Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Friday February 18, 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 504 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
Not much change here except the fishing should get even better and a whole lot more confortable than the below zero temps we've been experiencing. The lake has turned over and visiblity is reported to be three to four 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 peach and yellow being the best colors. Dark bodied midge larvae and pupa as well as dark brown baetis 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. Better fishing down at Villanueva State Park if you can get it on a weekday. It was last stocked on the February 15th. 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 315 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 482 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow for trout, Poor for smallmouth bass
Fishing will improve with some warmer weather. The river did get a little murky with the warmer temps melting off some of the lower elevation snowpack. I've had better reports on pike and trout at Pilar. 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 24 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair
The main stem Jemez was stocked for winter fishing a week 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: 55 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow to Fair: and 168 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Fair to Good
Not much change here either. The release out of El Vado has been reduced. I'd still use big nymphs with flash and sparkle, but over the tailouts of pools thoroughly and hit the obvious seams. Crane fly larva and egg patterns were reported to be the hot flies. The stretch below Abiquiu is fishing well. It's all about black midge larvae and pupa, and beatis nymphs here. 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 395 cfs at Granite; Fair: 519 cfs at Salida; Fair
Cold nights have slowed the fishing, but I beleive it will be back on if the temps return to mid-forties during the day. Higher releases out of Twin Lakes does keep a short section below the confluence of Lake Creek open and fishable. 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. Black midge larvae has been the most productive fly. Good midge hatches as of late. Please note that the road into Brown's Canyon at Hecla Junction is closed for road work and US Highway 50 is closed just west of Cotopaxi due to a landslide. CDOT hopes to have the road open by Moday February 21st.
Animas River 176 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 winter 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 504 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
Not much change here except the fishing should get even better and a whole lot more confortable than the below zero temps we've been experiencing. The lake has turned over and visiblity is reported to be three to four 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 peach and yellow being the best colors. Dark bodied midge larvae and pupa as well as dark brown baetis 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. Better fishing down at Villanueva State Park if you can get it on a weekday. It was last stocked on the February 15th. 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 315 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 482 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow for trout, Poor for smallmouth bass
Fishing will improve with some warmer weather. The river did get a little murky with the warmer temps melting off some of the lower elevation snowpack. I've had better reports on pike and trout at Pilar. 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 24 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair
The main stem Jemez was stocked for winter fishing a week 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: 55 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow to Fair: and 168 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Fair to Good
Not much change here either. The release out of El Vado has been reduced. I'd still use big nymphs with flash and sparkle, but over the tailouts of pools thoroughly and hit the obvious seams. Crane fly larva and egg patterns were reported to be the hot flies. The stretch below Abiquiu is fishing well. It's all about black midge larvae and pupa, and beatis nymphs here. 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 395 cfs at Granite; Fair: 519 cfs at Salida; Fair
Cold nights have slowed the fishing, but I beleive it will be back on if the temps return to mid-forties during the day. Higher releases out of Twin Lakes does keep a short section below the confluence of Lake Creek open and fishable. 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. Black midge larvae has been the most productive fly. Good midge hatches as of late. Please note that the road into Brown's Canyon at Hecla Junction is closed for road work and US Highway 50 is closed just west of Cotopaxi due to a landslide. CDOT hopes to have the road open by Moday February 21st.
Animas River 176 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 winter 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, February 18, 2011
