April Fishing Report San Juan River

San Juan River Fishing Report & News

The early spring hatches have been heavy. The midges are big and consistently hatching every afternoon. The BWO hatch is coming off below T-Hole. Start looking for them around noon. Foam wings and Johnny flash are working great below T-hole even with the stained water conditions. Try midge larvae (red, pink or orange) in the morning, fished with an attractor like a leech or an egg pattern. The afternoon has been good with fish looking for baetis below Texas Hole. Chocolate, olive or gray have been best. The water is off color so flash on the flies is helpful. . As always a large part of your success will be your in ability to move around to where the hatches are coming off the best. Fish near the dam in the best midging waters, the midge hatch is strong all day long. I have been doing well with a black larvae or pupa to a gray or olive larvae. Around 12:30 the baetis are hatching, anywhere from lower Texas hole down to the end of bait water. Watch out for moss on your flies, you have to keep them clean. The winds can be tough on us. The fish are still eating well in the afternoons but you can have some trouble getting a good drift. It is best to shorten up your length between the strike indicator and your weight and add some weight. This will help you get a better drift and see the indicator move when the fish takes. With lower flows the bites will be lighter and you will have to fish shallow rigs to avoid the bottom of the river. Trout are spawning in the river, lots of fish up and down the river are finding eggs to eat. An egg with a red or orange larvae as a trailer will work well. With the off color water streamer fishing is at its best. Make sure you fish streamers with hooks close to the end of the fly as the fish short strike streamers often.

San Juan River NM Water Flow CFS