Flows fluctuated wildly between weekdays and weekends and in mid July flows got up to 125cfs on high flow days and down to 10cfs on weekends. The high flow was better fishing Stimulator #12 on the edges, pockets and any slower water. These high flows get the better fish more active and we took some nice fish on high flow days..Best an 18″ Cutbo.. We fished a dropper behind a #12 Stimulator on high days. Weekends were tough as flows were around 10cfs and fishing pressure was intense.. Later in the month flows were around 80cfs during the week and still around 10cfs on weekends. Caddis patterns worked well especially late in the day..PMD patterns worked best on weekends.
New Mexico Fly Fishing Reports
Cimarron River Fly Fishing Report 07/25/2000
In July flows remained around 30cfs for most of the month and fishing with Caddis with a Caddis larva or cased Caddis dropper produced well. No rain to speak of this summer and the farmers downstream were demanding water for irrigation and flows remained steady at 30xfs.
Conejos River Fly Fishing Report 07/25/2000
On 7/1 and 7/2 we fished the Pinnacles at 100cfs from Platoro. This is about the highest flow you can navigate in the Pinnacles but it also keeps out the less adventurous anglers. The fish in this pocket water stretch don’t rise like they do on the lower river and a dropper is essential. You need a large dry that floats well with Beadhead dropper {Prince-Copper John-Caddis emerger}Best fish was a 19″ Cutbo but the main attraction here are Browns 13-17″ and we got a bunch of those. On 7/12 and 7/13 we had fair days at 80cfs that ended early due to the onslaught of summer afternoon monsoon conditions which muddied up the flow. You need to bring rain gear as you are often quite a distance from shelter. Another must have item is mosquito repellant as the bugs get bad especially on dark days. Later in the month flows were down to 30cfs from Platoro and the best fishing was in the Pinnacles and above. Water temps in the lower river were near 70* on suuny days and fishing was poor. . In the Pinnacles and above water temps got into the high 60*s by mid afternoon and fishing predictably slowed down.
Cimarron River Fly Fishing Report 06/25/2000
On 6/1 the flow was 56cfs and we did see a few Stoneflies on the Cita { private water in Ute Park} but the fish were more responsive to our droppers fished behind a Stimlator #12. Dropper was a cased caddis pattern #14..This flow would be too high to fish a lot of the Public Water but on the Cita its much more open and meadow-like this level is excellent. By mid June the flow dropped to 30cfs and fishing in the Public Water greatly improved on Stimulator #12.
Conejos River Fly Fishing Report 06/25/2000
Flows were 200-400cfs and best fishing was again on the Flywater along Hiway #17 with Stimulator #10 and Geen Drake # 10 dry flies. they hit the dry pretty good in the middle of the day and early and late droppers produced best. On 6/20 the flow was 100cfs from Platoro and fishing the Pinnacles we had a great day { 4 over 17″ and lots of Browns 13-16″}. I lengthened the dropper to 24″ and this seemed to work well.
Red River Fly Fishing Report 05/25/2000
I didn’t fish the Red this month as the fishing on other streams that usually don’t fish this early such as the Rio Grande, Embudo and the Pueblo have been keeping me busy. Th Red is the most consistant stream in my area and this year a lot other opportunities have arisen and the Red almost always fishes well. With the drought I am not optimistic about the later season on the Costlla, Conejos and Cimarron.
Red River Fly Fishing Report 04/25/2000
No runoff again but I only fished the Red once this month on the 23rd and it was excellent. The Caddis hatch on the Rio Grande was the best in years so I spent the month on the big river..See the Rio Grande Archive.
Rio Grande Fly Fishing Report 04/25/2000
First report of Caddis in Pilar on 4/4. Flow was about 200cfs at the State Line which is ideal. The bugs moved upstream faster than in previous years and were all over the Box by 4/9 when I fished in the Wild Rivers area. The flow was 230cfs and not quite clear. We got a few nice Browns to 17″ on a Hares Ear #12 fished as a dropper. The water got murkier late in the day and we picked up a few fish along the edges on dries {Caddis}. In the Box on 4/14 flow was 249cfs and fishing was good from 3pm on dry Caddis #14. Again on 4/21 with the same results…Flows increased after that and ended the spring Caddis event.
Red River Fly Fishing Report 3/25/2000
More warm dry conditions and one of the best Marchs in memory. Resident browns in the 12-14″ range have been very responsive but I haven’t seen as many spawning Cutbos as in the past.
Red River Fly Fishing Report 2/25/2000
I saw the first Caddis on 2/1, the earliest I ever seen seen them on the Red. Its been exceptionally warm and very little precipitation. Fish have been very active on the surface and I have been fishing a straight dry [without a dropper] more this month than in past Februarys.
Red River Fly Fishing Report 1/15/2000
No snow and warm days in the 50*s as the drought continues. Skiers are crying but there have been some good Mayfly hatches on warm days in the afternoon. Best action on Para-Adams #14 and droppers [ Caddis larva & Mayfly emerger]..Cutbos are actively spawning thruout.
Red River Fly Fishing Report 12/15/1999
Some snow and some cold nights [0* 10*].I saw a few Cutbos in the Red in late November but they were really active thru this month and the afternoon Mayfly hatch is the main event for resident fish..Just before Xmas it got very cold [-0*] and fishing got pretty slow except for the odd spawning Cutbo.