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

San Juan River Fly Fishing | New Mexico Fly Fishing

Navajo Dam, NM

79°F Sunny Hour-by-hour | 10-day

Reported by Chris Taylor, Fisheads of the San Juan

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

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: 5X Tippet Pound Test

Best fly fishing rod: 10′ 5 Weight Fly Rod

Best floating fly line: Trout WF

Real-time water flow data from USGS:

Visibility: 48 inches

Water temperature at mid-day: 42 Degrees F

Water condition: Clear

Best time of day to fish: 11:00am to 5:00pm, Blue winged Olives!!!

Best stretch: Texas hole to baetis bend

Best access point: Baetis bend parking lot.

Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:

The best fishing in the morning will be with a small egg pattern to a red larvae. You can find fish eating midges as well, dark colors have been best. Size 22 and 24 black, brown, dark grey and olive.
THE BLUE WINGED OLIVES ARE BACK!!!! from 11:00am to about 5:00pm. Grey, olive and chocolate have all been catching fish in the fast water! Fish are looking for them on the surface from lunch to about 4:00pm.
Streamer fishing has been good at night or first thing in the morning!
Egg patterns are going to be good attractors for the rest of the year.

“Must-have” fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

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: 5X Tippet Size

Best fly fishing rod: 10′ 5 Weight Fly Rod

Best floating fly line: Trout WF

Real-time water flow data from USGS:

Fly Fishing Reports & Conditions | New Mexico | San Juan River

San Juan River, New Mexico Fly Fishing Report & Conditions

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Reported by Chris Taylor, Fisheads of the San Juan Fishing Report Last Updated: 10 / 06 / 09 Fishing Conditions Water flow: 746cfs which is an excellent flow for the fall!! 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: The whole river is fishing well. Lots of fish are still midging all day in the slower water. Fish are also looking for baetis in the faster water up and down the river. 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! You will find brown trout are getting aggressive before the spawn and are more than willing to eat a streamer! with the increase in water flow 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. Brown and gold variant have been best for me. “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. Try stripping streamers in moving deep water. You will find that there are aggressive brown trout staging there before the spawn Fish are eating 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! The increase in water flow this week has broken lots of moss loose and fish are eating it. 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. I usually fish a large red or orange larvae (# 18) below the leech to get the fish that are just looking at the moss. 7-Day Fly Fishing Forecast The mornings are cold and crisp, the cottonwood trees are turning a bright gold and fishing is awesome! Fall is one of the best times of the year to catch big fish moving around. Things are busy here on the Juan but there is always someplace to find your own fish and space. We have a long fall this far south, it doesn’t get really cold until the end of November or the beginning of December. I hope you all get to the river and enjoy this time of year as much as I do. Good luck to all the Fisheads out there, Chris

Fishing Conditions

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:

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:

Hatches;

Midges in the morning from sun up to about 10:00am. Fish above Texas hole with grey and olive midges size 24 and 26. I have had some good luck on cream this week as well.
Blue winged olives from noon to about 5:00pm.
PMD’s from 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Midges in the late day from 6:00pm to dark.
Streamer fishing has been good at night or first thing in the morning!

The morning fishing is getting much better!  The midges are really getting going up and down the river.  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.

There is still a good baetis hatch from lunch to about 4:00 or 5:00.  It is coming off from the bottom of upper flats all the way down river. 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.

This is the best hatch of PMD’s I have seen in over 6 years! From 3 island run to frustration point.  Look for them between 2:00 and 6:00 in the afternoon.  Fish are eating them on top and under the surface.  Fish a size 18 greenish or yellowish comparadun on top and a size 18 or 20 phesant tail under the surface. There are many quality fish looking for these bugs!

ITS HOT!!! The temperatures are between 90 and 95 so stay cool and drink lots of water.

There have been thunder showers almost every afternoon. Have a rain jacket and get off the water if you see lightning, it is the biggest killer on the San Juan.

Don’t forget your bug spray, the mosquitoes and deer flies are awful. Orvis buzz off clothing works great!

If you are fishing quality water, start early and wade the upper flats. The fish are stacked up in the riffles and eating midges. Fish size 22 to 26 olive and grey midges in the shallows to the fish you can see. I have been using light weights, size 8 and 9, with a pinch on indicator about two feet above the weight. 6X fluorocarbon is a must! Work your way down to the riffles between baetis bend and Texas hole for the BWO hatch after lunch. Grey and olive have been my best colors, the mayflies are small, fish size 22 or 24 nymphs. With the water up to 1000cfs you will need more weight to get to these fish, start with a number 4 weight and increase until you get in front of the fish. You can play with the depth to your indicator, 3 to 4 feet seems to work best. The water is very clear so use your summer techniques with light weights, sizes 4,6 and 8, and fluorocarbon tippets, 5x and 6x. You should be moving your strike indicator up and down your line as you move to different depth waters, keeping your flies at the same level as your fish. If you like to throw dry flies, fish the lower river from noon till dark. Have plenty of caddis and PMD’s, watch the banks and under the overhanging trees!

ITS HOT!!! The temperatures are between 90 and 95 so stay cool and drink lots of water. I saw a PMD in 3 island run yesterday. They are moving up river, we will start catching fish on them this week so make sure you have some on you. There have been thunder showers almost every afternoon. Have a rain jacket and get off the water if you see lightning, it is the biggest killer on the San Juan. Don’t forget your bug spray, the mosquitoes and deer flies are awful. Orvis buzz off stuff works great!

Good luck to all the Fisheads out there, Chris

San Juan River Guides

From sun up to noon there is a marginal midge hatch. For the next three to four hours we are seeing lots of baetis or blue winged olives, then midges again until dark.  There are caddis coming off on the lower river in the float only section, this is best in the last 4 hours of the day.  I am also starting to see some PMD’s on the lower river in the afternoon but it won’t really take off for another week.

Many of the fish are moving into the faster water looking for mayfly nymphs.  Try fishing these areas early with midges and then move to baetis nymphs around 11:00am.  When you change over, start with just changing the upper midge to a mayfly and leaving the lower a midge. You may still pick up a few fish on the midge, when you start catching fish on the baetis change the lower fly to a slightly different mayfly.  This will help you maximize the fish you catch during the hatch change.

Morning fishing has been marginal at best.  The midge hatch has slowed way down in the morning and fish know the mayflies will be coming.  Most of the fish seem to be waiting for the afternoon to get their days worth of food.   Sleep in and get fishing around 9 or 10 and fish until dark, this is the most productive time of the day.

One of the hidden jewels of the San Juan is the lower river float and this is the best time of year to fish it.  There is great dry fly and streamer fishing to be had.  You need a boat and do not drop anchor or get out wading as the land owners own the bottom of the river.  This is a great stretch to fish with a guide, at least the first time.

Fishing has not been as good above Texas hole as it has been down river although you can still do well is some places if you know where the fish are holding. Olive and cream midges have been working well for me where the fish are midging but most fish are looking for baetis, even early.

Good luck, Chris

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