Planning a Trip to the San Juan?
Our lodge offers guided fishing and comfy rooms right on the river.
Quick Fishing Overview
- Flows: 280 CFS
- Water Temp: 40s (℉)
- Clarity: 3-5ft visibility
- Nymphing: Great
- Dry Fly: Great
- Streamer: Decent
- Weather: Rainy then sunny after Thurs. AM: 40s/50s. PM: 70s.
- Lower River Guide Trips: Flows likely too low. Ask your guide.
Summary: The rains have brought murkier water, but fish are still eating away. Bigger and brighter has been the way to go, with many of our guides fishing leeches, worms, eggs, and red midge larva. Midge and Baetis nymphs have still been working; just try
something that can be seen, like a Zebra Midge or even just a foam-wing emerger in chocolate or gray. That higher-vis wing case will show through. The cloudy days have also meant solid hatches coming off, and the trout are eating despite the off-color water. We're late in the season for ants, hoppers, beetles, etc. Instead, fish smaller dries like a Parachute Adams, midge clusters, and Comparaduns in sizes 18 through 22.
Flows and Weather
Detailed Report by River Section
The Quality Waters
Overview: Lots of rainy weather means off-color water. Last week, we suggested dark midges, but this week it's more about bigger, higher-visibility patterns. Bunny leeches, San Juan Worms, and even yarn eggs are working. You can still fish a midge as your dropper fly, just use something a little more visible. Last week, we suggested a size 22 Big Mac. That will still work; just opt for a brighter color scheme like olive or yellow over, say, black and gray. A size 18 Pheasant Tail is also a nice, visible option. Hatches have still been strong on cloudy days, so if one comes off, have sizes 18–22 of Comparaduns, Griffith's Gnats, and Parachute Adams.
Tips/Technique: The San Juan rarely flows from the dam off-color. Instead, it loses clarity due to mud that flows in from the many washes that connect with the river below the dam. When we get heavy rains like this week, fish closer to the dam where the water is still clear and the river hasn't yet intercepted any muddy washes.
The Lower River
Overview: The flows are low, and lots of washes have dumped mud into the river by the time it hits this point. The lower river isn't the move this week.
Tips/Technique: TBD.
The Village
Overview: Big attractor patterns like a San Juan Worm or a bunny leech are also working here. A size 16 or 18 Pheasant Tail as a dropper is a good choice. Really, any midge or mayfly pattern with some gold rib or flash wings is the right amount of "hey, look here" should do the trick. Should a hatch come off, fish the same dry flies as mentioned in the Quality Waters above.
Tips/Technique: Scout for places that might have a bit more water clarity than the rest of the river. A slower fork from the main current can give the sediment time to settle.
Current Fly Recs
You can purchase flies and licenses at our fly shop. Many are hand-tied by our own guides.
Sub-Surface Flies
| Name | Colors | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Bunny Leeches | Olive, Gray, Natural | 8 and 10 |
| Yarn Egg | Red, Pink, Orangel | 16 to 18 |
| San Juan Worm | Brown, Red, Burnt Orange, Natural | 10 to 14 |
| Midge Larvae | Red | 16 to 22 |
| Rojo Midge | Gray, Olive, Brown | 20 to 22 |
| Mono Midge | Black, Olive, Slate, Brown | 20 to 22 |
| Zebra Midge | Black, Slate, Brown | 20 to 22 |
| Big Mac | Black, Slate | 20 to 22 |
| Foam Wing RS2 | Brown, Black, Gray | 18 to 22 |
| Fluff Baetis | Gray, Brown | 20 to 22 |
| Scintilla Midge | Black, Gray | 20 to 22 |
Dry Flies
| Name | Colors | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Parachute Adams | Standard | 18 to 22 |
| Comparadun | Standard | 18 to 22 |
| Ants | Black | 16 to 18 |
| Hoppers | Gray, Tan, Yellow Variations | 16 to 18 |
Planning a Trip to the San Juan?
Our lodge offers guided fishing and comfy rooms right on the river.