The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Got back yesterday from my annual holiday get-together with my bros and nephew. We always go someplace interesting for the boy (Petrified Forest Ntl. Park and Grand Canyon this year), then my non-fishing brother, Steve, and nephew head back to Denver (What a waste! HE lives in trout country and hates fishing...I live in the freakin' desert.) My novice fly fishing brother, Warren, and I wet some lines together once Steve goes home.

This year, we hit the San Juan River in northern NM for 2 hours on Friday, all day Saturday and part of Sunday.

We'd heard that the lake above the tailwater river had inverted before we arrived, and that catching was a bit "off", but it was still the best game in town. The lake always turns this time of year.

The water was the color of slightly watered-down pea soup. I have no idea how those bows saw my size 24 chocolate foam wing emergers or the red chironomids of the same size, but I landed fish on those small nymphs.

We had most of our success in a reasonably shallow area called the Kiddie Pool just above the famous Texas Hole. In the spring and summer when the water is gin clear, the bottom of that pool is blanketed with fish, usually 40-80. That doesn't always mean they feel like grabbing a fly, but it's a no-brainer for at least hooking into SOMETHING. Most of the fish are 15"-17" with the occasional 18"+ and 14"- rainbow.

Warren's casting has improved, although most fish on the Juan are caught 10'-20' from the fisherman. He managed to land a few and lost a few more. It's tough subduing a 17" bow on a #24 hook.

The Pacific coast storm hit us Saturday morning; I think it was your first storm moving through. We had good rainwhere but at times it was difficult to see the small indicators needed to detect the extremely soft takes. I decided to go steelheading.

Swinging a #12 bead head olive bugger did the trick. The grabs were sometimes violent and not having to stare at a bobicator, I could occasionally admire the snow-covered sandstone canyon carved by the river.

I didn't hit double digits either day, but it isn't always about numbers is it? You're damned right it is...but I got to fish with my little brother.

Next stop, steelheading in NorCal in February.

The one and only time I fished the San Juan, I hit the "kiddie pool" on the last day of my trip. I was stunned at the number of fish I could see swimming around, but more stunned at the number of people. It reminded me of the Trinity below Junction City in November! I counted about 25 people fishing a small stretch of the river less than 100 yards long. Fishing was tough there. I hit the braids just below and found fewer people and lot's of trout, and a few that were willing to take size 26's and fewer still I could land 26's. But still a cool fishery. Very unique. And beautiful in fall colors!

Yeah, I hear you about the crowds, but like you said, they're not everywhere. The river is large enough that you can find spots where you can be "relatively" alone. They may not be the best spots, but there are fish EVERYWHERE.

After lunch, the crowds thin out. I don't know where they go, but at least 60% of the breakfast crowd never returns.

Throw in a little rain, winter chill and an inverted lake and there ain't that many people out there. At times, Warren and I were the only ones fishing the Kiddie Pool.

AB-
My brother used to live in Durango, so we frequently fished the San Juan----
You are right- one can find relative space if you are willing to fish "undesirable" water.
February in a snowstorm works also.
Most of my fishing on the San Juan was in the 80's.
I have quit fishing major destination waters (after living in Montana and Mammoth), and now fish for winter steelhead or small streams, where I rarely see anyone. A 3wt is my friend.

When the AVERAGE fish was a fat football of 18".

I started my fly fishing career there in '85. Never fly fished anywhere else until 2001. Didn't think fly fishing was a very efficient way to catch fish, except on the Juan where bait was forboten.

I'm a Zen fisherman, so people around me really aren't there. I fish alone in the crowds. Ohmmmmmmmmmm, i see no one, ohmmmmmmmmmm, i am the only one in the fishing universe, ohmmmmmmmmmmm, hey, get the hell out of my water or I'll throw rocks at you.

I agree with the 3 wt. I used a 2/3 fiberglass rod last weekend...a bit of a noodle, but lots of fun with a feisty 18 incher on the business end.