Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Wednesday June 6, 2012
Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Learn more at http://www.tu.org/science/aquatic-invasive-species-ais
San Juan River 560 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The water is clear. The scouring generally has a positive effect on the fishery and makes the habitat better for insects that need cleaner water and substrate. With the clearer water, it'll be time to go back to smaller flies. Fishing can be good post Peak Release, just 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 110 cfs below Terrero; Good: at Villanueva State Park; Poor
The river is clear, but the water is still moving. It's fishable and wadeable. Concentrate on the deeper holes and get your flies down. Think big, like stonefly nymphs, tungsten salvations, 20 inchers, or pat's rubber below Terrero. Stoneflies have shown up in good numbers around Dalton Day Use up to Terrero, although the hatch is waning the lower you go.Windy Bridge. Time to throw big dries. Above Terrero, the fish are keying in on smaller offerings like, baetis and caddis nymphs. Bat wing emergers, olive anato-mays, and tungsten micro-mays for the baetis, and hotwire caddis or good and plenties for the caddis. Fish are taking dries, especially in the evenings. Blue winged olives will pop around 1 to 2 pm and big caddis to imitate the miller moths, and smaller #16 caddis for the evenings. Please respect the landowners along the Pecos and don't trespass. The Pecos National Historical Park's Fishing Summer Program starts on 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 162 cfs at Cerro; Fair to Good: 360 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Fair to Good for trout, Fair to Good for smallmouth bass
A smaller black caddis has been showing up on the Rio. Best to fish those in the late evening. Nymphing during the day with big stonefly nymphs or crane fly larvae are picking up the trout. 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 17 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good, depending on the watershed.
The bottom dropped out of the flows on the Jemez. Easy wading even on the Guadalupe, and happy fish. Stoneflies have been out on the Guad/de las Vacas for over a week. THe fish are still keying in on them. I am getting better reports from the East Fork and San Antonio, but don't expect the same fish density as it was pre-fire. The Cebolla and the de las Vacas/Guadalupe are the only watersheds that did not experience a fish kill from the ash runoff from the Las Conchas Fire. Fenton Lake is also fishing very well. The fishing program at the Valles Caldera National Preserve will 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; Slow to Good: 88 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Good: 910 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 1060 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Poor
The Chama flowing into El Vado Reservoir is dropping fast and these idael conditions won't last long. Stoneflies are coming off, and nymphing with the big bugs has been good. 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. The Chama coming over the border from Colorado is clear, but still high and a little tough to wade 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 187 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Fair to Good: 464 cfs at Mogote; Fair to Good
The release out of Platoro Reservoir is being severely micro-managed. It's back up for the weekend. Typically this makes the meadows fish better. 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. There is evidence of some adults out by the shucks left on the rocks streamside. Look for them 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 lower river is big. Wade carefully. The water is fairly clear.
Pagosa Area: Piedra River 285 cfs at Arboles; Fair to Good: San Juan River 409 cfs at Pagosa Springs; Slow to Fair
As usual, the Wolf Creek pass area always gets it's fair share of snow, even while the rest of the San Juan Mountains didn't. Big water on the big rivers so look to the tribs, especially over the pass heading to South Fork. The upper forks of the Piedra and of course, Williams Creek will fish better than the box canyon sections of the Piedra. It'll be mostly caddis over the pass and upper San Juan drainage, and stonefly nymphs for the upper Piedra.
Rio Grande 465 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge; Slow to Fair: 855 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Slow to Fair
Good boat water right now. Some caddis about, but it's really about the baetis. Double nymph rigs with a big stonefly nymphs and a trailing baetis nymphs are the way to go. The water is too cold for stoneflies on the surface. The tribs are offering easier wading.
Animas River 1350 at Durango; Slow
The Animas is coming down and fishing better. although there is a fair amount of boat traffic. It'll be all about the bigger bugs like stonefly nymphs here shortly. 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 235 cfs at Granite; Slow to Fair: 466 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 1 fire restrictions are in place for the Santa Fe National Forest!
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 560 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The water is clear. The scouring generally has a positive effect on the fishery and makes the habitat better for insects that need cleaner water and substrate. With the clearer water, it'll be time to go back to smaller flies. Fishing can be good post Peak Release, just 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 110 cfs below Terrero; Good: at Villanueva State Park; Poor
The river is clear, but the water is still moving. It's fishable and wadeable. Concentrate on the deeper holes and get your flies down. Think big, like stonefly nymphs, tungsten salvations, 20 inchers, or pat's rubber below Terrero. Stoneflies have shown up in good numbers around Dalton Day Use up to Terrero, although the hatch is waning the lower you go.Windy Bridge. Time to throw big dries. Above Terrero, the fish are keying in on smaller offerings like, baetis and caddis nymphs. Bat wing emergers, olive anato-mays, and tungsten micro-mays for the baetis, and hotwire caddis or good and plenties for the caddis. Fish are taking dries, especially in the evenings. Blue winged olives will pop around 1 to 2 pm and big caddis to imitate the miller moths, and smaller #16 caddis for the evenings. Please respect the landowners along the Pecos and don't trespass. The Pecos National Historical Park's Fishing Summer Program starts on 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 162 cfs at Cerro; Fair to Good: 360 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Fair to Good for trout, Fair to Good for smallmouth bass
A smaller black caddis has been showing up on the Rio. Best to fish those in the late evening. Nymphing during the day with big stonefly nymphs or crane fly larvae are picking up the trout. 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 17 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good, depending on the watershed.
The bottom dropped out of the flows on the Jemez. Easy wading even on the Guadalupe, and happy fish. Stoneflies have been out on the Guad/de las Vacas for over a week. THe fish are still keying in on them. I am getting better reports from the East Fork and San Antonio, but don't expect the same fish density as it was pre-fire. The Cebolla and the de las Vacas/Guadalupe are the only watersheds that did not experience a fish kill from the ash runoff from the Las Conchas Fire. Fenton Lake is also fishing very well. The fishing program at the Valles Caldera National Preserve will 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; Slow to Good: 88 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Good: 910 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 1060 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Poor
The Chama flowing into El Vado Reservoir is dropping fast and these idael conditions won't last long. Stoneflies are coming off, and nymphing with the big bugs has been good. 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. The Chama coming over the border from Colorado is clear, but still high and a little tough to wade 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 187 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Fair to Good: 464 cfs at Mogote; Fair to Good
The release out of Platoro Reservoir is being severely micro-managed. It's back up for the weekend. Typically this makes the meadows fish better. 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. There is evidence of some adults out by the shucks left on the rocks streamside. Look for them 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 lower river is big. Wade carefully. The water is fairly clear.
Pagosa Area: Piedra River 285 cfs at Arboles; Fair to Good: San Juan River 409 cfs at Pagosa Springs; Slow to Fair
As usual, the Wolf Creek pass area always gets it's fair share of snow, even while the rest of the San Juan Mountains didn't. Big water on the big rivers so look to the tribs, especially over the pass heading to South Fork. The upper forks of the Piedra and of course, Williams Creek will fish better than the box canyon sections of the Piedra. It'll be mostly caddis over the pass and upper San Juan drainage, and stonefly nymphs for the upper Piedra.
Rio Grande 465 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge; Slow to Fair: 855 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Slow to Fair
Good boat water right now. Some caddis about, but it's really about the baetis. Double nymph rigs with a big stonefly nymphs and a trailing baetis nymphs are the way to go. The water is too cold for stoneflies on the surface. The tribs are offering easier wading.
Animas River 1350 at Durango; Slow
The Animas is coming down and fishing better. although there is a fair amount of boat traffic. It'll be all about the bigger bugs like stonefly nymphs here shortly. 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 235 cfs at Granite; Slow to Fair: 466 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 1 fire restrictions are in place for the Santa Fe National Forest!
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 Wednesday, June 06, 2012
<< Home