Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Thursday February 23, 2012
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San Juan River 481 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
Not much change here. The lake has turned again, probably for the last time, and the water is murky. Although the clarity has diminshed, there has been some dry fly fishing if you're lucky enough to get a midge hatch. Baetis hatches are still quite sporadic. Good midge fishing and midge hatches during the mornings and decent blue winged olive sub-suface activity in the afternoons. In the mornings, use a red midge larva as your point fly and trail a size #24-26 black, olive, or gray midge pupa. As the afternoon progresses, change your flies to baetis, such as a gray or chocolate RS2 or foam wing emerger. 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 30 cfs below Terrero; Slow: at Villanueva State Park; Fair
The upper river has more open water and fishing on these milder days has been OK. No dry fly fishing, however the fish are taking midges. baetis nymphs, and smaller stonefly nymphs. Villanueva State Park was last stocked on January 24th and the fishing there has slowed without any new fish. Please respect the landowners along the Pecos and don't trespass. The Pecos National Historical Park's Fishing Program for the spring resume Thursday March 8th. See our announcements page or the Park's website at: http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm for more info.
Rio Grande 315 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 470 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow to Fair for trout, Poor for smallmouth bass
The flows on the Rio are fluctuating with some localized runoff with the warnmer weather we've been experiencing lately. Water clarity is decent, but best in the mornings. Trout still seem to prefer the faster aeriated water. Nymph the pocket water or chunk some streamers for the fiestier browns. Pike fishing is still good but the catching is pretty tough. Lots of pike are being seen , but, very few of them are eating. There are also lots of carp in the same water which typically won't eat big pike flies, so be sure you are casting over pike if you want to catch one. The water is quite clear so be stealthy. Pike hunt by feel. Large streamers that moves water will still get a pike's attention. Vary your retrieves and change up the color of your flies to see which ones trigger a bite.
Jemez Mountain Streams 22 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Slow, depending on the watershed.
The lower Guadalupe can be accessed below Gilman tunnels and is fishing fair in the warmer part of the day. The lower Jemez river is stocked and may be worth fishing for rainbows. The fishing program at the Valles Caldera National Preserve will resume On My 12th. See their website at: http://www.vallescaldera.gov/comevisit/fish/index.aspx to make reservation or for more info.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: ICE cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow: 55 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow to Fair: and 114 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Good
The Chama below Abiquiu dam 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 slow. The release out of El Vado is murky and low although, fishable. Big nymphs dead drifted and finished with a swing or stripping streamers is the way to go there. The stretch below Abiquiu Dam is fishing good. Small stuff like midges and baetis with a worm or a crane fly larva as an attrractor is the typicall rig. 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:
Animas River 160 at Durango; Slow to Fair Low and clear water have made the Animas more fishable. Some baetis, but if your not finding the bugs or rising fish, nymph the pockets or throw streamers.
Arkansas River 252 cfs at Granite; Slow: ICE cfs at Salida; Slow
The best fishing on the Ark is below Pueblo reservoir. Fishing from Salida downstream into Bighorn Sheep Canyon has been pretty slow with slush and ice especially in the mornings. The fish move from their deeper winter lies in the afternoons to feed on midges and baetis mid-day. Nymphing with golden stonefly nymphs, caddis larvae, baeties, and midges have been the most productive.
It's early 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.
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.
Click on Public Lands Information Center from our links page for a full list of fire restrictions or closures.
San Juan River 481 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
Not much change here. The lake has turned again, probably for the last time, and the water is murky. Although the clarity has diminshed, there has been some dry fly fishing if you're lucky enough to get a midge hatch. Baetis hatches are still quite sporadic. Good midge fishing and midge hatches during the mornings and decent blue winged olive sub-suface activity in the afternoons. In the mornings, use a red midge larva as your point fly and trail a size #24-26 black, olive, or gray midge pupa. As the afternoon progresses, change your flies to baetis, such as a gray or chocolate RS2 or foam wing emerger. 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 30 cfs below Terrero; Slow: at Villanueva State Park; Fair
The upper river has more open water and fishing on these milder days has been OK. No dry fly fishing, however the fish are taking midges. baetis nymphs, and smaller stonefly nymphs. Villanueva State Park was last stocked on January 24th and the fishing there has slowed without any new fish. Please respect the landowners along the Pecos and don't trespass. The Pecos National Historical Park's Fishing Program for the spring resume Thursday March 8th. See our announcements page or the Park's website at: http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm for more info.
Rio Grande 315 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 470 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow to Fair for trout, Poor for smallmouth bass
The flows on the Rio are fluctuating with some localized runoff with the warnmer weather we've been experiencing lately. Water clarity is decent, but best in the mornings. Trout still seem to prefer the faster aeriated water. Nymph the pocket water or chunk some streamers for the fiestier browns. Pike fishing is still good but the catching is pretty tough. Lots of pike are being seen , but, very few of them are eating. There are also lots of carp in the same water which typically won't eat big pike flies, so be sure you are casting over pike if you want to catch one. The water is quite clear so be stealthy. Pike hunt by feel. Large streamers that moves water will still get a pike's attention. Vary your retrieves and change up the color of your flies to see which ones trigger a bite.
Jemez Mountain Streams 22 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Slow, depending on the watershed.
The lower Guadalupe can be accessed below Gilman tunnels and is fishing fair in the warmer part of the day. The lower Jemez river is stocked and may be worth fishing for rainbows. The fishing program at the Valles Caldera National Preserve will resume On My 12th. See their website at: http://www.vallescaldera.gov/comevisit/fish/index.aspx to make reservation or for more info.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Poor: ICE cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow: 55 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow to Fair: and 114 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Good
The Chama below Abiquiu dam 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 slow. The release out of El Vado is murky and low although, fishable. Big nymphs dead drifted and finished with a swing or stripping streamers is the way to go there. The stretch below Abiquiu Dam is fishing good. Small stuff like midges and baetis with a worm or a crane fly larva as an attrractor is the typicall rig. 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:
Animas River 160 at Durango; Slow to Fair Low and clear water have made the Animas more fishable. Some baetis, but if your not finding the bugs or rising fish, nymph the pockets or throw streamers.
Arkansas River 252 cfs at Granite; Slow: ICE cfs at Salida; Slow
The best fishing on the Ark is below Pueblo reservoir. Fishing from Salida downstream into Bighorn Sheep Canyon has been pretty slow with slush and ice especially in the mornings. The fish move from their deeper winter lies in the afternoons to feed on midges and baetis mid-day. Nymphing with golden stonefly nymphs, caddis larvae, baeties, and midges have been the most productive.
It's early 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.
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.
Click on Public Lands Information Center from our links page for a full list of fire restrictions or closures.
posted by High Desert Angler at Thursday, February 23, 2012
