Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Friday June 10, 2011
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San Juan River 5360 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
No reports since the Bureau of Rec increased the release out of Navajo Dam. I would bet not much has changed, but I expect there to more suspended moss in the current and the fish may be keying in on annelids that become dislodged out of the vegetation being kicked up. Midge hatches continue to come off late mornings and some decent baetis hatches follow it up till about 3:00 pm. Olive and grey bodied midge larvae and pupa are still working. For the beatis, try the ususal, chocolate foam wings in #22, chocolate johnny flash, wonder baetis, and small pheasant tails. Fish start eating midges once the baetis are done from then until dusk. 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 64 cfs below Terrero; Fair to Good:
Stoneflies!!! They're out just above town all the way to Terrero. The fish still want the nymph over the dry fly but that could change as the hatch progresses. Move that dry fly! Skate it, hop it, smack it a couple of times before you let it drift. The fish want that big bug in motion. The water levels are low and the fishing is good. Small to medium stonefly nymphs, small pheasant tails, baetis nymphs, caddis nymphs, and zebra midges are some of the fly choices. The spring fishing program at Pecos National Historical Park will resume again June 23rd. Please see their website for the details at http://www.nps.gov/peco/index.htm and click on "2011 Fishing Program". 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 849 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 1220 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Fair to Good for trout, Fair for smallmouth bass
Not much for hatching bugs on the Rio right now. The flows have doubled over the past week. The influx of cool water should be good for trout. I do best fishing the pockets when nothing is going on hatch wise. Fish big bugs like golden stonefly nymphs, cranefly larvae, or buggers. Remember to finish your drift off with a swing! Hold you rod tip over the lane of your drift and let you flies swing upwards as your line tightens. If you feel a take, coach yourself into waiting just a second before you set the hook otherwise you'll just pull it away from them. Try a slow retrieved streamer in some of the slower eddies for smallies. 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 17 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good
The de las Vacas/Guadalupe drainage still has a little more water than the other streams, but everything else is at a low mid-summer level. Stoneflies are off on the Guadalupe, the Jemez River, and are all the way up into the de las Vacas. Good reports on the East Fork and San Antonio. The water on both streams is low and clear, perfect for dry fly fishing. Some of the more open water slows mid-day. Consider fishing the shaded ares during the afternoon. The Valles Caldera is also fishing very well. See their website at www.vallescaldera.gov to make a reservation.
Cimarron River 16 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good: 15 cfs at Cimarron Good steady flows out of the dam has made for good consistent fishing. The flows have come down making fishing easier in the upper reaches around Tolby campground. There is a little more room the further downstream you go. Dark midges and baetis nymphs like tungsten WD40's, black psycho mays, chocolate johnny flashes, and black zebra midges on a nymph rig or dry dropper would be my choices. It seems that the browns here like a scud over the tiny offerings listed. Try that if all else fails.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Slow: 834 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow: 797 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 1280 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The upper Chama including the stretch flowing into El Vado is still quite high. Flows are near normal for this time of year. The river below El Vado is almost unwadable. The stretch below Abiquiu is fishing tough. High dam release has made wading here tough. The release out of the dams on the Chama make the fishing very tough until the fall when irrigators aren't calling for water. 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. The nearby Brazos River is aslo running pretty high.
In Southern Colorado:
Conejos River 618 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Fair: 1590 cfs at Magote; Fair
The Conejos and most of the San Juan Mountain rivers and streams are high with snowmelt. The peak seems to have hit 3 days ago and the flows are trending downward. I've had reports of stoneflies on the river around Conejos River Anglers fly shop. The lower river is pretty blown out with high water but there is some fishing in the meadows below Platoro. The water is high there as well but you can catch them on red worms and annelids. Lkae Fork seems to be one of the more fishable tributaries.
Rio Grande 1170 cfs at Thirty Mile bridge in Creede; Fair: 2610 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Fair to Good
The release out of Rio Grande Reservoir has been ramped up and fishing is tough at the higher flows. Best bet would be a float on the lower river from South Fork to Del Norte. Stoneflies and baetis are the name of the game pretty much river wide.
Animas River 4710 at Durango; Slow
Big water on the Animas! The good news is that the peak seemed to have hit three days ago. If you can find a pocket that's not blown out; stoneflies and baetis. Watch out for the river runners.
Piedra River 1480 cfs at Arboles; Slow
The lower Piedra muddies rather easliy and is huge right now. Ther might be some fishable water in the upper river(s) above the forks. I did get some reports of stoneflies coming off on the Piedra below Williams Creek. Williams below the reservoir was reportedly fishing well and offers the easiest wading. Stoneflies and baetis. Maybe some San Juan worms.
San Juan River 1770 cfs in Pagosa Springs; Slow to Fair
Tough fishing at these flows on the main stem San Juan. The South Fork of the Rio Grande over Wolf Creek Pass is also high but maybe more fishable than Turkey, Four Mile, or the East Fork of the San Juan. Locally the upper forks of the Piedra or Williams Creek beloa the reservoir is your best bets. Just like everywhere in southern Colorado, else, the peak flows seemd to have occurred 3 days ago. It's all about stones and baetis at this time of year.
Arkansas River 2160 cfs at Granite; Fair: 30400 cfs at Salida; Fair
High water pretty much river wide from melting snowpack and an increased release from Twin Lakes. Blue winged olive hatches, some caddis and stonelies are the nymphs to choose. Much of the river is difficult to fish at these levels. If natural flows come down, Hayden Meadows is about the only place to fish the Ark. Other good fishing nearby is Antero Reservoir and the Dream Stream.
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 spring 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.
San Juan River 5360 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
No reports since the Bureau of Rec increased the release out of Navajo Dam. I would bet not much has changed, but I expect there to more suspended moss in the current and the fish may be keying in on annelids that become dislodged out of the vegetation being kicked up. Midge hatches continue to come off late mornings and some decent baetis hatches follow it up till about 3:00 pm. Olive and grey bodied midge larvae and pupa are still working. For the beatis, try the ususal, chocolate foam wings in #22, chocolate johnny flash, wonder baetis, and small pheasant tails. Fish start eating midges once the baetis are done from then until dusk. 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 64 cfs below Terrero; Fair to Good:
Stoneflies!!! They're out just above town all the way to Terrero. The fish still want the nymph over the dry fly but that could change as the hatch progresses. Move that dry fly! Skate it, hop it, smack it a couple of times before you let it drift. The fish want that big bug in motion. The water levels are low and the fishing is good. Small to medium stonefly nymphs, small pheasant tails, baetis nymphs, caddis nymphs, and zebra midges are some of the fly choices. The spring fishing program at Pecos National Historical Park will resume again June 23rd. Please see their website for the details at http://www.nps.gov/peco/index.htm and click on "2011 Fishing Program". 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 849 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 1220 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Fair to Good for trout, Fair for smallmouth bass
Not much for hatching bugs on the Rio right now. The flows have doubled over the past week. The influx of cool water should be good for trout. I do best fishing the pockets when nothing is going on hatch wise. Fish big bugs like golden stonefly nymphs, cranefly larvae, or buggers. Remember to finish your drift off with a swing! Hold you rod tip over the lane of your drift and let you flies swing upwards as your line tightens. If you feel a take, coach yourself into waiting just a second before you set the hook otherwise you'll just pull it away from them. Try a slow retrieved streamer in some of the slower eddies for smallies. 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 17 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good
The de las Vacas/Guadalupe drainage still has a little more water than the other streams, but everything else is at a low mid-summer level. Stoneflies are off on the Guadalupe, the Jemez River, and are all the way up into the de las Vacas. Good reports on the East Fork and San Antonio. The water on both streams is low and clear, perfect for dry fly fishing. Some of the more open water slows mid-day. Consider fishing the shaded ares during the afternoon. The Valles Caldera is also fishing very well. See their website at www.vallescaldera.gov to make a reservation.
Cimarron River 16 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good: 15 cfs at Cimarron Good steady flows out of the dam has made for good consistent fishing. The flows have come down making fishing easier in the upper reaches around Tolby campground. There is a little more room the further downstream you go. Dark midges and baetis nymphs like tungsten WD40's, black psycho mays, chocolate johnny flashes, and black zebra midges on a nymph rig or dry dropper would be my choices. It seems that the browns here like a scud over the tiny offerings listed. Try that if all else fails.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Slow: 834 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow: 797 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 1280 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The upper Chama including the stretch flowing into El Vado is still quite high. Flows are near normal for this time of year. The river below El Vado is almost unwadable. The stretch below Abiquiu is fishing tough. High dam release has made wading here tough. The release out of the dams on the Chama make the fishing very tough until the fall when irrigators aren't calling for water. 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. The nearby Brazos River is aslo running pretty high.
In Southern Colorado:
Conejos River 618 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Fair: 1590 cfs at Magote; Fair
The Conejos and most of the San Juan Mountain rivers and streams are high with snowmelt. The peak seems to have hit 3 days ago and the flows are trending downward. I've had reports of stoneflies on the river around Conejos River Anglers fly shop. The lower river is pretty blown out with high water but there is some fishing in the meadows below Platoro. The water is high there as well but you can catch them on red worms and annelids. Lkae Fork seems to be one of the more fishable tributaries.
Rio Grande 1170 cfs at Thirty Mile bridge in Creede; Fair: 2610 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Fair to Good
The release out of Rio Grande Reservoir has been ramped up and fishing is tough at the higher flows. Best bet would be a float on the lower river from South Fork to Del Norte. Stoneflies and baetis are the name of the game pretty much river wide.
Animas River 4710 at Durango; Slow
Big water on the Animas! The good news is that the peak seemed to have hit three days ago. If you can find a pocket that's not blown out; stoneflies and baetis. Watch out for the river runners.
Piedra River 1480 cfs at Arboles; Slow
The lower Piedra muddies rather easliy and is huge right now. Ther might be some fishable water in the upper river(s) above the forks. I did get some reports of stoneflies coming off on the Piedra below Williams Creek. Williams below the reservoir was reportedly fishing well and offers the easiest wading. Stoneflies and baetis. Maybe some San Juan worms.
San Juan River 1770 cfs in Pagosa Springs; Slow to Fair
Tough fishing at these flows on the main stem San Juan. The South Fork of the Rio Grande over Wolf Creek Pass is also high but maybe more fishable than Turkey, Four Mile, or the East Fork of the San Juan. Locally the upper forks of the Piedra or Williams Creek beloa the reservoir is your best bets. Just like everywhere in southern Colorado, else, the peak flows seemd to have occurred 3 days ago. It's all about stones and baetis at this time of year.
Arkansas River 2160 cfs at Granite; Fair: 30400 cfs at Salida; Fair
High water pretty much river wide from melting snowpack and an increased release from Twin Lakes. Blue winged olive hatches, some caddis and stonelies are the nymphs to choose. Much of the river is difficult to fish at these levels. If natural flows come down, Hayden Meadows is about the only place to fish the Ark. Other good fishing nearby is Antero Reservoir and the Dream Stream.
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 spring 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 Friday, June 10, 2011
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