Planning a Trip to the San Juan?
Our lodge offers guided fishing and comfy rooms right on the river.
Quick Fishing Overview
- Flows: 980 cfs
- Water Temp: 40s (℉)
- Clarity: 5ft visibility
- Nymphing: Great
- Dry Fly: Here & there
- Streamer: Decent
- Weather: Clouds & sun w/ some rain. AM: 50s/60s. PM: 70s/80s.
- Lower River Guide Trips: We're offering them! Just let us know.
Summary: Conditions have been phenomenal. The summer heat is going away, and highs have been nicely in the 80s. Dry fly fishing has been excellent given the cloudier days we're seeing. Streamers have also done well, especially in the morning.
Several guides have spent the last few days fishing dry flies. We've seen a healthy amount of trout rising across the three sections of water we fish, and they haven't been as picky as usual, especially in the Quality Waters. Shallow nymph rigs with midges fished just below the surface have also worked well. Other guides have reported having good luck on streamers as well, especially in the early morning.
Flows and Weather
Detailed Report by River Section
The Quality Waters
Overview: Dry fly fishing has been great here. For several days, we've been able to go out, especially in the afternoons, and find rising trout. Size 18 ants and size 20 and 22 Parachute Adams have worked well. Midge clusters and Comparaduns should also work well. We've had luck fishing various streamers in the AM as well. As always, nymph rigs with two midges or a midge and Baetis work well. We've seen a lot of slate-gray-colored midges and gray Baetis in sizes 22 and 24.
Tips/Technique: For dry fly fishing, look for rising fish. We've noticed far more risers in the afternoons and early evenings. Presentation has been far more important than matching the hatch. We've seen trout in the same spot take an ant and a Parachute Adams. The key was that they were presented just 3–4 feet upstream from the fish with no drag.
The Lower River
Overview: The lower river has been fishing well. We can't believe it, but the Quality Waters were the hot spot for dry fly fishing these last few days. Normally, it's this section. Nymph rigs have still been great here; just think bigger bugs. A size 18 Pheasant Tail has been a safe bet, along with worm patterns. Streamers have also been good.
Tips/Technique: For streamer fishing on this section, we've been using long, slow-to-medium-speed strips. Be sure to give the streamer several seconds to get to the bottom. For nymphs, starting your depth at 4 feet is a good place to start. Of course, if you get to a place that is much shallower or deeper than that, adjust accordingly.
The Village
Overview: We've been catching some decent brown trout in this section, not just small stockers. We've seen decent dry fly fishing here too, but it has mostly been smaller fish. Try a size 18 Parachute Adams, an ant, or a beetle. For nymph rigs, worms, bunny leeches, and Woolly Buggers in sizes 14 to 16 have also been working well as top flies. For a dropper, try a Zebra Midge or Pheasant Tail in size 16 or 18. You'll catch bigger fish if you can venture farther away from the parking lots, which are where a lot of stockers are placed.
Tips/Technique: We've noticed good-sized browns hanging close to the fast water, but not directly in it. If you fish a fast-moving run, fish the slower water between the shallow and fast water. That's where you'll find some solid fish. We use 4X fluorocarbon in this section since the fish aren't as spooky as in the Quality Waters.
Current Fly Recs
You can purchase flies and licenses at our fly shop. Many are hand-tied by our guides themselves.
Sub-Surface Flies
| Name | Colors | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Vernille San Juan Worm | Brown, Black, Natural | 10 to 14 |
| Midge Larvae | Red | 16 to 20 |
| Rojo Midge | Gray, Olive, Brown | 20 to 22 |
| Mono Midge | Black, Olive, Brown | 20 to 22 |
| Foam Wing RS2 | Brown, Black, Gray | 18 to 20 |
| Bunny Leeches | Black, Olive, Gray, Natural, White | 6 and 8 |
Dry Flies
| Name | Colors | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Parachute Adams | Standard | 20 to 22 |
| Comparadun | Standard | 20 to 22 |
| Rosenbauer Parachute Beetle | Black | 10 to 24 |
| Cartoon Hopper | Gray, Olive, Brown Flash! | 4 to 8 |
| Ants | Black | 12 to 16 |
Planning a Trip to the San Juan?
Our lodge offers guided fishing and comfy rooms right on the river.