Holiday season fishing on the San Juan
Capt. Mark Nesbit
December 9, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report
Hello Everyone, and Happy holidays to all.
The river is flowing around 475 cfs. The visibility is 4-6 feet. The lake still has not turned over, so the water is still very clear. There has been a good rise to midge's and beatis from Texas hole down. The upper area is fishing slow to fair. Size #10 Natural bunny leeches,and ginger variant bunny leeches dragging a #18-22 red or olive larva behind it. Try agitating your presentation every so often {20-30 seconds} and see if it doesn't provoke a strike. Dark gray, black or brown midges #24-26. Pupa's and emergers of the same color has been working for me. If the water is quiet {no rise forms think larva's and pupa's. If there is heads a sipping, emerger,s and Krystal flash midge,s in the top water column should get bit. Texas hole on down has been fishing fair to good. The above patterns in the early am and beatis from late morning to mid afternoon then back to the midge patterns. Egg patterns are starting to work in the riffle bars. Dry fly fishing in a snow storm can be quiet rewarding on the Juan. If conditions are right and the midges are clustering it's the hoots. If the fish are just sipping try a +#24-26 parachute Adams. If the fish are gulping try a large midge cluster pattern. A favorite is a large griffin's knatt #14-16 {Dead Chicken}. If you see beatis try a #22-24 Parachute Adams. Lots of fish in Simon Canyon on down to the take out. Should be some nice spawning fish in the riffles in Duranglers corner.
My last fishing report I made a comment on how much gear you should consider to bring on the boat on your trip. All I was trying to get across is that there is a lot of simple things that one can do to improve there day on the water, and not having a lot of extra gear that you will not use is one of them. The bottom line on this is SAFETY, and will it interfere with the quality of your trip, or the other person if there is two. Will it keep the guide from be able to do his job in a safe professional manner. Here is another thing that will help improve your next trip. If it has been a while since you cast a line, try to get out to a local water hole or a grassy area and practice a few casts to a target 25 ft, then to a different target 30-35 ft, and another longer distance. I try to do this before every salt water, or precise dry fly action, and any trip that I would like to be at my best for. A little bit of time doing your home work can pay-off with big rewards. The other thing I got reamed for was my comment about me fishing and you holding the rods. I know now that I should of explained. I have a lot of clients ask me if I miss fishing cause I busy working the boat and keeping them rigged up in the slot on the drift. I don't get to fish much on my own, cause I'm working all year. So I look at as though I'm fishing and my Client's are working the rods. I have to fix the rig up. tell my clients where to fish, and why there fishing where they are, and all that goes with it. It is a lot harder to put people on fish that have never fly fished before than myself. I like the challenge and most of all love to share the sport with others. I not in this for the money but the reward of watching someone get hooked up with the our though fighting trout. I do all that I can to teach them some thing that helps them catch more fish for today, and the rest of their day.
Tight lines to all,
Capt.Mark
San Juan River Fishing Forecast:
The crowds are gone and winter fishing is here at it's best.
Target Species:
Trophy Rainbow and Brown Trout
More Fishing Reports:
