San Juan River Fishing Reports and River Conditions from the Rainbow Lodge

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SAN JUAN RIVER FISHING REPORTS ARCHIVE - 2005

December 1-15, 2005

Fish Rating: 3 = good
River Flow: 250-500cfs
Wate rClarity: getting a little off color the last 3 days
Weather: cold but sunny

Fishing Report

Wanted to try and get you guys all a report so that all that great gear from santa will go to good use right after the holidays. Fishing was great this whole month like it almost always is, fisherman on both wades and floats with the guides were reporting great days of both nymph and dry fly fishing for a few hours every day. This last few days the winter turn has started the river is still fishing well but a little off color. Your going to want to remember that the junk bite is always great for the first few weeks after the lake turns. Over all the nymph fishing has been great as well as sight fishing but with the changing water your not going to have as much of the sight fishing. Dry fly action was red hot a few days this month and almost every day showed a few fish willing to rise in the right spots. Keep in mind that with the turn of the lake the fish will start to stack in the slower tails of pools as well as in deep slow runs. Once you find fish they are almost never alone, keep changing your rigs and bugs until you find the magic set up and go to town! THis is a wonderful time of year to fish the river with few people and willing fish! just be sure to bring the right gear and you'll be set for a wonderful visit to this great river. Stay warm and have a happy holidays!

Hot Flies

Red larva rs2 gray Choc foam wing brassie buggers egg and worm patterns in about every color be sure to fish some small midges as well, just because the river is off color does not mean the fish can't see!

November 1-13, 2005

Fish Rating: 4 = great
River Flow: 500cfs
Water Clarity: clearing fast
Weather: some rain but mostly sunny

FishingReport

Fishing over all the last two weeks has been great. Weather has played a big role in how the fishing has been, yesterday we had a big front push in and the AM fishing was slow but really got good later in the day. Midges are working well near the dam and be sure to have a few gray scud patterns in your box this is the time of year they can really work well. Red larva as well as egg patterns have all been working well also. Fish are really starting to spawn in areas of the river, look out where you walk and let them be! Your going to want to be sure to have both UFO and olive larva paterns in the upper river areas near the dam, both have been hot for me this week. Baetis are the key in the Thole on down areas be sure to change your weight and fish slow. Fish are starting to stack up in winter holding areas and slow fishing with lots of changes in flies and basic set up will help you find the big pods of fish! Look out for the river to clear out as far as people go in the next few weeks and some of the best fishing all year in Dec. is just aroud the corner!

October 1-12, 2005

Fish Rating: 5 = best of the year)
River Flow: 550cfs
Water Clarity: clear
Weather: sunny and nice as well as rain

FishingReport

I have been busy with elk and deer hunts but here is the latest report from our guides for the first two weeks in Oct. This week had us in heavy clouds and cool weather with lots of rain off and on. But it also had us in some of the biggest beatis hatches in the last few years! The dry fly fishing as well as nymph fishing was unreal for the last few days, things have slowed down a little now that the sun is back out but fish are stil dreaming of the other day and looking up! Guides have been able to fish dry in the afternoons all week. The midge fishing is still red hot near the dam and I understand that the midge clusters were the size of golf balls in some areas on the cloudy days this week! Look for more of the same to be had as this week rolls on and for the baetis hatch as well as midges to get stronger as the weeks roll on. We have been fishing lots of worms and midge combos in the am and beatis-midge combos in the afternoons. From the dam to t-hole look for the best action in the am with black midges in 24 best and olive larva as well. There has been a gray midge mixed in as well, don't forget to try a few other patterns. From thole down the fishing has been great, but the beatis in the afternoons have made the fishing almost unreal this week. Brown and gray RS2's as well as wd40's and PT have been the hot bugs! Bait water is still fishing but off color from all the rain and should start to clear up in the next week or so. Remember to look out for spawning fish this time of year, both the browns and bows should start to move up to spawn now that the weather is cooling off! Have a great trip and see you all soon!

September 15-26, 2005

Fish Rating: 4 = great
River Flow: 600cfs
Water Clarity: clear
Weather: Clear and warm

FishingReport

The fall hot fishing is heating up we have been having great nymph fishing as well as some great dry fly days. Midges are still the better of the hatches, but the strong fall beatis should be heating up as soon as things cool off. The weather has been very nice and warm all fall so far, I am really looking forward to things cooling off. The wade fishing has been the guides first choice all this last 2 weeks, the float fishing is also still very good but the wade fishing has really been hot and they have been taking advantage of it when they can. Look for fishing near the dam to be hot first thing in the AM black or olive midges as well as midge pupa in olive and cream have been working well. There has also been some fun fish working midges on top in the cable hole area, you just need to find the right water! We have been fishing the areas from thole to the cable hole most of the afternoons and beatis and midges have been the best combo for the guides. There is also some great fishing here in the AM worms and red larva until about 10 then the fish change over to real bugs. Beatis should start to heat up this next few weeks offering up some great dry fly action! Remember the red hot fishing in both Nov. and Dec the best months to fish the river w/o all the people!

HotFlies

Mono midge gray and black 22-26 beatis (most patterns but gray the better color Brassie green, black, blue some early worm action

August 15-30, 2005

Fish Rating: 3 = good
River Flow: 500-600cfs
Water Clarity: gin clear above Simon
Weather: Cloudy afternoons some late day rain

Fishing Report

Well it seems that the fish know that some of the best fishing of the year is in the fall and they are in the mood to wake up early this year. I even had a few days on the water this week, all wade trips and all dry fly action. Was out this past week with some people that I have been guiding all over the west since 1991! Was a wonderful day and we never put on a nymph. If you are willing to look the fish will rise! Most of our guide have been having the same luck, lots of great fishing and dry all day if the people are willing to hunt for fish. But the nymph fishing has been really good all this month. The midges and beatis have been the flies of choice but streamer fishing has also been good. Guides have been floating from thole to the lodge most days since the bait waters have been fishing so well, not a ton of really big fish but great fighters and willing. The wade and float fishing in the quality waters has been wonderful for the past month, really all summer. The river looks great gin clear and the sight fishing in ESPN to the dam areas has been a wonderful way to spend a day. The over all flies of choice have been pt 24 fluff beatis, WD40, olive midge larva, ufo, black KF, gray mono midge, purple stick, small green and copper brassies have also been working great. You’re going to want to remember to change your weights as well as flies the fish in this clear water will drive you nuts, you can see them feeding, but can’t get them to hit. Your also going to want to remember to look at your wader legs and see what color is on you as well as what size. I have been doing great when I really take the time to see what’s going on around me and let that guide me to the right files. We are also starting to fish a ton of #26 midges to fish that are really picky! Over all some of the best fishing of the year is just around the corner and the great weather in the fall is starting to show up. Hope to see you all on the river soon! Tight lines! Chris

August 1-14, 2005

FishRating: 3 = good
RiverFlow: 500-600cfs
WaterClarity: gin clear above Simon
Weather: Cloudy afternoons some late day rain

FishingReport

Fishing overall has been wondeful all this last week. The river blew out below simon a few days ago 12th. But the fishing has been great other then that one day! Fish have been looking up for the last weeks many of the guides have been able to fish dry all day on floats! Hoppers have been rocking fish this last week, and even on the wades I have done above thole the fish have been more then willing to grab about any hopper that is the right color. Midge hatches have still been very strong, just not as major as late July. Look for the fall beatis action to heat up and really get the top water fishing going. For nymphs look for the same black and olive midges as last few weeks only a few more fish looking for beatis as well as bigger midges when they are coming off. PMD acton was slow in the Q waters ths year, going to guess that a lot of that has to do with all the silt the last few years. Look out for the fishing to just get better as we roll into fall! Hope you all have a chance to hit the river soon! PS there was a SMALL 2nd ant fall on Friday be sure to pack a few ants as well!

July 15-30, 2005

Well the high water this spring was a dream come true! The river looks better then it has in 5 years, and is GIN CLEAR and the fish are loving it. Float fishing and wade fishing have both been great and the midge hatches have been huge!!!!! Dry fly action has been good enough to just fish dry for whole days all this week even with all the sun. Ant fall was a blast this year and some fish are still willing to get in on the action. But over all the midge has been king. Look out for olive near cable hole and hold on the fish have been red hot into the backing runs and lots of jumps. Guess they are happy to see the change as well. On the down side we are really back to the #24-26 midges, as much of the big midges that liked the silt are gone. Thole down has been hot as well, a little better on the boat fishing side, but stopping and wadding then floating has been the very best way to go. I was on a trip today wonderful fishing with a hunting clients of mine and his wife. They just moved to NM from Alaska and had the itch for a little trout action and was a fun day. We got fish on PT's and midge dropper (#24 black mono) from thole to the take out. The bait water is on fire, it's really unreal the number of fish you can catch in this area right now. Not a ton of big fish but they all add up! If you have a chance make the trip, fishing has really been wonderful all year and should just keep getting better as we move into fall.

See you all on the river soon! Chris Guikema

June 1-21, 2005

Good day well sorry about the time between reports, was waiting for the flows to be set in stone before I sent on the new report.

Because of the missing angler who was fishing near Cottonwood Campground the flows are going to be dropped faster then they had stated before. Flows will now be 500cfs for the rest of the summer (or close to it) on the 24th of June. This should have little effect on the long trem as far as fishing goes, but the fishing might be a little tough on the days of big drops. I think that starting on Saturday the fishing should be red hot! In years past some of the best fishing of the year was the first few months after high water. The beatis and midges are ready and waiting caddis and PMD’s will be right behind them!

Well the fishing you ask…… High water was great to see and the fishing was great the whole time. The quality waters were off and on for the floats, but for the most part showed a bunch of good fish each day! The real Cinderella story was the bait water all the way through high water. The fishing in the bait section was HOT for lots of 10-15” fish as well as a bunch of big browns and rainbows that were in the area. Red worms were the ticket, as well as bead head nymphs in 18-16’s they were not very picky. This would be a great time to start fishing some new water with the piles of great fighting fish in this area. Look for great fishing from the gravel pit down to the area here at the lodge, fishing has been great just up from the lodge for the last week!

Quality waters: We had a bunch of wade trips in high water that were a fun change for me and the guides. It’s like a whole new river you really had to think about where to fish and how to get there. Over all the wade fishing has been great as the flows have been dropping, float fishing has been good but the fish are a little freaked out with the changes, but we are looking for them to heat up as soon as flows level out and bug start to hatch. Look for huge beatis hatches as well as midges. In years past the best time about the high water is the fact that fish all get moved around, the braids as well as all the side channels should hold good numbers of fresh hot fish! Look for worms, midges and beatis to the hot ticket, but red larva and OJ’s should still work well for a few weeks after flows drop. Over all we see this summer as likely some of the best fishing in the last few years we’ll just have to see! I will be sure to post a report after the first week of high flows and let you all know what’s going on!

Animas-getting close to great fishing, dropping fast and looking great should heat up in the next week.

Creeks- Dropping fast and looking good, look for the action to heat up by the 4th.

Rio Grande- Just started to fish yesterday, salmon flies are ready to go any day!

Navajo Lake- Fishing well for carp now and smallmouth action getting good with poppers.

See you all on the river soon! Chris Guikema

May 10-27, 2005

Ok here is a report from the weeks of May 10-27 at 5000cffs.

Fishing has been great now that the flows have held at 5000 for a few weeks, The first few days of the change were a little slow as all the silt, stick, and so on moved down the river for the first time in 4 years. Can’t tell you all how great this flow is to see! We are all looking forward to a great summer of fishing, it’s going to be like a new river! But remember, look out for the bugs once the flows drop! Going to be a BAD year for bugs on the river once the flows drop, we are already starting to see a few. Float fishing has been the way to go but guides have also been busy showing people how to fish the river on foot and stay safe! There has been a bunch of people wade fishing with us for � day and floating the rest. Both have been great, there have been a few slow days in the mix, when they change gates or flows a little, but overall the fishing has been wonderful. Not much in the way of a hatch yet on the river, fish are all over a junk bite, worms, eggs, scuds, red larva and about all the other odd little junk patterns you can think of. But this last few days the fish have been looking for more real bugs! Baetis and midges in late part of the day! Look for the over all fishing to just get better the longer we are at this flow and then for the river to really ROCK once the flows drop! But also be ready for a bunch of people on the water once flows drop, lots of people are going to be in need of a SJ FIX! Have a great summer see you all on the water soon!

Navajo Lake- Top water getting good and carp fishing about to turn on!
Animas- Record highs
Upper Juan- Record highs
Creeks-blown out
Rio Grande (Colorado)- blown out

Chris Guikema

May 1, 2005

Good day, I am going to start trying to work on a few little reports as the flows change so people better know what's going on. The bump to 1000 did not do much to the fishing other then move them around. The first day of the push there was LOTS of junk as expected, but the fish did not really care. I had a chance to be on the water the last 2 days and had great fishing both days. We did not knock them dead but were into fish all day. Of the group best fish was a 38" carp yesterday (30th) taken below lower flats, 1 hour fight and a few laughs along the way later got some great photos. Mike (the guide) said he had a feeling after the first 20 min that it was a big carp, but they did not see it until about 45min into the fight. He took a bugger! Dam to t-hole still wade fishing well, fish have really moved since before the flow change. This next bump in the flows will the one that really sends the fish looking for slack water. I have been finding fish right in the fast water, eating all they can. The junk bite (worms, eggs, red larva) has been good since the change, but the egg has been the hot bug for me. Not really sure why they always want to eat eggs after a flow change but they really are in the mood! Wade fishing has been good in most of the river from the dam down, just need to look for soft seams and fish that kind of water. The hatches have been OK not huge but the midges have been going strong all week. Did not see many beatis yesterday (day before was a great hatch) but I floated from T-hole to the village take out below the bridge. Got a few nice browns and rainbows in that section. Float fishing has been the better way to go this last week and as the flows keep getting higher, that will stay the same. Don't miss out on a great chance to fish the river at high flows it's a whole new ball game! Chris

April 1-12, 2005

Happy spring! It has been a nice change to see all the days in the 70's the last week and then a snow day and today 70(ish) again! You have to love the western spring weather. The fishing has been great the last few days, boat fishing has been the way to go but the wade fishing was hot for me on Monday. There have been huge beatis hatches most afternoons and the midge action in the am has been hot. The whole river has not been fishing, the great action we have found is in small pockets of fish in areas of the river from the dam to gravel pit. Black mono midges and big macs have been the top flies, but some new loop wing patterns have been fishing very good as well. The area from the dam to thole has been the better areas to wade fish but there is still some good fishing below thole for wade fishing, you just need to know the river a little better. The dry fly action was great the last cloudy/non-windy day that we had. The best bugs have been a mix of #20-26 midges in black and gray. The big spring red-brown midge has also started to show up and the fish have been looking for that fly. Beatis patterns in gray early and brown late in the hatch have also been the key bugs. Loop wing olive/brown beatis patterns have also been killing them in the middle of the hatch. Float trips have been doing very well in thole and the first 1.5 miles below fish have been hanging in the deep runs and stacking up in fast water once the hatch starts. Look for the great fishing of spring to keep up, then all the good high water fishing on the river after the flows peak at 5000cfs in May. High water is one of the best times to fish the river, no people and hungry fish! See you all soon.... Chris

March 5-21, 2005

Well a little has changed since my last report. With all the great snow pack we have this year and the un-real amount of water already in Navajo Lake from this winter we have run into a little change in the way things are going. The area rivers in the early spring run high from low elevation run off. Great for the lake but this flow is for the most part very cold and off color. And to add to that the dam on the pine is running out extra water already to finish a few tests they are doing on that dam just like ours this winter. So what does that mean, well the pine was almost 2000cfs last time I checked and that's about 2-3 times normal for this time of year and the river is running very cold. That off color water is making its way to the dam across the bottom of the lake and running out into the river. What does that do to the fishing, well the off color water really has very little to do with how the fish eat. The big change about 10 days ago was a drop in the over all river temp by 3 degrees. This has got the fish in a bit of a slump. Don't get me wrong your still going to have a great trip and get into fish every day! What we as guide need to sometimes remember is that we see this river at it very best and worst. Most of the clients the last few weeks have been very happy to have fished with guides and had great days. The river is slower then this winter now, but where else are you going to catch 10-15 trout a day on a full day float in the spring?? I had a guy last week said it was the best trout fishing he had ever had, did we get a 100 fish no, but for him this river blew his mind. Don't let reports of off fishing conditions turn you off, this river is great even when it's slow!

The longer I guide the more I learn about fisherman, you don't need to catch every fish in the river to have a great day! TOO many people think fishing (on this river for sure) is all about how many you catch! Well read my reports back to 1997 and you might find 3 times I talked about how many fish I landed with clients in a day! It's just not my style, nor do I prove my self a better guide because I can hook you up on 20-30 fish a day. I am much happier to hit the water and leave with a new friend who I hope to fish with again!

The fishing: Fishing has been OK-good and great for a few anglers. Small midges and worms seem to be what the fish want. Baetis hatches have been huge but the fish are not digging the cold water and not really in the mood to get after them. Sight fishing has been good when the fish are in shallow fast water and nymph fishing long deep runs has been the money. Big flies, bright flies, well the fish have seen that for 2 weeks now and have had there full! I have been doing much better with 20-24 midges then any other flies. Mono midges in Olive and Black have been hot for me, but the OJ has really started to try and kick in here the last few days.

The lower river has started to fish better the last few days, we have had a guide on this section now and then since the flows went to 500. Look for a GREAT summer on this section of the river right after high flows!

Have a great trip to the river, fishing has been good, and should stay that way for some time! Don't forget to book that great high water float now we are booking up fast!! No people and great fishing!

Tight lines Chris

February 20 - March 3, 2005

The great fishing of the winter is still holding on! We have had a few off days now and then, for the most part just when the sun comes out. The fish have been in the mood all winter and the big fish are starting to show up now that the flows are back up to 350. (I'll do a flow report at the end of the report)

Dam to thole has been great fishing all winter and the sight fishing has been wonderful all winter. The color of the river did not get as bad this year as in years past and all the cloudy days and heavy hatches kept the fish in the mood even with some cold days. With spring here and more cloudy snow filled spring days ahead I really expect more of the same. Midges are still the rule on the upper river but baetis and scud patterns have really been playing a big roll on the river as well. Baetis patterns in dark colors seem to be working a little better then the olive or gray bugs right now, but as we get more into spring look for fish to change to the bigger gray and olive baetis. Red larva and spectra midges are both working great in the AM and more natural midges later in the day.

Thole down- Look for this area to get hot with the 350 flow and spring on the way! Lots of good dry action the last weeks on this section. Midges and baetis about 50-50 but with the large hatches of spring on the way look for the baetis to be hot all day. Buggers and streamers are also both working well. Just need to pick the right day, last week had great streamer fishing all day and the next few days they would not even look at it. red larva and red hots both fishing very well in this area. Foam wing and rs2 both the best bet right now but WD-40 and PT should start working as the bigger bugs of spring start.

Your also going to want to remember the big midges that we get in the spring. The 18 red/brown midge should start to show up here soon!

Flows: OK here is the skinny on what I know about spring flows. We are close to 160% on our snow pack and there is still two of what are normal wet months. So here is the flows chart that I know of. Last week April start to 5000cfs over 4 weeks 21 days at 5000cfs 1 week back to 500(ish) for the rest of the year.

What does that mean to me you ask.... We'll at 5000cfs you better know the river very well or have a guide that does to keep safe. At 5000cfs the float fishing is some of the best you'll ever see and best of all NO PEOPLE. I have done wade trips at 5000cfs since the flows changed to 5000cfs in the spring and never see anyone on the river. Yes your limited to small areas, but the areas are all over the river you just need to know were. The float fishing is great and we can get the boats into fun new water that you can't fish on foot at that time. We also use the boats to access areas of the river to wade at 5000 that you never see anyone. Don't let the flows worry you about your trip the only days that are going to be tough fishing are the first few big bumps in the flow!

Once I get a 100% report from the BOR I'll post it. Just remember that high water means easy fishing and lots of worm patterns!

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

January 10-20, 2005

We'll the old year went out with a bang, and the new year started with one! Great fishing so far all winter! We had lots of snow in the high country to the north and even some here. We had a great two weeks of cloudy weather and good fishing. Now the sun is out and yesterday (19th) was 55 and today is going to be even warmer! Beatis hatches are still good and the midges early and late in the day have been fun nymphing as well as dry fly action. There has been a bigger midge (18) in the afternoons the last few days I was out that are a olive brown and fish were looking for them! Before the sun came back out the dry fly fishing had been good every afternoon.

Near the dam, worms and midges are king as well as red larva and brown KF's (20-24) I also had one good day of sight fishing this area to fish working a big midge hatch. Red larva and the kf did the job very well. Worms always seem to be a good winter pattern now and then the fish seem to go nuts for them. We had a trip out last week, guide said all he fished was a single flesh worm all day and fish ate it every place he went. Eggs are also a good idea, even with the spawn over the fish are still looking for that egg in the water. But do be careful there are stil fish spawning and lots of redds all over the river.

Thole down- Float fishing has been great for me in this area. Lots of beatis and midges is always good for this section. Buggers and streamers also worked very well on a float I did last week. I always do better with buggers on cloudy days then on sunny days, same goes for leaches and streamers. PT and WD40 were the hot droppers for me on that float. But guides said that the last few days with all the sun fish are looking for midges more now. Midges are olive-brown (18) as well as black and brown KF's 20-24 and all the normal beatis patterns. Worms and eggs have been also working well in the thole area bout lots of small fish on them, I like to fish more natural patterns for the bigger fish in winter. Seems like there is no one on the river other them a few people on weekends Martin Luther King weekend is always a busy one for the river with so many people getting off on Monday. On the floats I have done there has been no or only one other boat floating down the whole section.

Over all snow pack is at 160% (but 50-60deg days is not going to help that) we should see high flows this spring! Fishing has been great all winter and the river looks great. Turnover was fast or never really happen this winter, so sight fishing has been good all winter. Look for the fishing to stay the same and even get better with all the warm nice weather we are going to have the next week!

January 10-20, 2005

See you all on the water! Chris Guikema

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