New Mexico Fishing Report for The San Juan River

Capt. Mark Nesbit
April 12, 2004
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

Fishing Report

Hello everyone, Fishing report updated 4/12/04

The river flow is around 350 cfs, the river clarity is 2-3 feet. As of today the river is fishing fair to good. Spring break is almost over and the river pressure should lighten up.. Please be courteous and respect each other’s water, and don’t tie up one area all day long. The polite thing to do is catch a few fish then move on so others can work the waters too. The low flows has concentrated the fish and in turn the fishermen in one area. The water flow has increase and should spread the fish out. Fly fishing technique tip: if fish are taking emerging insects. At the end of your drift, let your emerging fly pattern hang at the end of your drift long enough to swing it up into the surface film just like the naturals. When the fish takes the fly it probably will be a hard hit, so be ready. Good fishing, and tight lines to all.

I returned last Friday, from Florida. I will be on getting my Captains license soon, and should be just in time for some awesome dry fly fishing for smallmouth bass, and carp on Navajo Lake. I did some saltwater fishing while in Florida. I caught some nice red fish, some alligator sea trout, lady fish, and the poor man’s permit, Jack Crevalle. The jacks were the funniest to catch.

Tight Lines too all,

Mark

CATCH & RELEASE

•••••••• Larva, red, cream, gray, brown #18-24

•••••••• Scuds (gray)#22

•••••••• Gray headed black zebra midge #24

•••••••• Midge Dry’’’’s black, olive, gray #26

••••••• Red hots #24

•••••••• UFO cream & chocolate #22-26

•••••••• Worms, orange & brown, red

UPPER FLATS TO TEXAS HOLE Fishing has beengood in the braids and the upper flats water. The main channel has been beat up by fishermen over fishing. The water flow is low so everybody is able to fish both sides of the river. This area is over fished, and the end result is that the fishing is slow. There is a lot better fishing in the upper flats ,& braids.

Same flies as above for the AM

• Gray scuds#22

• San Juan worms (AM) brunt orange, rust brown, worm brown

• Chocolate beatis patterns like RS-2, Johnny Flashes

• Midge clusters, black #18

• Gray & Chocolate flash back wd40 #22

• Egg Patterns, egg, chartreuse, and golden nugget #16-20

TEXAS HOLE TO LOWER FLATS Fishing has been good.

• Gray or chocolate Johnny Flashes #22 -24

• Gray or chocolate RS-2 #22

• Midge emergers black or cream #22-26

• Red, cream, gray larva #24

• Gray & Chocolate flash back wd.40 #20

• Blood red larva #16-18

• Red hots #24

LOWER FLATS TO BAIT WATER

••••••••Gray headed Zebra midge#24

•••••••• cream & brown UFO’s #24

•••••••• Midge emergers

•••••••• Flashback Pheasant tails

•••••••• Chocolate beatis patterns

•••••••• Parachute Blue Wing Olives

•••••••• Midge clusters #20's

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