Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Saturday June 16, 2012
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San Juan River 680 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
Declining flows on the Animas means more release out of Navajo Dam. Summer can be great time to be on the Juan as the release will usually make it arounnd 1,000 cfs by mid-July. This spreads out the fly fishers and the trout as well. Look for the first emergences of caddis and PMD's in the lower river. The water is clear so it's be time to go back to smaller flies. Also, be willing to go and find the fish rather than stay in your favorite spot. 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 68 cfs below Terrero; Good: at Villanueva State Park; Poor
The river is clear and fishing very well. The stonefly hatch is waning and the better part of it is at Terrero. Great dry fly fishing pretty much river long especially on caddis in a size #16 tan or yellow. There is also some big gray drakes coming off mid-day more so from Terrero up. During the middle of the day, nymphing has been more productive. Tungsten salvations, 20 inchers, tungstones, and nitro caddis, hotwire caddis or good and plenties for the caddis nymphs. Please respect the landowners along the Pecos and don't trespass. The Pecos National Historical Park's Fishing Summer Program starts this Thursday June 21st. You can make reservations for their summer fishing program now. The summer season runs from June 21st to August 6th. See our announcements page or the Park's website at: http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm for more info.
Rio Grande 109 cfs at Cerro; Fair to Good: 301 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Fair for trout, Fair to Good for smallmouth bass
Trout fishing has slowed some with the climb in water temperature. It's time to go early or late in the day. The better fishing seems to be in the late afternoons. Throw a small #16-18 caddis dry for the evening risers. Nymphing with big stonefly nymphs or crane fly larvae are picking up trout sub surface. The smallies are taking woolly buggers and crayfish patterns dredged in the slower eddies. Pike fishing is slow and the best pike fishing may be done for the season. Large streamers that move 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 10 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good, depending on the watershed.
The bottom keeps dropping on the flows on the streams of the Jemez Mountains. Smaller PMD dries and caddis dries are picking trout on top. Suspend a small beadhead like a yellow copper john or a big eye hares ear if no one is taking your dry. Mid-day fishing is starting to get slower. Go to more shaded reaches or fish later in the affternoon. The fishing program at the Valles Caldera National Preserve did not open as planned on May 12th. They will however be offering fly fishing clinics on Saturdays through the summer. See their website at: http://www.vallescaldera.gov/comevisit/fish/index.aspx for the details.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Good: 30 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow to Fair: 885 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 1210 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Poor
The Chama flowing into El Vado Reservoir is dropping fast. If you didn't get a chance to fish here before now, you are too late. Still decent fishing there for a little while, like two weeks on the outside. The water being pulled off for irrigation upstream and the return from the ditches will adversely affect the fishing here throughout the summer, so get it while it's good. Stoneflies are coming off, and nymphing with the big bugs has been good. The Chama coming over the border from Colorado is clear and fishing well in the canyon up from the Sargent Wildlife Area. The release below both dams is way too high for safe wading and the water is stirred up, especially below Abiquiu. 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 146 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 307 cfs at Mogote; Good
The release out of Platoro Reservoir has been rather steady for a few weeks. Check the flows before you go, because a release higher than 150 cfs makes the Pinnacles unfishable for everyone but the strongest waders. The pocket water above the Pinnacles up to the meadows has been fishing well. On the lower river, it's all about an early emergence of stoneflies. Look for them to proceed upriver in bigger numbers over the next couple of weeks. Stonefly nymphs dredged in the deeper runs on the lower river are the best producers. The water is fairly clear.
Pagosa Area: Piedra River 127 cfs at Arboles; Good: San Juan River 154 cfs at Pagosa Springs; Good
The stoneflies are out on the Piedra! All of the Pagosa area stream are done with runoff and the water is clear and fishing well. The upper forks of the Piedra and of course, Williams Creek have less water than the box canyon sections of the Piedra for easier wading. It'll be mostly caddis over the pass and upper San Juan drainage. Just over Wolf Creek Pass, the South Fork and it's tribs are also fishing very well.
Rio Grande 194 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge; Good: 511 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
Stoneflies are out! There are four or so different species of stoneflies about from Del Norte to Creede. I wouldn't doubt that the green drakes are starting to pop around Del Norte also. These fish really key in on dries more than nymphs when the stones are out. Big uglies like chubby chernobyls, aerial assaults, and Karnop's freestone are bringing fish up. Cast tight to the banks.
Animas River 624 at Durango; Slow
The Animas is coming down and fishing better. although there is a fair amount of raft traffic. It'll be all about the bigger bugs like stonefly nymphs here. The typical stonefly nymph with a trailing baetis or caddis pupa is the way to go. Throw streamers if your nymphs aren't getting more attention.
Arkansas River 194 cfs at Granite; Slow to Fair: 331 cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
The fishing here is absolutey unprecedented. Normally, the Arknasas would have much higher water and consequently tougher fishing. Fishing on the Ark over the summer should remain good as long as the water temps stay below 70 degrees. Hayden Meadows down to Buena Vista is fishing very well. Smaller offerings like little yellow saliies, both nymphs and dries, beatis, both nymphs and dries, and caddis are making up the fare. Down around Salida bigger golden stones, nymphs and dries with yellow sallies in the mix are the top producers.
Stage 2 fire restrictions will be in place for the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests starting Monday!
For the most current fire information go to http://nmfireinfo.wordpress.com/. Click on the fire restriction tab on the right for any info on closures or what restricions are in place.
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.
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 680 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
Declining flows on the Animas means more release out of Navajo Dam. Summer can be great time to be on the Juan as the release will usually make it arounnd 1,000 cfs by mid-July. This spreads out the fly fishers and the trout as well. Look for the first emergences of caddis and PMD's in the lower river. The water is clear so it's be time to go back to smaller flies. Also, be willing to go and find the fish rather than stay in your favorite spot. 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 68 cfs below Terrero; Good: at Villanueva State Park; Poor
The river is clear and fishing very well. The stonefly hatch is waning and the better part of it is at Terrero. Great dry fly fishing pretty much river long especially on caddis in a size #16 tan or yellow. There is also some big gray drakes coming off mid-day more so from Terrero up. During the middle of the day, nymphing has been more productive. Tungsten salvations, 20 inchers, tungstones, and nitro caddis, hotwire caddis or good and plenties for the caddis nymphs. Please respect the landowners along the Pecos and don't trespass. The Pecos National Historical Park's Fishing Summer Program starts this Thursday June 21st. You can make reservations for their summer fishing program now. The summer season runs from June 21st to August 6th. See our announcements page or the Park's website at: http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm for more info.
Rio Grande 109 cfs at Cerro; Fair to Good: 301 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Fair for trout, Fair to Good for smallmouth bass
Trout fishing has slowed some with the climb in water temperature. It's time to go early or late in the day. The better fishing seems to be in the late afternoons. Throw a small #16-18 caddis dry for the evening risers. Nymphing with big stonefly nymphs or crane fly larvae are picking up trout sub surface. The smallies are taking woolly buggers and crayfish patterns dredged in the slower eddies. Pike fishing is slow and the best pike fishing may be done for the season. Large streamers that move 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 10 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good, depending on the watershed.
The bottom keeps dropping on the flows on the streams of the Jemez Mountains. Smaller PMD dries and caddis dries are picking trout on top. Suspend a small beadhead like a yellow copper john or a big eye hares ear if no one is taking your dry. Mid-day fishing is starting to get slower. Go to more shaded reaches or fish later in the affternoon. The fishing program at the Valles Caldera National Preserve did not open as planned on May 12th. They will however be offering fly fishing clinics on Saturdays through the summer. See their website at: http://www.vallescaldera.gov/comevisit/fish/index.aspx for the details.
The Chama River above the village of Chama; Good: 30 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow to Fair: 885 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 1210 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Poor
The Chama flowing into El Vado Reservoir is dropping fast. If you didn't get a chance to fish here before now, you are too late. Still decent fishing there for a little while, like two weeks on the outside. The water being pulled off for irrigation upstream and the return from the ditches will adversely affect the fishing here throughout the summer, so get it while it's good. Stoneflies are coming off, and nymphing with the big bugs has been good. The Chama coming over the border from Colorado is clear and fishing well in the canyon up from the Sargent Wildlife Area. The release below both dams is way too high for safe wading and the water is stirred up, especially below Abiquiu. 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 146 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 307 cfs at Mogote; Good
The release out of Platoro Reservoir has been rather steady for a few weeks. Check the flows before you go, because a release higher than 150 cfs makes the Pinnacles unfishable for everyone but the strongest waders. The pocket water above the Pinnacles up to the meadows has been fishing well. On the lower river, it's all about an early emergence of stoneflies. Look for them to proceed upriver in bigger numbers over the next couple of weeks. Stonefly nymphs dredged in the deeper runs on the lower river are the best producers. The water is fairly clear.
Pagosa Area: Piedra River 127 cfs at Arboles; Good: San Juan River 154 cfs at Pagosa Springs; Good
The stoneflies are out on the Piedra! All of the Pagosa area stream are done with runoff and the water is clear and fishing well. The upper forks of the Piedra and of course, Williams Creek have less water than the box canyon sections of the Piedra for easier wading. It'll be mostly caddis over the pass and upper San Juan drainage. Just over Wolf Creek Pass, the South Fork and it's tribs are also fishing very well.
Rio Grande 194 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge; Good: 511 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
Stoneflies are out! There are four or so different species of stoneflies about from Del Norte to Creede. I wouldn't doubt that the green drakes are starting to pop around Del Norte also. These fish really key in on dries more than nymphs when the stones are out. Big uglies like chubby chernobyls, aerial assaults, and Karnop's freestone are bringing fish up. Cast tight to the banks.
Animas River 624 at Durango; Slow
The Animas is coming down and fishing better. although there is a fair amount of raft traffic. It'll be all about the bigger bugs like stonefly nymphs here. The typical stonefly nymph with a trailing baetis or caddis pupa is the way to go. Throw streamers if your nymphs aren't getting more attention.
Arkansas River 194 cfs at Granite; Slow to Fair: 331 cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
The fishing here is absolutey unprecedented. Normally, the Arknasas would have much higher water and consequently tougher fishing. Fishing on the Ark over the summer should remain good as long as the water temps stay below 70 degrees. Hayden Meadows down to Buena Vista is fishing very well. Smaller offerings like little yellow saliies, both nymphs and dries, beatis, both nymphs and dries, and caddis are making up the fare. Down around Salida bigger golden stones, nymphs and dries with yellow sallies in the mix are the top producers.
Stage 2 fire restrictions will be in place for the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests starting Monday!
For the most current fire information go to http://nmfireinfo.wordpress.com/. Click on the fire restriction tab on the right for any info on closures or what restricions are in place.
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.
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 Saturday, June 16, 2012
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