the best colors. red and orange midge larvae as well as dark bodied midge larvae that stand out in the murk are also getting attention. The Special Trout Water section is all catch and release and has a two fly only rule. 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 ICE cfs below Terrero; Poor: at Villanueva State Park; Fair
The fishing is really slow above the town of Pecos. Mid-thirty degree water temps have the fish very tight lipped. Better fishing down at Villanueva State Park if you can get it on a weekday. It was last stocked on the 4th. The best fishing is when the sun is on the water. Nymph fishing is better than dry flies. Egg patterns, red or green copper johns, prince nymphs, and scuds tend to fool most of the stocked fish. 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 247 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 452 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow for trout, Poor for smallmouth bass
The Rio is at it's natural winter flows as the river isn't being diverted into irrigation canals in Colorado. Fishing is slow right now, probably because of the extremely cold temps we've been seeing especially up aroud Taos. Be persistent and focus on the tailouts of pools and right below the gravel bars. For trout, try a crane fly larvae or stonefly nymphs with a trailing caddis pupa or flashback pheasant tail. Pike hunt by feel. Large streamers that moves water will still get a pikes attention. Vary your retrieves and change up the color of your flies to see which ones trigger a bite.
Jemez Mountain Streams 23 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair
The main stem Jemez was stocked for winter fishing a few weeks ago. The best fishing is when the sun is on the water. The flows are quite low here as well making the fish easy to spook. Fish are taking small dries and small nymphs presented on a dry dropper rig. As far as flies go, use buoyant fry flies to suspend a bead head dropper. Keep the droppers on the small side like #16-18.
Cimarron River 1 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Poor: 8 cfs at Cimarron
It's done. Find another place to fish until they release more water in the spring. Tell anyone whose ear you can bend, like a new governor, that we need instream flows in this state!
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow: 90 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow to Fair: and 171 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Fair to Good
Below El Vado, use big nymphs with flash and sparkle. Crane fly larva and egg patterns were reported to be the hot flies. Cover the tailouts of pools and hit the obvious seams. The stretch below Abiquiu is fishing well. Get it here before the meat hunters take the bigger fish. 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:
Arkansas River ICE cfs at Granite; Fair: 401 cfs at Salida; Fair
The better fishing is from Salida downstream through Bighorn Sheep Canyon. The fish are eating midges and baetis most of the day and a few are stuffing themselves with caddis pupa. The fish that are eating are stationed in the deeper runs and are most active from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Blackk midge larvae has been the most productive fly.
Animas River ICE cfs at Durango; Fair
Streamers in the deep and dark as well as dark stone fly nympsh and baetis patterns have been fooling the feeders. Best fishing is in the afternoons giving the water time to warm up.
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 fall 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.
posted by High Desert Angler at Friday, January 07, 2011
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