A customary tip is 15%.☞ More Fly Fishing Destinations Why Go Fly Fishing in New Mexico? You need to know exactly where to put it, and how - and this is where guides earn their money. Remember, getting the right fly is only half the battle. A guide can be the difference between getting skunked and catching 20 fish. We've listed the best ones below, and you can contact all of them at once using our e-mail form.
Troutsource highly recommends the services of a local fly fishing guide. Wet fly fishing is outstanding, but numerous hatches also provide excellent surface fishing. Hatches to consider fishing are Blue-Winged Olives (spring and fall), Pale Morning Duns (summer to early fall), and Caddisflies (scattered).
More traditional hatching insects abound as well (mayflies, caddisflies, and particularly midges, which are important year-round). Trout eggs can also be successful in late fall and winter. Trout feed regularly on leeches and other aquatic worms - hence the famous San Juan Worm pattern and the popularity of leech and Wooly Bugger imitations. If you prefer floating, you can take a 14-mile trip down to the town of Blanco. Wading is made convenient by the numerous parking areas close to the river and the fact that the land is public. During run-off in May and June, the channel braids can be waded in addition to other areas which are wadeable throughout the year. When wading, be sure to have warm neoprenes and slip-resistant boots (felt and/or cleats). The San Juan River can either be waded or floated, and fished year-round. Click hereto get driving directions to Navajo Dam. Durango, Colorado, is the closest sizable airport (45 miles away). Farther from the river, Aztec (20 miles), Bloomfield (20 miles) and Farmington (35 miles) provide more extensive accommodations. Closest facilities (lodging, restaurants) are at Abe's and Rizuto's at the intersection of 173 and 511, right at the river. From this road you have access to two public parking areas and Cottonwood Campground. On the north bank of the river, a smaller road leads from 173 roughly half way up to the dam. The highway provides pull-offs to numerous public parking areas close to the river. The quality fly fishing, between Navajo Dam and the bridge near Abe's shop (New Mexico route 173), is on public land and is accessible from highway 511, which parallels the river to the south. The remaining 6.25 hold some browns.Īccessibility & Directions(get driving directions) The first 3.75 miles, deemed "Quality Water" by the state, are the most popular and contain nearly all rainbows. Escaping from Navajo Dam, near the town of Aztec, it provides 10 miles of top-notch fishing (quality deteriorates further downstream). The surroundings vary from canyon to wide valley. While the river varies considerably in width, the average is 120 to 150 feet. Fluctuating water flows can alter the character significantly. While cold water is a constant, the river's character varies from braided flats, deep pools and riffles which can be waded or floated. Given the numbers and size of trout, the trade-off seems well worth it. The result is pervasive algae, which is a mixed blessing: prolific insect life (good for trout), but tough wading (bad for fishermen). The San Juan River below Navajo Dam is classic tailwater, with stable water temperatures never rising above the mid-40's. There's even a stretch called "Lunker Alley." River Character and Access Want to catch a 10-pound monster? The San Juan River may be your place. Rainbows predominate and average 14" - 20", with bigger daddies not hard to find.
Located in northwestern New Mexico, it holds 10 miles of excellent water. Because of this, San Juan River fly fishing is often a crowded experience, despite the distance from any major metropolitan area. The San Juan River is a lunker-infested piece of tailwater with an amazing fish density.