San Juan River Trips

       

 

 

Blue Sky Fly Fishing Co.   
             
Capt. Mark Nesbit
POB 6442
Navajo Dam, NM 87419
1-505-634-0582
 

Mark@blueskyflyfishing.com

 
 

All of Quality waters is now Catch & Release


 The San Juan's upper areas hold some of the river's larger fish.

  • Big Macs#18   Olive and red ribbed

  • Princess flies #16

  • Larva, red, cream, gray, olive, brown #18-24

  • Chocolate Foam wings

  • UFO's #24-26 brown, cream, gray

  • Leeches Gray, black, or olive

  • Zebra midge pupas, and emergers black & gray with silver wire.#24-26.

Upper flats

UPPER FLATS TO TEXAS HOLE: Fishing has been good in the upper flats water. The main channel fished OK from the Southside, not as good on the North side.   Bead head Wooly buggers,  leeches, and red larva are working good early am.  Gray and choc. foam wings have been working good.

 

  •  Pheasant tail flash backs or natural #20-22,

  •  RS’2 chocolate, gray #22-20

  •  Black and chocolate midge pupas #24-26

  •  Foam wings chocolate, gray #20-22

  •  Larva cream, olive, gray, and red #18-24

  •  UFO's gray, cream, brown #22-26

  •  Bead head pheasant tail #24

 

Texas Hole & Downstream

 

TEXAS HOLE to end of the quality waters This area of the river is fishing good.  The mornings are still a little slow . Red larva, eggs and gray or natural bunny leeches has been working.  There is a black midge hatch mid pm.  

 

  •  Pheasant tail or wd 40 flashbacks or natural #20-22,

  •  RS’2 Brown, or gray #20-22

  •  UFO's gray , cream, brown #22-26

  •  Foam wings brown, gray#20-22

  •  Black and brown midge pupas #24-26

  •  Gray, black, or natural bunny leeches

  •  Zebra midge #24-26

  •  Red, olive, and gray larva #18-22

Mark

I hope all is well with you. Ron and I thoroughly enjoyed the recent excursion to San Juan. It is great to have an outstanding guide to put us on the fish, as always. I'm not sure which day I enjoyed the most, the lake or the river, the wade trip or the float trips ---lots of great fishing.

Thanks for everything,

 

Jim McNeil

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

orb          1090 cfs

 

River Flow raised to 880cfs, ANT FALL anytime now

Capt. Mark Nesbit
June 27, 2010
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

Hello Everyone,
The B.O.R. raised the water flow to 880cfs Thursday 06/24/10. The water is clear with visibility 4-5'. The fishing has been good with the upper areas fishing good to great. What has been working for me is #24 black mono midge, black krystal flash wing, #22 gray and black midge pupa's, and #22 red larva's. Dries have been #16 dead chickens or 16-22 dark griffins knatt, and #16-18 black ant patterns.
The upper flats and the braids fishing good to fair using the above patterns.
The main channel fishing fair using above midge patterns and #20 dark chocolate beatis nymphs, pheasant tails, WD 40, Fluff beatis, and CDC wing, or foam wing RS2's.
Texas Hole to top of death row {frustration point}. Early am to mid pm I've had my best luck using #18-20 3m's olive, brown, or gray. Big Mac's and Abe's midge master. Late am to mid pm #20-22 dark fluff beatis, WD-40, RS2's, Pheasant tails, and Root Beer's. #18-20 olive or cream larva's.
Death row fishing good using small #10-12 carp minnow streamers next to the edges of the slews. Big macs and large #16-18 red larva's,
Simon Canyon to the gravel pit, end of the quality waters has been good with the caddis starting to crawl. The PMD's are on the move to.
#18-20 double bead head caddis, and #16-18 hares ear or other pmd nymphs. #18 Elk hair caddis or #16-18 PMD's when you find rising heads.
The caddis was coming off strong until they raised the water flow. It is still happening in the bait waters in the early to mid afternoon. The Pmds are coming off in the lower river section with #16-18 hares ears and #16-18 dark bead head pheasant tails.
ANT Fall could happen in the next couple of days if we get a good soaking rain. Rain showers are predicted.
I hope the above info helps all of you get hooked up.
Tight Line's to All,
Mark

 

San Juan River Fishing Forecast:

 

Ant Fall Could happen as early as tomorrow. The first good soaking rain will make it happen. There is areas on the lake that has had a ant fall already. The Carp and Bass are on the carp candy fly hard.

Target Species:

 

Rainbow trout , Brown trout, Pike, Bass, and Carp

More Fishing Reports:

 

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

NAVAJO RESERVOIR RELEASES

June 22, 2010

 

SENT VIA FAX AND E-MAIL

 

 

The Bureau of Reclamation will be increasing the release from Navajo Reservoir to 800 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Thursday, June 24, 2010, at 9:00 a.m.  Releases are made for the authorized purposes of the Navajo Unit, and to attempt to maintain a target base flow through the endangered fish critical habitat reach of the San Juan River (Farmington to Lake Powell).

 

The San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program recommends a target base flow of between 500 cfs and 1,000 cfs through the critical habitat area.  The target base flow is calculated as the weekly average of gaged flows throughout the critical habitat area. 

 

This scheduled release change is subject to changes in river flows and weather conditions.  If you have any questions, please contact Pat Page at (970) 385-6560 or e-mail him at ppage@usbr.gov.

 

 

 

RSwickard@usbr.gov

Engineering Technician

Bureau of Reclamation

835 East 2nd Ave., Ste 300

Durango CO 81301

970-385-6523 970-385-6539 FAX

 

 

 

 

Hot Temps. Great Fishing. The San Juan loses two more.

Capt. Mark Nesbit
June 7, 2010
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

Hello Everyone,
Yesterday, the San Juan River community of Navajo Dam lost another one of it's fly fishing people.
Gretchen Lee, Owner of Enchanted Hideaway Lodge passed away yesterday afternoon. She had entered the hospital 05/29 with respiratory problems, underwent test for the next week and was diagnosed with lung cancer. She was to have been released today. She was going to have to under go the radiation and chemotherapy treatment. Saturday night 06/05 she had a massive stroke, went into a coma and passed away yesterday afternoon. As a business owner serving the fly fishing community she was involved with promoting a positive image with all. Gretchen was a country girl that loved it here. She loved her dogs and horses. Gretchen was a self made woman. Hard headed, self willed female with attitude. It's what made us that new you , love you. You where my dog training Buddie, and friend. You will be missed much. Miss Gretchen Lee.
Our second lost was Wes, the former owner and original proprietor of the Sportsman Inn. From what I understand he passed away last week in the Albuquerque, NM area. Wes was a true legend from his days as a navy seal and first Bar proprietor in our area.
Fishing report
The no trespass area down to espn hole the fishing has been good with the hog trough living up to it's name. The old cable hole area and down through out the upper flats, what has been working for me is a #24-26 black pupas,flash back pupas and around 8;30-9;00am when the midges are coming off Black Krystal flash midge #24-26.
In the Upper flats area the fish are stacked up with fish in the shallows. Perfect for sight fishing. When the midges are clustering and the fish are gulping try a new small black #18-20 foam parachute ant from Abe's. Small to large dark hackle griffins knatt #16-22 depending on midge cluster size's.
The main channel from the upper flats to the Texas Hole fished good in the afternoon using a chocolate or olive #20 cdc wing rs2, followed behind a chocolate rs2 foam wing of the same size. Dark #20 beatis nymphs working.
The sand hole, kiddie hole, and the braids all fishing good with the above black midge patterns.
The Texas hole down to the lower flats fishing great early am to mid afternoon. In the early am I've had great luck on a new pattern that I tie. I call it "3m" Mark's magic midge. It is a simple tie. #18-26 tmc 100 gray bodied. black tread, or silver wire ribbed, black headed, pearl flash tinsel winged midge pattern. It has been a good one for me lately. Mid to late morning I switch over to the above beatis nymphs, and emergers. From lower flats to the gravel pit, the above patterns have been working for me also. Small gray 324 tricos coming off in the afternoon.
The lower river from the Village to the Turley Take out, "Private Water float" Fished good. large #16-18 pheasant tails and #18 double bead head caddis nymph worked first. little Sallie stones crawling around and getting eaten. The caddis are coming off strong from the winery area down to San Juan de Las Vegas.
The Lake is hot with Bass crashing top water poppers and jerk baits.
Tight Line's to all,
Capt.Mark
Blue Sky Flyfishing Co. L.L.C.

San Juan River Fishing Forecast:

 

No high water forecast for now. The beastis hatch just started hard last week. The caddis hatch will be moving up river as I write. The ant fall should happen the next hard soaking rain.

Target Species:

 

Trophy Rainbow and Brown trout, Bass,Pike, Carp

 

 

 

 

 

San Juan Trout in great shape, thanks to all !!

Capt. Mark Nesbit
April 4, 2010
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

Hello Everyone,
First I would like to say that the over-all quality of the San Juan trout, and fishery is improving everyday with the combined efforts of all that have been involved. A few year's ago who would of thought that different state, private and most of all Federal agency's working together with a positive result. With the NEW Reg's and the game and fish enforcing the law's and MOST of all you the fly fishing anglers Respecting Your fishery. The Trout are everywhere, Fat, healthy and full of attitude.
The fish in the last year are so much cleaner with lot less battle scares from barbed hook's and three + fly rigs.
THANK'S to ALL!!
 

The river is flowing around 450 cfs and the water clarity is 2-3'. Lot's of moss. The river has been fishing good in most parts. I have not been in the upper area's recently, I have heard of some doing good in the upper deep slow runs with steamer's, low light and cloud cover. #20 Gray WD 40s have been working also. The upper flats has been slow from what I heard. Probably from the cold nights last week. This is what has been working for me in the am. From T-hole down to the gravel pit take out. #24-26 black or dark gray bodied, and ribbed krystal flash midge. Red larva's where hot last week, has slowed down some but still hard to beat. Egg's, #22 princesses and any #18-22 flashy larva's, red, orange, cream, olive all getting bit in the AM. Small beatis start moving in the early pm with the emergence around three to four pm. Any small #22 gray or dark bodied beatis nymph's patterns should get the rod bent. Head's still rising when the condition's permit. For dries flies I like a #20-22 gray calf hair post wing for heads rising to beatis {BWO's}. When the fish are gulping midge clusters it is hard to beat the dead chicken #16 griffin's gnat. Water clarity improves considerably from Simon Canyon down with a strong small beatis hatch down to the take out in the mid to late pm.
Tight Line's to all,
Mark
 

 

NAVAJO RESERVOIR RELEASES

March 26, 2010

 

SENT VIA FAX AND E-MAIL

 

 

The Bureau of Reclamation will be decreasing the release from Navajo Reservoir from 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 300 cfs, at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30, 2010.  The release is being reduced to assist in Phase IV of a trout habitat improvement project on the San Juan River (Phases I, II and III were completed the previous three years).  The location of the project will be on the west edge of the community of Navajo Dam on the BLM’s Trucha Rosilla Recreation Site on the San Juan River downstream of Navajo Dam.  The project is being undertaken by the Bureau of Land Management with the cooperation of adjacent private landowners and the Bloomfield Irrigation District and the approval of the Army Corps of Engineers and the New Mexico Environmental Division.  The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has assisted in the design of the project. The project will encompass approximately 850 linear feet of river channel and will include the installation of 4 boulder clusters and 9 single habitat rocks.  The project is anticipated to be completed within a day.  The release will be increased back to 500 cfs on March 31, 2010 at 7:00 p.m., where it will remain until further notice.

 

If you have any questions on the trout habitat improvement project, please contact John Hansen with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Farmington, NM at (505) 599-6325.

 

 

RSwickard@usbr.gov

Engineering Technician

Bureau of Reclamation

835 East 2nd Ave., Ste 300

Durango CO 81301

970-385-6523 970-385-6539 FAX

 

 

Cold Temps and Hot Fishing

Capt. Mark Nesbit
February 28, 2010
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

 

Hello Everyone,
Winter persists, but the bite is hot. The river flow is around 490cfs. Water visibility is 2-3 feet. The upper areas, below the Dam no trespass area to T-hole has been good to great. #20-22 RED Larva's have been the the fly of choice. #24-26 Dark gray or black krystal flash midge has been working. From Texas hole on down some beatis and big midges late am in to early pm, #22-24 gray foam wings, rs-2's. Heads rising to midges in the upper areas and small gray beatis from lower flats to the gravel pit. The sun is far enough north that when the season change finally happens the weather on the San Juan will be nice with Spring budding away. The spring beatis hatch should kick in near the end of the month. Latest conditions and information try my web site www.blueskyflyfishing.com
Tight Lines to All,
Mark


February 17, 2010
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

 

Hello Everyone,
The river is flowing at 470 cfs. The visibility is around 2-3 feet. The river is fishing good overall. The upper areas are stacked with fish in the slower deeper runs. #20 Red larva's and a #24-26 black or dark gray midge pupa's and emergers. Egg, Golden nugget, or Oregon cheese egg patterns are working.
Texas Hole on down to the Death Row has fishing great with above egg patterns to a #18-20 flash red larva has been the hot rig. #22-26 gray, cream or olive larva's are also working. #24 gray scintilla bubble midge or #24 gray crystal flash wing midge. Beatis bend is still having a fair beatis hatch late am into mid afternoon. Small gray post Adams, or bwo patterns will get heads up and gulping. From Simon Canyon on down to the take out is fishing good with a small gray trico's and midges coming off in the early pm. Spawning fish in the gravel bars on their reds. I prefer to leave the pairs alone and target the fish below the reds and pair. The snow is slowly disappearing and yesterday was a really nice day to be on the Juan. For more fishing, river and trip info. take a look at my web site at www.blueskyflyfishing.com
Tight lines to All,
Mark

Early February Bite

Capt. Mark Nesbit
February 4, 2010
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

Hello Everyone,
The river is flowing around 465 cfs. Water clarity 3'. Not much moss but a fair amount of water grass breaking loose. Fishing is good to great, depending where and when. The weather and river access has been interesting due to heavy snow. The upper area is fishing good with #18-22 peach-apricot colored egg patterns and #18-24 olive, gray, cream, red or orange larva's. working.
#22-24 red hots and 322-26 dark gray, olive, or brown blacked ribbed midge pupa's and emerger's patterns all getting bit. Streamers, and leech patterns working. Try different presentations playing with the strip retrieves seeing what they want.
Texas Hole on down has been good fishing all winter. Eggs and larva's of the above flavors should get you hooked up in the am and around 10:30-11:00 am the beatis get active. #20-22 Pheasant tails, gray, olive, or brown WD-40's. As the hatch kicks in, the emergers will be the fly of choice. #22 olive - gray foam wing or cdc wing rs'2 emergers, loop wings are all good choice's. If heads are up and there on the mayflies, {BWO'S} dark calf hair post mayfly pattern in #22. Dark gray/olive dun #22. Should get a rise or two.
The big midge hatch has been good from three island run down into death row mid am-pm. I like using tavs big mac in gray/black or red/gray and Abe's midge master is hot also. #18-20. #24 choclate foam wings work when the midge is emerging.
The river pressure has been lite. This week-end is going to be busy with presidents day and all. the state park is closed on the 9th of Feb. Thank the gov. Looks like the NM State Game and Fish, will be implementing a San Juan Stamp to fish in the quality waters. All the funds generated by the stamp will be used for the San Juan River exclusively. This is pending.
The lake bite has started for big pike.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Mark

Cold Temp's, Red Hot fishing

Capt. Mark Nesbit
December 28, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

Hello Every-one,
The river is flowing around 480cfs. The water is off-colored and clarity is around 2-3 feet. The river is fishing good to great. The hot ticket has been red or orange larva's #22-18. Bunny Leech patterns, trailing a larva pattern. Egg patterns are working Orange, peach or apricot. Gray bodied, black head #22-24 midge pupa's and #18-22 olive, or gray larva. The beatis hatch is still going on good from T-hole down. Heads still rising in Three Island run down to the top of Death Row.
The fish are in the deep slow runs where the water temps are more stable. With the very cold nights the shallow water gets colder then the deep water, fish don't like colder temperatures, so they move into the slow deep runs where the water is warmer. The fish will move to the shallows as the sun warms the water late am into the afternoon. The weather has been stormy and cold this last week and the next couple of days then it is going to start warming up. The highs have been in the mid to upper 20's and the lows in the 0-10 degree range. The current forecast is snow tonight, and tomorrow. After that weather will improve with the daytime temps warming up into the upper 30's into the low 40's. If you can endure the weather the fishing is worth it.
For San Juan River fishing tips and techniques visit my website. www.blueskyflyfishing.com
Tight Lines, and a Happy New Year to all.
Mark
 

 

 

Holiday season fishing on the San Juan

Capt. Mark Nesbit
December 9, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

Hello Everyone, and Happy holidays to all.
The river is flowing around 475 cfs. The visibility is 4-6 feet. The lake still has not turned over, so the water is still very clear. There has been a good rise to midge's and beatis from Texas hole down. The upper area is fishing slow to fair. Size #10 Natural bunny leeches, and ginger variant bunny leeches dragging a #18-22 red or olive larva behind it. Try agitating your presentation every so often {20-30 seconds} and see if it doesn't provoke a strike. Dark gray, black or brown midges #24-26. Pupa's and emergers of the same color has been working for me. If the water is quiet {no rise forms think larva's and pupa's. If there is heads a sipping, emerger's and Krystal flash midge's in the top water column should get bit. Texas hole on down has been fishing fair to good. The above patterns in the early am and beatis from late morning to mid afternoon then back to the midge patterns. Egg patterns are starting to work in the riffle bars. Dry fly fishing in a snow storm can be quiet rewarding on the Juan. If conditions are right and the midges are clustering it's the hoots. If the fish are just sipping try a +#24-26 parachute Adams. If the fish are gulping try a large midge cluster pattern. A favorite is a large griffin's gnat #14-16 {Dead Chicken}. If you see beatis try a #22-24 Parachute Adams. Lots of fish in Simon Canyon on down to the take out. Should be some nice spawning fish in the riffles in Durangler's corner.
My last fishing report I made a comment on how much gear you should consider to bring on the boat on your trip. All I was trying to get across is that there is a lot of simple things that one can do to improve there day on the water, and not having a lot of extra gear that you will not use is one of them. The bottom line on this is SAFETY, and will it interfere with the quality of your trip, or the other person if there is two. Will it keep the guide from be able to do his job in a safe professional manner. Here is another thing that will help improve your next trip. If it has been a while since you cast a line, try to get out to a local water hole or a grassy area and practice a few casts to a target 25 ft, then to a different target 30-35 ft, and another longer distance. I try to do this before every salt water, or precise dry fly action, and any trip that I would like to be at my best for. A little bit of time doing your home work can pay-off with big rewards. The other thing I got reamed for was my comment about me fishing and you holding the rods. I know now that I should of explained. I have a lot of clients ask me if I miss fishing cause I busy working the boat and keeping them rigged up in the slot on the drift. I don't get to fish much on my own, cause I'm working all year. So I look at as though I'm fishing and my Client's are working the rods. I have to fix the rig up. tell my clients where to fish, and why there fishing where they are, and all that goes with it. It is a lot harder to put people on fish that have never fly fished before than myself. I like the challenge and most of all love to share the sport with others. I not in this for the money but the reward of watching someone get hooked up with the our though fighting trout. I do all that I can to teach them some thing that helps them catch more fish for today, and the rest of their day.
Tight lines to all,
Capt. Mark

 

Capt. Mark Nesbit
October 7, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

Hello everyone,
The river flow is around 650 cfs as of this morning. The water clarity is clear with lots of moss in the water column. Keep your flies clean. The upper area has been fair fishing with some days good and others tough. The crowds have been here and will start to thin out latter in the month. The T-hole on down has been fishing best for me. Abe's has a new pattern called abe's midge master and it has been hot. Gray #24-26 midge emergers and crystal flash midges have also been good for me. Some large red larva #16-18 has been working also. Yesterday there was a good beatis {BWO's} coming off mid am into the mid-afternoon T-hole on down. Beatis nymphs and emergers, Gray or Chocolate foam wings and pheasant tails,wd-40's #20-22's. The fishing has been good in the lower river, Death row down to the gravel pit. The trees are in there colors and fishing is good, the weather is just right, not to hot or cold. Enjoy the San Juan and please take out what you take in trash wise.
Need to put in the wind to the San Luis river near Alamosa, Co for a 3 day duck hunt
Tight lines to all
Mark

 

 

Late Summer, Early Fall San Juan River Fishing Report

Capt. Mark Nesbit
September 10, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

 

 

 

Hello Everyone,
The river flow is at 730 cfs. The water clarity is around 6-7. There is a lot of moss in the water column depending on the how many waders are in the upper areas. The fishing has been good to fair in the catch and release area. The cable hole to the braids has been great some days and tough other days. Early am using cream, olive,, or gray #24-26 larva. When the fish start suspending or tailing try using #24-26 Iron gray , gray or black midge emergers and krystal flash midges.
The above patterns have been working in the Texas hole down to death row in the early am to midday pm.
Beatis from around 11:00 am till around 4:00 pm.
I have been using #20-22 flash back pheasant tails and chocolate foam wings and been doing good. There is a lot of fish in slow shallow water that you can sight fish to with a short rig of 1-2'. Using the lightest weight possible to get you in the zone. Watch the fish and if he turns and follows your flies, and you see the white of his mouth flash, and he is acting like he's trying to puke, lift he has taken your fly.
Some dry fly action going on in the upper areas rising to midge clusters. T- hole on down on some days some rising to beatis.
Tight lines to all,
Mark
Blue Sky Flyfishing

 

 

Late August Fishing hundreds of huge trout stocked in the T-hole

Capt. Mark Nesbit
August 21, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report


 

 

Hello everyone,
The river is flowing at 900cfs and the water visibility is 5-6 feet or more. Lots of moss depending on how many waders there is in the upper areas. The catch and release, cable hole, and upper flats has lots of great fish cruising around but being very picky about eating. Size #26 iron gray bodied, black headed midge pupa's and pearl flash winged midges have been working for me. The fish are watching your leader's and presentation. You have to make a good clean drag free drift's to get bit. Watch the fish, and see if they look at your flies. or are they moving out of the way as your flies approach. If they are moving out of the lane then their seeing your stuff and it is not right. Fouled flies, dirty or tangled flies. piled leader. Lighter leader and tippet might do the trick to. If there looking but not taking your presentation, then something minor is not right. Fly has moss or not the right size, color. Usually it is something simple. If there moving away from it it is major. Bad drift, to heavy leader, tippet.
The Texas hole had hundreds of huge trout stocked yesterday. 4-8 lb rainbows and browns.
It will take a few days for those fish to get with the bite but it will be good when they do.
The Texas hole down to the take out has been good with the above midge patters early am and beatis in early to mid afternoon. We took 7 out of 8 nice trout sight fishing Wednesday am in the T-hole using the iron gray flash winged midge. Some PMD's coming off beatis bend top of death row in the afternoon. Big red larva's #16 and gray foam wings, Johnny flashers #22
Tight Line's to all,
Capt. Mark

San Juan River Fishing Forecast:

 

T-hole Monster Trout to wake up. Fishing should just improve as summer gives way to fall.

Target Species:

 

Trophy Rainbow and Brown Trout

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

NAVAJO RESERVOIR RELEASES

July 6, 2009

SENT VIA FAX AND E-MAIL

As a result of declining river flows in the San Juan Basin, the Bureau of Reclamation will be increasing the release from Navajo Reservoir to 800 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at 4:00 a.m. Releases are made for the authorized purposes of the Navajo Unit, and to attempt to maintain a target base flow through the endangered fish critical habitat reach of the San Juan River (Farmington to Lake Powell).

 

The San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program recommends a target base flow of between 500 cfs and 1,000 cfs through the critical habitat area.

 

This scheduled release change is subject to changes in river flows and weather conditions. If you have any questions, please contact Pat Page at (970) 385-6560 or e-mail

 

 

Hot fishing, Hot weather

Capt. Mark Nesbit
July 5, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

Hello everyone, The river is flowing around 500cfs , the water clarity is 2-3 feet. The upper areas have been fishing fair to good for me using black or gray midge pupa's in the early am and switching over to emerging and adult midge patterns in black, gray, or black and gray. All sizes #24-26. The main channel is fishing good. Above patterns am and beatis starting mid am. The T-Hole is fishing fair with #26 midge emergers early am. The beatis kick in around mid morning. The fishing has been good to great in the river from T-hole on down. I have doing best with brown beatis patterns #20-22.
The dry fly action is good with fish slurping BWO's #20-22 and some midge clustering going on.
The weather is hot and so has the fishing been.
The mosquito's are thick so wear your bug spray.
Tight Line's
Mark Nesbit

San Juan River Fishing Forecast:

 

The river is still looking good and healthy from last months high water flows. The fishing should remain good to great.

 

 

Capt. Mark Nesbit
June 15, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

 

Hello everyone,
The river is back to 500cfs and water clarity is around 3 feet. The river is clean and looks like the high water did a great job of scouring the old moss out. The ant fall was last Thursday. it is early this year so we might luck out and get a second. Fishing was hot on ants for the next three days. The upper areas Catch and release to Texas hole has been good to great fishing using #24 black or gray Krystal flash midge patterns, ants and black midge cluster patterns. The T-hole on down has been hot using dark brown or gray beatis nymph and emergers. Rs2's and foam wings #22. The fish are looking up in a lot of the river so dry fly action is happening. Parachute Adams # 20-22 for beatis and #26 for midge's.
Remember to De-barb your hook's. The game wardens pop-out out of know where, and will check you. The river is fishing good to great, we had a dozen doubles today. Get to the San Juan and get some.
Tight Lines to all,
Capt. Mark Nesbit

San Juan River Fishing Forecast:

 

The river is looking great and should be a great summer. The lake is fishing fair to good for small mouth bass, and carp on the fly.

Target Species:

 

Rainbow trout ,Brown trout, Smallmouth Bass,

 

 

Hello everyone,
The water flow is 500cfs today but will start going up Tuesday,  May 26. The water will increase by 1000cfs a day until Friday. The flow will be at 5000cfs. The river gets un-safe for wading at around 3500-4000cfs. Please do not take a chance and wade unfamiliar waters at the higher flows. The fishing from the boats will be good to great. Worm and gray # 22 scud patterns should be the ticket. Red larva's-J's, Princesses #16-22 will be working. Ant's red or black patterns #16-20 along the slow flooded areas where fish will be looking for terrestrials on the surface. The first week of high water the fish will be munching brown earthworm or San Juan worms #14-18. Egg patterns will be getting bit. The back channels will be fishing good . The first week after high water has dropped to wade able flows is the best the river has to offer, June 15-23. Don't miss out if you can do it.
Now comes the fishing tales I promised about our Honeymoon to Cancun, MX. Peggy and I Were wedded May 5th,2009. Everyone has a good excuse for a cervezas now on the 5th. Our wedding took place at pump house run on the San Juan River, NM in the day use area. Peggy arrived in the drift boat with the best man Peggy's oldest grandson, Juanito, at the oars and the brides maid, and flower girl in stow, granddaughters Karma, and Jasmine. We had the ceremony and reception there, then Peggy and I Drifted down river at sun down.
We arrived Sunday the 10th about mid-day and went and got wet at the pool and had a pina-colda. The trip to Cancun was awesome except for the guide from H*#*&* that I picked thinking he was going to be good. I had switched from one guide service to another thinking I was getting a more professional guide. We were suppose to go out Monday late afternoon and early eve trip, but our guide said that Tuesday and Wednesday would be much better weather and bite. Ok, I rolled with that. We had agreed to meet at 6:00am Tues. at the front of our hotel. Rodman Hunter our guide and owner of CancunFlyfishing.com, Islablancaflyfishing.com or Cancunsportfishing.com did not show until 6:20 am. When we got in his boat the first thing he did was throw a tantrum about our shoes making scuff marks in his boat. Should of told us to take our shoes off before we got in his boat. We where fishing at around 7:00am We motored out to the first flat from his dock area, in Cancun lagoon. Peggy, on her second practice cast as she was retrieving it she got bit, the battle was on. We didn't have a clue what it was, but after a 10-15 minute battle the fish surrender to her will and up appeared a nice two lb bonefish. The one and only hook-up of the day. Now we where informed that our lunches and drinks where back at he dock so we had to motor back to the dock and pick them up. Lost a half hour of fishing time. We went back into a cove of mangroves where some tarpon where rolling. He used my flies and leaders and anchored up just out of our casting range to the fish. After we killed a fair amount of time there we motored to the next flat looking for snook. He would barley get the boat on plane when we would go from area to area. At first I thought it was may be to protect the bottom from prop chop, but it was to burn up as much of our fishing time time as possible. A boat ride. I did have a shot or two at some nice snook but couldn't make it happen. When we did see fish the boat was out of position to make a good presentation. Rodman, did as little work as possible to make our trip a success. He cut the trip short by a hour. The wind was up all day and we had a rough one so we where ready to call it a day. The plan was to meet at the front of our hotel at 6:00am to go to Isla Blanca island area for second day. At 8:00 am I am having the Hotel congeries trying to locate Rodman. His wife said that he was a sleep, Rodman said he had been sacked by the police and that is why he did not show. I spent that day recovering my rod and reel, and dealing with the local police making Rodman Hunter return my fly fishing gear worth over $1200.00. Now i am trying to recover the trip payment of $450.00. Thursday we went out with Manuel who guide's for Elite guide service out of Isla Blanca, Mx. What a difference. Manuel was all about customer service. He was rigging our rods as we motoring from dock to area. As soon as we got to our first spot Manny handed me my rod and said go fishing. I did, second cast I had a nice snook on. I jumped about 4 young poon's and landed one. Peggy snapped a 8wt.rod on a larger poon as she was setting and broke it like a twig. Manny let us play with the poon's for awhile when he suggested it was time to go for permit. Peggy was first up. There was permit everywhere on this flat. A group of flats ghost where coming at her. She makes a nice cast out in front of the fish and slowly retrieves the crab pattern. All of sudden you see the fish race one another for Peggy's presentation, one grabs it , Peggy gives it a good strip set and way she goes. 10-15 minutes later she has a really nice permit to net. E.S.P.N. perfect. I had a shot or two but I couldn't get it right. It took two of us, two days but we did get a super slam. We finished our day catching cuda's and Peggy caught a nice snapper that we ended up eating for dinner that night. The fishing was incredible and Manuel was really good and worked for you. We are already planning on going back. If any-one would like to join us on our next trip let us know.
Tight Lines to all,
Capt. Mark and Peggy Nesbit.

San Juan River Fishing Forecast:

 

The river will be fishing good from the boats the next few weeks during high water. The first week after high water will be some of the best fishing of the year.
The lake smallmouth top water bite is on. The lake is fishing good.

Target Species:

 

San Juan River trophy rainbow or brown trout. Navajo lake bass, Pike, carp

May 09/09 Fishing Report

Capt. Mark Nesbit
May 9, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

 


Hello Everyone,
The river flow is 500cfs and water clarity is 2-3'.
The upper flats and cable hole areas are fishing good to fair. The flies that were working for me was a red larva early am. Then black or gray crystal flash midge #24-26. and black or gray scintilla bubble midge patterns #24-26.
The T-hole on down is fishing good to great from the boat's. I am using #20 chocolate foam wings and dark beatis nymphs. Black midges late afternoon. The water flows will increase starting May,15th. The water flow rate increase chart is on our web site. www.blueskyflyfishing.com Peggy and I are married and heading on our honey-moon for Tarpon fishing and margarita's. Check our fishing report after we return, hope fully it will be full of fish tales
Tight Lines to all,
Capt. Mark Nesbit

San Juan River Fishing Forecast:

 

The river will be coming up and San Juan worm's gray scuds, red larva's and white myissis shrimp #20-22 will be working.
The lake bite will be hot for Small mouth bass in the next week or two.

Target Species:

 

Rainbow and Brown trout, Small mouth bass

 

 

Late April Fishing Report 04/24/09

Capt. Mark Nesbit
April 23, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

 

 

Hello Everyone,
The river flow is around 520 cfs. The water clarity is less that 2' up in upper area below the dam. The visibility is close to 5' in the lower river below death row. The river is fishing good to great. The upper area been fishing good with black dark brown or gray midge pupa, and emerging patterns 22-26. Gray or black, or dark brown crystal flash midge patterns #22-26. T-hole down to death row has been good using the above patterns early am and beatis around noon into the mid afternoon. Root beers {trico's}, Fluff Beatis' and pheasant tails#20-22's mid to late am. Brown or gray RS'2 and foam wings #20-22's as the emergence kick's in. There is heads rising for the beatis now. Olive or gray sparkle dun's and gray BWO'S #20-22. Some fish rising to midge clusters, black midge or griffin's gnatt 318-22 mid am if the wind is not blowing them off the water. Below death row has been fishing decent with the above pattern mid am to late afternoon.

San Juan River Fishing Forecast:

 

Fishing is just getting better as the weather improves.

Target Species:

 

Rainbow and Brown trophy trout

 

Easter Sunday Fishing report 04/12/09

Capt. Mark Nesbit
April 12, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

 

Happy Easter to all, The river flow is around 500cfs. The water clarity is around 3 feet. The river is fishing good to great. The upper section has been good . In the am light colored egg patterns and cream or red midge larva's have been good. Mid to late am gray and black midge pupa's, and emerging midge patterns #22-24 have been good. Hooked over a dozen in the mid am a few days ago on a #24 black juju bee winged midge. Mid am to mid afternoon small gray foam wings and black/gray scintilla midge patterns working well. the T-hole has been great in the am on the #24 black juju bee. Mid am till late pm has been hot on #20-22 beatis patterns, Fluff beatis, root beer's small bead head trico pattern, flash back pheasant tails,Chocolate foam wings as the beatis emerge. Still not many heads rising yet but that will change over the next week or two as the water clears and the fish start looking up. My client the other day hooked up with 30-40 fish. The largest being well over 20" and around 4-5 lbs. From the T-Hole on down is getting better every day fishing the same pattern as above and leeches in the slow water. The lower river from lower flats on down has fished good again with the above patterns. Navajo lake bite for big Pike is hot right now. I would like you all to take a look at my new web site that my wife to be, San Juan River's own Peggy Harrell built. www.blueskyflyfishing.com Let me know what you think, and what would help improve it.
Tight line's to all,
Mark

San Juan River Fishing Forecast:

 

The weather will be improving and the dry fly action will be getting better. The bass bite will be getting hot when the water temps rise to the mid 50's

Target Species:

 

On the river trophy rainbow and brown trout. On the lake Pike, Smallmouth bass.

 

 

 

Spring fishing

Capt. Mark Nesbit
March 26, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

 

Hello everyone,
River flow is 500cfs, water clarity is 2-3 feet depending where your at. Fishing has been fair to good depending on location and day, and what flies your using. White bunny leeches or streamers #6-10, and black midge emergers patterns #24-26. Red or orange larva's #18-22, Black midge pupa's or Disco's #20-24. UFO's dark brown or cream #24-26.
I've been doing pretty good with beatis nymph's, and emergers from T-hole on down to the end of the quality waters in the early pm. Gray or brown CDC RS2's, and foam wings, flash back pheasant tails, WD40's #20-24. Egg patterns still working some days.
Some flash has been working, Desert storms, Princess, Green machine #18-24
Tight Lines to all,
Mark,
Blue Sky Flyfishing

San Juan River Fishing Forecast:

 

Weather changed this week for the worse. Hopefully the conditions will be better next week. The swallows have started to show up, which usually means that the beatis, {Blue Wing Olives] should start coming off regularly. If the water clears up and the BW"s get going, heads should start rising.

Target Species:

 

Trophy Rainbow and Brown Trout.

 

 

 

 

 

Early Spring Fishing Report

Capt. Mark Nesbit
March 11, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

 

Hello Everyone,
The river flow is around 500cfs, Water clarity is 2'. The river has fished better the last few days.
Today, hooked up 8 in about 3 hours. There is a good black midge #24 hatch happening mid to late am. From catch and release area down to three Island run. Fish are still eating a fair amount of junk. Seen some fish {grubbing} grabbing wads of moss and shaking it apart then eating the larva's and pupa today. Leeches #6-8 of different colors, olive, black, natural, and ginger variant are working. Early to mid pm I have been hooking up using beatis patterns, gray RS2, and foam wings #22. Egg patterns of various colors are still working. Black or Gray scintilla's bubble midges #24 are working. Black or gray pupa's are getting bit. From Death row on down has a good small beatis hatch happening in the afternoon. #22-24 gray foam wings, Gray Johnny flashers #22.
Tight Line's to all,
Mark / Blue Sky Flyfishing

 

 

 

 

  March 5, 2009

Hello Every-one,
The river flow is at 504 cfs. Water clarity is 2-3 feet depending on how cold the night time temps are. The warmer the night the clearer the water, due to the therm-o-cline rolling on the lake. Cold water sinks and warmer water rises. Any ways the river is fishing fair to good depending on the day. I'll be honest the days I've been out has been fairly tough. When everybody has a strait rod it is more than likely the fishes attitude. The barometer is the most dominating factor in how the fish are on the bite, that you can't control in fishing. When every-one else around you is hooking and your not, then that has something to do with your presentation, flies, rig length, weight, location or some thing that you can change, and make it happen. Anyways, now that I have this excuse out now, the truth is one day your working hard for your hook-ups lately, and the next day the bite is on, and you can't do no wrong. I've heard of some real good days, and some tough days lately. That's fishing.
What has been working for me is a #24-26 black midge pupa's, emergers, pearl glass bead heads #24-26 Black Krystal flash wing midge if you find fish sipping. Gray midge pupa's, scintilla bubble midge, Krystal flash wing midge #24-26, egg patterns of varying colors and size.
A few on black, or white bunny leeches #6-10, red larva's #20-24, red hots #22-24, black or gray zebra midge's. On some days you will find a few large gray beatis #20 on the water from the upper flats to death row. From Simon Canyon down to the take out has a good small gray beatis #22-24 in the afternoon. Gray foam wings and RS2's #20-24, Below death row #24 gray Johnny flasher's, eggs and Tav's big mac's #20-22,s
Tight lines to all,
U.S.C.G.Licensed
Capt. Mark Nesbit
Blue Sky Flyfishing

 

 

 

 

Spring Fishing on the way

Capt. Mark Nesbit
February 23, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

Hello Every-one,
The river flow is 500cfs. The water clarity is around 3'. The main stay rig is egg pattern #16-20 to red or orange larva's #18-24's. There is a good hatch of small black or gray midges #24-26's coming off early to mid am. You will find a few fish rising to midge clusters #14-22's, very close to the bank's in 2'of water or less. There is a lite large gray beatis {BWO's} #20's hatch late am to early pm. You will find a few fish rising to them T-hole on down. Over-all as of today most of the fish are still down deep and looking for junk on the bottom. Hopefully with the recent cloud cover and warming' hopefully the fish will start looking up. Make sure your hitting bottom fairly often right now. Gray and black midge pupa's and emergers #22-24 have been working. Gray or Chocolate beatis nymph's and emerger's. CDC rs2, foam wings.
Tight lines to all.
U.S.C.G. Licensed
Capt.Mark Nesbit

San Juan River Fishing Forecast:

 

Spring is coming and so is the beatis bite. The fishing will just get better as the weather does.
Tight Lines to all.

 

 Every-one,
The river flow is 500cfs. The water clarity is around 3'. The main stay rig is egg pattern #16-20 to red or orange larva's #18-24's. There is a good hatch of small black or gray midges #24-26's coming off early to mid am. You will find a few fish rising to midge clusters #14-22's, very close to the bank's in 2'of water or less. There is a lite large gray beatis {BWO's}#20's hatch late am to early pm. You will find a few fish rising to them T-hole on down. Over-all as of today most of the fish are still down deep and looking for junk on the bottom. Hopefully with the recent cloud cover and warming' hopefully the fish will start looking up. Make sure your hitting bottom fairly often right now. Gray and black midge pupa's and emergers #22-24 have been working. Gray or Chocolate beatis nymph's and emerger's. CDC rs2,foam wings.
Tight lines to all.
U.S.C.G. Licensed
Capt.Mark Nesbit

Capt. Mark Nesbit
February 8, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

 

Hello Every-one,
The river flow is still at 500 cfs. The water clarity is 2-3 feet. The upper areas are fishing good to fair most days. Eggs #16-20 and red hots#24 in the am with a small black midge #24-26 coming off mid am. The main channel is fishing ok with some spawner's pre- staging before moving into the upper flats. There has been a lite beatis hatch early to mid pm from the upper flats on down to the take out. A 28" inch rainbow was caught and released this week in the lower flats area. The fish ate a brown shammy worm #18. The warm weather has picked-up the bite this last week in the lower waters. Black Midge emergers or pupa's #24-26, eggs assorted colors, red larva's and princesses have been the main bugs of late.
Tip: If your in the right spot on the right day you may find the fish rising. Look to see if you can spot what bugs are on the water. If you can't spot any bugs, watch the rise form. Slow sip emergers or single adults, big fish. Heads up out of water and gulping: Fish on midge cluster's or adult beatis mayflies.
Happy Love day to all. Three weeks left to receive the off-season rates.

 
 
 

Mid to Late winter fishing report

Capt. Mark Nesbit
January 26, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing Report

 

Hello everyone,
The river is flowing around 500 cfs and the water clarity is around 2-3 feet. The rainbows are in their spawn attitude. Sight fishing using egg patterns in the shallow riffles is the ticket right know. They are pairing-up and starting to set on their reds. You can catch some nice spawning big fish if you like. Personally, I leave the paired up fish alone and go for the fish below the pair's waiting to eat eggs. So of coarse egg patterns of different colors and sizes is the hot fly now, size #16-20. I like Golden nugget, light salmon row, apricot supreme or egg, is some of my favorite colors. You just have to try and see how the fish react to it. Remember that egg size and color can change from location or date.
There is a small black midge hatch upper areas in the mid am. Some days stronger than others. #24-26 black krystal flash or emerging midge patterns. Red larva is the main stand bye thru-out the quality waters. #16-24's. There is some beatis(blue wing olives) coming off early pm, from t-hole on down to take -out. Bunny leeches and wooly buggers still working. White,black, olive, and variant colors have been working. In the upper areas and where you are having a decent midge hatch, midge cluster patterns are working.
TAKE ADVANTAGE of OFF-SEASON RATES! BOOK NOW and SAVE. Any Trips or packages reserved before March 1, 2009 will receive the off-season rate. Call for info.
Tight Lines to All,
Capt. Mark Nesbit

 

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