Tuesday, April 27, 2010

New Mexico Fly Fishing Report

Welcome Fly Dawgs!!!

Wild Rivers On The Fly

Taos, Santa Fe, Chama, Navajo Dam, Taos Ski Valley, Eagles Nest, Angel Fire

Fly Fishing Report Late April 2010

It is still early in the season so generally speaking fly fishing is slow except on the San Juan and the Cimarron.

Please report over harvesting of our trout waters to New Mexico Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263. And PLEASE!! Help us with our conservation efforts. If you pack it in please pack it out. Trash does not enhance our beautiful rivers.

Special Trout Waters: When fishing our rivers look for the brown and white park signs with a trout on them. The signs identify New Mexico Special Trout Waters. Special Trout Waters mean just that. They are special because they are Catch and Release, have reduced bag limits and are part of the effort to conserve, restore, and protect trout and habitat in designated sections of a particular river. You can use barbless flies in these protected areas. You are usually permitted to take one fish of the size designated on the Special Trout Water sign or refer to your New Mexico fishing proclamation. When you see these signs it means No Bait, Salmon Eggs, Power Bait, and No Three Pronged Lures. Please respect our Special Trout Waters.
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San Juan River: The flow is still around the 500 cfs range. Remember the Special Trout Waters is catch and release and two flies only. Make sure the flies are barbless to protect the fish and you can be fined. The visibilty on the river is still reduced to a couple of feet.

What their eating: Fishing on all parts are reported good with most anglers are reporting Fish On with the usual midge patterns and emergers, johnny flashes, flashback pheasant tails, brown and orange San Juan worms, and scuds...
Try a dry fly. Tie on a blue winged olive on top. Also try some of the San Juan standards like red, cream, orange, gray and olive larva size 18-24, midge pupa in olive and gray size 22-24. If that doesn't get the Fish On, try switching later in the day to gray, olive or chocolate RS2's, and foam wing emergers size 18-24.
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Chama River: High brown water right now. Fishing is still poor above the village of Chama and poor to slow at Tierra Amarilla. Everywhere else below the village is reported slow to fair. The tailwater sections usually fish best. When fishing the Chama look for the tailouts of pools and throw a fly to the obvious seams and undercuts. Special Trout Waters: The Chama River above El Vado and below Abiquiu are Special Trout Waters.

What their eating: Anglers report Fish On using Baetis nymphs, crane fly larva, and midges.
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Rio Grande: Slow to fair for trout. High runoff and on again/off again for clarity. Rafters are now on the river from the Taos Box and the take out/put in area below Pilar and the Taos/Rio Arriba county line. So when planning a fly trip consider other local rivers.

What their eating: Throw them a crane fly larvae, stonelfy nymphs, or streamers.
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Pecos River: Poor to slow. The upper Pecos has some open water, but water temps are still very cold in the low to mid thirties and fishing is not so good this time of year. Come late April that will change so stay tuned. If you need to get out right now try the section at Villanueva State Park as it was recently stocked by our friends at New Mexico Game and Fish.
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Cimarron River: The Cimarron has thawed and is fishing well right now. Visibility is about a foot. We need more water release from the Eagle Nest Dam. The Cimarron could be and should be a year round fishery so please help all guides, outfitters, and anglers in getting this message across to our State Engineer and other officials in that food chain. Fish On!!

What their eating: Try a #16 golden stone fly, prince nymph, or copper john.
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Red River: High and muddy.
Shurree Ponds: Closed until July 1, 2010.
Rio Costilla (Valle Vidal): Closed until July 1, 2010.
Jemez Mountain Streams (Caldera) - Stay Tuned.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Conservation / Clean Up On The River

Wild Rivers On The Fly

Conservation.
What does that really mean? Conservation means ACTION! It means leaving no trace. It requires that you tread lightly and not leave your footprint on our public lands and waters.

Ask most Anglers and they will tell you that conservation means that you are a protector and conservator of the land, water, game, and fish. They would say that when they are on the water they are not only packing out what they packed in, they are packing out trash left behind by careless visitors and that includes our fishing brethren.

What are responsible anglers packing out you ask? Beer (favorites are Miller Lite, Coors, Corona and Bud Light), liquor (the little bottles like they serve on airplanes), soda cans and bottles, cigarette boxes and butts, plastic water bottles, straws, ketchup, and mustard wrappers, styrofoam night crawler boxes, lure wrappers, potato chip bags, plastic bags, flip flops, and monofilament line, bobbers, three pronged spinners, tires and scrap metal to name a few.

If you are sincere about being engaged in conservation then you must help protect our land, water, and habitat and help stem the tide of those who are hell bent on destroying it.

Note to Self:
Carry a trash bag on your person and please use it. Keep our beautiful places beautiful.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

New Mexico Fly Fishing Report

Welcome Fly Dawgs!!!

Wild Rivers On The Fly

Taos, Santa Fe, Chama, Navajo Dam, Taos Ski Valley, Eagles Nest, Angel Fire

Fly Fishing Report Late March 2010

It is still early in the season so generally speaking fly fishing is slow except on the San Juan. The ice is beginning to melt away at some places on the Cimarron.

Please report over harvesting of our trout waters to New Mexico Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263. And PLEASE!! Help us with our conservation efforts. If you pack it in please pack it out. Trash does not enhance our beautiful rivers.

Special Trout Waters: When fishing our rivers look for the brown and white park signs with a trout on them. The signs identify New Mexico Special Trout Waters. Special Trout Waters mean just that. They are special because they are Catch and Release, have reduced bag limits and are part of the effort to conserve, restore, and protect trout and habitat in designated sections of a particular river. You can use barbless flies in these protected areas. You are usually permitted to take one fish of the size designated on the Special Trout Water sign or refer to your New Mexico fishing proclamation. When you see these signs it means No Bait, Salmon Eggs, Power Bait, and No Three Pronged Lures. Please respect our Special Trout Waters.
____________________________________________

San Juan River: The flow is still around the 480 cfs range. Remember the Special Trout Waters is catch and release and two flies only. Make sure the flies are barbless or you can be fined. The visibilty on the river is still reduced to a couple of feet.

What their eating: Fishing on all parts are reported good with most anglers are reporting Fish On with the usual midge patterns and emergers, johnny flashes, flashback pheasant tails, brown and orange San Juan worms, and scuds...
Try a dry fly. Tie on a blue winged olive on top. Also try some of the San Juan standards like red, cream, orange, gray and olive larva size 18-24, midge pupa in olive and gray size 22-24. If that doesn't get the Fish On, try switching later in the day to gray, olive or chocolate RS2's, and foam wing emergers size 18-24.
____________________________________________

Chama River: Fishing is still poor above the village of Chama and poor to slow at Tierra Amarilla. Everywhere else below the village is reported slow to fair. The tailwater sections usually fish best below 300 cfs. When fishing the Chama look for the tailouts of pools and throw a fly to the obvious seams and undercuts. Special Trout Waters: The Chama River above El Vado and below Abiquiu are Special Trout Waters.

What their eating: Anglers report Fish On using Baetis nymphs, crane fly larva, and midges.
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Rio Grande: Slow to fair for trout, 650 -750 cfs. On again/off again for clarity. Rafters will soon take to the Rio Grande from the Taos Box and the take out/put in area below Pilar and the Taos/Rio Arriba county line. So when planning a fly trip consider other local rivers.

What their eating: Throw them a crane fly larvae, stonelfy nymphs, or streamers.
___________________________________________

Pecos River: Poor to slow. The upper Pecos has some open water, but water temps are still very cold in the low to mid thirties and fishing is not so good this time of year. Come late April that will change so stay tuned. If you need to get out right now try the section at Villanueva State Park as it was recently stocked by our friends at New Mexico Game and Fish.
____________________________________________
Cimarron River: Beginning to thaw in some places. Still has a fair amount of freeze. Soon April will bring the total thaw and the Browns will be fighting ready. We need more water release from the Eagle Nest Dam. The Cimarron could be and should be a year round fishery so please help all guides, outfitters, and anglers in getting this message across to our State Engineer and other officials in that food chain. Fish On!!
____________________________________________

Red River: No report at this time.
Shurree Ponds: Closed until July 1, 2010.
Rio Costilla (Valle Vidal): Closed until July 1, 2010.
Jemez Mountain Streams (Caldera) - Stay Tuned.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

New Mexico Fly Fishing Report

Welcome Fly Dawgs!!!

Wild Rivers On The Fly

Taos, Santa Fe, Chama, Navajo Dam, Taos Ski Valley, Eagles Nest, Angel Fire

Fly Fishing Report March 2010

It is still early in the season so generally speaking fly fishing is slow except on the San Juan. Snow runoff starts in a few weeks and once that clears New Mexico Fly Fishing will throttle up.

Please report over harvesting of our trout waters to New Mexico Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263. And PLEASE!! Help us with our conservation efforts. If you pack it in please pack it out. Trash does not enhance our beautiful rivers.

Special Trout Waters: When fishing our rivers look for the brown and white park signs with a trout on them. The signs identify New Mexico Special Trout Waters. Special Trout Waters mean just that. They are special because they are Catch and Release, have reduced bag limits and are part of the effort to conserve, restore, and protect trout and habitat in designated sections of a particular river. You can use barbless flies in these protected areas. You are usually permitted to take one fish of the size designated on the Special Trout Water sign or refer to your New Mexico fishing proclamation. When you see these signs it means No Bait, Salmon Eggs, Power Bait, and No Three Pronged Lures. Please respect our Special Trout Waters.

San Juan River: The flow is around 480 cfs. Fishing on all parts are reported good with most anglers are reporting Fish On with the usual midge patterns and emergers, johnny flashes, flashback pheasant tails, brown and orange San Juan worms, and scuds. ...Remember the Special Trout Waters is catch and release and two flies only. Make sure the flies are barbless or you can be fined. The visibilty on the river is still reduced to a couple of feet. This reduces dry fly fishing but try a blue winged olive on top. Also try some of the San Juan standards like red, cream, orange, gray and olive larva size 18-24, midge pupa in olive and gray size 22-24. If that doesn't get the Fish On, try switching later in the day to gray, olive or chocolate RS2's, and foam wing emergers size 18-24.

Chama River: Fishing is still poor above the village of Chama and poor to slow at Tierra Amarilla. Everywhere else below the village is reported slow to fair. Anglers report Fish On using Baetis nymphs, crane fly larva, and midges. The tailwater sections usually fish best below 300 cfs. When fishing the Chama look for the tailouts of pools and throw a fly to the obvious seams and undercuts. Special Trout Waters: The Chama River above El Vado and below Abiquiu are Special Trout Waters.

Cimarron River: Frozen for now but come April..let the thaw begin and the Browns will be fighting ready. We need more water release from the Eagle Nest Dam. The Cimarron could be and should be a year round fishery so please help all guides, outfitters, and anglers in getting this message across to our State Engineer and other officials in that food chain. Fish On!!

Pecos River: Poor to slow. The upper Pecos has some open water, but water temps are in the low to mid thirties and fishing is not so good this time of year. Come late April that will change so stay tuned. If you need to get out right now try the section at Villanueva State Park as it was recently stocked by our friends at New Mexico Game and Fish.

Red River: No report at this time.

Rio Grande: Slow to fair for trout. On again/off again for clarity. For trout, throw them a crane fly larvae, stonelfy nymphs, or streamers. Rafters will soon take to the Rio Grande from the Taos Box and the take out/put in area below Pilar and the Taos/Rio Arriba county line so when planning a fly trip consider other local rivers.

Shurree Ponds: Closed until July 1, 2010.
Rio Costilla (Valle Vidal): Closed until July 1, 2010.

Jemez Mountain Streams (Caldera) - Stay Tuned.

Cimarron River - New Mexico

Help us make the Cimarron River a year round fishery. As I have previously written, the Cimarron River is one of New Mexico's treasures and by far one of its best fisheries. Many guides and anglers recognize the need for increased year round water flow. Without it, we could see our fish populations and our amazing Cimarron River, disappear. We need everyone to get behind the push calling for the Eagles Nest Dam authority to allow more and consistent water flows through the river, year round. So let's hear it out there for Saving and Improving our Cimarron.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Wild Rivers of New Mexico - Cimarron River

The Cimarron River is some of the best dry fly water in the United States. A premier tailwater with an amazing number of stonefly, caddisfly, mayfly, and midge hatches that make for exciting brown trout action. Originally established by local ranchers for their stock and down stream farms, the Cimarron River flows out of Eagle Nest Lake and Dam in Northeastern New Mexico.

Located on the eastern fringe of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this dry fly mecca flows eastward from Eagles Nest, NM along US Hwy 64 to the town of Cimarron. After merging into several other rivers this water ultimately reaches the Mississippi River. During the last fish census New Mexico Game and Fish estimates nearly 4,000 catchable sized wild browns per mile. The Cimarron is unquestionably the healthiest wild brown trout fishery in the state and the southern Rocky Mountains. Most of the wild browns are 10-14 inches with the occasional 18-20 incher. New Mexico Game and Fish stocks 8-10 inch rainbows during the summer months.

There are ten miles of trout water open to the public. Eight miles of water flows through the Cimarron Canyon State Park, the other 2 miles are located on private property and are only accessible via guided wade trips. The state park water begins at the US Hwy 64 bridge just upstream of Tolby Campground and ends at the eastern edge of the state park just west of Ute Park, NM. The area is home to abundant wildlife including turkey, bear, elk, mule dear, eagles, hawks and osprey.

The Cimarron averages 10 feet wide and 1-5 feet deep depending on snow runoff and dam flow. The Cimarron has every imaginable water characteristic. Fast riffles, deep runs, bend pools, undercut banks, spring creek channels, pockets and beaver pools can be found the length of the river. The river banks and surrounding area is filled with willow, alder, cottonwood and pine trees along the river. The flows can range from 10 cubic feet per second(cfs) to 70 cfs, optimal fishing flows range between 15 cfs -50cfs.

Special Trout Waters: The Cimarron has clearly marked Special Trout Water areas. This means that bait fishing is not permitted nor are three pronged spinners, power bait or salmon eggs. You are only allowed to keep one trout 16" or better. Please refer to your New Mexico Fishing Proclamation for further guidance. Also, Special Trout Waters are part of the conservation efforts that help us maintain fisheries. Help us maintain this fabulous brown trout fishery by practicing catch and release and by packing out what you packed in.

Tight Lines

Monday, March 1, 2010

Hello Fly Dawgs!

Fly Fishing New Mexico

Our fly fishing season in north central New Mexico is just around the corner. Book now for spring, summer, and fall at wildriversonthefly.com, or call us at 505.715.6773. We offer all-inclusive half, full, and multi-day fly trips. All trips include snacks and beverages. Full and multi-day trips include meals. All we need is your boot size. We can also assist you with lodging and we pick you up and deliver you back at the end of the fly trip.

Whether you are staying in Taos, Taos Ski Valley, Santa Fe, Chama or the surrounding area Wild Rivers On The Fly is your fly trip headquarters.

Our rivers include the Cimarron, Chama, Red, Costilla, Chama, San Juan and the Pecos. We also have access to incredible private trout waters (rod fees apply).
Our trout includes rainbow, brown, and native cutthroat. Come to Taos and join us for an amazing fly trip in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountains.

Tight Lines
Wild Rivers On The Fly
505.715.6773
www.wildriversonthefly.com