Ed's Fly Fishing Report for Saturday October 11, 2014
Become a Clean Angler! Learn how at http://cleananglingpledge.org/
Please join us for the latest showing of the Fly Fishing Film Tour on Friday October 17th at the South Broadway Cultural Center in Albuquerque. The film tour is a series of short films or trailers sure to inspire you to get out and fly fish! Doors open at 6:00 pm for a social hour and the films start at 7:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased online at www. newmexicotrout.org or from Los Pinos Fly and Tackle shop. For more information or for other dates and tour schedules, see the film tour website at www.The F3T.com. Brought to you by New Mexico Trout.
Rio Costilla .41 cfs below Costilla Dam; Extremely Poor!!
The release out of the dam has been reduced to pretty much ZERO. Fishing is done for the year on New Mexico's crowning jewel of a stream. Put this place on your radar for next summer. The best fishing is within the Valle Vidal unit of Carson national Forest which is only open from July 1st through December 31st. Obviously you'll only have a few months to fish here so plan accordingly.
San Juan River 366 cfs below Navajo Dam; Very Good
Heavy rainfall over the past month in the Animas watershed has kept the Bureau of Rec from releasing any more water into the San Juan out of Navajo Dam. As a result of a steady flow rate, fishing continues to be good. Like any fishing situation, it pays to be in the right place at the right time. Midges are hatching from 10:00 am till noon and baetis are still hatching in the afternoon below Texas Hole. Black, gray, brown, and olive midge larvae and pupa are the top producers near the dam especially in the mornings.Chocolate and olive have been the best baetis colors. Johnny flash and foam wing emergers are among the favorites. Simon Canyon flashed after a heavy rain in August that sent a lot of sand into the river. The fishing downstream of Simon Canyon has been affected. 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 53 cfs near Pecos; Good
The Pecos River did go up in flow after yesterdays rains, but it didn't have a huge spike. Pretty much like it's been all summer, the river downstream of Holy Ghost Creek can muddy up after rainfall in those areas burned during last year's Tres Lagunas Fire. The Pecos River above Terrero will be much clearer and is fishing well. Dry dropper rigs have been the top producers in the morning. Dry fly fishing improves once things warm up although nymphs are the best producers. Many of the fish on the lower Pecos are stocked rainbows that seem to take nymphs more than dries; however, some of the browns above Terrero are looking up for caddis, hoppers, and small mayflies like blue winged olives. Dark nymphs like oops flies, psycho mays, feeding caddis, and bruised baetis's hung below a big dry work well in the morning and in the deeper runs for most of the day. Please respect the landowners out there and stay out of any private property along the river. The National Park Service has suspended the 2014 fishing program on Pecos National Historical Park and the three miles of river inside the park boundaries will be closed to public access. The NPS is trying to allow it to recover from last season's extreme fire and flooding impacts. See the Park's website at http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm for more info. This is ONLY on Pecos NHP downstream from the village of Pecos and not on Forest Service Lands UPSTREAM of the village of Pecos.
Rio Grande 163 cfs at Cerro; Fair to Good: 360 cfs at Pilar; Fair to Good for trout, Slow for pike, Goood for smallmouth bass
The Rio has nearly doubled in flow since last report. I did however get some very credible reports of people catching fish up the gorge. Reports have been much more varied at Pilar, although there are some good fall back places to fish near Pilar. There is also some high releases out of Rio Grande Reservoir in Colorado and water is still being diverted between Del Norte and Monte Vista which can change at any time now. Any changes may result in some murky water although good fall fishing on the Rio isn't far off. The fish are mostly eating underwater. Fishing with big crane flies or stoneflies and streamers, and caddis larvae should be among the fly choices. A big hopper with a dropper can also work along the banks. Pike fishing is slow. Gauge your success by how many you see, if you got a follow or not, and of course an eat. Some days you get'em and some days a follow is as good as it gets. 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 one gets an eat.
Jemez Mountain Streams 28 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Good
Recent rainfall has brought most of the Jemez streams up in flow. The increase has been very slight and fishing should continue to be good especially as this weather clears up. The San Antonio, originating in the Valles Caldera can muddy up after heavy rains, but the other streams aren't as affected. It's mostly hoppers and caddis and small attractors like humpies, wulffs, and stimulators that are catching fish on top. If the fish are reluctant to hit your dry try tying a dropper nymph on like micromays, small HDA Favorites, and Anato-mays, or caddis pupa. The Fishing Program on the Valles Caldera National Preserve ends tomorrow Sunday October 12th. Fishing is limited to the East Fork only. Please see their website for details or to make a reservation at http://www.vallescaldera.gov/comevisit/fish/index.aspx
Chama River above the town of Chama; Good: 73 cfs above El Vado Reservoir; Fair: 110 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair to Good: and 128 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The Chama River is also being affected by this weekends storms. The river flowing into El Vado Reservoir has come up and is murky. This stretch should clear fairly quick. The release below El Vado has been declining rather steadily over the past few weeks. I like flows of around 150 to 400 cfs below El Vado at Coopers. This should be the start of the best time to be below El Vado. Streamers, stonefly nymphs and cranefly larvae have been the top flies. The release below Abiquiu has been reduced somewhat matching the release out of El Vado. The river is still murky. The clarity will improve here in a month or so when they change the release out of a higher penstock. Chama River above El Vado and below Abiquiu are Special Trout Waters with reduced bag limits. Please report anyone over harvesting there to New Mexico Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263.
Cimarron River 23 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Fair to Good: 23 cfs at Cimarron; Fair
The release out of Eagle Nest Dam has been icreased over the past week. This will greatly improve the fishing here although do not expect it top last very long. Once the irrigation need downstream are over for the winter, we won't see fishable flows hon the Cimarron until spring. Always check those flows before you go. Avoid the Cimarron when the release out of Eagle Nest dam is below 10 cfs. The fish get really stressed and the available fishing areas are greatly reduced. Consider fishing lower down on the Cimarron to take advantage of increase in water from tributary flow and better fishing. Nearby Red River over Bobcat Pass is another alternative and is fishing very well. Scuds, red midge larvae, baetis nymphs, and golden stonefly nymphs, PMD'S, and yellow PMX's have been reported to be working on the river.
In Southern Colorado:
Conejos River 39 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Fair to Good: 126 cfs at Mogote; Fair to Good
Blue winged olives are more active and one of the few bugs to bring fish to the surface especially on the cloudier days. Hoppers and other terrestrials are also working up top. The meadow section is at a great level and the Pinnacles are wadeable. Look for a release out of Platoro below 150 to fish the Pinnacles. Big stimulators, chubby chernobyls, BWO's, red quills and caddis for the dries, and tungsten twenty inchers, pats rubber legs, PMD emergers, and bat wing mergers for your nymph selection.
Animas River 895 cfs at Durango; Fair to Good
The Animas is a great fall fishery around Durango. Currently the river is higher than normal but it will come down in flow and clear up as long as we don't get any more rain up there. Look at fishing the tribs around Durango for some clearer water and happier fish or as a back up in case the Animas gets muddy again. Fishing with streamers and big nymphs like stoneflies with some flash will still get the trout's attention in the softer water just take caution while wading. .
Arkansas River 150 cfs at Granite; Good: 373 cfs at Salida; Good
The fishing is is good and the wading is easier now in Big Horn Sheep Canyon below Salida. Cool mornings are making the fishing slower upriver. It's banker's hours fishing from Buena Vista up. Good blue winged olive hatches have been occurring near Salida. A big attractor and blue winged olive nymph under an indicator has been the best set up. There are short lived hatches that are also bringing fish to the surface in the afternoons.
It's autumn in New Mexico and water and fishing conditions and water flows 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 home 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.
Please join us for the latest showing of the Fly Fishing Film Tour on Friday October 17th at the South Broadway Cultural Center in Albuquerque. The film tour is a series of short films or trailers sure to inspire you to get out and fly fish! Doors open at 6:00 pm for a social hour and the films start at 7:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased online at www. newmexicotrout.org or from Los Pinos Fly and Tackle shop. For more information or for other dates and tour schedules, see the film tour website at www.The F3T.com. Brought to you by New Mexico Trout.
Rio Costilla .41 cfs below Costilla Dam; Extremely Poor!!
The release out of the dam has been reduced to pretty much ZERO. Fishing is done for the year on New Mexico's crowning jewel of a stream. Put this place on your radar for next summer. The best fishing is within the Valle Vidal unit of Carson national Forest which is only open from July 1st through December 31st. Obviously you'll only have a few months to fish here so plan accordingly.
San Juan River 366 cfs below Navajo Dam; Very Good
Heavy rainfall over the past month in the Animas watershed has kept the Bureau of Rec from releasing any more water into the San Juan out of Navajo Dam. As a result of a steady flow rate, fishing continues to be good. Like any fishing situation, it pays to be in the right place at the right time. Midges are hatching from 10:00 am till noon and baetis are still hatching in the afternoon below Texas Hole. Black, gray, brown, and olive midge larvae and pupa are the top producers near the dam especially in the mornings.Chocolate and olive have been the best baetis colors. Johnny flash and foam wing emergers are among the favorites. Simon Canyon flashed after a heavy rain in August that sent a lot of sand into the river. The fishing downstream of Simon Canyon has been affected. 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 53 cfs near Pecos; Good
The Pecos River did go up in flow after yesterdays rains, but it didn't have a huge spike. Pretty much like it's been all summer, the river downstream of Holy Ghost Creek can muddy up after rainfall in those areas burned during last year's Tres Lagunas Fire. The Pecos River above Terrero will be much clearer and is fishing well. Dry dropper rigs have been the top producers in the morning. Dry fly fishing improves once things warm up although nymphs are the best producers. Many of the fish on the lower Pecos are stocked rainbows that seem to take nymphs more than dries; however, some of the browns above Terrero are looking up for caddis, hoppers, and small mayflies like blue winged olives. Dark nymphs like oops flies, psycho mays, feeding caddis, and bruised baetis's hung below a big dry work well in the morning and in the deeper runs for most of the day. Please respect the landowners out there and stay out of any private property along the river. The National Park Service has suspended the 2014 fishing program on Pecos National Historical Park and the three miles of river inside the park boundaries will be closed to public access. The NPS is trying to allow it to recover from last season's extreme fire and flooding impacts. See the Park's website at http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm for more info. This is ONLY on Pecos NHP downstream from the village of Pecos and not on Forest Service Lands UPSTREAM of the village of Pecos.
Rio Grande 163 cfs at Cerro; Fair to Good: 360 cfs at Pilar; Fair to Good for trout, Slow for pike, Goood for smallmouth bass
The Rio has nearly doubled in flow since last report. I did however get some very credible reports of people catching fish up the gorge. Reports have been much more varied at Pilar, although there are some good fall back places to fish near Pilar. There is also some high releases out of Rio Grande Reservoir in Colorado and water is still being diverted between Del Norte and Monte Vista which can change at any time now. Any changes may result in some murky water although good fall fishing on the Rio isn't far off. The fish are mostly eating underwater. Fishing with big crane flies or stoneflies and streamers, and caddis larvae should be among the fly choices. A big hopper with a dropper can also work along the banks. Pike fishing is slow. Gauge your success by how many you see, if you got a follow or not, and of course an eat. Some days you get'em and some days a follow is as good as it gets. 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 one gets an eat.
Jemez Mountain Streams 28 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Good
Recent rainfall has brought most of the Jemez streams up in flow. The increase has been very slight and fishing should continue to be good especially as this weather clears up. The San Antonio, originating in the Valles Caldera can muddy up after heavy rains, but the other streams aren't as affected. It's mostly hoppers and caddis and small attractors like humpies, wulffs, and stimulators that are catching fish on top. If the fish are reluctant to hit your dry try tying a dropper nymph on like micromays, small HDA Favorites, and Anato-mays, or caddis pupa. The Fishing Program on the Valles Caldera National Preserve ends tomorrow Sunday October 12th. Fishing is limited to the East Fork only. Please see their website for details or to make a reservation at http://www.vallescaldera.gov/comevisit/fish/index.aspx
Chama River above the town of Chama; Good: 73 cfs above El Vado Reservoir; Fair: 110 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair to Good: and 128 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The Chama River is also being affected by this weekends storms. The river flowing into El Vado Reservoir has come up and is murky. This stretch should clear fairly quick. The release below El Vado has been declining rather steadily over the past few weeks. I like flows of around 150 to 400 cfs below El Vado at Coopers. This should be the start of the best time to be below El Vado. Streamers, stonefly nymphs and cranefly larvae have been the top flies. The release below Abiquiu has been reduced somewhat matching the release out of El Vado. The river is still murky. The clarity will improve here in a month or so when they change the release out of a higher penstock. Chama River above El Vado and below Abiquiu are Special Trout Waters with reduced bag limits. Please report anyone over harvesting there to New Mexico Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263.
Cimarron River 23 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Fair to Good: 23 cfs at Cimarron; Fair
The release out of Eagle Nest Dam has been icreased over the past week. This will greatly improve the fishing here although do not expect it top last very long. Once the irrigation need downstream are over for the winter, we won't see fishable flows hon the Cimarron until spring. Always check those flows before you go. Avoid the Cimarron when the release out of Eagle Nest dam is below 10 cfs. The fish get really stressed and the available fishing areas are greatly reduced. Consider fishing lower down on the Cimarron to take advantage of increase in water from tributary flow and better fishing. Nearby Red River over Bobcat Pass is another alternative and is fishing very well. Scuds, red midge larvae, baetis nymphs, and golden stonefly nymphs, PMD'S, and yellow PMX's have been reported to be working on the river.
In Southern Colorado:
Conejos River 39 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Fair to Good: 126 cfs at Mogote; Fair to Good
Blue winged olives are more active and one of the few bugs to bring fish to the surface especially on the cloudier days. Hoppers and other terrestrials are also working up top. The meadow section is at a great level and the Pinnacles are wadeable. Look for a release out of Platoro below 150 to fish the Pinnacles. Big stimulators, chubby chernobyls, BWO's, red quills and caddis for the dries, and tungsten twenty inchers, pats rubber legs, PMD emergers, and bat wing mergers for your nymph selection.
Animas River 895 cfs at Durango; Fair to Good
The Animas is a great fall fishery around Durango. Currently the river is higher than normal but it will come down in flow and clear up as long as we don't get any more rain up there. Look at fishing the tribs around Durango for some clearer water and happier fish or as a back up in case the Animas gets muddy again. Fishing with streamers and big nymphs like stoneflies with some flash will still get the trout's attention in the softer water just take caution while wading. .
Arkansas River 150 cfs at Granite; Good: 373 cfs at Salida; Good
The fishing is is good and the wading is easier now in Big Horn Sheep Canyon below Salida. Cool mornings are making the fishing slower upriver. It's banker's hours fishing from Buena Vista up. Good blue winged olive hatches have been occurring near Salida. A big attractor and blue winged olive nymph under an indicator has been the best set up. There are short lived hatches that are also bringing fish to the surface in the afternoons.
It's autumn in New Mexico and water and fishing conditions and water flows 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 home 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 Saturday, October 11, 2014
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