Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Thursday September 22, 2011
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San Juan River 499 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
It looks like the release has been reduced to the winter (low) level of 499 cfs. The good news is that the blue winged olives are on the move nad the hatches are getting better. Use smaller flies especially near the dam as the water is clear. In the mornings, use a red midge larva as your point fly and trail a size #24-26 black or gray midge pupa like a UV flash midge emerger. As the afternoon progresses, change your flies to baetis, such as a gray or chocolate RS2 or foam wing emerger. Small #16-18 ants fished along the banks are also bringing up fish. 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!
Rio Costilla 7.4 cfs below Costilla Reservoir; Slow: Shuree Ponds; Slow to Fair
The release has lowered to a point where the fishing is going to be tough, at least above Commanche Creek anyway. Check the flows before you go. I anticipate that the release is actually going to be reduced to zero for the winter. The upper pond at Shuree Ponds is quite low and weedy. Better reports from the lower pond.
Pecos River 44 cfs below Terrero; Good:
The river is fishing well and the water is clear even though we've been getting some rainfal somewhere over the Pecos watershed lately. If you see murky water down low, consider driving upriver to find clearer water. Use small flies during clear water and switch to a bigger more flashy fly if the water is murky. Blue winged olives, yellow sallies, hoppers, ants, and beetles have been the best producers dry fly wise. Nymphing with a dry dropper rig can end your slump if they aren't coming up on your dry fly. Try flashback pheasant tails, oops fly, or a nitro caddis. The first PUBLIC access is Dalton Day Use. I know we all want a place to fish, but don't be a poacher. Please respect the landowners along the Pecos and don't trespass. The Pecos National Historical Park's Fishing Program for the fall started September 8th. The fall season runs from September 8th through November 7th. Please see their website for the details at http://www.nps.gov/peco/index.htm and click on "2011 Fishing Program".
Rio Grande 133 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 266 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow to Fair for trout, Fair to Good for smallmouth bass
How low can the Rio go? I guess we'll be finding that out here soon. This is some of the lowest water levels I've seen on the Rio in a long time. Low current velocity has made trout fishing slow. Best fly fishing on the Rio is for smallmouth bass on streamers. Cover the deeper slower runs for the bass. 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 14 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Slow or Good, depending on the watershed.
Low water is plaguing the streams of the Jemez. The only really water worth fishing is the Cebolla or the de las Vacas/Guadalupe watershed. Ash runoff from the Las Conchas fire has killed quite a lot of fish on the East Fork and Rio San Antonio, and the streambed is covered in it. The Valles Caldera National Preserve is open but with limited access on the East Fork only. My personal opinion is to leave those fish alone this year and look at visiting the Caldera next spring. The visitor center is open and the Valles Caldera will resume normal summer activities excluding those which normally occur in the burned areas. The Rio San Antonio fishing program on the Preserve is suspended for the remainder of this year. The limited fishing progam on the East Fork runs through October 9th. Please call the Valles Caldera or visit their website at www.vallescaldera.gov for more information.
Cimarron River 5.6 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good: 5.8 cfs at Cimarron
The release out of Eagle's Nest Dam has dropped significantly and is really not worth fishing at these low levels. Check the flows before you go. Releases below 25 cfs makes for slow fishing. If the release doesn't go back up, wait until spring next year to fly fish. Nearby over Bobcat Pass, the Red River all the way to Questa is fishing well.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Fair to Good: 46 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow to Fair: 591 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 257 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The upper Chama in the Sargent Wildlife area has the most consistent good fishing on the Chama as a whole. The stretch flowing downstream of the village of Chama into El Vado reservoir is fishing better everday. The river below El Vado is open within Cooper's El Vado Ranch. The release out of El Vado is fishable. Big nymphs dead drifted and finished with a swing or stripping streamers is the way to go there. The stretch below Abiquiu Dam typically won't really fish well until autumn when the water clears. The release here is low for this time of year, probabably as Albuquerque has stopped diverting water from the Rio Grande until November 1st. The water here is at a fishable level for now, but I haven't had any reports. 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 27 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 124 cfs at Magote; Good
"Right now the river is a bit lower than average but the fish seem to really love the cooler temps and we have been into fish all day when we are doing a good job at shifting quickly with the change in holding water and bugs. Sometimes it is a little frustrating when you are fruitlessly attempting to figure out what mood the fish just went into but I suppose that is the reason I love the river so much and why we sell so many bugs!!! These flows have opened up the Pinnacles water up to the meadow in a way that makes it much easier to get around and concentrates the fish more. You could find fish anywhere up there right. On the edges in the slower water, hiding I the pockets, or in the faster riffles. It will change all day but the water is clear and you should be able to dial in the water they are holding in pretty quickly. We will hope that the moisture continues and keeps rivers like the La Jara, Los Pinos, Lake Fork etc. healthy. The rest of the year looks like we will have enough water even if it will be less than average. The fish look good and are healthy. The huge push of anglers in July in the drainage has now gone and seems like life back to normal on the Conejos. Seems like the fish like the withdrawal of the human occupation that happened this in July. The other interesting thing and I will just have to keep an eye on the catch rate this fall but seems like the shoulder seasons to summer are much better fishing. I remember last November doing my last guide of the year with Bill Long and just killing it. This March Wayne Suggs came and fished with me for the first time and put a hurtin’ on the Conejos. I can tell you it was not 74 degrees and we were not surrounded by flowers but the fishing early and late here is way better then I had ever thought it would be. For some reason these fish don’t seem to have feeding patterns that mimick the water temps like I do at other rivers. I have seen the fish feed like mad at 34 degrees and last week the temp was in the upper 60’s and I thought I am finally going to be able to go home but the the fish just kept eating. (missed dinner!) Anyway good to write for a moment and I hope you all get a chance to see the colors this fall and make some casts. We appreciate all of your support!
The preceeding report was provided by Jon Harp of the Conejos River Anglers.
Rio Grande 59 cfs at Thirty Mile bridge in Creede; Good: 227 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
Dropping flows and a lower release have made the upper river from Creede to South Fork more wadable especially the box canyon above Creede. Fishing below South Fork is slower than the upper river. Baetis hatches have been sporadic but if you find one you'll see fish coming up to the surface. Still some caddis, PMD's, and golden stones fly around although terrestrials seem to be getting alot of attention.
Animas River 297 at Durango; Fair to Good
Dropping flows have made the Animas more fishable. Some caddis and stoneflies, but if your not finding the bugs, nymph the pockets or throw streamers.
Piedra River 127 cfs at Arboles; Good
The Piedra is fishing better with cooler water temps. Nymphs are better producers than dries on the lower river. The upper forks continue to fish well on dry flies. The Williams Creek below the Williams Creek Reservoir is also fishing better. Blue winged olives, caddis, yellow sallies, beetles and hoppers round out the summer fare.
San Juan River 122 cfs in Pagosa Springs; Good
THe San Juan is also doing better with some recent rainfall and cooler water. The San Juan below Pagosa is warm and fishing is slow. Upstream of Pagosa, check out the East Fork or Turkey or Four Mile for good dry fly fishing. The South Fork of the Rio Grande over Wolf Creek Pass is also fishing well. Yellow sallies, blue winged olives, and caddis are most prevalent.
Arkansas River 159 cfs at Granite; Good: 331 cfs at Salida; Good
Good fishing from Granite all the way to Swissvale. The canyons on either side of Buena Vista has good pocket water fishing. The broader sections of river around Salida and down into Bighorn Sheep Canyon offer easier wading. Fish move off on the banks and into the main channel mid-day. Tricos, blue winged olives, and red quills are the bugs to choose.
For the most current fire information go to http://nmfireinfo.wordpress.com/
Click on Public Lands Information Center from our links page for a full list of fire restrictions or closures.
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.
San Juan River 499 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
It looks like the release has been reduced to the winter (low) level of 499 cfs. The good news is that the blue winged olives are on the move nad the hatches are getting better. Use smaller flies especially near the dam as the water is clear. In the mornings, use a red midge larva as your point fly and trail a size #24-26 black or gray midge pupa like a UV flash midge emerger. As the afternoon progresses, change your flies to baetis, such as a gray or chocolate RS2 or foam wing emerger. Small #16-18 ants fished along the banks are also bringing up fish. 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!
Rio Costilla 7.4 cfs below Costilla Reservoir; Slow: Shuree Ponds; Slow to Fair
The release has lowered to a point where the fishing is going to be tough, at least above Commanche Creek anyway. Check the flows before you go. I anticipate that the release is actually going to be reduced to zero for the winter. The upper pond at Shuree Ponds is quite low and weedy. Better reports from the lower pond.
Pecos River 44 cfs below Terrero; Good:
The river is fishing well and the water is clear even though we've been getting some rainfal somewhere over the Pecos watershed lately. If you see murky water down low, consider driving upriver to find clearer water. Use small flies during clear water and switch to a bigger more flashy fly if the water is murky. Blue winged olives, yellow sallies, hoppers, ants, and beetles have been the best producers dry fly wise. Nymphing with a dry dropper rig can end your slump if they aren't coming up on your dry fly. Try flashback pheasant tails, oops fly, or a nitro caddis. The first PUBLIC access is Dalton Day Use. I know we all want a place to fish, but don't be a poacher. Please respect the landowners along the Pecos and don't trespass. The Pecos National Historical Park's Fishing Program for the fall started September 8th. The fall season runs from September 8th through November 7th. Please see their website for the details at http://www.nps.gov/peco/index.htm and click on "2011 Fishing Program".
Rio Grande 133 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 266 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow to Fair for trout, Fair to Good for smallmouth bass
How low can the Rio go? I guess we'll be finding that out here soon. This is some of the lowest water levels I've seen on the Rio in a long time. Low current velocity has made trout fishing slow. Best fly fishing on the Rio is for smallmouth bass on streamers. Cover the deeper slower runs for the bass. 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 14 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Slow or Good, depending on the watershed.
Low water is plaguing the streams of the Jemez. The only really water worth fishing is the Cebolla or the de las Vacas/Guadalupe watershed. Ash runoff from the Las Conchas fire has killed quite a lot of fish on the East Fork and Rio San Antonio, and the streambed is covered in it. The Valles Caldera National Preserve is open but with limited access on the East Fork only. My personal opinion is to leave those fish alone this year and look at visiting the Caldera next spring. The visitor center is open and the Valles Caldera will resume normal summer activities excluding those which normally occur in the burned areas. The Rio San Antonio fishing program on the Preserve is suspended for the remainder of this year. The limited fishing progam on the East Fork runs through October 9th. Please call the Valles Caldera or visit their website at www.vallescaldera.gov for more information.
Cimarron River 5.6 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good: 5.8 cfs at Cimarron
The release out of Eagle's Nest Dam has dropped significantly and is really not worth fishing at these low levels. Check the flows before you go. Releases below 25 cfs makes for slow fishing. If the release doesn't go back up, wait until spring next year to fly fish. Nearby over Bobcat Pass, the Red River all the way to Questa is fishing well.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Fair to Good: 46 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow to Fair: 591 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 257 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The upper Chama in the Sargent Wildlife area has the most consistent good fishing on the Chama as a whole. The stretch flowing downstream of the village of Chama into El Vado reservoir is fishing better everday. The river below El Vado is open within Cooper's El Vado Ranch. The release out of El Vado is fishable. Big nymphs dead drifted and finished with a swing or stripping streamers is the way to go there. The stretch below Abiquiu Dam typically won't really fish well until autumn when the water clears. The release here is low for this time of year, probabably as Albuquerque has stopped diverting water from the Rio Grande until November 1st. The water here is at a fishable level for now, but I haven't had any reports. 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 27 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 124 cfs at Magote; Good
"Right now the river is a bit lower than average but the fish seem to really love the cooler temps and we have been into fish all day when we are doing a good job at shifting quickly with the change in holding water and bugs. Sometimes it is a little frustrating when you are fruitlessly attempting to figure out what mood the fish just went into but I suppose that is the reason I love the river so much and why we sell so many bugs!!! These flows have opened up the Pinnacles water up to the meadow in a way that makes it much easier to get around and concentrates the fish more. You could find fish anywhere up there right. On the edges in the slower water, hiding I the pockets, or in the faster riffles. It will change all day but the water is clear and you should be able to dial in the water they are holding in pretty quickly. We will hope that the moisture continues and keeps rivers like the La Jara, Los Pinos, Lake Fork etc. healthy. The rest of the year looks like we will have enough water even if it will be less than average. The fish look good and are healthy. The huge push of anglers in July in the drainage has now gone and seems like life back to normal on the Conejos. Seems like the fish like the withdrawal of the human occupation that happened this in July. The other interesting thing and I will just have to keep an eye on the catch rate this fall but seems like the shoulder seasons to summer are much better fishing. I remember last November doing my last guide of the year with Bill Long and just killing it. This March Wayne Suggs came and fished with me for the first time and put a hurtin’ on the Conejos. I can tell you it was not 74 degrees and we were not surrounded by flowers but the fishing early and late here is way better then I had ever thought it would be. For some reason these fish don’t seem to have feeding patterns that mimick the water temps like I do at other rivers. I have seen the fish feed like mad at 34 degrees and last week the temp was in the upper 60’s and I thought I am finally going to be able to go home but the the fish just kept eating. (missed dinner!) Anyway good to write for a moment and I hope you all get a chance to see the colors this fall and make some casts. We appreciate all of your support!
The preceeding report was provided by Jon Harp of the Conejos River Anglers.
Rio Grande 59 cfs at Thirty Mile bridge in Creede; Good: 227 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
Dropping flows and a lower release have made the upper river from Creede to South Fork more wadable especially the box canyon above Creede. Fishing below South Fork is slower than the upper river. Baetis hatches have been sporadic but if you find one you'll see fish coming up to the surface. Still some caddis, PMD's, and golden stones fly around although terrestrials seem to be getting alot of attention.
Animas River 297 at Durango; Fair to Good
Dropping flows have made the Animas more fishable. Some caddis and stoneflies, but if your not finding the bugs, nymph the pockets or throw streamers.
Piedra River 127 cfs at Arboles; Good
The Piedra is fishing better with cooler water temps. Nymphs are better producers than dries on the lower river. The upper forks continue to fish well on dry flies. The Williams Creek below the Williams Creek Reservoir is also fishing better. Blue winged olives, caddis, yellow sallies, beetles and hoppers round out the summer fare.
San Juan River 122 cfs in Pagosa Springs; Good
THe San Juan is also doing better with some recent rainfall and cooler water. The San Juan below Pagosa is warm and fishing is slow. Upstream of Pagosa, check out the East Fork or Turkey or Four Mile for good dry fly fishing. The South Fork of the Rio Grande over Wolf Creek Pass is also fishing well. Yellow sallies, blue winged olives, and caddis are most prevalent.
Arkansas River 159 cfs at Granite; Good: 331 cfs at Salida; Good
Good fishing from Granite all the way to Swissvale. The canyons on either side of Buena Vista has good pocket water fishing. The broader sections of river around Salida and down into Bighorn Sheep Canyon offer easier wading. Fish move off on the banks and into the main channel mid-day. Tricos, blue winged olives, and red quills are the bugs to choose.
For the most current fire information go to http://nmfireinfo.wordpress.com/
Click on Public Lands Information Center from our links page for a full list of fire restrictions or closures.
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.
posted by High Desert Angler at Thursday, September 22, 2011
