New Mexico Fly Fishing | San Juan River Fly Fishing
Much has happened since the last Fisheads Newsletter! We had a great fishing season right into late fall, and then started up again in February. It’s always good to see our old friends along with the new Fisheads anglers! We have had a very good spring with great fishing and lots of wind ….UGH! The fishing has been great, but the wind has been incredible! Thankfully it is starting to cut back now, as our arms can’t take too much more of it.
Now for the Fisheads news! We have recently purchased the Rizuto location and have renamed it “Fisheads San Juan River Lodge.” Our plans for the 
lodge are already in progress with lots of long hours being put in refurbishing the place. New flat screen TV’s are being installed in all of the rooms as soon as we repaint and upgrade the rooms with some new furniture and WI-FI access. In addition, your cell phones should work much better as we are installing a signal booster so you don’t have to drive up the road to make a phone call. All of these improvements are being spearheaded by Eric Mesker who has much experience in construction and improvements of property.
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We currently have accommodations for 18 people. However, within a month, we will be adding a three-bedroom house to the accommodation facilities that will house groups of up to 8 people who want to stay together while fishing on the river.
By sometime in July we expect to have our restaurant, called “The Back Cast Cafe” up and running. Our Chef is Josh Mesker, Eric’s brother, who graduated from Johnson Wales Culinary School in Denver. At this point, we are purchasing the equipment necessary, and getting the plumbing and electrical done to be able to install it. There once was a kitchen at the lodge, but it has been defunct for many years. With Josh running the restaurant, we are confident that we will be offering the best food in the area with a varied menu that should appeal to, and please everyone. Along the same vein, we will be applying for a beer and wine license so you can enjoy your favorite beverage while staying at the lodge. Also, there will be a screened in patio where you can dine, or relax and swap stories with your favorite beverage at the end of a day of fishing on our great river.
To enhance your fishing experience, we have opened an ORVIS Endorsed Fly Shop. All of the equipment you need, from tippet and streamside gadgets to rods and reels can now be purchased at the lodge. The shop, run by Thaddeus Cano will be open from 6:00 AM to almost dark, with hours adjusted throughout the year as fishing hours change by the season. Any order you place with our fly shop, for ORVIS equipment or supplies, with a minimum of $30.00, will be shipped to you at no cost for the shipping. That’s right! Free shipping of any ORVIS products with a $50.00 minimum order. You can now get your fishing equipment from the same people you fish with. Thad assures you that the selection of flies will be second to none, with many flies not available anywhere else. We will have midge patterns in the shop tied specifically for the San Juan River. No more searching for patterns that guides have, but are not available for you to purchase. We have the patterns that work on the river.
The river is clearing up nicely from the the spring turnover of the lake, with the fish eating well on midges in the morning and baetis and midges in the afternoon. The fish are in great condition this year with even the smaller fish being strong and fat from eating well. According to the authorities, there will be no high water this year, as they lowered the lake way down this past winter to take care of the spring runoff from the mountains. Therefore, the river will be in prime condition for a great year of fishing.
We look forward to seeing you all this year, and showing you our new endeavor with the lodge. We have the same great guides you have enjoyed fishing with in the past. With the new lodge, fly shop and restaurant and the fishing being great, we continue to push ourselves to make your experience on the San Juan the best it can possibly be.
Thank you all for your continued support over the years! Because of you, Fisheads has truely become the Premier Guide Service on the San Juan River. We enjoy fishing with you all and look forward to many more adventures you will never forget.
Your guide and friend, Chris
FISHEADS/ Chris Taylor
1-505-634-0463
email; chris@fisheadsofthesanjuan.com
web site; www.fisheadsofthesanjuan.com
San Juan River, New Mexico Fly Fishing Reports & Conditions
6 / 28 / 2010
Fishing Report Last Updated:
Fishing Conditions
Water flow: 880cfs
Visibility: 60 inches
Water temperature at mid-day: 42 Degrees F
Water condition: Clear
Best time of day to fish: Consistent all day
Best stretch: Texas hole to the Dam
Best access point:
Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:
The best fishing in the morning will be with midge pupa and larvae, size 22 and 24. You can find fish eating midges of all colors, dark midges have been best. Size 22 and 24 black, brown, dark gray and olive, fish have been eating cream as well. Try fishing BWO’s from 11:00am to about 5:00pm. Dark gray and olive been the best colors in a size 22. Back to midges in the evenings. Black is the best right now! Stripping streamers has also been effective. Brown and yellow worked great today. The caddis are starting to hatch on the lower river. It will be fishing very well for the next month and a half. It is the best dry fly fishing of the year!
“Must-have” fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:
| Fly Name: |
Fly Color: |
Fly Size(s): |
| Midge Selection |
grey, olive and crea |
22 to 26 |
| Midge |
all colors |
20 to 24 |
| Rs2 |
All |
22 |
| Wd-40 |
Gray, olive, brown f |
20 to 22 |
| Bh American Pheasant Tail |
brown |
20 to 24 |
| Cdc Mayfly Emerger |
gray, olive, brown flash! |
22 and 24 |
|
|
|
| caddis |
brown and black |
16 to 20 |
| PMD’s |
dry’s and nymphs |
16 and 18 |
| stimulators |
orange, yellow, brown |
12 to 16 |
| terrestrials |
Ants and hoppers |
6 to 16 |
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)
Real-time water flow data from USGS:
The water is completely clear but they have started releasing water to compensate for the snow melt. The water will increase to 950 cfs tomorrow, fish red and orange larvae when the water changes. We are sight fishing in the shallower waters throughout the day. Fish are eating midges in all the usual places and moving to the faster runs in the afternoons looking for baetis. Right around lunch will be the peak of the midge hatch and the start of the baetis hatch. The fish will eat strongest during this time of day. I have done well with a small dark colored baetis to a black or brown midge between noon and 5:00pm. It has been best to go back to your midge patterns after 5:00. For those of you who have never fished the 10 or so miles of river below town it is time to give it a shot. It will be fishing well for the next month and a half. It is the best dry fly fishing of the year! You can only float this section and don’t anchor or get out and wade. The land owners own the bottom of the river, it is also easy to take the wrong branch of the river and get stuck in shallow water. I recommend floating this section with someone who knows it before you try it on your own.
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San Juan River Description
Located in the northwest corner of New Mexico, 40 miles South of Durango Colorado and 30 miles Northeast of Farmington New Mexico. The San Juan River is world renowned for providing some of the most rewarding trout fishing you will ever experience. The San Juan is a consistent producer of both rainbows and browns averaging 16 to 18 inches, with many reaching much larger proportions. Recent studies have suggested … 
that there are 15,000 fish per mile.
Since the completion of the Navajo Dam in the early 60’s, the river below
the dam has provided a perfect environment for the growth of trophy sized trout. Brown trout naturally reproduce in the river and the rainbow
fingerlings that are stocked yearly are essentially wild by the time they reach maturity. Catching them is an experience you will never forget! The San Juan has developed a far reaching reputation for Gold Medal trout fishing throughout the year. With comfortable temperatures all four seasons, you can be assured of enjoyable fishing whenever you come. The San Juan provides something for everyone, year round.
Clothing should be layered so you can adapt to the widely varying temperatures. An afternoon rain shower is common in the summer. Bring a rain jacket even if the sky is cloudless in the morning. Sun block (SPF 30+), sun gloves, hats, neck protection, polarized sunglasses and sun protective clothing are highly recommended.
Best Fly Fishing Techniques & Tips
Fishing 22 and 24 midges in the slower waters has been great. You can even sight fish in some places. Fish light weight ( a number 6 or smaller ) with your strike indicator 2 or 3 feet above the weight. You don’t want to be on the bottom when you are midge fishing. The BWO hatch is going great. 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 gray, 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. The may flies are green and are about size 22. Use dark colored wings as the fish are turning away from white wings. If you can’t see this try a marker fly about 12 inches above the baetis. The midges are actually bigger than the may flies right now so fish are looking for them all day. Try a brown and red colored midge or black and red midge, it is deadly! I have had great success with gray midges the last few days.
7-Day Fly Fishing Forecast
Fishing has been awesome and I see no reason for that to change. The weather looks good for the next week although I am sure the wind will continue to blow in the afternoon, its not a problem for catching fish but it makes the dry fly fishing tough as it blows the cotton wood seeds all over the water. The thunder storms have started which will get the ant fall coming soon. Fun stuff!! The lower river is fishing great! The caddis and PMD’s are hatching!!! Good luck to all the Fisheads out there, Chris
