Stream Report
Updated October 31, 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, and some grasshoppers
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Patterns: HDA Favorites, caddis larvae, baetis emergers and dries
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, and baetis nymphs are getting the most attention. Otherwise terrestrials are still bringing a few fish to the surface. Please respect the landowners and stay out of any private property along the river.
The Pecos National Historical Park's fall fishing season will come to a close November 2nd . 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: blue-wingerd olives, midges
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Patterns: attractor dries, caddis larvae, hoppers, baetis nymphs
Below Heron
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Hatches: craneflies, baetis, midges
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Patterns: stonefly nymphs, San Juan worms, crane fly larvae, baetis nymphs
Below El Vado
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Hatches: some tricos, 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, tricos, and baetis
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Patterns: cranefly larvae, stonefly nymphs, streamers, San Juan worms, baetis nymphs
Village of Chama: The fishig in the upper Chama in the Sargent WMA is slowing down with the colder weather. If you go, try a high riding dry flies and small beadheaded nymphs is a productive set up.
Near Heron: The river flowing towards El Vado is low. The same tactics at the Saregent WMA applioes here. Heron Lake State Park is now open and provides access off of NM 95 for New Mexico residents.
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Below El Vado: The release is lowered and probably will not go any higher given the levels of El Vado Reservoir. Fishing has been good at Coopers, The lower release makes wading this slick section of river a lot more wadeable.
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Below Abiquiu: The river below the dam is starting to fish well now that the release is steady. The river is still murky but getting cleasrer all the time. It'll offer a place to go now that the mountain streams are getting slower.
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:​ Blue-wingerd olives and tricos,
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Patterns: Crane Bombs, Warden's Worries, Searchers, Sculpzillas, baetis nymphs
The Rio is fishing well but like every other streams in New Mexico its also crowded. Can't keep a good thing quiet for long. There is some dry fly action on tricos mid-morning. Beatis become more active during the day. No wod on pike yet but some of the smaller hammer handles should be showing themselves soon.
Jemez Mountain Streams
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Hatches:​ midges, some baetis, and grasshoppers
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Patterns: caddis larvae, HDA Favorites, hoppers
The Jemez streams as a whole are low. Fishing in has picked up with the cololer weather but the fish are spooky. The best fishing is mid-day and shuts down late afterenoon. 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. It's bl;ue-winged olive time on the San Juan! Midges in the monings and baetis 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: 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: midbges and blue-winged olives
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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 upper river is considerably cooler and the release out of Platoro reservoir. is very low Fish lower don for warmer water and more of it to avoid stress on the fish.
