The Saturday Juy 9, 2016 Fly Fishing Report for Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado
Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Learn more at http://www.100thmeridian.org/emersion.asp
Summer rains and changes in dam release can affect your fishing plans. You can check on current flows before you go by clicking on New Mexico Stream Flows or Colorado Stream Flows here or from our links page.
San Juan River 1280 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The Bureau of Rec has been ramping down their scheduled Spring Peak Release for the last couple of weeks. We could see a slight increase later this month however if there is a significant drop in flows on the Animas River. The Bureau of Rec is mandated to keep a target flow below the city of Farmington which is a bonus for anglers fishing the San Juan, A lot of fish have moved into the side channels and can offer some easier getting around than the main river. Currently it's a midges game. Long line nymphing with a standard attractor and midge larvae set up. Fish pupa patterns higher up in the column around 10 or 11 am. Even thought the baetis hatches are waning and not bringing a lot of fish to the surface, they seem to key in on baetis patterns after lunch until the evening when midges become the favorite trout food again. Black and olive midge larvae and pupa are the top producers near the dam especially in the mornings. Move down river after lunch to get the baetis hatch. Chocolate and olive have been the best baetis colors. Johnny flash and foam wing emergers are among the favorites. 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 9.9 on the Rio Mora; Good: 52 cfs on the Pecos near Terrero; Very Good
There is still some decent flows on the Pecos keeping fish happy and feeding. Barring any runoff from rain, the river is quite clear. Stoneflies are done, but the bugs of summer are all over from Dalton and up past Cowles. Hoppers, caddis and little yellow sallies bringing up fish. A dropper nymph on a buoyant dry fly can keep you into fish in the sunniest hot part of the day. The Rio Mora is low but fishing well and is perfectly suited to throwing dry flies. .Please respect the landowners and stay out of any private property along the river. The fishing season on Pecos National Historical Park runs through Monday August 8. Please see the Park's website for more information.
Rio Grande 481 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 805 cfs at Pilar; Slow to for trout, Slow for pike, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio is murky. Summer rains may keep it that way for some time. The Rio for most of us is a better fall through spring fishery anyway and there are plenty of other places that are fishing well to keep anyone occupied. Visibility is around a foot. If you go, use big nymphs such as big crane flies or stoneflies or throw streamers. At least with a streamer, you never know what you'll get but your chances of catching something will increase. Pike fishing is slow. Your best bet for them is a large streamers that move water. There is also lots of rafting traffic around Pilar.
Jemez Mountain Streams 12 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Good
The bottom is dropping out of the Jemez streams and flows are low and the water is clear. Hoppers, caddis and little yelow sallies are out and are also bringing fish to the surface. The headwaters of the San Antonio, East Fork, and the Cebolla tend to fish better with the cooler water temps. Fishing can be slow mid-day in the bright sun so seek some shady areas or fish the mornings or evenings. Fishing continues to good in the Valles Caldera. Hoppers and beetles worked well, but caddis or stimulators will also bring up fish. The Fishing Program on the Valles Caldera National Preserve is now under National Park Service rules. There is no longer a reservation system. It's all first come first served until all of the backcountry access permits are issued for the day. Please see the Preserve's website for more details.
Chama River 58 cfs above Chama; Good: 71 cfs above El Vado Reservoir; Fair: 494 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair to Good: and 509 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
There is a new stream gauge above Chama. It will reflect what is flowing through the Sargent Wildlife Area. This stretch is a showing a little more water than normal, but it is wadeable. Dry fly dropper rigs work well here with the extra water and depth. Check the flows before you go as this part of the Chama does get murky if it rains upriver. The river flowing into El Vado Reservoir is at a nice level. Get a look before you hike down into it. Irrigation return upstream does murk up the water and makes it warmer to where the only thing you'll find are carp. It is a good place to target carp if that is your thing. It'll likely fish slow for trout and have murky water through the summer. Look to fish elsewhere. The release below El Vado is down to a fishable level during the week. The release does go up on Friday and back down on Sundays to accomodate the rafters.. Streamers, stonefly nymphs and cranefly larvae are the top flies on the river flowing out of El Vado. 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 27 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Fair: 23 cfs at Cimarron; Fair
Warmer weather has actually helped the stream here as it forces the water managers to release more water for the irrigators. Always check the flows before you go as the release is can go up or down daily. The river does pick up more trib flow starting with Tolby Creek at the upper end of the state park and Clear Creek on the lower end. Scuds, red midge larvae, baetis nymphs, and golden stonefly nymphs have been reported to be working on the river. PMD's, caddis and little yellow sallies are good choices for fishing dry.
In Southern Colorado:
Animas River 957 cfs at Durango; Fair
The Animas is still high and being enjoyed by the river rafters near Durango. I did get a good report from a guy fishing streamers upriver of the Hermosa Creek confluence near Purgatory. Other good fishing can be had on some of the tribs around the ski resort or around Pagosa.
The Conejos River 166 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 341 cfs at Mogote; Good.
The Conejos is fishing very well especially on the surface. Stoneflies are waning although there are a few still flying above South Fork. Gray drakes are also declining. Green drakes however are making there first appearances in the fly water and I'd expect to see some pale morning duns very soon. The release out of Platoro is still decent enough to hold fish on the edges and they are gaga for a San Juan worm. Elk Creek, the South Fork and Lake Fork are also fishing very well for the angler seeking some solitude and a chance to catch cutthroats.
Rio Grande 325 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge; Good: 723 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
Dam release seems to be over and the river is at a nice level on the upper Rio Grande above Creede. The fish are still prefering to feed on the surface going for stonefly dries and green drakes. Access is tough below Creede and that section is best fished from a boat. There is still enough of a release out of Rio Grande Reservoir to enable you to float it. The other bugs of summer like hoppers, caddis and yellow sallies are also flying and working on fish..
Pagosa Area- Piedra River 160 cfs at Arboles; Good; San Juan River 178 cfs at Pagosa Springs; Good
Excellent summer fishing around Pagosa. The upper forks of the Piedra and Williams Creek are great places to camp and fish. The San Juan in Pagosa is fishing well but does see a fair amount of pressure. Consider the East Fork, Sand Creek and Turkey Creek especially for fishing dries. Stoneflies, caddis, hoppers, and PMD's are out.. .
Arkansas River 606 cfs at Granite; Good: 1380 cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
The releases out of Clear Creek and Twin Lakes are matching their respective inflows making for some excellent fishing on much of the Ark. The wading is easiest upstream of Twin Lakes outflow to Hayden Meadows. The river from Buena Vista down stream into Brown's Canyon sees a lot of rafting traffic. I find it better to fish downstream of Salida into Big Horn Sheep Canyon. It's still high water so the flows there make fishing out of a boat your best option. Fish in the deeper runs mid-channel in the and cover the shallow riffles from mid-day on if you see active surface feeding. Stonefly nymphs with trailing beatis nymph seems to be the best set-up..
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 flow data, see our links page or click here for New Mexico Stream Flows. or here for Colorado Steam Flows.
Please see our home page or Facebook 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 here for the Public Lands Information Center for a full list of fire restrictions and closures.
Summer rains and changes in dam release can affect your fishing plans. You can check on current flows before you go by clicking on New Mexico Stream Flows or Colorado Stream Flows here or from our links page.
San Juan River 1280 cfs below Navajo Dam; Good
The Bureau of Rec has been ramping down their scheduled Spring Peak Release for the last couple of weeks. We could see a slight increase later this month however if there is a significant drop in flows on the Animas River. The Bureau of Rec is mandated to keep a target flow below the city of Farmington which is a bonus for anglers fishing the San Juan, A lot of fish have moved into the side channels and can offer some easier getting around than the main river. Currently it's a midges game. Long line nymphing with a standard attractor and midge larvae set up. Fish pupa patterns higher up in the column around 10 or 11 am. Even thought the baetis hatches are waning and not bringing a lot of fish to the surface, they seem to key in on baetis patterns after lunch until the evening when midges become the favorite trout food again. Black and olive midge larvae and pupa are the top producers near the dam especially in the mornings. Move down river after lunch to get the baetis hatch. Chocolate and olive have been the best baetis colors. Johnny flash and foam wing emergers are among the favorites. 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 9.9 on the Rio Mora; Good: 52 cfs on the Pecos near Terrero; Very Good
There is still some decent flows on the Pecos keeping fish happy and feeding. Barring any runoff from rain, the river is quite clear. Stoneflies are done, but the bugs of summer are all over from Dalton and up past Cowles. Hoppers, caddis and little yellow sallies bringing up fish. A dropper nymph on a buoyant dry fly can keep you into fish in the sunniest hot part of the day. The Rio Mora is low but fishing well and is perfectly suited to throwing dry flies. .Please respect the landowners and stay out of any private property along the river. The fishing season on Pecos National Historical Park runs through Monday August 8. Please see the Park's website for more information.
Rio Grande 481 cfs at Cerro; Slow: 805 cfs at Pilar; Slow to for trout, Slow for pike, Slow for smallmouth bass
The Rio is murky. Summer rains may keep it that way for some time. The Rio for most of us is a better fall through spring fishery anyway and there are plenty of other places that are fishing well to keep anyone occupied. Visibility is around a foot. If you go, use big nymphs such as big crane flies or stoneflies or throw streamers. At least with a streamer, you never know what you'll get but your chances of catching something will increase. Pike fishing is slow. Your best bet for them is a large streamers that move water. There is also lots of rafting traffic around Pilar.
Jemez Mountain Streams 12 cfs above Jemez Pueblo; Good
The bottom is dropping out of the Jemez streams and flows are low and the water is clear. Hoppers, caddis and little yelow sallies are out and are also bringing fish to the surface. The headwaters of the San Antonio, East Fork, and the Cebolla tend to fish better with the cooler water temps. Fishing can be slow mid-day in the bright sun so seek some shady areas or fish the mornings or evenings. Fishing continues to good in the Valles Caldera. Hoppers and beetles worked well, but caddis or stimulators will also bring up fish. The Fishing Program on the Valles Caldera National Preserve is now under National Park Service rules. There is no longer a reservation system. It's all first come first served until all of the backcountry access permits are issued for the day. Please see the Preserve's website for more details.
Chama River 58 cfs above Chama; Good: 71 cfs above El Vado Reservoir; Fair: 494 cfs below El Vado Dam; Fair to Good: and 509 cfs below Abiquiu Dam; Slow
There is a new stream gauge above Chama. It will reflect what is flowing through the Sargent Wildlife Area. This stretch is a showing a little more water than normal, but it is wadeable. Dry fly dropper rigs work well here with the extra water and depth. Check the flows before you go as this part of the Chama does get murky if it rains upriver. The river flowing into El Vado Reservoir is at a nice level. Get a look before you hike down into it. Irrigation return upstream does murk up the water and makes it warmer to where the only thing you'll find are carp. It is a good place to target carp if that is your thing. It'll likely fish slow for trout and have murky water through the summer. Look to fish elsewhere. The release below El Vado is down to a fishable level during the week. The release does go up on Friday and back down on Sundays to accomodate the rafters.. Streamers, stonefly nymphs and cranefly larvae are the top flies on the river flowing out of El Vado. 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 27 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam; Fair: 23 cfs at Cimarron; Fair
Warmer weather has actually helped the stream here as it forces the water managers to release more water for the irrigators. Always check the flows before you go as the release is can go up or down daily. The river does pick up more trib flow starting with Tolby Creek at the upper end of the state park and Clear Creek on the lower end. Scuds, red midge larvae, baetis nymphs, and golden stonefly nymphs have been reported to be working on the river. PMD's, caddis and little yellow sallies are good choices for fishing dry.
In Southern Colorado:
Animas River 957 cfs at Durango; Fair
The Animas is still high and being enjoyed by the river rafters near Durango. I did get a good report from a guy fishing streamers upriver of the Hermosa Creek confluence near Purgatory. Other good fishing can be had on some of the tribs around the ski resort or around Pagosa.
The Conejos River 166 cfs below Platoro Reservoir; Good: 341 cfs at Mogote; Good.
The Conejos is fishing very well especially on the surface. Stoneflies are waning although there are a few still flying above South Fork. Gray drakes are also declining. Green drakes however are making there first appearances in the fly water and I'd expect to see some pale morning duns very soon. The release out of Platoro is still decent enough to hold fish on the edges and they are gaga for a San Juan worm. Elk Creek, the South Fork and Lake Fork are also fishing very well for the angler seeking some solitude and a chance to catch cutthroats.
Rio Grande 325 cfs at Thirty Mile Bridge; Good: 723 cfs at Wagon Wheel Gap; Good
Dam release seems to be over and the river is at a nice level on the upper Rio Grande above Creede. The fish are still prefering to feed on the surface going for stonefly dries and green drakes. Access is tough below Creede and that section is best fished from a boat. There is still enough of a release out of Rio Grande Reservoir to enable you to float it. The other bugs of summer like hoppers, caddis and yellow sallies are also flying and working on fish..
Pagosa Area- Piedra River 160 cfs at Arboles; Good; San Juan River 178 cfs at Pagosa Springs; Good
Excellent summer fishing around Pagosa. The upper forks of the Piedra and Williams Creek are great places to camp and fish. The San Juan in Pagosa is fishing well but does see a fair amount of pressure. Consider the East Fork, Sand Creek and Turkey Creek especially for fishing dries. Stoneflies, caddis, hoppers, and PMD's are out.. .
Arkansas River 606 cfs at Granite; Good: 1380 cfs at Salida; Fair to Good
The releases out of Clear Creek and Twin Lakes are matching their respective inflows making for some excellent fishing on much of the Ark. The wading is easiest upstream of Twin Lakes outflow to Hayden Meadows. The river from Buena Vista down stream into Brown's Canyon sees a lot of rafting traffic. I find it better to fish downstream of Salida into Big Horn Sheep Canyon. It's still high water so the flows there make fishing out of a boat your best option. Fish in the deeper runs mid-channel in the and cover the shallow riffles from mid-day on if you see active surface feeding. Stonefly nymphs with trailing beatis nymph seems to be the best set-up..
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 flow data, see our links page or click here for New Mexico Stream Flows. or here for Colorado Steam Flows.
Please see our home page or Facebook 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 here for the Public Lands Information Center for a full list of fire restrictions and closures.
posted by High Desert Angler at Saturday, July 09, 2016
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