Ed's Fl;y Fishing Report for Monday May 11, 2015
Spring is a season of much change. Stream flows and dam releases can change overnight. Be sure to check out stream flows at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nm/nwis/current/?type=flow before you go. Contact the fly shop directly for the most accurate information.
Become a Clean Angler! Learn how at http://cleananglingpledge.org/
San Juan River 361 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The river clarity is still less than two feet after the lake turned over earlier this year. The fishing however is pretty good. Egg patterns, worms, and streamers make great attractors with a trailed midge or baetis pattern. Midges are still 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.The fishing downstream of Simon Canyon is slowly improving as the sand continues to move downstream. 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 87 cfs on Mora River; Fair to Good: 184 cfs below Terrero; Fair to Good
The rainfall last week has caused the river to go up in flow again. It's currently on it's way down and the water has a little green murk to it. Expect higher more murky water below Terrero and clearer water and easier wading upstream. As far as flies go, the bigger darker stonefliy nymphs are the top producers. I like twenty inchers and biot stoneflies. Look for a little depth as the fish have not made it out of their winter lies just yet. The Pecos National Historical Park's spring season closes today, Monday the 11th. The summer season starts in late June. See the Park's website at http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm for more information.
Rio Grande 185 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 610 cfs at Pilar; Slow to Fair for trout, Slow for pike, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio went up like everything else locally with last weeks rains. it is murky but clearing. The flows are trending downward although I think we'll see higher water when the snow melt begins. Some sporadic blue winged olive hatches are occurring but not in big enough numbers to bring fish to the surface. Bigger flies like streamer, stonefly nymphs and crane fly larvae with a trailing caddis pupa or larvae or baetis nymphs should get you into fish.
Jemez Mountain Streams 104 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good
The rainfall last week has brought everything up in flow here as well. The highest and most murky is the Guadalupe which is rather typical of such a large watershed. I have had good reports from the San Antonio and East Fork. The Forest Service has closed some areas of the Rio Cebolla and San Antonio to fishing. All of these areas are fenced off and signed. There is still plenty of water that is not off limits. Stonefly nymphs and bigger attractors like tungsten salvations are great for high water. Tactics are similar to the Pecos; look for the deeper pockets and use a little bigger bug to counter the current. The fishing program resumes this Friday May 15th on the Valles Caldera. The rules have changed now that the Preserve is under Park Service management .
Chama River 862 cfs at La Puente; Poor: 104 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair to Good: and 274 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The river flowing into El Vado Reservoir is very high, cold, and murky. Runoff has hit the upper Chama and may remain until late May The San Juans always get a lot of snow even in low snow pack years. The release below El Vado dam has slowly been steady making for the best fishing anywhere on the Chama. I think the fish are still in their winter lies and haven't dispersed as much. Streamers, stonefly nymphs and cranefly larvae are still the top fly choices. The release below Abiquiu has also been fairly steady but the water is being drawn from the base of the dam flushing silt into the river. It is very murky below Abiquiu Dam and will likely remain so until fall. The 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 0.30 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Slow to Fair: 77 cfs at Cimarron
I did get an OK report from the Cimarron so I though I'd include it on this week's report. While the release out of the dam is nearly ZERO, there is some trib flow especially toward the eastern end of the state park. Red midge larvae and scuds were the best flies. PMD nymphs, baetis nymphs, San Juan worms, and golden stone fly nymphs round out the fare for the Cimarron.
In Southern Colorado:
The Conejos River 122 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Fair to Good: 610 cfs at Mogote; Fair to Good.
The Conejos has come up in flow over the last week like everything else. The release out of Platoro has been steady for the week making for some good fishing in the meadows. The water is murkier and the wading is tougher on the lower river. Dredging the deeper runs with stone fly nymphs and San Juan worms seems to be the most successful tactic. I haven't had any reports on the tribs. They could fish well also as long is it's not the one contributing runoff.
Arkansas River 342 cfs at Granite; Fair to Good: 489 cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
The caddis hatch is under way here. Currently it is from Parkdale upstream to the bottom of Brown's Canyon. Blue winged olives are still coming off in decent numbers and in some places the fish are preferring them over the caddis. Fish are still in winter lies for the most part especially upstream of Salida. Look for them in the deeper runs and pools.The upper river above Granite including Hayden Meadows is cold and not fishing as well as the lower river below Buena Vista. From BV downstream to Salida, blue winged olives are still the name of the game. The caddis hatch should still progress nicely upriver as long as the releases from Clear Creek or Twin Lakes doesn't stall it with an influx of colder water.
Animas River 1140 cfs at Durango; Slow
The Animas is high and murky and cold. It had been trending downward but flows increased with last weeks storms and we will likely see snowmelt adding to the flow before too long. Fish are still in winter lies so hit the deeper runs with a big stonely nymph and a trailing baetis. The Pagosa area streams are also high and cold, but Williams Creek below the dam might be the most fishable although I haven't had a report. Fishing with streamers and big nymphs like stoneflies with some flash may get the trout's attention in the softer water. The best fishing is going to be while the sun is on the water.
It's spring 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.
Become a Clean Angler! Learn how at http://cleananglingpledge.org/
San Juan River 361 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The river clarity is still less than two feet after the lake turned over earlier this year. The fishing however is pretty good. Egg patterns, worms, and streamers make great attractors with a trailed midge or baetis pattern. Midges are still 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.The fishing downstream of Simon Canyon is slowly improving as the sand continues to move downstream. 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 87 cfs on Mora River; Fair to Good: 184 cfs below Terrero; Fair to Good
The rainfall last week has caused the river to go up in flow again. It's currently on it's way down and the water has a little green murk to it. Expect higher more murky water below Terrero and clearer water and easier wading upstream. As far as flies go, the bigger darker stonefliy nymphs are the top producers. I like twenty inchers and biot stoneflies. Look for a little depth as the fish have not made it out of their winter lies just yet. The Pecos National Historical Park's spring season closes today, Monday the 11th. The summer season starts in late June. See the Park's website at http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm for more information.
Rio Grande 185 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 610 cfs at Pilar; Slow to Fair for trout, Slow for pike, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio went up like everything else locally with last weeks rains. it is murky but clearing. The flows are trending downward although I think we'll see higher water when the snow melt begins. Some sporadic blue winged olive hatches are occurring but not in big enough numbers to bring fish to the surface. Bigger flies like streamer, stonefly nymphs and crane fly larvae with a trailing caddis pupa or larvae or baetis nymphs should get you into fish.
Jemez Mountain Streams 104 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Fair to Good
The rainfall last week has brought everything up in flow here as well. The highest and most murky is the Guadalupe which is rather typical of such a large watershed. I have had good reports from the San Antonio and East Fork. The Forest Service has closed some areas of the Rio Cebolla and San Antonio to fishing. All of these areas are fenced off and signed. There is still plenty of water that is not off limits. Stonefly nymphs and bigger attractors like tungsten salvations are great for high water. Tactics are similar to the Pecos; look for the deeper pockets and use a little bigger bug to counter the current. The fishing program resumes this Friday May 15th on the Valles Caldera. The rules have changed now that the Preserve is under Park Service management .
Chama River 862 cfs at La Puente; Poor: 104 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair to Good: and 274 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
The river flowing into El Vado Reservoir is very high, cold, and murky. Runoff has hit the upper Chama and may remain until late May The San Juans always get a lot of snow even in low snow pack years. The release below El Vado dam has slowly been steady making for the best fishing anywhere on the Chama. I think the fish are still in their winter lies and haven't dispersed as much. Streamers, stonefly nymphs and cranefly larvae are still the top fly choices. The release below Abiquiu has also been fairly steady but the water is being drawn from the base of the dam flushing silt into the river. It is very murky below Abiquiu Dam and will likely remain so until fall. The 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 0.30 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Slow to Fair: 77 cfs at Cimarron
I did get an OK report from the Cimarron so I though I'd include it on this week's report. While the release out of the dam is nearly ZERO, there is some trib flow especially toward the eastern end of the state park. Red midge larvae and scuds were the best flies. PMD nymphs, baetis nymphs, San Juan worms, and golden stone fly nymphs round out the fare for the Cimarron.
In Southern Colorado:
The Conejos River 122 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Fair to Good: 610 cfs at Mogote; Fair to Good.
The Conejos has come up in flow over the last week like everything else. The release out of Platoro has been steady for the week making for some good fishing in the meadows. The water is murkier and the wading is tougher on the lower river. Dredging the deeper runs with stone fly nymphs and San Juan worms seems to be the most successful tactic. I haven't had any reports on the tribs. They could fish well also as long is it's not the one contributing runoff.
Arkansas River 342 cfs at Granite; Fair to Good: 489 cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
The caddis hatch is under way here. Currently it is from Parkdale upstream to the bottom of Brown's Canyon. Blue winged olives are still coming off in decent numbers and in some places the fish are preferring them over the caddis. Fish are still in winter lies for the most part especially upstream of Salida. Look for them in the deeper runs and pools.The upper river above Granite including Hayden Meadows is cold and not fishing as well as the lower river below Buena Vista. From BV downstream to Salida, blue winged olives are still the name of the game. The caddis hatch should still progress nicely upriver as long as the releases from Clear Creek or Twin Lakes doesn't stall it with an influx of colder water.
Animas River 1140 cfs at Durango; Slow
The Animas is high and murky and cold. It had been trending downward but flows increased with last weeks storms and we will likely see snowmelt adding to the flow before too long. Fish are still in winter lies so hit the deeper runs with a big stonely nymph and a trailing baetis. The Pagosa area streams are also high and cold, but Williams Creek below the dam might be the most fishable although I haven't had a report. Fishing with streamers and big nymphs like stoneflies with some flash may get the trout's attention in the softer water. The best fishing is going to be while the sun is on the water.
It's spring 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 Monday, May 11, 2015
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