Great Fishing on the Lower San Juan!
Capt. Scott Taylor
June 4, 2015
Pagosa Springs - Freshwater Fishing Report
With Spring Run - Off in full force we have been concentrating on fishing below the Navajo Dam in Northern NM. The town flows on the San Juan have hit 2,000 cubic feet per second today, and the flows below the dam are at 350 cfs.
The San Juan River lies in Northern New Mexico and is one of the most renowned tail - waters in the country. This outstanding fishery was created by the construction of Navajo Damn in 1962. The dam is 400 feet high and 3/4 of a mile long, the water released at the base of the dam is consistently around 41 - 42 degrees. Perfect trout habitat! The management of the New Mexico Fish and Game and the New Mexico State Park system has created and maintained this outstanding fishery. The first 3.75 miles of river below the damn has been given the designation of "QUALITY WATER". The Quality Waters offer some of the most consistent fishing conditions, with fish averaging between 16 - 18 inches! Fish this size would be considered a trophy on any other river. Recent studies have shown that the river is supporting 10,000 fish a mile, through the Quality Waters.
The fish have been eating midge larva or pupa in black, gray, olive and dark brown in sizes 22 -24, in the afternoon gray foam wing emergers and beatis patterns have been very effective.
Here are some pictures from last week
Pagosa Springs Fishing Forecast:
Local waters should start to clear in a week or two. The lower San Juan should continue to be good.
Target Species:
Trout
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