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New Mexico Fishing Report for The San Juan River
Capt. Mark Nesbit
October 29, 2002
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report
The Bureau of Reclamation announced the week of October 23, 2002, that the flow on the San Juan River would be decreased from 500 cfs to 350 cfs. The decrease is being made for water conservation purposes in response to this summer’’s drought conditions, and is possible due to increasing flows in the San Juan River endangered fish critical habitat area (Farmington to Lake Powell). The San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program flow recommendations call for an average weekly flow of between 500 cfs and 1,000 cfs in this reach of the river. The scheduled release change is subject to changes in river flows and weather conditions.
If you have any questions, contact Pat Page at (970) 385-6560 or e-mail at [email protected].
The weather has cooled off, in the lower 30’s in the morning, clouds in the afternoon with highs from 55-70.
The upper mile of the river has seen the highest number of anglers, with good reason. The Midge hatches have been HUGH, and the some of the largest fish have been caught in the upper flats. The best flies for this area have been Zebra Midge emergers (black or chocolate), UFO’’s (Tan or Brown), Brassies (copper, red or black) and egg patterns (egg or baby pink).
The anglers from Texas Hole to the lower flats have been enjoying some of the best Beatis hatches we have seen this year. Fish with Johnny Flash flies in gray or chocolate, or RS-2’’s, sub surface. Olive gray, Comparaduns size 20 and Parachute Adam’’s size 22 are the best for the dry fly angler.
We have had some heavy rain and the lower sections of the river are muddy some days. This includes the last mile of the quality waters starting at Simon Canyon and continues through the bait waters. The off colored water doesn’t affect the fishing as much as most anglers would think, in fact it washes some terrestrials and earthworms into the river. The “hopper” action in this area of the river has been good and the folks fishing with bait are catching some quality fish on night crawlers.
Tight Lines
Mark
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