2002 SAN JUAN RIVER FISHING REPORTS ARCHIVE

December 15 - January 3, 2002

Wow where did last year go.... Seems like yesterday that I was doing the first report for 2002 and now its 2003!

Most of this reports information is from our guides as I was out of town for the holidays home to Michigan to see my parents then a little R&R in Key west with two days of fishing the flats. I love salt water fishing but I HATE how much the weather can screw up the fishing! Us trout guides have it easy on the Juan, as the weather will slow things down but you still always get fish...

Fishing over all has been very good to great!! Wade fishing yesterday (2nd) was very good in the areas above Thole with worms red larva and foamwings. Sight fishing is a little harder now since the water is off color but still worth a shot. Deep slow pools have also been very good but try a few more buggers and leaches here. I would have to guess that red and orange will be the color as well as worms and eggs for a few more week, as the water is off color. But be sure to try a few of the normal smaller natural color emergers and pupa, the fish can see them! Over all the health and weight of the fish this past year was impressive! I sent more photos to the taxidermist that we work with this year then ever before! The week before I took off had a client land a 20/14" trout, not huge but with a girth like that well worth a mount! I'm sure his wife will love the mount in her office!

T-hole down has also been fishing well, but this section always seems to fish better from a boat in winter. Guides on floats the last 2 weeks of 2002 reported some of the best fishing in the past month and a half. Leeches and buggers or worms were the ticket, but guides also reported a slow down on the worms the first few days in Jan... PTs and red larva will almost always find fish in the deep slow pools of this section. Less people in this area all winter so give it a shot!

As far as the bait water I don't have much to report, streamers have been working well in this area..

We are posting the list of gear were selling on my site check it out and get some good gear at a good price...

Hope everyone had a good holiday season and that all that gear that Santa got you goes to good use SOON! Happy new year, hope to see you on the river soon........

December 1-11, 2002

I am going to start the report with a short report from a trip I just took to Texas fishing for bass. I had a chance to fish Lake O' the Pines this last week! I had been looking forward to a chance to fish in Texas for Bass for a long time. I had the pleasure of fishing with Joe Stafford of Kerry Stafford's Sportsman Guide Service (903-759-4229) Lake fork and Lake O the Pines. Joe and his son have fished with me on the San Juan the last 3 years and this time it was Joe's turn to tell me how I was not setting the hook hard enough:) I am sure that in the past I have told this skilled bass fisherman that he was fishing for trout now not bass and not to set so hard! I am sure he loved the chance to tell me that I was fishing for bass not trout and I better set that hook harder!! The phone call before the trip got me a truthful answer, well, fishing has not been to good but we should be able to find a few on Lake O the Pines but Lake Fork was not fishing at all. That morning found me in cool temps 40's and a heavy over cast. But I had hopes for the best, as a trout fisherman in Texas I was more then ready to hit the water. The Rain held off for the moat part and I had a GREAT trip. I had a chance to see Joe get what to me was a HUGE largemouth at the first stop and I got a nice Kentucky spot. I had never had a chance to catch a spot before so this was a thrill! I also had the chance to get a Yellow Bass ( another fish I had not had a chance to catch) and a mess of pan fish after we were done Bass fishing. I am jealous of the bass fishing you guys all have in Texas. I hope that I will have a chance to get back when things warm up and fish a few days for some more great fish. Lake Fork and Lake O the Pines both have a big bass with my name on it, somewhere.....

Well On with TROUT fishing!!

The turn over of the lake started this week and we now have a little off color water. Sight fishing has still be very good all over the river and fishing a worm or egg with a midge in deep runs has worked very well. Fishing from the Dam to Thole has been good every day with a worm or egg and a dropper. But you also need to remember that the worm or egg combo will only work this well for so long. After a few weeks the fish will stop hitting this combo as they will have by then learned a lesson about what happens when they eat a worm. Below T hole the fish should start to bunch up in the deep slow pools as they do every winter. Buggers and red hots were the ticket yesterday on this section. Remember to start to fish deep and slow runs as the water color changes and cool down. Peach eggs were also a big hit with the fish in this area in the shallow fast runs. There are a lot of fish spawning right now so BE CAREFUL where you walk our winter spawning fish have a chance at good reproduction! There is also a huge amount of browns in the river right now. They also spawn in early winter so be very careful and don't fish the spawning browns, they are ALL WILD the state does not plant ANY browns on the San Juan. Bait water has been fishing very well and got a few huge browns last week (best was 23") streamer fishing as well as bead head PT or brassies are the ticket! Hope you all have a great holiday season, hope to see you on the river soon.

Upper river

• Worms all colors (try and see what's best for you)
• Eggs peach yellow cheese and red
• red larva 18-24
• red-hot 22
• OJ 22
• Dessert Storm 20-22
• Widow makers!!!!!! 20-22
• copper john 22 (brass and black)
• black disco

Thole down

• Choc foam wing
• worms
• eggs
• buggers (brown and olive this week)
• wd40 gray 20
• PT 22
• red larva
• OJ
• Widow makers!!!!!! 20-22
• olive loop wing

Be sure to fish a lot of midges and midge emergers!!! I forgot to list them. Good hatch near dam and thole all day as well as good baetis hatch on cloudy days!!

Chris

November 1-15, 2002

Well, fall is here and the weather has been nice, cloudy some snow (lots of snow in Colorado!!) Fishing with the new flow has been un-real! Some of the best midge and baetis hatches I have seen in two years. Nymph fishing in the fast drop pools and deep slow runs has been good to great all day. Fishing from the boat has been wonderful (when it's not snowing). Upper river has been fishing very well but the fish are in new areas, look for deep water that has a fast flow and your going to find fish. Midges from first light till dark in huge numbers, (brown gray and black) pupa and emergers.

T-hole down to lower flats has been fishing great all day as well. Lower flats area has been great to me the last week, but much of this water is better for fishing from a boat as it deep long slow pools that are hard to wade fish well. The lower flats has been holding good numbers of fish but they are not in the normal areas you'd be looking. Most of the river is holding fish in new areas so have some fun and try a few new spots, I have been all week!!

Overall the fishing has been great!! Try this list and see how you do..

Upper river

• Worms
• Eggs
• Red Larva
• UFO
• disco midges in all kind of colors #24
• rs2
• WD 40's
• Choc Foam wing
• Pupa in all colors
• Emergers in many colors
• Widow Makers:Your going to have to fish with me to see this one :)
• With the midges try many colors till you get it right. Stick with that same color when the fish change to emergers

Thole down

LOTS OF Baetis!!

• rs2
• wd40
• foamwing
• Old style Choc
• PT
• FBPT
• Loop Wing
• Power Baetis
• Jeff's Baetis (been hot all week)
• Bears Baetis and on and on...
• Lots of midges as well in many colors

Over all when I have found fish this week they have eaten about everything!! Have a great trip and thanks to all of you who have stopped by this year and said hi! This year FLEW by can't believe its been almost a year since we bought the lodge, where has the time gone....

Sorry for the short report but elk hunting last week and guiding the last few days has me beat! He what a 5/6 not huge but nice!

October 10-22, 2002

Fishing over all has been great the last week. The full moon got things off for a few days but all was back to normal on 22nd!! Dry fly action has been killer on cloudy days and even a little on sunny days. Baetis and midges have been hatching well 10-4 and the late midge hatch of fall is here! Good hatch for people who like SMALL dry fly action. #28 gray or black just before dark has been great for the last few days. Browns are really moving around this last week in spawning colors so look out where you walk!!!!!!!!! Remember all browns in the Juan were born here, the state does not plant any browns. Sorry about not getting that photo up this last week (of the 9# brown) I am going to work on getting it up this week!

Upper river has still been fishing best, but there has been a few people in this area, remember to look for new water away from all the other people and you have a better time. ESPN has been a good bet for the dry action in the am, cable hole as well. Upper flats is starting to get its fall spawning fish so again look out where you walk and let the spawners be..... You'll kill many more fish than you think when you fish the spawners!

Thole down has also fished well all day but the fish are in groups so once you find them stay in that area chances are there are many in the hole! Baetis action on cloudy days will help the fishing in that area! Look for really good fishing in the afternoon when it is cloudy! Dry action best here later in the day.

Duranglers to gravel pit, this area has seen a lot of people this year. Not sure why so many people are fishing here now? This area has really slowed down because of #1 all the people that fished here this summer and #2 all the silt in the river from our summer and fall rain. My guess is that after high flows (if we get snow this winter) this area will heat back up. Until then fishing in that area has been very slow for the last 2-3 weeks. Bait water is really starting to heat back up, lots of browns as well as some hot bows in this area. Take some time and try a new area of the river your next visit! But remember bugs are bigger in this section same bugs but in #16-22 a nice change!!

Have a great fall on the river and hope to see all of you soon!

• Midges (pupa and KF's) #22-28 black, brown, iron gray, gray
• yellow disco
• brassie
• Red hot
• OJ's (this was a good bug all week!)
• ufo
• eggs and worms in almost all colors try a few!
• Baetis #18-24
• foam wing Choc Emerger
• PT FB #24
• PTs
• Wd40
• RS2
• Power baetis
• Bears Beatis
• Johnny flash Brown
• Johnny flash gray
• Scuds all week as well #20-22 Gray and gray flash back
• buggers on the strip on cloudy days been killer
  

September 17 - 29, 2002

The fishing has been great!! Full moon got things a little off but it is back to normal wonderful fishing again. Baetis action has been really good on days with any clouds, and then nymph fishing for 2-3 days after that. Big cloudy days hatch has been great. Foam wings, rs2 Choc emergers, PTs all working great when you see that hatch start. 500cfs flows have been wonderful, fishing seems to have really gotten into its fall up swing. Weather is still holding well, 70-80's cool in the am (40-50) and the trees are all starting to show a little color. Most years you'll see full color by first week in Oct!

Had a chance to watch a guide and client land a pure cutt this week that was every bit of OVER 12#. HUGE fish one of the best fish I have ever seen in this river, what a trip for that guy! Big fish have been on the move, seen a lot of 21+ inch fish the last week. Fall and early summer always seem to be the big fish months, they must move around a little more at that time of year. Look for the photo of the 9# brown I got with a client this July on my site soon as well!

Midge hatch has been great almost ever day, best up near the dam in the am and near Thole by afternoon after the baetis get going. Red larva still working ok but slowing a little, eggs are starting to work well, as that group of fall spawning fish start to move around.

Close to the dam has been fishing well all day, black gray and brown midges as well as some 24 pts and worms all a good bet. ESPN has also been fishing well but there has been lots of people fishing this area now ( I think because the trail for the upper lot hits the river so close to it) Cable hole is always a good bet in the fall as well.

Thole down has been fishing very well from the boat, dry action has been hot on cloudy days with no wind, if you are here on a cloudy day with no wind, it will be a day to remember! Lower flats has slowed down a little as the fish have moved back out, but I am sure that with the fall big hatches the fish will move right back in.

Big fish are on the move seen 24" 23" and 21 3/4" in the net this week and the MONSTER 27-28" 12#(ish) cutt! Bring your 5x and 6x and #26's and get to work! Have a great fall we'll see you on the river!

Best Flies:

• Choc foam wing
• Choc emerger
• PT 24-22
• rs2 22
• wd40 choc 20
• red larva 24
• ufo 22-26
• olive ufo 28
• mono midge 26 28
• kf's 24 black brown gray
• Jonny flash brown 24
• jonny flash gray 24
• eggs cream cheese

September 1 - 16, 2002

Well, Fall is here and its great! Cool in the am and nice and warm by noon. Days are a little shorter, but that always means that the Fall hatches are on the way!!

Flows dropped to 500cfs this last week, as a result of a lot of Fall rain. The San Juan River WAY down stream from us got to almost 20,000 cfs from all that rain. Our flows only spiked one day about 100cfs and got a little off color but everything was fine again by noon. Since the flows dropped fishing has been great almost everywhere. Fishing in the am near the dam has been great as well as upper flats and lower flats. AM midge hatch has been good all over the river and that great Fall red brown midge is still going (#18). Beatis action is really starting to pick up now that flows are a little lower and I would "GUESS" that we should have some huge Fall hatches. Caddis and are still on the "lower" river in ok numbers allowing some great fall dry fly action without people. Animas river and all the creeks got a little help with all the rain so I am sure they will also start to fish better again.

Dam to thole is midges and more midges until about 11-12 then a choc foamwing or CDC RS2. Red larva has been working VERY well the last week, fish are really eating this fly when it's fished in shallow fast water. A KF emerger and a red larva have been the money rig this week!

Thole down has been fishing very well from the boat as well as on foot, but you need to know that area as there are many dead section to the foot angler. Baetis action really starting to heat up from thole down. Pmd's are almost done, see a few a day but nothing to write home about any more. Bait water is fishing good but nothing like what it will start to fish like later this fall!!

Sorry reports a little shot this week, but I got my Fall cold and I need some sleep! Have a great Fall and safe travel, see you all on the river soon... Chris Guikema

August 10-25, 2002

WOW where has this year gone? Got up today to a nice cool fall like day and it was great! 50 in the am and 90 by 2pm! Big change for this time of year but now that the days are getting a little slower and the mornings a little cooler it helps me look forward to all the great fall fishing yet to come!

PMD's are still hatching good late in the afternoon, but I really think this will be the last week of this hatch. Good dry action now that there are fewer bugs on the water, fish that want them are really looking.

Baetis hatches of fall are just about ready to start, been seeing lots more of them the last few cloudy, cooler days! Midges are in full swing! Great hatch at 8-10am and 2-3pm fish are really looking for this hatch and brown or black and gray midges have been the ticket! I also this week started to see one of the bigger midges we have hatch here in the fall, it is a red-brown midge and about #20-18 this is a fun hatch and will most years last 2-3 weeks. Fish have just started to look for this bug, best areas for this hatch (right now) are in the areas from Lower Flats down. The same midge will also start to hatch in the upper section of the river but I don't see this fly until Oct on the upper sections. Scuds and worms have also been a great go to bug the last week, gray scud #20-22 and brown worms have been working well in the deep fast water or in the shallow fast water below large weed beds.

Flows are still about 797 and I would guess we should see this good flow until later this fall. In the fall once the farmers are done with the water from the Animas the flows on the Animas in Farmington should go to 90-100 CFS from 1-2cfs yes 1-2 cfs and we will see the Juan drop to what ever the flow is on the Animas. The lake is really dropping fast so I am sure at some point, this fall winter or spring we will see flows drop down on the Juan to 250-500cfs If we go as low as 250 look out for some great fishing!!! Since the flows have been so high all summer the bugs have moved into new areas and as soon as the flows start to drop the bugs will hatch like crazy in order to survive!

Dam to thole midges are the order of the day! Small as well 24-26 is the norm, but red larva are really starting to work well in 22. Red larva and a small midge pupa (black or olive or cream ) in the am and changing to a emerger about 9-10am. Good old worms have been working well in the deep slow section here as well or a scud if worms and red larva's aren't working. Weight will be the KEY to your luck in this section be sure to change you depth as well as you weight a lot if your not into fish.

Thole down, PMDs on the lower areas but this week I did see them all the way up to thole!!! CDC rs2 and a brown midge has been the money rig this last week, but red larva and ufo are starting to really work well! Fall is always a good red larva time as well as OJs and all the discos. I have been fishing yellow red and black discos all have worked but the mono midge in gray or brown has been the ticket once the hatch gets going a little!

Best flies:

• CDC Rs2
• PT 24
• flash back PT 20-24
• Mono Midge gray, brown 24-26 ( I use 5x for this bugs body over the color thread)
• pupa black gray olive 22-26
• worms brown and burnt org
• red larva 22
• ufo 22-26
• copper john for the PMDs
• red disco
• black disco
• some fish also eating streamers well fished deep (olive and black best color)

August 1-8, 2002

Fishing over all has been great for this time of year! Most years in August we see a few less bugs but I think the higher flows and the cooler water temps are keeping the hatches going a little longer.

PMD's are still going good from lower flats to the end of the bait water. Yesterday I saw a great pmd hatch in lower flats area about 1-2. #16-20 PT or a #16 copper john was the ticket. For dries #16 pmd compardun was the best dry, we also got a few to eat a #18 wolf as well as a #18 Adams. Nymph fishing this hatch is a little easier than the dry action but both have been good.

Thole to the dam: Still fishing well midges and midge larva, red larva's seem to be making a bit of a comeback this last week #22 or 24 have been a good top bug. For the bottom fly I have been fishing a brown KF midge emerger almost all day #24 or 26. black gray olive and black bead head mono midges have also all done very well for me the last week. The mono midge with a black bead head #26 have been a killer bug for a few of our guides as well. Some good dry action also up in this area #26 28 black or gray midges with an ant have been my best set up! Look for some of the bigger fish in the tail-outs and in a little deeper water.

Thole to lower flats has been fishing very well the last week, but again this section fishes a little better from a boat as there are long deep slow water sections that are hard to fish on foot. Baetis are still going strong and with the PMD's mixed in it a fun time to fish this area. Midges in the am are the best choice, but a CDC rs-2 or a #24 flash back PT and a 24 choc KF midge has been my number one set up!

Bait water is really fishing well, #16 copper john and a beadhead prince have been the ticket for the last week! LOTS of fish not as large but LOTS!!!!

Small creeks are starting to fish a little better now that we have started to get rain. Killer dry fly action on all the Colorado rivers that we guide!

July 10-22, 2002

Fishing over all has been great the last week. We had a good rain on Friday night that got the ants to fall on Saturday! River was off color for about 24 hours below thole so many of the fish did not see the ants but above Thole dry action was HOT. Had a chance to fish ESPN on Sunday with great luck on #12 and 14 black stimmys as well as ant patterns. Dry action is still good for them if you keep moving and looking for the fish looking up!

Thole to dam has still been fishing well all day. Midges and more midges are the best bet here but now and then last week a CDC rs2 was also a good bug. 24 PT's as well as WD40s also got a few fish to make a mistake.... Small black and gray head midges with silver rib or gold rib were hot bugs #26. Olive brown and brown or plain gray also in 26 were great back up bugs. The last few days fish started looking for worms again burnt Org as well as worm brown were all good choices. Got a few on red larva few days ago but I think that had more to do with the water a little off color from the rain.

Thole to end of "Q" waters has been fish good as well. Lower flats is holding good numbers of fish as well as all the areas up to it. midges until about 11-12 then you will start to see the fish looking for Baetis! pt wd40 and choc foam wing all in 24-20 have been working well. for the midges #22-26 green disco and black disco have been the best choice. Not many fish looking for worms here.... The PMDs are in the area and the hatch is ok 2-5 lower flats fish are also looking for PMDs later in the day. I have found that a #20 copper John has been a killer bug when they are looking for them!

Dry action is GREAT if you can find fish looking for ants. Or #20-26 Adams and #26 black, Olive midges have worked well. Few caddis also in the area so be sure to try a #18-12 caddis (so you can see where the #26 is!)

Glad to be getting our summer rains, hope we get enough to lower the danger of a wild fire in our area!

June 13-30, 2002

Caddis and PMD's are on!!! The caddis fishing on the lower river floats has been un-real for over 3 weeks!!! and the pmd fishing on that section is just getting better. But the good news is that the pmds and caddis are now hatching into the quality water section and fishing has been killer. Huge midge hatch in the am about 9-10 till 3-4 in the areas above thole and good baetis and midges all the way to down. Caddis and pmds are just getting into lower flats so the afternoon dry action should really heat up in the next few weeks!

Thole to dam, midges and more midges!! Black, Gray, brown and olive in HUGE numbers almost all day. Dry action was good yesterday in an area well lets just say someplace between cable hole and thole..... #28 black single midges and a ant were the ticket!! Yes an ant, about 6 days ago we had a small ant fall near the dam from a rain we got the night before.... but we have not gotten the big ant fall yet, NEXT BIG RAIN!!!!! Fishing a pupa or a emerger all day in this section the the river has been killer all day!!! Dry action picks up about 11-12 and stays good till 3-4 the fish on top are not easy, after all if they can see a #28 bug on the top of the water they can also see if yours is too fat of a tye or not JUST the right color. Just remember to try many colors and MANY weight set ups when you are nymphing!

Thole to end of Q water... Midges in black and gray and brown in great numbers starting at about 9 and fish looking for midges all day or until a good baetis hatch or the start of the PMDs and caddis for the day. Dry action has been really good in this section for the last 1-2 weeks, the smoke in the air from the fires has the sun a little dimmer then normal so the fish have been working on top hard!

What about the smoke.... Well you can see it in the air but not really smell it really just looks a little hazy not that normal NM blue sky!

What about the PMDs and caddis well new nymphs like a brown eye caddis and or a peacock and yellow emergers are both good patterns#20-16. For the PMD a little PT made with a RED pheasant tail is a great bet and what I use! #20-18

What about the ants... well many people know about this and many don't so I'll say a little about this. After the first rain of summer BIG ants come out of their hiding places and try to fly to a new area. Many of them end up in the river, they are 1/2-1" long and EVERY FISH in the river will be looking for them when it happens. It is hands down the BEST, no the VERY BEST day to be on the Juan. This should happen in the next week or so if God willing we get some rain.

What is normal flow and why are we at 900cfs. Well normal summer flows for the San Juan are 500cfs. This year the area is in such a bad drought that the rivers flowing into the San Juan are almost dry the Animas is only 5.5 cfs in Farmington, the Animas would normally be 300-800cfs at this time of year. SO........ the flows on the San Juan are higher to help farmers and other fish (Colorado Pike Minnow) that live in the lower San Juan. My guess is that we are going to see flows like this until fall then back down to 500 or maybe 250 for the winter.

• Midges Black, brown, olive and gray have been great bugs 20-28
• CDC Rs2 has been my #1 bug the last week
• emergers in the same color as midges 24-28
• PT 20-24
• Choc emerger 22
• WD40 gray flash back
• Gray scud
• Few on worms now and then (did well on a worm near the dam last week)
• Brown eye caddis 20-16
• Red PT 20
• copper bead head peacock and yellow 20

Over all the fishing is great hope you have a chance to make it out this summer!

Chris

June 1-12, 2002

Fishing over all has been GREAT good dry action as well as nymph fishing. From the dam to thole nymph fishing with #24-28 midges and a few cdc rs2's (gray) has been great! Lots of fish looking up and if you look you will find nice dry action! The rest of the quality waters has been fishing VERY well. Good BWO action and I think the fish are starting to look for PMDs and caddis as well. Fish are moved into their summer drops and fast water pools and sight fishing has been killer from thole to the dam as well as in lower flats.

From the dam to thole look for the fish in the faster water as well as deep pools like ESPN. Cable hole has been fishing very well most days with rs2s and midges almost all day. Think small but also try a few baetis patterns as this section is fishing very well in the afternoon with foamwings as well as #24 PTs and rs2 cdc gray.

Thole to the end of quality waters.... Great hatch all day midges in the am and baetis in the afternoon. The fishing here has been good for me all day with a rs2 gray or a jonny flash gray in 22 and 24 midges have been working very well in brown black or gray as well.

Bait water is starting to really fish well as we are starting to see a few caddis in this area, so be sure to try a little new water!!! With the fishing this good you might just find a few "secret" spots!

Best Flies

• RS2 CDC gray 22
• Jonny flash 22-24
• gray and brown Midges and midge emergers in # 20-28 brown, cream, gray, black and olive
• UFO's now and then
• PTs 24-22
• foamwing 22
• Adams 20-26
• olive midge dry 26-28
• black midge dry 26
• Gray midge dry 26
• caddis 18-12
• yellow stimmy 14-16

Have a great trip the fishing is great and the weather is even better (but we do need rain)!

May 10 - 20, 2002

Ok, fishing well lets see, if you still have your job and are reading this at work you are missing some of the year's best fishing. Baetis, midges all day, weather 80-90 and sun every day. Dry fly fishing, great some days others a little slow. Nymph fishing, I already said to quit your job and head out at once!! The fishing should stay good to great until mid Aug. then start to really pick up again in Mid Sept. Summer PMD and caddis action are going to get going soon! I think w/o the high water this year we may see pmd's and Caddis mid June not the end of June. Our lower river trips are already seeing caddis and a few stones...

Thole to the dam is still one of the best sections to spend all day. Fishing has been great from 8-4 and for me for some reason a little slow after 4?? But the whole area has been fishing great. Midges and baetis are the key here. I have been fishing a double midge rig all day pupa and emerger and doing very well. One of our guides has been fishing a leach and a #18 red larva and doing very well, so this shows that it is the flies you trust the most that will do the best. Yes there is something about the "matching the hatch" but on a busy river there is also something to be said about new flies and flies you trust! I fish the bugs I have faith in and do well every day. Now and then I fish something one of our guides has been doing well on and nothing. IT is not always that the bug did not work it might be the depth you were fishing it. I have flies in my box I fish deep and I have others I fish in slow water and others I fish in shallow fast water. Not that they won't all catch fish in slow water, fast water, etc. it is that I have found that fish seem to feed better on certain bugs in certain water. Why? Well it is where that bug lives most of the time and the fish that live in this area are looking for there common food source. I think that this applies to the whole river, not just one section. Like yesterday, I was doing well with a client in lower flats (9-11am) on a black jonny flash 24. We moved to baetis bend and nothing changed bugs to a gray head emerger with a black body and gold rib and got right into fish. The small black and gray emerger almost always works well for me in baetis bend and the upper main channel. So I changed to a fly I trusted to work in the area I was fishing...... Something to think about.....

Thole to gravel pit has been fishing well! I have been spending a lot of time on foot early in the day in the lower flats area. For some reason there are LOTS of browns here right now. The other day on a half day trip we got only 1 bow all our other fish were browns.... Not sure why but I have been getting tons of browns all year in this section. Baetis hatch has been good most days from 11-4ish in this section of the river. Dry action has been good some days and great others, you just never know. Midges are still my best bug here (20-26) almost all day. Once I see the baetis I will fish a gray cdc rs2 to a small midge or a Jonny flash 24 in black or brown. Look for the fish to be suspended by 9-10am and stay here until late into the baetis hatch.

Navajo Lake is fishing well no top water bite yet but soon. Great smallmouth and pike action all afternoon. Once the top water action heats up remember to try a few casts off the banks near the dam!! Carp fishing on the lake is just starting to get good!

The small creeks that we guide in SW Colorado are all fishing very well! Turkey creek and the upper San Juan (head waters) are fishing best. Few stones as well as caddis and prince nymphs working. But you can now fish dry flies all day! Great numbers of fish not really big but lots of them!

Hope well see you on the river soon! Chris

April 15 - 28, 2002

The spring BWO action is really starting to get HOT, had good hatches almost all week! The cloudy days have been best but we have also had killer hatches on sunny days. The flows are still at about 940cfs and we will likely see this flow for most of the summer. The fish are still moving around a bit since the flow change but are really eating well! Midge hatches have been strong in the am with the bwo action starting about 10-11 most days and really hot and heavy about 1-2 stopping about 4. Dry fly action has been great on most days all afternoon if you don't have wind.....

From the Dam to to-hole has been still fishing well all day with cable hole and university flats both fishing really well. Small bugs and red larva are the best choice here now. Midges are really hatching well all day but best fishing here is from about 9-3. but there is also a good hatch a little later in the day. ESPN is fishing well same bugs but I would ad a ufo to the must try list here.

Thole to Lower flats has been fishing very well but this section of water is not always the best area for wade fishing as much of this section is deep and slow water. Dry fly action is very good here in the afternoons. BWO or Adams 20-26 your best choice. The midge fishing in baetis bend and lower flats is getting good as the fish really start to move into this area looking for bugs. Lower flats is holding a good number of fish now and the numbers will grow with the size of the baetis hatches. Been doing very well here with a black and gray midge emerger #24 has been my best bug for the last 2 weeks!

Lower flats to the take out has been fishing ok not a lot of good water to wade here but if you know the spots there has been good numbers of fish all day in this area as well.

Bait water is really fishing well, all the sections around Cotton Wood and pump house have been holding good numbers of nice fish and a few big boys. Few caddis this last week but I would guess that we are still a few (3-5) weeks away from the great caddis fishing.

Navajo Lake is also start to fish well, good smallmouth action on streamers as well as crayfish patterns and the Pike are starting to hit! Carp and top water small mouth action is going to heat up soon! This is a new area that many people have never seen! I hope to be starting to fish the lake with clients next year for now we are working with a guide on the lake who is the #1 man for Navajo lake. The bass and pike fishing on Navajo lake are both really good and a real ball once the top water action starts!

April 1-6, 2002

Wanted to get a new report out now that the flows are a little higher.... Looks like we will NOT have high flows this year. The snow pack in the area is 40% so the San Juan will stay about 500-700 cfs until the Animas in Farmington gets below 400cfs then we will see flows from 600-1000cfs the rest of the summer.

Fishing over all since the 1st when the flows changed has been good to great. Midges are really hatching good and the baetis hatches are starting to really get going. Fishing near the dam has been great almost all day red larva, pupa and emergers are all working well and in afternoon a #24 choc foam wing has been hot! PT's and rs2 are also working well later in the day a little better closer to thole but even near the dam. Texas hole to the cable hole has been fishing well also all week! Had a chance to help a client net a 25.25" by 14 3/4" rainbow on the 2nd of April. This was one of our best fish of the year! Spring hatches always seem to bring out some of the bigger fish. They were waiting all winter for the good hatches and now that they are going again the big boys will get a little sloppy now and then and eat a fly with a hook! Been getting good reports from all the guides of big fish lots a good number of fish over 20".

Lower flats to thole has been getting better now that the spring baetis action is underway. Had a nice day with dries in lower flats the 4th. The fish are not into lower flats in big numbers yet but as the hatches get stronger they will start to move in. #26 black and gray midge emergers with silver rib have been hot bugs as well as #26 red larva in this section. Look for the fish to key on the hatch and move to the heads of the pools. Early in the day look for them in the tailouts and deeper slow pools.

There are a lot of fish starting to spawn so look out where you walk and let the spawners be......

Dam-Thole

• Red larva 22
• ufo 24-20
• red disco 24
• black disco 24
• midge pupa yellow black, black gray, olive and brown 24-28
• Emergers in same colors 24-28
• PTs 22
• choc foam wing 24
• rs2 22 gray
• black loop wing 22

Thole to end of "Q" waters

• Worms Nat brown red f
• ew on red larva
• few on eggs
• Midges same as above only add a few 22's
• RS2 22
• Choc foam wing 22
• loop wing 22
• amber glass bead black midge 22

Have a great summer on the river well really spring but with temps in the 70's every day the last week it feels like summer :)!!! See you all soon!!

March 1 - 18, 2002

The weather last week was un-real!!! 75 by 3pm was a great day to fish for sure! I love the NM spring weather. Fishing has over all really picked up the last week. The baetis hatch seems to have gotten a good start the last 5-7 days. Fish are looking for the bugs by noon and really moving into some of the faster fun water to fish. Baetis action has been best from the top of the main channel down but lower flats area has really been starting to look up! Lots of bugs and lots of fish happy to see the bugs. Weather has been very overcast the last 2 days and the top water action has been really nice when you can find the right fish looking up. The fish have been eating midges good all day and a baetis-midge combo has been the ticket after 11am.

The dam to t-hole has still been fishing well all day but the fish are starting to move around now that the hatches are getting a little stronger. Lots of good midge action on this section almost all day. Our guides have been fishing a bunch of small midges in #26-#28 brown and olive brown has been a good color choice. Black or gray has been a really good bug choice near the dam. Had some guys at the lodge doing very well with a pearl bead head gray midge in maybe a 22 or 24

T-hole to the end of the "Q" waters has been fishing better this last week and as the hatches get a little bigger the fishing will get much better!! Bait water section has still been fishing well and the fish are strong and wild! Look to switch to bigger bugs here #20-#18 for PT's and midges. Remember our spring baetis can be a little bigger bug #22-20 and even a few 18's the bugs will be a little darker. Olive and olive brown and a darker gray have been a good color choice for me. The other bug that I have been fishing a little more is a loop wing baetis emerger. This fly has really been a hot bug this week in an olive-brown body cdc loop and a little bit of a darker head on a 22 200r or a 80050br

Dam to Thole

• Johnny flash brown or gray 24
• Johnny flash 22
• choc wd40
• gray wd40
• choc Midge pupa #24
• 26-28 olive-brown, black, gray or red with gold rib
• Midge emergers in same colors and sizes
• PT's flash back 22
• Choc foaming rs2 gray rs2 olive brown 22

Thole to gravel pit

• Midges same as above in both pupa and emergers
• pts
• gray rs2 o
• live-brown loop wing
• olive brown choc foam wing
• wd40 gray flash back

Bait water

• PT's 18-22
• loop wing 20
• rs2 brown or gray 20
• bead head brassie
• bead head red larva 18-20

Have a great spring on the river hope to see you all soon!!

February 18 - 28, 2002

Fishing over all was very good the last weeks of Feb. Good bug activity with the warmer weather as well as a few warm cloudy days. But the COLD snap of the last week got the bugs slowed down a little but fishing is still good. Weather is going to warm up all week almost 60 again by Friday!! Got to LOVE that NM spring weather!!!

Dam to T-Hole has been fishing well all week, even with the cold snap! Midges and or Midges are the way to go here. Black, Brown, olive have all been working well. Black Midges with a KF or a zlon wing case have been working great here. I have received reports all week from some guys here at the Lodge from PA that said zlon wing case was the better bug near the dam all week! ESPN also fished well the last week with red or orange larva and black pupa or emergers. Look for the spring baetis action to heat up in this section as well!! Cable hole and espn along with the main channel have fished well with a gray scud and a midge or a worm in faster water. Scuds are small in size 16-24 most scuds I see are about a 22 wish they were a 18 but better to see more of the 22 scuds then no bugs at all. Think about the scuds and worms when you are fishing the deep runs near the dam as they play a big role in what the fish feed on.

Thole to end of "Q" waters- This section had been fishing better as we started to see the bigger baetis hatches. But you know midges and worms also play a big role in the day to day life of the fish in this section. With the cold weather your going to see this section slow down a bit as the big action is slower. As soon as it warms up your going to see the action pick right back up with the bugs. Been reading a few reports about how people are not seeing fish in this section, they are there and lots of them they are just in deeper slow water until bugs start to hatch. The energy a fish will use to swim and feed in lower flats is greater then with food that he is eating there right now so they move into slower water. Why waste energy???????? This section of the river is fishing well but you have time better spent if you fish the deep slow pools in this area. Rs2 Choc foam wing PT's and midges are all working well!

Bait water- This OVER LOOKED section of the river has been fishing very well the last few weeks. I have gotten a bunch of really nice fish from the Gravel pit to below the bridge at Abe's. Try some new water and see a new part of the San Juan and maybe fish by your self all day!!!

Dam - Thole

• Larva Red, Orange 20-24
• Scud gray or olive gray 22
• Worm Nat brown
• WD40 Gray (good scud pattern if it has a fat head)
• midge pupa black, olive, gray, olivebrown
• Midge emergers gray olive black with KF or zlon wing
• Midge black
• Tmidge gray

Thole-gravel pit

• Choc emg. 22
• rs2 22
• wd40 brown 20
• brassie 20
• larva orange and red 22
• crane fly larva 18
• scud olive or gray 22
• PT 22 beadhead PT (Blue bead)

Bait water

• bead head brassie 18
• red larva 20-16
• beadhead PT 20-22
• copper John blue or brassie 20-22
• eggs peach roe
• Worms Red nat brown.

Have a Great spring and hope to see you all on the river soon! Hope we'll have a chance to meet more of you now that we have the shop! Thanks for all of you who have already stopped by to say hi!!! Tight Lines Chris

January 15 - February 2

Fishing has been overall good but the very cold weather (10 deg at 8am ) has had things a little off and really moved the fish onto slower deep water. But the weather looks like it is going to warm up a bunch 45-50 all next week so the bugs should get back into the swing of things!

The lake turn over looks to be done, I have seen the river clear up almost over night. I think all the winter cold or cool weather we had this year really helped. The river looks great back to about 5-6' vis (and that is GREAT for this time of year) I hope the warm weather does not turn the lake a 2nd time......

The dam to thole has been fishing good all week, midges and maybe a worm or egg. You have to remember that EVERY shop on the river and even my reports the last few weeks have talked about bright bugs well I think the fish are onto our game and back to real bugs. I have done better this week on midge pupa 20-22 then any other flies. Still getting some on red hots and red larva but 90% of my fish the last 5 days were on real bugs. Now that the water is clearing up the fish will go back to eating all the normal nymphs that are they see every day just see them better now. Try some new water I see SO many people stacked into cable hole espn and right below the dam. Try and find a new spot now that the river is clearing its EASY to see the little holes you may have missed 100 times. Any small hole on the river is going to have a light green color to it, just remember where that little drop is and if there is no fish today there might be all summer!??

Want to also talk about weight a little, so many people change flies many times before ever changing weight. On this river weight and where you are fishing play as much a role or more then what you fishing with. True sometimes one fly or the other is THE bug but where you are fishing in the run plays a bigger role then many people think. After all if a fish is in a 4' hole holding off the bottom at 2-3' why fish a bb shot at 9' ????

Thole to lower flats has been fishing good from the boat but the water the fish are in is tough to fish. Lower flats has been ok baetis bend has been fishing well the last 2 days and death row has been fishing great DEEP from the boat.

Overall things are really looking up for our Feb and Mar fishing!! Should be a great spring for dry action as the water looks so good already. The big spring hatchs are on the way we'll see you all on the water or at the lodge!!!

Hot flies:

• Red larva 20
• Black pupa gray head 20-22
• gray pupa 22
• olive brown pupa 22
• PT 22
• WD40 gray
• Emergers in to many colors to list!
• olive pupa
• Scud (near the dam)
• black midge emerger with gray zlon wing case 22-24
• Adams 26
• black midge 26-28

Hope we'll see you soon! Chris

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