| Reported by Chris Taylor, Fisheads of the San Juan | Fishing Report Last Updated:
09 / 28 / 09
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Fishing Conditions |
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Water flow: 493cfs which is normal flow for this time of year.
Visibility: 48 inches
Water temperature at mid-day: 42 Degrees F
Water condition: Clear
Best time of day to fish: ALL DAY LONG!
Best stretch: Most of the shallow slow waters are holding fish looking for midges. Upper flats is excellent!
Best access point: Texas Hole
Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:
Fish are eating midges great all day long!!! Fish above Texas hole with dark grey, cream and olive midges size 24 and 26. Have lots of variations on your midges as fish will get wise to your patterns. Midges, midges, midges!!!
THE BLUE WINGED OLIVES ARE BACK!!!! from noon to about 5:00pm. Grey, olive and chocolate have all been catching fish!
Streamer fishing has been good at night or first thing in the morning!
The fish are eating moss trying to get the bugs living in their. Try different color dark bunny leeches as an attractor, you will get some fish to eat it.
Have I mentioned Midges?
“Must-have” fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:
| Fly Name: | Fly Color: | Fly Size(s): |
| Midge Selection | Grey, olive, cream, | 22, 24, 26 |
| Midge | cream, brown | 22 to 26 |
| M And M Midge Pupa | Grey, olive, cream | 22 to 26 |
| Wd-40 | Grey or olive | 20 to 24 |
| Red Hot Nymph | Red? | 20 to 24 |
| Cdc Mayfly Emerger | grey, olive or brown | 22 and 24 |
| Bunny leeches | brown, green, natura | 4, 6 |
| Midges all day! | Grey, olive and crea | 22,24,26 |
| cartoon hopper | Yellow, olive, cream | 6 and 8 |
| Streamers | brown, olive, black | 4, 6 |
Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby: Fisheads of the San Juan
Fish species: Rainbow and Brown trout
Fishing season: Year Round (Prime: March – November)
Nearest airport: Albuquerque, NM (2.5 hr) or Durango, La Plata Airport, CO (40 min) or Farmington, NM (40 min)
Recommended fly fishing leader: 9 Foot Leader
Recommended fly fishing tippet: 6X Tippet Size
Best fly fishing rod: 10′ 5 Weight Fly Rod
Best floating fly line: Trout WF
Real-time water flow data from USGS:
| The best fishing right now will be with midges, have lots of different patterns and colors. You will catch fish on both larvae and pupa size 22 to 26. You will find lots of fish in shallow water, use a small indicator a foot or two above a #8 or #9 weight. I find this kind of sight nymphing as much fun as dry fly fishing. Get to a good riffle or tail out after lunch and look for fish eating baetis. The mayflies are small in the fall, I have been using size 22 and 24 grey, olive and chocolate nymphs. There are thousands of small rainbow trout in the river that were recently stocked. Try stripping streamers at night in the upper flats or Texas hole. Big fish are eating the stockers, a much bigger meal than a size 26 midge. Fish are starting to eat moss, looking for the insects hiding inside. Try different color bunny leaches (olive, brown, natural) as your top fly. Twitch them once in a while. They have been working well early in the morning! |
Best Fly Fishing Techniques & Tips |
| The fish are eating well in the morning from sun up to about 11:00am on the midge hatch. They will get tricky to catch as the sun gets higher in the sky, they can see our line and hooks better. The fish are concentrating in shallow water over weed beds where the bugs are hatching. The trick is to find the correct color midge. Some days it has been olive and the next cream the only thing consistent is the size, 24 and 26. I know and I’m sorry but it is what it is, use 6X fluorocarbon as well. This hatch is going on all day but has been most productive from sun up to about 11:00am and then in the evening when the sun gets off the water. The BWO hatch is getting stronger every day! Baetis live in fast water so look for them in the riffles at the top of holes and at the bottom of holes in the tail out. Fish are eating grey, olive and brown nymphs in these places, again it just depends on the day so have them all. You may have the chance to see fish on top during this time as well. A parachute adams or comparadun should do the job. After a month of eating mostly midges the fish will start eating these mayflies with reckless abandon, don’t miss out! I have mentioned that fish are eating moss. I know this sounds strange but our fish will tear at chunks of moss to get food hiding inside. Fishing bunny leeches on a dead drift will get some fish interested. Give it a try. |
7-Day Fly Fishing Forecast |
| We had an Orvis group in this weekend from Scottsdale AZ. There were 16 people in the group and I think everyone landed at least one fish over 20 inches long. The big fish of the trip was caught by a 12 year old young man. He landed a 23 & a 1/2 inch rainbow on his first day, I don’t think the smile has come off yet. Unfortunately dad fell in the river the second day and got the camera wet, hopefully the card was OK! I love fishing the fall, great weather and big aggressive fish before the spawn! Its awesome. The best invention ever is TIVO! I can finally watch my patriots play football! Fishing guides work on Sunday you know. Good luck to all the Fisheads out there, Chris |
Fish are starting to eat moss, looking for the insects hiding inside. Try different color bunny leaches (olive, brown, natural) as your top fly. Twitch them once in a while. They have been working well early in the morning!