Pecos Streams
June 09, 2008
317 cfs
The creeks are in good shape for dries, and the mainstem should fish well on deep nymphs, especially if they're stoneflies. The stonefly hatch is still below peak, but the bugs are moving so fish accordingly.
Some news items regarding the Pecos. The Upper Pecos Watershed Alliance is spearheading a campaign to switch NM Game and Fish areas such as the Mora "campground" (translation: Woodstock Festival) to State Department of Parks administration. This should be a good move as it will result in real management of these areas for cleanliness and less abuse by the noncaring public.
Also, as you will read in the news page, Trout Unlimited Truchas Chapter is now a Locals Care charity, which means the organization will receive money if you choose it as your Locals Care charity. First you need to sign up for Locals Care at any participating merchant, of which we are one. If you decide to support another local charity, that's fine. But support something; I'm sure you all shop at some participating merchant (the fly shops, Pranzo, Big Joe, Santa Fe Baking Company), and the best part is that it's them that fund the charities. You get cash rewards to boot. So sign up!
San Juan
June 09, 2008
5140 cfs
Brown and orange worms, zebra midges, foam wing RS2s, johnny flashes are the patterns giving up the most fish, though at these flows, you'll want to concentrate on finding wadable bank water. Be careful out there.
General area big waters
June 09, 2008
no headline
Nothing to report, I just wanted to let you all know that I'm not reporting on the Rio, Chama, Conejos, or Arkansas unless there's something significant to say about them. They're big right now, but dropping.
Cimarron
June 09, 2008
Still good; dry action on sunny days.
A yellow stimmy should work fine all the way to the Holy Waters, though you hatch matchers might find a high floating baetis more challenging. It's bank to bank time now, meaning watch your approach; you'll find fish in the unlikeliest water and will spook a lot of them if you don't look first or throw scouting casts to pretty much any spot that can hold a trout. For you nymphers, the cranefly seems to be finding some of the bigger fish in the stream. Red and wine San Juan's are still working well, and keep some small PT's for the picky fish.
Guadalupe
June 09, 2008
It's about time.
At long last, the Guad season is here, with big Californica stoneflies becoming increasingly important as adults. The key will be to keep moving if you're not catching fish; try to catch up with the hatch, especially if you're seeing lots of bug activity. Orange Stimmies and Pat's rubber legs should be the flies, but you can get by with silouette dries and dark nymphs.
Jemez Streams
June 09, 2008
Good Hatches
You should see somewhat regular mayfly hatches beginning as the day warms; the bugs are small, size 16 through 20. The fish aren't too selective, however, so you can depart from exact hatch matching. Caddis and, increasingly, little brown stoneflies are making more than occasional appearances. If you don't want to worry too much about the details, you will do fine with a floaty dry by itself or with a small bead dropper. CJ reds and coppers and blues are doing just fine for pretty much everything in the East Fork and San Antonio.
San Juan
June 02, 2008
Big Water
Get a boat (5000 cfs), or resign yourself to fishing whatever wadable water you can find upstream of T Hole, fishing leeches, sucker spawn, with midges thrown in the mix. You should be able to get away with heavier tippet though you should at least fish with flourocarbon.
Jemez Streams
June 02, 2008
Still cooking.
The Jemez is still the best fishing in the area, particularly near Battleship and Jemez Falls. The San Antonio is excellent too, with many, many fish succumbing to the well presented dry fly. I'm not going into patterns here, as any fly you are confident in should produce just fine. Just keep in mind that your nymphs needn't be too heavy, just delivered to the water accurately. Now's the time to start exploring the Guad; stoneflies are no doubt on the move and getting ready to bust. Brown/orange patterns should work the best. More on the Guadalupe soon. I'm betting it will be the place to go within a week.
Vallecitos
June 02, 2008
Give it a try.
The Vallecitos has come down a lot, though it is still a little high. If you want to try it out, poke through the canyon section near La Madera or go up to the forest land and fish up from the bridge. It will be fast water pocket fishing for the most part. Get those nymphs in there, sink them fast, and fish them on a tight line. You shouldn't be disappointed.
Pecos Creeks
June 02, 2008
Forget the mainstem for awhile.
Recent warm weather has doubled the size of the Pecos and Mora. Best to leave them alone, though the Mora might be decent if you can find safe wading. Try stonefly nymphs or other nymphs that get down, fishing them in pockets. Panchuela, Holy Ghost, and Jacks Creeks are a bit high but largely fishable. You might even find some fish willing to come up for the dry fly. I don't think they'll be selective as to fly pattern, but they will want it in front of them so refine those presentations.
Lower down on Cow Creek, you should be able to pocket pick some big ones below Cow Creek Ranch, understanding that Memorial Day probably saw a lot of them taken out, dusted with corn meal, and fried to the consistency of an old sweat sock. Yummy; worth the loss to the rest of us.
