Stream Report
Updated September 12, 2020
Pecos River
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The middle section of the Pecos River has reopened as the Pecos Canyon State Park. This includes Bert Clancey, Terrerro Campground, Jamie Koch Day Use, and Mora Campground. It will only be open to the public for day use on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
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Hatches: Some blue winged-olives, some caddis, and grasshoppers
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Patterns: HDA Favorites, caddis larvae and dries, baetis emergers
The river is low and fish are spooky. Be prepared to reduce your tippet size. Cooler temperatures have helped the fishing and reduced stress on fish. Bright sunny times can still be a little slow. Flies like caddis larvae, midge larvae are still getting the most attention, however baetis are becoming active as well. Otherwise it's terrestrial time. Grasshoppers, ants, and beetles area also bringing up fish. Please respect the landowners and stay out of any private property along the river.
The Pecos National Historical Park has reopened to fishing for their fall season. See the Park's website at http://www.nps.gov/peco/planyourvisit/fishing.htm for more info.
Chama River
Village of Chama
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Hatches: caddis, midges
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Patterns: attractor dries, caddis larvae and dries, hoppers
Below Heron
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Hatches: craneflies, some caddis. some baetis
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Patterns: stonefly nymphs, San Juan worms, crane fly larvae
Below El Vado
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Hatches: some tricos, some baetis, craneflies
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Patterns: cranefly larvae, stonefly nymphs, streamers, caddis larvae
No Gage Available
Below Abiquiu
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Hatches:​ Midges and tricos in small numbers
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Patterns: cranefly larvae, stonefly nymphs, streamers, San Juan worms
Village of Chama: The upper Chama in the Sargent WMA is fishing well. The river is at a nice level and clear between rainshowers. Fishing with high riding dry flies and small beadheaded nymphs is a productive set up.
Near Heron: The river flowing towards El Vado is low. Heron Lake State Park is now open and provides access off of NM 95.
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Below El Vado: The release is too high to wade downstream of Cooper's. It's been at the same level for a while and fishing ios good.
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Below Abiquiu: To the best of my knowledge, you can now acccess the river from the dam on weekdays only. The release is mirroring the release out of El Vado upstream. Not the best place to fish at this time. Really, look to fish elsewhere.
The Chama River above El Vado Reservoir, downstream of the stream gauge at Cooper's Ranch, and below Abiquiu Dam are Special Trout Waters with reduced bag limits or catch and release only rules. Please report anyone to New Mexico Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263. The Chama River below Abiquiu Dam has a daily bag limit of 3 fish.
Rio Grande
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Hatches:​ sporadic caddis and tricos,
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Patterns: Crane Bombs, Warden's Worries, Searchers, Sculpzillas
The Rio like every other streams in New Mexico is very low. Cooler temps have benefited the fishing here as well. Clarity is pretty good for the Rio.
Jemez Mountain Streams
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Hatches:​ Some caddis, grasshoppers
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Patterns: caddis larvae and dries, HDA Favorites, hoppers
The Jemez streams as a whole are low. Fishing in the warmest, sunniest part of the day can still be a little slow. The best fishing is early or late in the day. The upper stretches of the East Fork, San Antonio, and Cebolla offer the best fishing in the Jemez. For fishing in the Valles Caldera , please see their website for info at http://www.vallescaldera.gov/comevisit/fish/index.aspx
The Fishing Program on the Valles Caldera National Preserve is now under National Park Service rules. There is no longer a reservation system. It's all fisrt come first served until all of the backcountry access permits are issued for the day. Please see the Preserve's website for more details.
San Juan River
Navajo Lake State Park and the San Juan River Quality waters are now open!.
Renewed enforcement of quarrantines for out of state visitors to state parks has reduced crowds here. Support the local Navajo Dam shops if you need stuff. They have had a tough spring. Currently it's a midges game most of the day. Baetis still work in the afternoons with a foam wing being the top roducer.
The Special Trout Water section is all catch and release and has a two fly only rule. If you see someone in violation, turn them into Game and Fish at 1-800-432-4263. Officers have been checking people for licenses, barbless flies, and the number of flies on your rig! File those barbs or go barbless, as the fines are steep!
Conejos River
Mogote
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Hatches: caddis and terrestrials, some blue winged-olives
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Patterns: Twenty Bombs, Golden Tungstones, Pat's Rubberlegs, micro mayfly
Platoro
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Hatches: Golden Stones and caddis
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Patterns: Zebra midges Golden Tungstones, Pat's Rubberlegs, micro mayfly
The Conejos is also low with a lack of rain. The lower river is more so. The upper river will have cooler water with the release out of Platoro reservoir. Fish early or late in the day to avoid stress on the fish.
