The San Juan River
San Juan River Habitat Improvement Projects Apparently Work!
Anglers looking for some good fishing and a little breathing room on New Mexico’s popular San Juan River need only look downstream to a stretch of recently improved trout habitat. “Looks like money well spent,” said Tim McCarthy, 56, of Albuquerque, as he released a good-sized rainbow trout caught in the project area during … Continue reading
Meeting Produces Workable Solutions for Improving San Juan River
It was one of those days that old time anglers of the San Juan’s quality waters like to talk about.
A Baetis hatch that caused the river to roil with rising fish and anglers to howl with glee.
The day began dark and drizzly with low, threatening clouds and a quiet calm that held the promise of such a hatch.
And the river didn’t disappoint this early spring day.
“My God, look at all of them,” a voice exclaimed from downriver. “They’re everywhere.”
I turned from my spot below the island at Baetis Bend to see a couple of late arrivals trudging up the bank, talking and pointing excitedly.
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Oscar Simpson – Is it About Him or the River ?
Oscar Simpson of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation has apologized to a group of San Juan River fishing guides for his making unsubstantiated claims and stirring up negative publicity about the blue ribbon trout fishery to further his political objectives. “I’m sorry if I cost you guys some money,” Simpson told a gathering of San … Continue reading
Official Report Sums Up Conditions on the San Juan River
Wading around the corner of a willow choked island at Baetis Bend on the San Juan River recently, I encountered a well-appointed but clearly disappointed fly fisherman. “This river has gone to hell, “ he complained. I wondered what the problem was as I looked over the water he was deserting. After all, it was … Continue reading
Floating the lower San Juan River – Big Browns, No Crowds, Great Fishing !
It’s eight and half miles of glorious water loaded with big, bad, brown trout that most anglers visiting the San Juan River pass up on a regular basis.
Many have seen this lower stretch of river from the road as they motored up to their favorite fishing hole on this famous river’s, quality waters.
And with so many fish to be had upstream, an estimated 70,000 in four miles of public access, many don’t even think about fishing down below.
After all, you’d need a boat and some high water to easily float downstream to those fabled browns.
But that’s just what we did when we set out to explore this lower river on a midsummer expedition to the lower waters of the San Juan River. Continue reading
Fishing on the Fly at Navajo Lake. What a Gas !
It’s fly fishing at its best, a double header weekend, pursuing trophy sized trout on New Mexico’s legendary San Juan River one day and then casting to aggressive, small mouth bass on nearby Navajo Lake the next. Navajo Lake in northwestern New Mexico harbors the cold clear waters that feed the San Juan River’s fabled … Continue reading