The first half of July was excellent with Stonefly patterns {Stimulator #12}and on low flow days {Fri-Sun.} a dry only worked well and on high flow days {Mon.-Thurs.} we added a dropper {Caddis Larva or Pheasant Tail #16}. Later in July Caddis became the dominant bug especially later in the day. Flows were around 80cfs on high days and 40cfs on low weekends.
Month: July 1999
Cimarron River Fly Fishing Report 07/25/1999
Flows were around 10cfs for most of the month and water temps got up to 70* on sunny days which made for tough fishing. In July the fish switch their attention to Caddis and fishing a dry Caddis early and late when temps were better produced the best results.. Fishing was poor in July with low flows, high temps and lots of pressure.
Conejos River Fly Fishing Report 07/25/1999
Flows got into a more manageable range {200-400cfs the first reading is from Platoro and the second the flow in Mogote by Broyles Bridge}. The lower river along Hiway #17 was still the place to be with Stimulator # 10 and Green Drake #10 dry flies and Caddis beadhead dropper. By the middle of July flows from Platoro were aroun 180cfs and I fished the Hamilton lease { Private water just below the Pinnacles}and we got some nice fish to 18″ on D&D combos { Stimulator #10 with a #14 Prince dropper}. Wading was tough and the top end of the lease was unwadeable as most of the upper river is at this flow. On 7/27 we fished the lease again at 220cfs and took a bunch of Browns 13-17″ and one 18″ and another 20″er. It slowed down in the mid afternoon and we got the better fish later in the day. The upper section was still not wadeable.