San Juan River, New Mexico

[Brad]

So I went to New Mexico for a hog hunt with some old friends. We found no hogs and it became a drinking and shooting fest. But because we weren't finding hogs, all my AZ friends decided to go back a day early. Since I had a day to kill, I drove up to Navajo Dam and did a float on Monday. Epic day of fishing. Truly epic. Numbers of fish and size of fish. Because this area is in the middle of a multi-year drought, Colorado had nowhere to put their hatchery fish this year and most ended up in the San Juan - hundreds of thousands of fish from 6" to 14" I told my guide I was interested in catching big fish, so we only had to wade through 2 dozen or so pee-wees as he called them. The pee-wees on this river were 12"-14". 

Flows were low, the air temp was in the low 30's and the water was off color. We started throwing big meat flies, but only got a couple of flashes. The rest of the day we fished a leech fly, white ended up being the best color, with a size 22 midge fly, orange was the color of the day, underneath it. Takes were unbelievably subtle, even for the big fish. If the indicator did anything funny, you set the hook (hook sets are free). The biggest fish below barely moved the indicator.

Besides the pee-wees, we caught probably 30 "average" San Juan fish. These were all 16" plus. Here is a picture of a smaller "average" fish. He took the leech.

Here is my personal best rainbow, outside of AK. He took the midge. I broke off 3 more this size and had a brown about this size break off right at the boat. Sorry for the terrible picture.

If you ever get the chance, fish the San Juan!

[John Bilotta]

Very nice.

John

Sent from my iPad

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[Fly Fish]

Awesome Brad.  I agree, everyone should take a trip to the San Juan. 

 

Charlie

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[Matthew Longley]

Sounds like an amazing trip.  I was out in Sante Fe last year but kept my fishing to the Pecos because of time restrictions, now I'm kicking myself for not taking the trip west...

On Wednesday, February 6, 2013 11:46:56 AM UTC-5, cg wrote:

Awesome Brad.  I agree, everyone should take a trip to the San Juan. 

 

Charlie

On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 10:22 AM, Brad <br...@gentnergroup.com> wrote:

So I went to New Mexico for a hog hunt with some old friends. We found no hogs and it became a drinking and shooting fest. But because we weren't finding hogs, all my AZ friends decided to go back a day early. Since I had a day to kill, I drove up to Navajo Dam and did a float on Monday. Epic day of fishing. Truly epic. Numbers of fish and size of fish. Because this area is in the middle of a multi-year drought, Colorado had nowhere to put their hatchery fish this year and most ended up in the San Juan - hundreds of thousands of fish from 6" to 14" I told my guide I was interested in catching big fish, so we only had to wade through 2 dozen or so pee-wees as he called them. The pee-wees on this river were 12"-14". 

Flows were low, the air temp was in the low 30's and the water was off color. We started throwing big meat flies, but only got a couple of flashes. The rest of the day we fished a leech fly, white ended up being the best color, with a size 22 midge fly, orange was the color of the day, underneath it. Takes were unbelievably subtle, even for the big fish. If the indicator did anything funny, you set the hook (hook sets are free). The biggest fish below barely moved the indicator.

Besides the pee-wees, we caught probably 30 "average" San Juan fish. These were all 16" plus. Here is a picture of a smaller "average" fish. He took the leech.

Here is my personal best rainbow, outside of AK. He took the midge. I broke off 3 more this size and had a brown about this size break off right at the boat. Sorry for the terrible picture.

If you ever get the chance, fish the San Juan!

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[darbrewe]

I was in Santa Fe over Thanksgiving. The budget didn't allow for a guide so I drove up to the Taos area and fished the Rio Grande for a day. Plenty of water to explore. Lots of rainbows with the kicker pike and even smallmouth if you so desire. I fished in the Orilla Verde area.

On Thursday, February 7, 2013 8:10:34 AM UTC-5, Nedak wrote:

Heading to Santa Fe in May.  Care to share the name of the guide.  Sounds like something I should pursue.

Thanks.

[Brad]

Call Fisheads Lodge and Fly shop (http://www.fisheadsofthesanjuan.com/) and ask for Bubba Smith. They offer basic (very basic) rooms for $95/night and they have a small fly shop and restaurant (fair at best, but there aren't many options in Navajo Dam). Book as soon as you can as their peak starts in May and runs through October. Bubba guided over 300 days last year, which if you ask a guide, is borderline cuckoo bananas. 

If you are looking for a higher end experience, check out Soaring Eagle Lodge. I have a good friend that stays with them all the time, and, if I had more time, I would have stayed there. They are the only lodge right on the river and have 3 miles of private water. http://www.soaringeaglelodge.net/

It is a 3.5 hour drive from Santa Fe to Navajo Dam, so you will need to stay over at least one night. You will drive through Espanola on your route to Navajo Dam. DO NOT miss eating at El Paragua - http://www.elparagua.com/. Absolutely the best New Mexican style food I have ever eaten. Also, make the drive in the daylight - it is an exceptionally beautiful drive.

On Thursday, February 7, 2013 8:10:34 AM UTC-5, Nedak wrote:

Heading to Santa Fe in May.  Care to share the name of the guide.  Sounds like something I should pursue.

Thanks.

On Wednesday, February 6, 2013 12:37:25 PM UTC-5, Matthew Longley wrote:

[Cgloeck]

abes motel and fly shop is inexpensive and is all fishermen (a few gas/oil field workers now that that industry is picking up), hooks on the front eve for waders...not particularly nice but is a big part of the tradition for the guys I fish it with.  

I have not been compelled to hire a guide or drift it. it is wadable and there are maps at the flyshops that show the named holes. 

if you do hire a guide,  know that i have seen many drift by with their clients drifting nymphs right off the boat while stellar surface action was producing fish for all the waders throwing drys.  When I say stellar, I am remembering heads of 20 inch plus; browns and bows rising vertically out of the water, so you could look them in the eye as they sipped the fly off the surface.  not just 3 or 4 fish .. a frenzy.   Many guides would still have their clients drifting nymphs. 

Guides can float sections that are not wadable and if you had one day only to fish I would consider a guide. Just tell them you want a dry fly rod tied and ready in the boat, in addition to a nymph set up!  

I have been to the San Juan three times and it amazes me each time.  It can draw a crowd. but there so many fish it is silly. 

Charlie

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