SAN JUAN RIVER FISHING REPORTS ARCHIVE - 2006

December 1-19, 2006

Fish Rating: 4 = great
River Flow: 500cfs
Water Clarity: clear

FishingReport

FishingReport WOW where did the time go, all my friends with kids told me that once you have one time just zips bye. Yesterday I was looking on my camera and was looking at a photo of my son that looked like it was a year old, but was less then 2 months amazing how fast they change and grow!!! About the same for reports, I was in the office today packing for a personal elk hunt in the Gila area of NM in unit 16-A and I looked at mikes sights and holy cow, Aug 15th was my last report….. Sorry about that guys I have some great stuff to report, so on with the good stuff!!!!!!!!

Man how fast things change as far as the fishing, this last 6 days the fish have gone nuts and so have the beatis, we were all hoping that the cloudy weather was going to hold into fall (it did) and that it would get the fall hatches going strong (it did)! Beatis but nymphs and dries have been key this last week. Seems that the cool weather and all the clouds got the bugs and the fish in the mood for a party! Guides and clients alike have been raving about the fishing in the last week. Look for great sight fishing since the river is GIN clear and keep an eye on the faster water runs as the fish start to key on the beatis and move into the fast runs to look for them. Dry action has been hot most of the week, with high vis 22 24 adams key for action. But the guides have also seen a jump in the number of fish willing to grab an ant or hopper so maybe they have forgotten about all the flies with hooks that they ate in July! For nymphs don’t forget the midges, but PT-WD-40-and all the foam wings have been working great this week. Keep an eye on the water about 11 for the little sailboat looking flies and hang on (I hope).

Near the dam fishing has also been awesome but more midges, there has not been as much beatis action in this water in a number of years, but the bugs are around and the fish key on them. Black has been the key midge in the C&R for sure and 26-24 was my patterns the other day. We had another guide in the area on the dreaded 3 person wade, but they rocked fish until 3 in cable hole had a late lunch and all called it a day, after such a positive morning and early afternoon of fishing how can you top it!

Bait water has also been fishing great, now that Labor Day is over and the number of people fishing on the banks in this area has dropped, its one of my favorite areas to fish in the fall for big browns and bows that are happy to just about jump in the boat some days!

Have a wonderful fall and GET FISHING!

November 1-15, 2006

Fish Rating: 3 = good
River Flow: 500cfs
Water Clarity: clear

Fishing Report

Well fall is here and gone it seems, the trees were awesome this year, I love that bright yellow and crisp blue sky we have here in the fall.

River is still gin clear but I am going to guess that in the next few weeks or by mid December we should start to see a little change in color as the lake turns over. Good time of year to start spinning up the red and orange lavas as well as all the worm patterns that work so well for that few magical weeks in early December every year. For baetis PT and foam wings have been working very well, but the olive loop wing has been the main fly guides have been grabbing in the shop the last week. Seems like 20-22 have been both working about as well as anything, but 24PT has also been a hit fly! Look for the great fall weather to hold until about mid December then we'll start to cool down but the fishing will be great well into Christmas time! Hope you all had a great season on the river and that we'll be seeing you again soon

September 1-15, 2006

Fish Rating: 4 = great
River Flow: 570cfs
Water Clarity: clear

Fishing Report

WOW where did the time go, all my friends with kids told me that once you have one time just zips bye. Yesterday I was looking on my camera and was looking at a photo of my son that looked like it was a year old, but was less then 2 months amazing how fast they change and grow!!! About the same for reports, I was in the office today packing for a personal elk hunt in the Gila area of NM in unit 16-A and I looked at Mike's site and holy cow, Aug 15th was my last report….. Sorry about that guys I have some great stuff to report, so on with the good stuff!!!!!!!!

Man how fast things change as far as the fishing, this last 6 days the fish have gone nuts and so have the baetis, we were all hoping that the cloudy weather was going to hold into fall (it did) and that it would get the fall hatches going strong (it did)! Baetis but nymphs and dries have been key this last week. Seems that the cool weather and all the clouds got the bugs and the fish in the mood for a party! Guides and clients alike have been raving about the fishing in the last week. Look for great sight fishing since the river is GIN clear and keep an eye on the faster water runs as the fish start to key on the baetis and move into the fast runs to look for them. Dry action has been hot most of the week, with high vis 22 24 adams key for action. But the guides have also seen a jump in the number of fish willing to grab an ant or hopper so maybe they have forgotten about all the flies with hooks that they ate in July! For nymphs don’t forget the midges, but PT-WD-40-and all the foam wings have been working great this week. Keep an eye on the water about 11 for the little sailboat looking flies and hang on (I hope).

Near the dam fishing has also been awesome but more midges, there has not been as much baetis action in this water in a number of years, but the bugs are around and the fish key on them. Black has been the key midge in the C&R for sure and 26-24 was my patterns the other day. We had another guide in the area on the dreaded 3 person wade, but they rocked fish until 3 in cable hole had a late lunch and all called it a day, after such a positive morning and early afternoon of fishing how can you top it!

Bait water has also been fishing great, now that Labor Day is over and the number of people fishing on the banks in this area has dropped, its one of my favorite areas to fish in the fall for big browns and bows that are happy to just about jump in the boat some days!

Have a wonderful fall and GET FISHING!

August 1-15, 2006

Fish Rating: 4 = great
River Flow: 570cfs
Water Clarity: clear

Fishing Report

Well it’s been a wonderful summer here on the San Juan and the weather has been just great this year. We have been worried about all our friends and clients in southern NM thank God we have not had the kind of rain that they have. We have been getting showers about every night and clouds in the afternoon about 4-5pm but nothing much in the way of helpful (for fishing) cloud cover in during the day to kick in the beatis. There has been almost no people on the river this month has been great, I have been able to get on the river about anyplace that I want to fish and have not seen many other people other then in the normal areas that we never guide like kiddy pool and wade fishing T-hole. Fishing has been wonderful the whole month, wade fishing has been good but the floats have really been where the best fishing has been in the afternoons. I have been wade fishing every morning and floating in the afternoons when I have the time to be on the water. Bait water is still fishing great and the browns are really on the move in this section. They will not spawn until around Thanksgiving but seems like more browns are in the area this last two weeks.

Fishing near the dam has been great w/o all the people, not sure what happen this year August is normally a busy month for the river but seems like maybe the weather in S NM has people scared to come? Been having some great dry fly action near the dam with #26-28 adams as well as hoppers now and then and you can still find fish willing to eat ants now and then… Nymph fishing has been easy money near the dam with fish on UFO’s as well as olive pupa and black mono midges almost all day. Look for the dry fly action on cloudy days as well as from about 8:30-10 most days in the slower pools near cable hole. Fish are tough on top but far more rewarding! From the T-hole down the fishing has been great from the boat as well as stopping and wade fishing now and then in the fast flats. Look for a little more Beatis action here as well as bigger midges. The big mac and mono midge in gray have been my #1 flies here but the PT and RS2 are starting to really heat up as the beatis start to move around a little more. There are still a ok number of PMD’s on the river and the red PT has been my magic for this fly! Bait water, big PT prince nymphs and some egg patterns have been about all you need.

Have a great trip to the river and be ready for all the great fishing that fall has to offer!

July 20-30, 2006

Fish Rating: 4 = great
River Flow: 700-800cfs
Water Clarity: clear

Fishing Report

Well looks tike the rains are here to stay, been a great summer for rain almost every night about 5-6 we are getting a nice rain or a good shower! Been great for cooling off the day, temps are still holding about 60 in the AM and 85-95 by 12-1pm. The fishing has been improving all week, there has been a steady increase in the number of midges and the size of them as well. Was out 2-3 days ago and the fishing was great almost everyplace we tried. Bigger midges, more like 20-22 and olive was the key! Guides all thought that the fish were changing over to a black midge the last few days, but you just need to have a good collection of colors and sizes and you will be fine. The storms have been getting in a little late in the day to kick off the beatis, but the PMD’s have been kicking in well the last 4-5 days, but that hatch is still just in small areas on the lower Q waters. If the weather keeps up the lake is going to be in great shape heading into winter should be good for us allowing strong flows all winter and spring!

Up near the dam, midges and some worm patterns have been key, just have not been able to get fish in the mood for any beatis or really anything but midges here all summer. The dry fly action with ants and beetles has been great in this area, if you are willing to hunt fish and give up the numbers that you can have with nymphs. Olive larva as well as UFO have been my key flies here, emergers have been working well after about 10, brown and gray were the colors but I am going to have to guess that the bigger olive midge is also here as well, I just have not been fishing that pattern here yet. Did have a fun afternoon in this area last week, fish went nuts about 3-5 for black midges and were more then willing to also rise to midges and ants.

Thole down has been fishing great from the boat, wade fishing in this area has slowed down a bit, but I am sure that just one cloudy day and a bunch of beatis and it will turn right back on! From the boat beatis and some PMD nymphs (#18 PT-RED) have al been working well but the guides are all reporting good luck with midges in the AM as well as some scud patterns.

Bait water has been fishing great, strong PMD and beatis hatch late in the day as well as big midge hatches. Check out some new water and see what the rest of the river has to offer, its almost always worth a shot in the afternoons. Great place to fish almost no other anglers weekdays and plenty of willing 9-13” fish as well as some big bows and browns mixed in!

Hope you all had a safe and fun summer and got to bend a rod now and then! Keep in mind all the great fishing that this river offers from now until about Dec 15th and maybe try a new season this year! August is a great time to hit the water one of the slowest months (as for the number of people) with great fishing and some of the best top water action of the year!

Hot Flies

See above.

July 1-12, 2006

Fish Rating: 3 = good
River Flow: 700-800cfs
Water Clarity: clear

Fishing Report

Well the ants fell early this year for the first time is 5 years, good thing to because it was dry up here! We have had a great early rain season and things are looking good for the summer. Had a few rain days that blew out the river but as of now kiddy pool has not had a blow out. River looks great still very clear other then a little silt on the way lower quality waters. Ant fishing was red hot for most of the week after the rain and yesterday (7-11) still founds LOTS of fish willing to rise. Going to take a few patterns to find one that they have not been fooled by to many times but once you do, look out for some great dry fly action!

Fishing for most of the river has been good with big ant patterns as well as nymph fishing. I am not sure that the ants fell on the upper part of the Q waters yet, never did hear any reports of tons of ants. Lower river (below Thole) had a huge number of ants in the lower flats area as well as all the way to Thole. The river has been gin clear since the flows dropped and with the rain the weather has been great. Be sure to pack the bug spray you’ll be really happy you did there has been no shortage of mosquitoes this year as well as a few deer flies. But remember that once you are on the water and away from the banks the bugs are not that bad!

Well, what about the fishing right: Well the flows are staying about 7-800 and gin clear I think that with the high flows the river has been a little cooler then maybe a normal year and the midges and beatis seem to be a little picky about the days that they want to hatch. Nymph fishing with midges has been good most of the AM and the beatis action in the afternoons has been great on about any day with clouds before noon. Over all fishing has been good, but the mornings have been a little tough, last few floats that I did had me in great fishing by 10-11 but not a lot of action before that. Look for fish that are feeding in faster water on the drops for the best action as well as long rig nymph fishing deep slow pools. There has been a nice hatch of PMD’s from lower flats down this hatch should get a little stronger as the next few weeks go by before ending. Be sure to remember to move around a lot and try to sight fish to active fish when you can.

Over all I think the fishing has been good, with a little room for improvement, but on the right days fishing has been stellar! Look for the fishing to heat up as we move into July and remember all the good dry fly action right now and take a little time to try something new on the Juan A BIG DRY!!!!!

Happy fishing and I look forward to seeing you all on the water soon!

Hot Flies

See above.

June 10-19, 2006

Fish Rating: 4 = great
River Flow: 500cfs
Water Clarity: clear

Fishing Report

High water was great this year once the flows leveled out and even some on the bump days, but lots of sticks-logs-sand-gravel to move around! Over all had some great fishing once the flows hit 5000 even had some of the best days I have had in years on wade trips once the flows were at 5000 and again on the way back down on the “magic” days that happen every year. Dry fly fishing was the way to go for the most part on the drop days and even after for a day or two. Fishing now that we are back to 500 for the summer (but likely to see 700-900 as the Animas drops) has been great. I have bee on wades almost every day and the river really is GIN clear. You can see and fish to trout in 6-8’ of water, it’s been a blast! Look for the easy dry fishing to slow down every day now that flows are level but they will be looking up for both ants (soon) and midges and baetis almost every day. Might even see a few PMD’s in the next few weeks. Look for the fish to really turn onto scud UFO and other larva patters as we move into summer and midges every day just remember to pack a bunch of colors so that you have the color of the day! In the last 2 days guides went from black to gray over night as far as what the fish were looking for. Summer fishing should be red hot here now that flow changes are over, keep your eye on the weather for that first big summer rain and the best day of the year the ant fall! baetis hatches have been strong since the drop fish have been into brown a little more then gray or olive but you just never know. Lower river is fishing well, lots of dry action both caddis and son, PMD’s. I’ll try and do a little better report once the flows are normal for about a week and things get normal. Remember to pack the bug spray for about 3 weeks!

Hot Flies

See above.

May 1-20, 2006

Fish Rating: 4 = great
River Flow: 350cfs
Water Clarity: clear

FishingReport

Hi all hope all this great spring weather is being enjoyed across the country!!! Was hot all week 80’s as well as HOT fishing. Seem like every year the fishing really gets redhot just before the flow change! We are all looking forward to a little break as well as giving the river a chance to clean out as well as the fish a few days off from all of us!

Dam to thole has been rocking all month so far, seems like the last 5 days you could just about pick a area and get fish. Midges have been king below the dam to thole but off and on strong beatis hatches have been keeping the afternoons fun with lots of hungry fish (and willing fish) active almost all day. Float fishing and wade fishing has been god all the way to the take out. Midges as well, seems like gray as been the bug of choice all over the river this last week. Bait water has been fishing well also but slowed down a bit this last few days, I think that the fish are looking for the big caddis hatches to start working up river. Over all from the dam down been seeing a bunch of smiling faces and very happy clients!

Be sure to get out the junk box for fishing the high flows, worms, eggs, big nymphs and remember to pack the OJ’s and such……. Everyone be safe for the high flows this year, fishing is normally very good after the first bump and all the way until flows drop to normal.

Safe travels and good fishing see you all on the river soon!

PS: don’t forget some of the best fishing of the year, the two weeks after the flows drop!!!!!!!

HotFlies

See above.

April 15-30, 2006

Fish Rating: 4 = great
River Flow: 350cfs
Water Clarity: clear

FishingReport

Fishing on the river has been some of the best all year this last two weeks, the beatis are a little off but on the right cloudy days they have been pouring off the river. Seems like the hatch has been a little late this last week, more like 3-5 in stead of 12-3 but the midge fishing has ore then made up for it. Small gray (26) midges and olive pupa in 22 have been a great call in the AM, Fishing has been best in the frog water most of the morning but once the stronger hatches start fish have stacked up in the fast runs. Deep pool areas with slow water are holding a ton of fish and I’m going to guess they are going to stay in this pattern for a few more weeks or until we get high water on the 24th and the fish start to move around. Been also having a little luck on a cream egg in the AM, only junk bite I have been able to find! Streamer fishing has also been great this last few days fish seem to be in the mood to chase stuff and big olive or brown was the color the other day. Upper river near the dam has been fishing well, again gray midges or really small black, was in that area on a wade this week and had a wonderful day with about anything that looked like a midge! T-hole down is fishing well from the boat, just need to stick to the slow water, not much fun to fish on foot but great in a boat. Look for this to heat up as beatis get stronger and maybe a few bigger midges just before high water.

Bait water has been fishing great, was out back yesterday with my son and got a mess of browns and bows in just about an hour. Eggs patterns and prince nymphs are the key here! Now we were fishing a z-ray (a spoon) but at 2 he has not really gotten his casting down more into throwing rocks in the water and mud at dad….

Animas is likely blown out for a month now, we’ll keep you posted as to when run off is over.

Have a great visit to the river and look forward to see you all soon!

HotFlies

See above.

April 1-10, 2006

Fish Rating: 4 = great
River Flow: 350cfs
Water Clarity: clear

FishingReport

Over all the river has been fishing extremely well from the dam all the way to the lodge. The Upper river has been experiencing strong midge hatches and some beatis action and great dry fly action on all the cloudy days and with all the strong hatches the fish have been looking up on sunny days as well. Black ad olive midges have been the best flies up river, red larva seem to be working now and then in deep pools, but in the shallows I think fish have gotten wise to our little game and have shut down on the red patterns. Yellow discos worked great the other day for me, they are always a good spring and fall bug. Love this fly in about a 20 with a black head. UFO’s have also been a good fly in the frog water as well as buggers early in the am. Look for stronger beatis hatches as we get more into spring mode and look for the fish to start moving around in the river as they always do in the spring as the strong hatches let them hang in faster water and still find tons of food.

Thole down from the boat as been king, look for strong hatches and fish looking for beatis almost all day. Was on the water a few days ago was a great sunny day and the beatis still poured off the water in some areas. Dry action was a little tough but fish were more then willing to jump on foam wings and rs2 old schools! We have been having some great luck on #20-#18 beatis patterns as well as all the normal 22’s but the spring bugs on the river can be a little bigger then normal. Midge hatches have been strong also all month and the fish have been eating grey midges for me from the boat all the way to the take out. Look for the fishing to just get better and better in this section as we move into spring and get more warm weather! Yesterday was almost 70 here at the lodge so look out in the next few days as we have cloudy weather in the forecast.

Bait water has been fishing great this last 5 days, egg patterns and big PT’s with beadheads have been rocking fish. Not many large fish but great numbers and some big browns now and then!

The river is gin clear now you can see the bottom almost everyplace, should be great sight fishing! Weather is close to perfect spring weather where you never know whats going to happen, 4 days ago snow and cold and yesterday 70……… Conditions are perfect for a quick spring getaway!

Animas is fishing well, but spring run off on warm days has been killing the fishing early in the day but AM’s have been great!

Lower SJR has been fishing very well but flows are still a little low for the boats but should be a great year on the lower again right after high flows in June.

Flows for the summer: At this point the BOR still plans on letting water out about May 24th they are going to ramp up to 5000cfs over 7 days then 7 days at 5000 then back to 350-500 for the summer. They have said that all the new snow is not going to changes plans at this point. If we get much more snow over then next few week or lots of rain they might change things, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

See you all on the river soon, happy fishing! Chris

March 1-15, 2006

Fish Rating: 3 = good
River Flow: 350cfs
Water Clarity: clearing nicely

Fishing Report

Well, we all thought that spring was here for good and then 5’ of snow falls to the north of us!! Was great to see, but not much fun to drive in on my way back from Denver last week! The fishing has really been getting hot this last two weeks, baetis are awake and ready to get going! Had a huge blanket hatch last week just before the winter storms. Was on the water yesterday, sight fishing in the AM was great the river looks really clear now and all nice size quality fish. Had lunch and a few hours to float in the afternoon and had a great short baetis hatch allowing a few hours of knock them dead fishing from the boat and all the wader guys around us we also getting tons of fish. Float fishing has really turned on big time this last 2 weeks and should just get better as we move into later march and April.

From the dam to t-hole sight fishing is really getting good as well as some of the deep fast water pools now that we have some strong bug hatches. Midges are king on the upper river but I have also done well this last week with some small #24 pt’s and 24 WD-40’s in gray. Small bead head foam wings have also been getting a good look from fish on cloudy days. Midges in black and gray have been best, but olive and good old red larva are also taking great numbers of fish. A surprise yesterday was the good old Johnny flash and red brassie both in #24.

Thole down has been fishing great from the boat and starting to fish better on foot as well. With the big baetis hatch day rocking on this section and great dry action on calm cloudy days (hard to find!!). Over all midges in the AM and then baetis from about 10:30 on have been about all you need.

Bait water has been fishing great as well, little more junk will fish here now, eggs and worms and beadhead patterns in 18-16 have been about all you need. Not as many big fish but plenty of 10-15” fish to keep a smile on your face!

Looks to be a great spring this year with high water about the 24th of May and 1-2 week of high water then back to normal. Last big snow fall will not do much for the snow pack but every bit help!

Hope to see you all on the river soon!

Hot Flies

Gray WD-40 (24), PTs (24), Red Brassie (24), Red Larva (22)

February 28, 2006

Fish Rating: 3 = good
River Flow: 350cfs
Water Clarity: off color but looking better
Weather: wonderful

Fishing Report

Well spring is almost here and all the beatis and midges are just waiting to see the cloudy days (like today 2-28) to get going! With the poor snow pack that our area got so far in the 05-06 winter season looks like spring flows are going to be only about 3 week. 1 week to 5000 1 week at 5000 then 1 week pack down. Good news for the river that we are going to have a week of high flows and great news for the fishing as short high water keep all the hatches on schedule.

On with the report! Fishing has been great on the days when you clouds roll in this winter we had very few cloudy days but the bugs and fish took advantage of them all. I should have hit the water today for a few hours! Even on the sunny days the fish have been for the most part in great moods and willing to eat most of the day. Midges are king on this river 90% of the time and for sure in the winter. Red larva have been really the hot fly this last week as they have been much of the winter. Beatis patterns are really starting to heat up, as well as brown midges and Johnny flash patterns in #24. Upper river has been fishing well in the AM larva and pupas then emergers about 10 and a little dry fly action now and then. We have been getting fish on buggers as well in this area both dead drifted and short stripped. From the t-hole down fishing has been great on foot and in the drift boats, fish still holding in deeper runs and pools, but that really are ready for the first big hatches to start this spring and they will then pull out of hiding and fill up all the runs. Look out for a great spring and early summer on the river..!

HotFlies

Red larva, baetis, Johnny Flash (24)

February 1-6, 2006

Fish Rating: 3 = good
River Flow: 350cfs
Water Clarity: off color but looking better
Weather: wonderful

Fishing Report

So far this winter the fishing has stayed good for the most part. The dry fly action as been a little harder to find, but on the right days fish have been willing to rise. Nymph fishing has been the main way to find fish and stay on fish al day. For the most part hit the water early and fish hard until about 4 after that it seems to be slowing down a bit. In the AM nymphing with worms or eggs and midge dropper has been the key. Most of the quality waters has been fishing good but we have been spending most of our time above lower flats. below lower flats the boat fishing has been great but limited luck on foot. On the upper areas near the dam look for the fish in the tailouts as well as slower pools and in big groups. There has been almost no pressure on the river the last week, I am sure that super bowl weekend will have it's share of people but there is always room to move on a river with so many fish. Look out for all the great spring action to start heating up the baetis are just waiting for all the cloudy spring days we get here!! have a wonderful trip to the river and see you all soon.

Hot Flies

Midges and more midges 20-26 but 22 in black or gray working best buggers and other big junk has it's place as well. Worms and eggs, not one color but all colors, they seem to be getting smart to this rig! Don't forget red larva and OJ's as well as scuds!

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