San Juan River

[oldfarmer]

Getting ready for a fly fishing trip to the San Juan river with my sons. We are from Ohio and need help. Going end of May first of June. What flies would be best then? We will be camping at one of the two camp grounds. Any preference? Anyone who has been there please give us some guidance. Thank you

 

[planettrout]

Welcome to the Forum oldfarmer !

This gives an overview of the SJ. Andy is also one of the better tiers for that area (and there are quite a few)...Many of the fellows here have fished there and may provide more details...I have not been over there in quite awhile...


Fly Fishing the San Juan River with Andy Kim


PT/TB

 

[mcnerney]

Andy Kim is a legend down there, if you can afford a one day wade trip with him you will be amazed at how effective he is on that river.

The San Juan river sees a lot of fishermen and the trout can get pretty selective, that being said if you can fish small flies (size 22-26) and have your presentation skills down, then you will do fine, otherwise hire a guide, at least for one day. The river bottom is pretty silty, so it has a tremendous midge population so you can't go wrong with fishing midges.
Here is some additional information on the river:
San Juan River Fishing | Duranglers Fly Fishing Shop & Guides

Larry

 

[dwtalso]

Are you RV camping or primitive? Cottonwood is on the river, Pine and Sims are on the lake. It's not a long drive from any campground to the "other" water so I guess I'd ponder which you want to fish more and camp next to that .

Cottonwood is very nice and is just under a mile from the bottom of the Special Trout Water (Quality Water). The fishing all along that stretch is very good. It's about a 10 minute drive (3.5 mile hike) to the top of the STW and Navajo Dam.

It's worth the time to stop into Abe's or Float 'n Fish when you get there to get up to the minute advice on flies. Midges, annelids, and worms are good all year round but by then the mayflies (baetis) should be hatching regularly and there should be caddis as well. Streamers and leaches also work most of the time and I like tossing terrestrials among the willows on the upper flats in the summer.

Also, be careful to check on the flow. That time year the BOR may be flushing the river to support threatened minnows downstream and that flow may be as high as 5000 CFS. It only lasts a few days but it will obviously alter what you want to toss during that period and it makes wading a tad thrilling .

 

[mudbug]

Getting ready for a fly fishing trip to the San Juan river with my sons. We are from Ohio and need help. Going end of May first of June. What flies would be best then? We will be camping at one of the two camp grounds. Any preference? Anyone who has been there please give us some guidance. Thank you

Are you buying flies or tying? If you are tying I can point you to some recipes.

If you are buying you can stock some up before you go, but leave some fly budget for the local shops since THEY WILL advise you about what you need and sell them to you.

Generally it will be small midges, and I mean small, 24 - 28, heck the last time I was there they were reporting people using 32's :shocking:

I caught most of my fish last time I was there on small Miracle Midges, Foam back emergers in grey and brown, red annelids (these were 18's), and tiny little mating midge dries.

Down river some I hooked a big brown on a streamer but lost him at the net.

Miracle Midge

Foam Back Emerger

Red Annelid

Mating Midge fly was kinda like this but in Dun color.

The guys from Rough Rider guide flies specialize in San Juan flies and you can look at this list for an idea of what works.

Rough Rider Guide Flies

 

[lightline]

I just got back from there. There were 25 vehicles parked at Texas hole every day this week. Its a zoo year-round, so I can't imagine late spring. however, I caught fish on dries daily, despite only a sparse showing of midges. I never went smaller than 18, and get this, I caught fish on beetles, ants, one on a #12 hopper, and quite a few on a #16 triple double (renegade-like fly).

Now, the water is very "stained" (muddy) right now coming out of the reservoir. Visibility about 18". It may be harder to use bigger flies in clear water.

 

[lacanadio]

Roughrider Guide Flies comes recommended, plus Paul's good people and a pleasure to do bidness with.

Yes, hit the shops. Last month I was there and fished leeches and annelids in the murky water. Caught more on the annelids.

The San Juan River Forum has a number of people that know the river very well.

Like the previous poster, I've caught fish there on "weird" (at least according to conventional wisdom on the Juan) flies. A #14 renegade was the ticket last year to one of my best days ever on the river.

Yes, it'll probably be a zoo, but you can find some space with a bit of walking.

I'll know more real soon now, since we're going to be up there quite a few times April/May.

 

[sjdrifli1]

Late May and early June can be some fantastic fishing on the Juan. Yes, it will be crowded, get there early and move around a lot. I always like to just stay ahead of the crowds as most people start around the Texas Hole and begin migrating upriver, just keep ahead of the hordes. Not looking like a flush this year, but hope they bump the flows some as animas starts coming down. Mudbug and Lacanadio, thanks for mentioning my website. I am thinking that midges will be on the menu bigtime by then. Might be a few straggler BWO's but won't be the main item on the menu. Streamers in low light, once the midges get moving, emergers and dries will be important. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions that have not been answered here.

Paul

 

[fly505]

That's really a great time of year to fish the Juan. Lots of bug activity. Some of my best days on the upper flats and lower was a dry/dropper grifiths gnat and a dark gray rs2. Sedgammers and caddis emergers work great down stream. Closer to the dam, smaller the bugs. Don't be afraid to use the "worm"...it will put fish in your net . Dead drifting a small black woolly bugger worked for me as well... Then let it swing with a slow strip. Again rs2's worked great in the film as an emerger or as a dropper on a double nymph rig. Good luck!

 

[flyfishnbum]

Welcome to the forum oldfarmer

The San Juan has been fishing good and is only improving as the water is finally clearing from the long turnover that we had this year. I fished it Friday and started to pick up the bigger fish that had made themselves scarce while that water was murky. Midges and red annelids have been working great for me all up and down the river. The hatches are also getting better so you guys should get some good dry fly action when your here. I have also been doing great on streamers in the back channels in the afternoons.

Like was said above there are a lot of cars at the Texas hole parking lot, but most people are stacking up in the Texas hole itself or in the new construction in the braids. So a little exploring will get you away from people and you will get on fish. I will have to disagree with a few in here on Andy Kim, but that's all I will say on that.

You guys will have a great time down here, there is a ton of fish and the water should hopefully be cleared up by then. If you have any other questions shoot me a PM, and hit me up before your trip. I usually fish it a few times a week so ill let you know how its looking before you guys get here.

Tight Lines
Mike

 

[rangerrich99]

Looks like you got all the advice you need already, so for once I'll be brief. Bring a few gold BH simi seal leeches in brown. Dark brown, I believe. Fish them either under a bobber or cast and drift/strip. I had 20 inch fish actually chase these things last time I was there. Oh, and tie them to at least 3X tippet; 4X will only net you heartbreak.

Peace.

 

[alpobodog]

Welcome to the forum oldfarmer

The San Juan has been fishing good and is only improving as the water is finally clearing from the long turnover that we had this year. I fished it Friday and started to pick up the bigger fish that had made themselves scarce while that water was murky. Midges and red annelids have been working great for me all up and down the river. The hatches are also getting better so you guys should get some good dry fly action when your here. I have also been doing great on streamers in the back channels in the afternoons.

Like was said above there are a lot of cars at the Texas hole parking lot, but most people are stacking up in the Texas hole itself or in the new construction in the braids. So a little exploring will get you away from people and you will get on fish. I will have to disagree with a few in here on Andy Kim, but that's all I will say on that.

You guys will have a great time down here, there is a ton of fish and the water should hopefully be cleared up by then. If you have any other questions shoot me a PM, and hit me up before your trip. I usually fish it a few times a week so ill let you know how its looking before you guys get here.

Tight Lines
Mike

I agree you can do better than Andy Kim, Chip out of Aztec Anglers or Fishheads is tops in my opinion and I have fished with a bunch of different guides on the Juan. You will get more than the standard 8 hour day, he will fish till dark. Fish a black bunny leach with something small underneath and you will do fine.

 

[lacanadio]

+1 on chip. My first fish on the Juan was on a float with him right after the ant fall...a 24 inch rainbow..

Outstanding!

 

[djergensen]

Also... find some braids or good pools and structure to fish. Much easier to get into fish IMO.

 

[lacanadio]

Just got back. Fished Baetis Bend. Viz is much better than 2 weeks ago, est. 3'.

#24 parachute adams killed 'em when hatch started around 2-2:30, Friday better than Saturday for dries, though. Was fishing an indicator dry, 14 renegade, and picked up a dumb rainbow on it rather than the adams.

Nymphing was good, too. I tied some desert storms (#20 Tiemco 2487) with tungsten beads and silver wire instead of flash - they worked real well, as did #22 red larvae. The former may be my "go to" fly next time.

Biggest fish were wife's 20" bow and my 19" brown. Saw fish that may have been bigger but did LDR's on them.