Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Monday June 24, 2013
Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Learn more at http://www.100thmeridian.org/emersion.asp
The entire Santa Fe National Forest is closed to any entry. No hiking, fishing, camping, or picnicing is permitted until we get enough rainfall to relax these restrictions. The Rio Grande near Pilar and all of the Carson National Forest to the north of Santa Fe remain open. We still have access to our private leases along the Pecos. They are available for a fee and only with a guide. Please inquire with the shop for availability.
San Juan River 800 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
On the upside of a drought, declining flows on the Animas means more release out of Navajo Dam into the San Juan. The first good rainfall on the San Juan gets a good carpenter ant fall on the river. Hasn't happened yet, but fish are looking at bigger flies like Chernobyl Ants. Midges have been hatching late morning with some lingering baetis hatches from noon or so, then back to midges late afternons. For the morning, try drifting a pupa in the middle of the water column, This has been good pretty much from Texas Hole up to the cable. Baetis start becoming more active from noon on especially below Texas Hole. Some dry fly action, especially on cloudy days from 1:00 to 5:00 in the afternoons. Size #20-22 gray, olive, or chocolate baetis emergers and dries in the afternoons will pick up fish. The hatches are better below Texas Hole. Midges will again, become more relevant in late afternoons into the evening. Make sure to clean off any moss that accumulates on your rig. 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 22 cfs near Pecos; CLOSED to all public access!
I'll post fire news for the Pecos as I get it. Please check our Facebook page or here for more information as it becomes available. We still are able to access our leases on the lower Pecos. They are ONLY available for a fee and with a guide. Please contact the fly shop if you'd like to get out on our private waters. Please respect the landowners along the Pecos and don't trespass. The Pecos National Historical Park's Summer Fishing has been suspended until further notice. To check for current fire closures or dates and availablity for the fall fishing season see the Park's website at http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm for more info.
Rio Grande 66 cfs at Cerro; Good: 219 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Good for trout, Good for smallmouth bass
Lots of water is being diverted for agriculture in Colorado and we are seeing very low flows for this time of year. The Rio is fairly clear with visibilty around three feet. Nymphing with big stonefly nymphs or crane fly larvae with a trailing caddis larvae or baetis nymph will pick up trout sub surface. Trout fishing is better earlier or later in the day. Dry flies like a caddis drifted along the banks in the last hour of daylight will also pick up fish. The smallmouth will still eat during the brightest part of the day. They take nymphs like trout, but are most reliably caught on streamers and crayfish patterns. Pike fishing is slow. 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 4.2 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Good
New Mexico Highway 4 is open to traffic, however all forest lands, Fenton Lake and the Valles Caldera are all closed until further notice due to extreme fire danger. The Fishing Program on the Valles Caldera has been suspended until further notice. Please see their website for details at http://www.vallescaldera.gov/comevisit/fish/index.aspx
Cimarron River 60 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good
The release out of Eagle Nest Dam is up for the moment and fishing is good. The water is fairly clear. PMD's are just starting to show up. Scuds are always a good choice in gray or olive. Yellow Sallies are the most abundant and small golden stone nymphs are all producing. Nearby Red River over Bobcat Pass is also fishing well..
Chama River above the village of Chama; Good: 22 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Fair: 797 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 1,100 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Poor
The Chama in the Sargent Wildlife Area is perfect right now. Dry dropper rigs, or single caddis or a hopper up top is the way to go. The Chama flowing into El Vado Reservoir is low and getting warm especially mid-day. Bigger stonefly nymphs with a trailing baetis nymph was the best producer. The water clarity below Abiquiu is poor but may get better as the flows stabilize or come down. Bigger flashier nymphs or streamers would be the way to go. The release below El Vado is also up making the river murky and not really wadeable. 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:
Fires and smoke are affecting fishing around Pagosa Springs and Creede. Please check for closures, smoke outlook and restrictions before you go!
Animas River 348 cfs at Durango; Fair to Good
The Animas is fishing fair especially from Durango upstream. Fishing the deeper runs and pools with big stonefly nymphs and streamers are getting some fish. PMD's and drakes have been coming off and caddis are always abundant this time of year.
Arkansas River 490 cfs at Granite; Fair to Good: 717 cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
Warmer weather has put the Ark into runoff, but flows are coming down daily. Despite that, fishing is good from the banks in the deeper slower runs. The fishing is good on the upper river at Hayden Meadows. The water is fairly clear but cold especially in the mornings. The middle river from Buena Vista on down to Salida is fishing better earlier in the day. From Salida downstream there are more caddis. Blue-winged olives and dark bodied midges are also the name of the game. Trail them behind caddis nymphs, or golden stones. Some hatches of blue winged olives are still happening. Reports of stoneflies hatching below River Bend.
Conejos River 68 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 166 cfs at Mogote; Good
Green and brown drakes are starting to come off on the lower river below the fly water, while PMD's and stoneflies are off from the fly water to Horca. Nymph fishing has also been very good lately. The current release out of Platoro makes fishing the meadows tougher to fish but makes the Pinnacles accessible. Stonefly nymphs, baetis nymphs and PMD nymphs are what's for dinner below the meadows. Red worms and midges, and dark bodied midges and baetis nymphs are the better producers in the meadow section. Some short lived localized hatches of blue winged olives are bring some fish to the surface in the faster water.
Rio Grande 124 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge above Creede; Good: 336 cfs below Wagon Wheel Gap; Fair to Good
Lots of smoke from the fires around Pagosa is filling up the upper Rio Grande valley in the evening throught the morning until the winds send it away. There are some local road and trail closures. Check with the Rio Grande National Forest or the San Juan National Forest for any closures. The Rio is a fishing well in the mornings until the sun heats things up. Stoneflies are out as well as caddis and green and brown drakes. The lower river is floatable and will probably be the best way to fish it. The upper river around Creede is fishing well on stonefly nymphs and baetis patterns. Changing release upstream of Creede are displacing fish and the habitat changes with the flows. Don't hesitate to move to find fish.
San Juan River 122 at Pagosa Springs; Slow: the Piedra River 99 cfs at Arboles; Slow
The Pagosa area streams are fishing well and accessible except near the fires, Lots of smoke in and around Pagosa until the afternoon winds blow them out. There are some local road and trail closures with the active fires. Check with the San Juan National Forest for the closures. Like every other stream locally, stoneflies, drakes, PMD's, and cadds are all over the 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 and closures.
The entire Santa Fe National Forest is closed to any entry. No hiking, fishing, camping, or picnicing is permitted until we get enough rainfall to relax these restrictions. The Rio Grande near Pilar and all of the Carson National Forest to the north of Santa Fe remain open. We still have access to our private leases along the Pecos. They are available for a fee and only with a guide. Please inquire with the shop for availability.
San Juan River 800 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
On the upside of a drought, declining flows on the Animas means more release out of Navajo Dam into the San Juan. The first good rainfall on the San Juan gets a good carpenter ant fall on the river. Hasn't happened yet, but fish are looking at bigger flies like Chernobyl Ants. Midges have been hatching late morning with some lingering baetis hatches from noon or so, then back to midges late afternons. For the morning, try drifting a pupa in the middle of the water column, This has been good pretty much from Texas Hole up to the cable. Baetis start becoming more active from noon on especially below Texas Hole. Some dry fly action, especially on cloudy days from 1:00 to 5:00 in the afternoons. Size #20-22 gray, olive, or chocolate baetis emergers and dries in the afternoons will pick up fish. The hatches are better below Texas Hole. Midges will again, become more relevant in late afternoons into the evening. Make sure to clean off any moss that accumulates on your rig. 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 22 cfs near Pecos; CLOSED to all public access!
I'll post fire news for the Pecos as I get it. Please check our Facebook page or here for more information as it becomes available. We still are able to access our leases on the lower Pecos. They are ONLY available for a fee and with a guide. Please contact the fly shop if you'd like to get out on our private waters. Please respect the landowners along the Pecos and don't trespass. The Pecos National Historical Park's Summer Fishing has been suspended until further notice. To check for current fire closures or dates and availablity for the fall fishing season see the Park's website at http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm for more info.
Rio Grande 66 cfs at Cerro; Good: 219 cfs at Pilar; Slow for pike, Good for trout, Good for smallmouth bass
Lots of water is being diverted for agriculture in Colorado and we are seeing very low flows for this time of year. The Rio is fairly clear with visibilty around three feet. Nymphing with big stonefly nymphs or crane fly larvae with a trailing caddis larvae or baetis nymph will pick up trout sub surface. Trout fishing is better earlier or later in the day. Dry flies like a caddis drifted along the banks in the last hour of daylight will also pick up fish. The smallmouth will still eat during the brightest part of the day. They take nymphs like trout, but are most reliably caught on streamers and crayfish patterns. Pike fishing is slow. 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 4.2 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Good
New Mexico Highway 4 is open to traffic, however all forest lands, Fenton Lake and the Valles Caldera are all closed until further notice due to extreme fire danger. The Fishing Program on the Valles Caldera has been suspended until further notice. Please see their website for details at http://www.vallescaldera.gov/comevisit/fish/index.aspx
Cimarron River 60 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Good
The release out of Eagle Nest Dam is up for the moment and fishing is good. The water is fairly clear. PMD's are just starting to show up. Scuds are always a good choice in gray or olive. Yellow Sallies are the most abundant and small golden stone nymphs are all producing. Nearby Red River over Bobcat Pass is also fishing well..
Chama River above the village of Chama; Good: 22 cfs below the town of Tierrra Amarilla; Fair: 797 cfs below El Vado Dam; Slow: and 1,100 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Poor
The Chama in the Sargent Wildlife Area is perfect right now. Dry dropper rigs, or single caddis or a hopper up top is the way to go. The Chama flowing into El Vado Reservoir is low and getting warm especially mid-day. Bigger stonefly nymphs with a trailing baetis nymph was the best producer. The water clarity below Abiquiu is poor but may get better as the flows stabilize or come down. Bigger flashier nymphs or streamers would be the way to go. The release below El Vado is also up making the river murky and not really wadeable. 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:
Fires and smoke are affecting fishing around Pagosa Springs and Creede. Please check for closures, smoke outlook and restrictions before you go!
Animas River 348 cfs at Durango; Fair to Good
The Animas is fishing fair especially from Durango upstream. Fishing the deeper runs and pools with big stonefly nymphs and streamers are getting some fish. PMD's and drakes have been coming off and caddis are always abundant this time of year.
Arkansas River 490 cfs at Granite; Fair to Good: 717 cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
Warmer weather has put the Ark into runoff, but flows are coming down daily. Despite that, fishing is good from the banks in the deeper slower runs. The fishing is good on the upper river at Hayden Meadows. The water is fairly clear but cold especially in the mornings. The middle river from Buena Vista on down to Salida is fishing better earlier in the day. From Salida downstream there are more caddis. Blue-winged olives and dark bodied midges are also the name of the game. Trail them behind caddis nymphs, or golden stones. Some hatches of blue winged olives are still happening. Reports of stoneflies hatching below River Bend.
Conejos River 68 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 166 cfs at Mogote; Good
Green and brown drakes are starting to come off on the lower river below the fly water, while PMD's and stoneflies are off from the fly water to Horca. Nymph fishing has also been very good lately. The current release out of Platoro makes fishing the meadows tougher to fish but makes the Pinnacles accessible. Stonefly nymphs, baetis nymphs and PMD nymphs are what's for dinner below the meadows. Red worms and midges, and dark bodied midges and baetis nymphs are the better producers in the meadow section. Some short lived localized hatches of blue winged olives are bring some fish to the surface in the faster water.
Rio Grande 124 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge above Creede; Good: 336 cfs below Wagon Wheel Gap; Fair to Good
Lots of smoke from the fires around Pagosa is filling up the upper Rio Grande valley in the evening throught the morning until the winds send it away. There are some local road and trail closures. Check with the Rio Grande National Forest or the San Juan National Forest for any closures. The Rio is a fishing well in the mornings until the sun heats things up. Stoneflies are out as well as caddis and green and brown drakes. The lower river is floatable and will probably be the best way to fish it. The upper river around Creede is fishing well on stonefly nymphs and baetis patterns. Changing release upstream of Creede are displacing fish and the habitat changes with the flows. Don't hesitate to move to find fish.
San Juan River 122 at Pagosa Springs; Slow: the Piedra River 99 cfs at Arboles; Slow
The Pagosa area streams are fishing well and accessible except near the fires, Lots of smoke in and around Pagosa until the afternoon winds blow them out. There are some local road and trail closures with the active fires. Check with the San Juan National Forest for the closures. Like every other stream locally, stoneflies, drakes, PMD's, and cadds are all over the 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 and closures.
posted by High Desert Angler at Monday, June 24, 2013
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