Flows were around 60cfs on weedays and 30cfs on weekends. Like July, fishing the faster riffles was effective on weedends with Hoppers and on weekends the slower water with a Hopper-dropper combo. There was less pressure this month than on previous Augusts and fishing was good thru the month.
New Mexico Fly Fishing Reports
Conejos River Fly Fishing Report 08/25/2001
Fishing remained consistant and flows stayerd around 90cfs until later in the month when they rose to 130cfs. Wading was tough at 130cfs in the Pinnacles and above. Below the Pinnacles fishing was good with Caddis patterns. For rising fish a Para-Adams #14 or 16 worked well. Good flows and cloudy days kept the water temps in the good range {50-65*}.
Red River Fly Fishing Report 07/25/2001
My daughter Rita fished on 7/16 and water still a bit high at 48/78cfs..She had a great day with lots of Brown and a few Cutbos, a few to 17″…She used Caddis patterns, D&D.
Rio Costilla Fly Fishing Report 07/25/2001
High flows were around 100cfs most of the month and low flows were around 25cfs. Fish were very active on weekdays, possibly because of overcast weather on the best days. These fish like low light situations and the lack of shade makes bright, sunny days tougher. On weekends the fish seemed to be in the faster water, probably using the current for cover. On low flow days it paid to fish this type of water {riffles}that we passed by on high flow days. Fishing these riffles worked well on weekends with small Hoppers.
Cimarron River Fly Fishing Report 07/25/2001
I only fished the Cimarron twice, on 7/1 and 7/2 and the flow was 40cfs and a little off-color from a big rain on 6/29. We fished the Cita both days and it was excellent both days on dry Caddis with a cased Caddis dropper. Slightly murky water makes the fish a little less paranoid and fishing usually improves.
Conejos River Fly Fishing Report 07/25/2001
By early July the flow was down to 260cfs below the Pinnacles and altho wading was difficult it was doable for the adventurous angler. We had good days on the Hamilton Lease on 7/6 and 7/7 with D&D Rigs with a Stimulator #10 with a Prince or Caddis emerger #14 about 24″ below the dry.. We also got some nice fish with a #8 Peacock Stonefly nymph fished with an indicator in the deeper runs. In the second half of July flows were down to 90cfs and we fished the Pinnacles with Caddis #12 with a Caddis emerger dropper. The dry fly fishing was excellent and there were a lot of Caddis around all day most days.
Conejos River Fly Fishing Report 07/21/2001
Evening Caddis hatches were awesome. From 7:30pm until dark (about 9:00pm) the fishing was great with several fish over 14 inches.
Conejos River Fly Fishing Report 07/14/2001
Fished the stretch of river between Menkhaven and Bear Creek. Water levels are finally coming down and the river is very fishable from all locations. Caught several nice Browns in the 12-16 inch range, all on Stimulators (#10 Orange Stimulators).
Red River Fly Fishing Report 06/25/2001
I fished alone on 6/16 and water still high but clear. 110/140cfs. The first number is the reading in town {Questa}and the second is below the springs at the Hatchery. I haven’t fished this level for a few years and high water obscured a lot of those little pockets the Browns love but anywhere there was clear water and on the edges there were fish.
Cimarron River Fly Fishing Report 06/25/2001
The flows were 25-50cfs all month and the tributaries weren’t contributing much to the downstream flow. Water temps were getting into the high 60*s and fishing slowed down after 2pm on sunny days. Clouds help keep the temps lower and its advisable to fish closer to the dam after 2pm on sunny days. There is a 3-4* temperature difference from the top of the Public Water to the bottom end. Stimulator #12 got all the attention as it does every June.
Conejos River Fly Fishing Report 06/25/2001
June saw a lot of runoff from the tributaries but levels in Platoro were low from lack of precipitation and at Mogote the flow was 600cfs and blow the Pinnacles it was 350cfs.. Wading was tough everywhere and best fishing was along the dges. Stoneflies were around by 6/10 and best fishing was in the Flywater along Hiway #17. Crossing the river at this flow was impossible.
Cimarron River Fly Fishing Report 05/25/2001
I fished the Cita on 5/16, 5/23, 5/27 and 5/31 and altho release from the dam was 1-10cfs over this period the flow on the Cita was 20-30cfs. We fished D&D combos with a big, visible dry on top and a cased Caddis dropper. Almost all the fish were on the dropper 12-14″ below the dry. On 5/31 I saw a few Stones flying about.