Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Saturday August 18, 2012
Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Learn more at http://www.tu.org/science/aquatic-invasive-species-ais
San Juan River 922 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The release out of Navajo Dam has increased by 100 cfs. The water is clear, although there is some moss in the drift. Check you rig and clean the junk off of your flies. Small stuff seems to be the ticket right now. Size #24-26 gray and black midge larvae and pupa in the mornings, then switch to #22-24 gray or chocaolate baetis emergers in the afternoons. Midges will become more relevant in late afternoons into the evening. Some fish are still coming up to ants and hoppers. Otherwise midge dries around 10:00 am and blue winged olives will show themselves in the afternoons if they are so inclined. Don't forget your mosquito repellent! 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 76 cfs below Terrero; Fair to Good: at Villanueva State Park; Poor
The river has come up in flow with last night's rainfall. It is on ot's way down and clearing. Alittle murk to the water is a good thing. The influx of cooler water and more insects in the drift makes catching a whole lot better also. If the water is murky whrere youa re fishing, go with bigger flies and use nymphs that have a little flash or sparkle. Generally the better fishing can be had in the early morning and late afternoons. Dries work pretty well first thing in the morning. Suspend a small beadhead below your dry fly to keep the catching up mid-day. A big caddis fly or a #12 stilmulator is still getting some fish that are looking up in the morning. There are sporadic hatches of caddis mid-day on into the evenings. The cloud cover can also bring out a small hatch of blue winged olives as well. Fly choices should be the afore mentioned caddis and stimis, smaller caddis, BWO's, peacock anato-mays, Barr's emergers, micro-mays, hotwire caddis, parahoppers, and ants. Please respect the landowners along the Pecos and don't trespass. The Pecos National Historical Park's Fishing Summer Program has ended on Monday August 6th. The Park's Fall Season will start on Thursday September 6th and run through Monday November 5th. To make a reservation, see the Park's website at: http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm for more info.
Rio Costilla 11 cfs below Costilla Dam; Fair to Good
The release is lower than normal this year making the fish a little more skitish. Just a sign of the times with our ongoing drought. At these lower flows use a longer leader and finer tippets. The hot flies seemed to be medium sized hoppers, yellow sallies, and smaller stimulators. Those cutthroats will hit you flies very fast, so speed up your hookset. There is usually more water coming out of the dam during the week, which makes the fishing better. I didn't get as favorable reports from Shuree Ponds. The water levels are very low and the weed growth seemed to reduce the amount of open water.
Rio Grande 59 cfs at Cerro; Fair: 206 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow to Fair for trout, Fair to Good for smallmouth bass
Trout fishing has slowed some with the climb in water temperature and diminshing water clarity. It's time to go early or late in the day. The better fishing seems to be in the late afternoons. Nymphing with big stonefly nymphs or crane fly larvae with a trailing caddis arvae or baetis nymph are picking up trout sub surface. If the trout you catch are hard to revive, stop fishing for them! Smallmouth bass are biting pretty good and you can target them specifically. The smallies are taking woolly buggers and crayfish patterns dredged in the slower eddies. Pike fishing is slow and the best pike fishing may not happen umtil fall. 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 16 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good
The streams of the Jemez Mountains are very low and clear. Stealth has to be practiced for you to catch fish. Long leaders, fine tippets, and smaller flies are in order. Fishing will slow mid-day especially if it's hot and sunny out. A dry fly dropper rig will improve your catching while the sun is high. Also look for some shaded water. Smaller PMD dries and caddis dries as well as hopper, ants, and beetles 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. The fishing program at the Valles Caldera National Preserve has resumed as of Saturday June 23rd! See our announcements page or their website for more information. They are also 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; Fair to Good: 26 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow: 728 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 360 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Poor
The Chama flowing into El Vado Reservoir is warm and low and the fishing there is very slow. The water being pulled off for irrigation upstream and the return from the ditches has adversely affected the fishing here and will continue throughout the summer. For the sake of the trout, do not fish here, at least until things cool off in the fall. The Chama coming over the border from Colorado is also low and clear. The fishing in the canyon up from the Sargent Wildlife Area is the best fishing on the Chama. Smaller attractors like stimis, royal wulffs, and hoppers are working the best. The release below both dams has been all over the place. The water below Abiquiu is very murky and fishing is slow. The release below El Vado is a little too high for safe wading. 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 60 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 126 cfs at Mogote; Good
The release out of Platoro Reservoir is down just a little from last weekend. The low level of water in the lake may mean some lower releases here through out the summer. This may adversely affect the meadows, the pocket water below, and the Pinnacles. Check the flows before you go, because a release higher than 150 cfs makes the Pinnacles unfishable for everyone but the strongest waders. The trib flow has picked up with some recent rainfall. The river between Horca and Conejos campground has been fishing well. The water is fairly clear.
Pagosa Area: Piedra River 59 cfs at Arboles; Good: San Juan River 58 cfs at Pagosa Springs; Good
The Piedra has benefitted from some recent rain. Reports are that the area above Williams Reservoir is closed. Contact the District Ranger Office at 970-264-2268 to check on closures. The upper forks of the Piedra may offer cooler water and happier fish. The San Juan is clear. Look for PMD's and caddis especially in the evenings. Just over Wolf Creek Pass, the South Fork and it's tribs are also fishing well on the same flies.
Rio Grande 67 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge; Good: 206 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
PMD's and caddis are what's for dinner. These fish really key in on dries more than nymphs when there are bugs on the water. Small #16-18 caddis, hoppers, and PMD's are bringing fish up. Cast tight to the banks. The river below South Fork is low and getting warm by mid-day. Consider fishing elsewhere during the afternoons.
Animas River 230 at Durango; Fair to Good
The Animas is has come up and cooled off with some recent rainfall. Caddis, PMD's and blue winged olives are all about. Dry fly dropper rigs or streamers seem to be the better producers.
Arkansas River 214 cfs at Granite; Slow to Fair: 373 cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
The fishing here is remains quite good. One of the benefits of the drought if you can look at it that way. Normally, the Arkansas would have much higher water and consequently tougher fishing. Hayden Meadows down to Buena Vista is fishing very well and is free from the rafting traffic on the middle and lower river. Smaller offerings like little yellow saliies, PMD's and caddis both nymphs and dries are making up the fare. Down around Salida bigger golden stones, nymphs and dries with yellow sallies in the mix are still the top producers. Cooler water temps in Bighorn Sheep Canyon is making the fishing better. Look for fish on the edges early in the day and expect them to go into deeper water mid-day.
Santa Fe and Carson National Forests have lifted all Fire Restrictions!
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 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.
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 922 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The release out of Navajo Dam has increased by 100 cfs. The water is clear, although there is some moss in the drift. Check you rig and clean the junk off of your flies. Small stuff seems to be the ticket right now. Size #24-26 gray and black midge larvae and pupa in the mornings, then switch to #22-24 gray or chocaolate baetis emergers in the afternoons. Midges will become more relevant in late afternoons into the evening. Some fish are still coming up to ants and hoppers. Otherwise midge dries around 10:00 am and blue winged olives will show themselves in the afternoons if they are so inclined. Don't forget your mosquito repellent! 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 76 cfs below Terrero; Fair to Good: at Villanueva State Park; Poor
The river has come up in flow with last night's rainfall. It is on ot's way down and clearing. Alittle murk to the water is a good thing. The influx of cooler water and more insects in the drift makes catching a whole lot better also. If the water is murky whrere youa re fishing, go with bigger flies and use nymphs that have a little flash or sparkle. Generally the better fishing can be had in the early morning and late afternoons. Dries work pretty well first thing in the morning. Suspend a small beadhead below your dry fly to keep the catching up mid-day. A big caddis fly or a #12 stilmulator is still getting some fish that are looking up in the morning. There are sporadic hatches of caddis mid-day on into the evenings. The cloud cover can also bring out a small hatch of blue winged olives as well. Fly choices should be the afore mentioned caddis and stimis, smaller caddis, BWO's, peacock anato-mays, Barr's emergers, micro-mays, hotwire caddis, parahoppers, and ants. Please respect the landowners along the Pecos and don't trespass. The Pecos National Historical Park's Fishing Summer Program has ended on Monday August 6th. The Park's Fall Season will start on Thursday September 6th and run through Monday November 5th. To make a reservation, see the Park's website at: http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm for more info.
Rio Costilla 11 cfs below Costilla Dam; Fair to Good
The release is lower than normal this year making the fish a little more skitish. Just a sign of the times with our ongoing drought. At these lower flows use a longer leader and finer tippets. The hot flies seemed to be medium sized hoppers, yellow sallies, and smaller stimulators. Those cutthroats will hit you flies very fast, so speed up your hookset. There is usually more water coming out of the dam during the week, which makes the fishing better. I didn't get as favorable reports from Shuree Ponds. The water levels are very low and the weed growth seemed to reduce the amount of open water.
Rio Grande 59 cfs at Cerro; Fair: 206 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Slow to Fair for trout, Fair to Good for smallmouth bass
Trout fishing has slowed some with the climb in water temperature and diminshing water clarity. It's time to go early or late in the day. The better fishing seems to be in the late afternoons. Nymphing with big stonefly nymphs or crane fly larvae with a trailing caddis arvae or baetis nymph are picking up trout sub surface. If the trout you catch are hard to revive, stop fishing for them! Smallmouth bass are biting pretty good and you can target them specifically. The smallies are taking woolly buggers and crayfish patterns dredged in the slower eddies. Pike fishing is slow and the best pike fishing may not happen umtil fall. 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 16 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good
The streams of the Jemez Mountains are very low and clear. Stealth has to be practiced for you to catch fish. Long leaders, fine tippets, and smaller flies are in order. Fishing will slow mid-day especially if it's hot and sunny out. A dry fly dropper rig will improve your catching while the sun is high. Also look for some shaded water. Smaller PMD dries and caddis dries as well as hopper, ants, and beetles 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. The fishing program at the Valles Caldera National Preserve has resumed as of Saturday June 23rd! See our announcements page or their website for more information. They are also 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; Fair to Good: 26 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Slow: 728 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 360 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Poor
The Chama flowing into El Vado Reservoir is warm and low and the fishing there is very slow. The water being pulled off for irrigation upstream and the return from the ditches has adversely affected the fishing here and will continue throughout the summer. For the sake of the trout, do not fish here, at least until things cool off in the fall. The Chama coming over the border from Colorado is also low and clear. The fishing in the canyon up from the Sargent Wildlife Area is the best fishing on the Chama. Smaller attractors like stimis, royal wulffs, and hoppers are working the best. The release below both dams has been all over the place. The water below Abiquiu is very murky and fishing is slow. The release below El Vado is a little too high for safe wading. 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 60 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 126 cfs at Mogote; Good
The release out of Platoro Reservoir is down just a little from last weekend. The low level of water in the lake may mean some lower releases here through out the summer. This may adversely affect the meadows, the pocket water below, and the Pinnacles. Check the flows before you go, because a release higher than 150 cfs makes the Pinnacles unfishable for everyone but the strongest waders. The trib flow has picked up with some recent rainfall. The river between Horca and Conejos campground has been fishing well. The water is fairly clear.
Pagosa Area: Piedra River 59 cfs at Arboles; Good: San Juan River 58 cfs at Pagosa Springs; Good
The Piedra has benefitted from some recent rain. Reports are that the area above Williams Reservoir is closed. Contact the District Ranger Office at 970-264-2268 to check on closures. The upper forks of the Piedra may offer cooler water and happier fish. The San Juan is clear. Look for PMD's and caddis especially in the evenings. Just over Wolf Creek Pass, the South Fork and it's tribs are also fishing well on the same flies.
Rio Grande 67 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge; Good: 206 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
PMD's and caddis are what's for dinner. These fish really key in on dries more than nymphs when there are bugs on the water. Small #16-18 caddis, hoppers, and PMD's are bringing fish up. Cast tight to the banks. The river below South Fork is low and getting warm by mid-day. Consider fishing elsewhere during the afternoons.
Animas River 230 at Durango; Fair to Good
The Animas is has come up and cooled off with some recent rainfall. Caddis, PMD's and blue winged olives are all about. Dry fly dropper rigs or streamers seem to be the better producers.
Arkansas River 214 cfs at Granite; Slow to Fair: 373 cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
The fishing here is remains quite good. One of the benefits of the drought if you can look at it that way. Normally, the Arkansas would have much higher water and consequently tougher fishing. Hayden Meadows down to Buena Vista is fishing very well and is free from the rafting traffic on the middle and lower river. Smaller offerings like little yellow saliies, PMD's and caddis both nymphs and dries are making up the fare. Down around Salida bigger golden stones, nymphs and dries with yellow sallies in the mix are still the top producers. Cooler water temps in Bighorn Sheep Canyon is making the fishing better. Look for fish on the edges early in the day and expect them to go into deeper water mid-day.
Santa Fe and Carson National Forests have lifted all Fire Restrictions!
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 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.
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, August 18, 2012
