The Cimarron flows are down, to like 30 CFS but it should be good on the upper river. Use your basic Northern NM patterns:
Golden stone nymphs, caddis pupa, Yellow body Stimulator or a PMX, and PMD’s (I just use Grey bodied P. Adams).
The Rio Grande is tougher.
If I had to guess, which I do for that area, I would say something yellow bodied, like a Sally or a PMX, maybe even a Humpy and PMD’s/P. Adams. Run a black ant dropper as well…
Nice video and nice fish!
Nice fish and nice video!
Thanks!
It’s my new favorite river…
This weekend will be four rivers in two days.
The Cimarron, Red River, Rio Costilla, and Comanche Creek. The Costilla and Comanche are loaded with native Cutthroat Trout so that should be a nice time. We will get plenty of pictures and get a good report on this one!
Can’t wait!
The mountains are painted with brilliant gold and autumn rust and the wind is being somewhat cooperative as I sit on the bank of a stream in the long bear grass. My feet are in the water as I look upstream; I am working something out in my head which, as of late, can take quite a while. I have tried a number of combination?s but nothing seems to be tempting my targets. This is my normal process of working out a new stream, a river, or any body of water for that matter. I have made usual hasty mistakes . I am so excited to set foot in new water that I jump in without taking a minute to step back and observe. The rig that worked last week on whatever river does not always work this week on any river. Eventually I will learn to do this in the beginning and save myself an hour of frustration.
I know the basics of what should work but sometimes you just have to go look for yourself. I am turning over rocks from the bottom of the stream to find my answer. It does not take long and I am rigged up once again.
A number 18 BH Pheasant Tail Nymph dropped about 12 inches off a size 16 grey bodied Parachute Adams. This is the magic combination that brings me the results I expect every time I set foot in the water. Not much changes as the day goes on just questions about why it took so long to solve this stream. I later discussion with a local flyshop would reveal what I believe is the answer; the fish have been pounded with the ?norm? all Summer so they probably scattered every time they saw my giant yellow bodied hopper or Madam X hit the surface.
I am addicted to Fly Fishing for a number of reasons. Foremost would be the game of figuring out what these fish want and how to present it to them so they cannot refuse. After that would be the areas that this addiction puts you in. Northern New Mexico is the area I fish extensively and every new area I go continues to surprise. This last weekend it was the Valle Vidal Unit (Valley of Life). This area of land was a gift from Pennzoil (shocked?) back in the early 80?s. It is essentially there for the people to hunt, fish, and hike to their hearts extent. Hopefully it will stay this way as I am sure there are more than a few gas and oil companies or our beloved Energy Task Force that want to sink their filthy fingers in the Valle Vidal and bleed her dry.
Until that day let?s hope it continues on it?s current path of being excellent Elk hunting and an area that is being developed as a safe haven for a large number of native Rio Grande Cutthroat.
Great reports, photos, and video! What kind of camera are you using for the video? Is it clipped to your vest? That was really cool.
That little piece of video was taken with a Gopro camera with a headstrap mount. It is a great little camera, super simple, and very durable. It comes with a waterproof case for underwater shots as well. Can’t go wrong for 300 dollars…
This weekend will be the Cimarron river, Eagles Nest Lake, and the Red River.
We had so much fun up in the Valle Vidal last weekend we decided to do these places this weekend…
Well, the year is rapidly closing and there is still much fishing to be done. I have some good firsts this year and learned a lot. I made it a point to fish every weekend this year and I only missed a handful of those weekends. I hit 13 new rivers this year, guided my first trip, learned to set up a drift, and many other little things that have made my success at fly fishing grow tenfold.
I hope everyone had a good of a year as I had and just know you still have time to get that last 2010 trip in. Come on down to the San Juan, it is a most excellent winter fishery…
I think my new favorite river is the Red River near Questa NM. You have to earn this one a little by getting in and out of the canyon. I think it was about a 900 foot drop in and out.
We also had a day out with the owner of High Desert Angler recently. A good day on the Chama but not a good camera…
San Juan is next…
Ok, so San Juan was not next. I tried my hand at Pike fishing on the Rio Grande.
Skunkola for me but one guy in our party got a 24 incher.
Next time…
ah-HA! I recognize one of those pictures! :o)
How do you like your new Allen reel?
I love the reel! It is the alpha 5-7.
I use it on everything, even my 3wt lol! I am seriuosly considering getting on of their rods as well…
Well, I will be hitting the Rio Grande again this weekend. We went last weekend strictly for Pike. Only one fish was caught between three people so I am hoping this trip will be more productive. I just got my good laptop up and running so hopefully I can get some good video footage up here soon.
…
Well, the time is creeping near. If all goes as planned I should be on the San Juan over Christmas weekend. That is the report that started this thread and it will complete an entire year. Although I have not listed every outing in this thread there was basically one every week of the year.
I think I have talked the old man into coming along this time. he was there last time but he backed out when he got out of the Airstream and noticed a fresh 5" of snow on the ground LOL! Well, the water is always the same temp so it didn’t matter much. This year should be a lot warmer. The temps are supposed to be in the mid to high 40’s and I am sure whatever snow might be on the ground next week will be gone by the time we get there.
So here is to hoping it works out well. I hope everyone enjoys there end of the year roundup.
Merry Christmas!
These are some photos from the San Juan Christmas trip to wrap this thread up.
Thanks for looking!
Hope you enjoyed it or at least got an idea of what is possible in New Mexico for fly fishing…
Looks like a good way to wrap up the year. Nice piggies!
Thanks! Can;t wait to go back.
Although I am growing very fond of the Rio Chama which is where I will be this weekend. Well, there on Sunday and the Pecos on Saturday…
