New Mexico Outdoor Sports Guide

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New Mexico Fly Fishing

December 2011 New Mexico Fishing Report

by | Dec 14, 2011 | | 0 Comments

Northwest

 

Animas River – The flow is 240 cfs. No report due to weather.
Chama River – No read on flow due to ice on the upper stretches. Below El Vado Lake, the flow is 382 cfs and the flow below Abiquiu Lake is 388 cfs. The Chama below El Vado Dam has the most consistent good fishing on the Chama. The stretch  downstream of the village of Chama into El Vado reservoir is slowing down. The release out of El Vado is murky but fishable. The stretch below Abiquiu Dam is fishing good and the water clarity is getting better.
San Juan River

– Upper section – Catch and Release flow is 493 cfs. The habitat improvements and silt remediation project on the San Juan was completed last week. The work in “The Braids,” has been very productive as fish have moved into this new habitat where they previously weren’t. Good midge fishing and midge hatches during the mornings and good blue winged olive hatches in the afternoons. In the mornings, use a red midge larva as your point fly and trail a size 24-26 black or gray midge pupa. As the afternoon progresses, change your flies to baetis, such as a gray or chocolate RS2 or foam wing emerger.
Abiquiu Lake – Fishing is slow for all species.  
El Vado Lake – No report due to weather and a lack of anglers. Ice is forming around the edges of the lake.
Heron Lake– No report due to weather and a lack of anglers. Ice is forming around the edges of the lake.
Jackson Lake – Trout fishing is reported as fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms from shore.
Lake Farmington – Trout fishing is reported as fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms. Best success is reported close to the dam.
Morgan Lake – No report
Navajo Lake – Trout fishing is reported as fair to good from the dam using spinners and streamers.

 

Northeast

 

Cimarron River – No read on flows due to ice. The Cimarron is done until spring.
Costilla Creek – The flow is 61 cfs near the town of Costilla. Fishing is reported as slow below the Valle Vidal boundary, water levels are very low and there is snow and ice.
Red River – No read on flow due to ice at Questa and 38 cfs below the hatchery. Fishing for trout is reported as fair with better fishing on the lower stretches. Fish are being caught and all methods working. Please respect spawning fish and leave them alone while on their beds.
Rio Grande – No read on flow due to ice at Cerro. Flow is 446 cfs below the Taos Junction Bridge. Water levels are high and fishing is reported as slow to fair. Trout still seem to prefer the faster aerated water. Nymph the pocket water or strip streamers for the browns. Pike fishing is starting to get going. Best bet is to use large red and white lures or flies.
Rio Hondo – No read on flow due to ice. Trout fishing is reported as slow with snow and ice. Best bet is to fish at the confluence with the Rio Grande.
Rio Pueblo – No read on flow due to ice. No report.
Charette Lakes – The lake has closed for the season and will reopen next spring.
Clayton Lake – The lake has closed for the season and will reopen next spring.
Eagle Nest Lake – The lake is closed to fishing until the ice is thick enough to allow it. The lake is also closed to boats for the winter. The New Mexico Game Commission will consider allowing unlimited take of northern pike from Eagle Nest Lake to address the aggressive species’ threat to the lake’s trout and salmon fishery at its meeting Thursday, Dec. 15, in Albuquerque.
Lake Alice and Lake Maloya– No report
Maxwell Lakes – The lake has closed for the season and will reopen next spring.
Shuree Ponds – No report.
Springer Lakes – No report. Closed to ice fishing.

 

West-Central, including the Jemez Mountains

 

Jemez River, East Fork, Guadalupe and San Antonio – Flow on the Jemez River is 20 cfs. The lower Guadalupe can be accessed below Gilman tunnels and is fishing fair in the warmer part of the day. The lower Jemez was stocked Nov. 11 and may be worth fishing for rainbows. The Valles Caldera National Preserve has closed the fishing program until next spring.  
Metro Drainages — The fishing is reported as fair with most methods catching fish. The drainages were stocked last week: Albuquerque with 300 triploid rainbow trout; Belen with 200; Bernalillo with 80; Corrales with 121; and Peralta with 250.
Bluewater Lake –  Fishing for trout is reported as slow due to ice on the lake.
Cochiti Lake – No report. The lake is closed for the season along the Tetilla Peak side. The upper lake is also closed above Tetilla due to a log boom in place on the lake.
Fenton Lake – The lake has iced over and is closed to ice fishing because of dangerous ice conditions.
Tingley Beach Trout fishing has been good. Best reports are from anglers using salmon eggs and Pistol Petes. The ponds were stocked with 2,538 triploid rainbow trout. Reports from fly-rod anglers at the South/Catch and Release Pond have been hit and miss when using bunny leeches and black beetles.

 

East–Central, including the Pecos River

 

Coyote Creek – Closed for the season.
Pecos River – No read on flow due to ice. The upper river is under ice, especially in shaded stretches. Fish the afternoon hours while the sun is on the water.
Conchas Lake – No report.
Morphy Lake – Closed for the season.
Santa Rosa Lake – No report.
Storrie Lake – Fishing is slow to fair for trout due to light traffic and cold weather.
Sumner Lake –Walleye are reported as fair. Fish are being caught in shallow water and off points and structure. The fish range from 14 to 20 inches and are hitting white shad lures. No reports for the trout stocked below the dam.
Ute Lake – No report.

 

Southwest

 

Gila River – The flow is 66 cfs and fishing is slow with the best success in the upper reaches of the river on the West, East and Middle forks.
Rio Grande – No report.
Bill Evans Lake – Fishing for trout is reported as fair with most methods working. The lake was stocked with 937 triploid rainbow trout last week.
Caballo Lake – Fishing is slow and water levels are very low. Best bet is below the spillway on the Rio Grande at Percha State Park. Fishermen are catching a few white bass and black bass on the river; most walleye are too small to keep (less than 14 inches.
Elephant Butte Lake – No report due to light traffic and weather. The Rio Grande between Elephant Butte and Caballo was stocked with 1,700 triploid rainbow trout.
Glenwood Ponds – Fishing is slow for trout. The ponds were stocked with 199 triploid rainbow trout.
Lake Roberts – Trout fishing is reported as slow with worms and Power Bait.
Quemado Lake – No report.

 

Southeast

 

Rio Ruidoso – Flow is 0.28 cfs in town and 6.6 cfs at Hollywood. Fishing is reported as slow on the lower stretches of the river where the flows are a bit higher.
Bonito Lake – Closed for the season.
Bottomless Lakes: No report.
Brantley Reservoir – There has been light pressure and no current report. A mandatory catch and release is in place at Brantley Lake because pesticides have been found in the fish. Do not keep or eat them.
Grindstone Reservoir – Fishing is fair for trout using worms, Power Bait and Pistol Petes. Best times to fish are reported from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

New Mexico Fly Fishing

EAGLE NEST LAKE PIKE

by | Dec 14, 2011 | | 0 Comments

Northern pike were illegally stocked in Eagle Nest Lake. Recent surveys have indicated populations of the predatory fish have increased substantially and include four-year age classes with fish ranging in size from 12 to 30 inches. Northern pike have been known to destroy salmonid fisheries throughout North America. Proposed regulations would remove daily harvest and possession limits for pike, make it unlawful to release a live pike back into the lake, and remove northern pike from the waste-of-game fish protection.

Thursday’s meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room C of the University of New Mexico Continuing Education Conference Center, 1634 University Blvd. NE, in Albuquerque. The full agenda, detailed agenda-item briefings and other information are available on the Department of Game and Fish website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us, or by calling (505) 476-8008. Details of proposed rules and opportunities to comment about them also are available on the website.

Other agenda items include:

  • Discussion of proposed agreements with private landowners that would give public hunters access to private land to hunt bighorn sheep in the Fra Cristobal and Culebras mountains in 2012. The agreements would allow the Department of Game and Fish to offer the first public hunting opportunities for bighorn sheep on private land. The agreements would give landowners reciprocal hunting opportunities.

 

  • Proposed amendments to elk hunting rules that would modify eligibility requirements for the Youth Encouragement Elk Hunts and increase hunting opportunities.
  • Discussion of options for future allocations of Habitat Stamp Program funds that provide for wildlife habitat improvements on U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands.

The State Game Commission is composed of seven members who represent the state’s diverse interests in wildlife-associated recreation and conservation. Members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Current members are Chairman Jim McClintic, Vice-chairman Thomas “Dick” Salopek, Tom Arvas, Bill Montoya, Scott Bidegain, Robert Hoffman and Robert Espinoza Sr.
If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the meeting, please contact Sonya Quintana, (505) 476-8030. Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible forms.

New Mexico Vacation

New Mexico Fly Fishing Report July 2011

by | Jul 11, 2011 | | 0 Comments

July 5, 2011

 

Northwest

 

Animas River – The flow is 1,990 cfs. The river is muddy and still flowing fast with run-off.  No fishing report.
Chama River – Upper section flow is 142 cfs. and below El Vado, the flow is 728 cfs. Fishing is fair in the upper Chama with better reports coming from the public access south of Chama. Fish are being landed with woolly buggers and various bead-headed nymphs. Below El Vado, trout fishing is fair to good for rainbows up to 15″ and browns up to 19 inches. Panther Martins and Rapalas are working for browns and rainbows. San Juan River – Upper section – Catch and Release flow is 504 cfs. The river has been scoured and cleaned from the high flows and visibility is 3-4 feet. The fish have settled back into their usual feeding lanes and fishing is very good in all areas of the quality water section. Small midge patterns are the predominate producers in the mornings. Red Midge Larva, Krystal Flashes, Black Beauties and brown San Juan Worms are the go to flies. From middle flats and below, baetis patterns work well; try Chocolate Foam Wings and Fluff Baetis. Dry fly action is fair using Griffith Gnats or large hopper patterns. Lower section – Open waters, fishing is good with night crawlers, salmon eggs and the same flies as for the upper section. Lower section was stocked with 2,000 rainbow trout.
Abiquiu Lake– Fishing is slow for walleye with a few smaller sized fish being caught. 
El Vado Lake – Fishing is slow due to a lot of recreational traffic on the water.
Heron Lake– Fishing is slow to fair for trout from the bank and trolling. Most success has been around boat ramps, near spillway and on the northwest side of the lake. Power Bait, worms and spinners tipped with corn are working well. Salmon fishing is good when trolling spinners tipped with corn in 20 to 25 feet of water.
Jackson Lake – Trout fishing is reported as fair to good using Power Bait and any spinner with gold blades.
Lake Farmington – Trout fishing is reported as fair to good using Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms.
Morgan Lake – No report.
Navajo Lake –  Fishing for smallmouth bass is very good when using soft plastics, jerk baits or crank baits. Crappie fishing is fair to good in Francis Canyon and LaJara. They are in the backs of the coves, use small jigs or minnows. Salmon are starting to bite when using Rapalas or Kokanee Killers in 25 ft. of water. Best fishing is from the dam to Francis Canyon.  No reports on pike or catfish.

 

Northeast

 

Cimarron River – The flow below Eagle Nest Dam is 43 cfs and 42 cfs near Cimarron. Closed due to fire hazard.
Costilla Creek – The flow is 65 cfs near the town of Costilla and 74 cfs at the dam. Closed due to fire hazard.  
Red River – Flows are 31 cfs near Questa and 53 cfs below the hatchery. All but the section of river in Red River is Closed due to fire hazard.
Rio Grande – Flows are 583 cfs near Cerro and 846 cfs below the Taos Junction Bridge.  Fishing has been slow. Not much for any hatches on the Rio right now.. Your best bet is fishing the pockets when nothing is going on hatch wise. Fish big bugs like golden stonefly nymphs, crane fly larvae, or woolly buggers. Pike hunt by feel, so large streamers that move water will get a pikes attention. No reports on bass.
Rio Hondo – The flow is 32 cfs and fishing is good for trout using dry/dropper rigs with stimulators on top and copper johns or caddis below. The upper Hondo is closed but fishing at the confluence is still allowed.
Rio Pueblo – Closed due to fire hazard.
Cabresto Lake – The lake is closed for repairs to the dam.
Charette Lakes – Fishing is very good for stocker-sized trout with many limits reported.  Power Bait and Panther Martins are most successful. Perch are good using small lures.
Clayton Lake – Fishing for trout is reported as good using chartreuse or rainbow Power Bait and worms.  Bass and walleye are slow.
Eagle Nest Lake – Fishing for trout is reported as good from shore with salmon-peach Power Bait and salmon eggs. Fly fishermen are having success with midge patterns and olive or black woolly buggers. Trolling is great for trout using light weight tackle. Perch are good to excellent off the bank when using worms.
Lake Alice and Lake Maloya– Sugarite Canyon State Park has been closed due to the Track Fire.
Maxwell Lakes – The water level is low at Lake No.13 and fishing is sporadic with an occasional trout landed. Best success is reported using Power Bait, worms and spinners. 
Santa Cruz Lake – No report.
Shuree Ponds – Closed due to fire hazard.
Springer Lakes – Fishing is reported as good for pike up to 42 inches with large Mepps spinners, cut bait and minnows. Largemouth bass are slow using spinners Water levels are dropping due to irrigation so conditions are changing daily.

 

West-Central, including the Jemez Mountains

 

Jemez River, East Fork, Guadalupe and San Antonio – Flow on the Jemez River is 8.5 cfs. Closed due to fire hazard.
Metro Drainages Stocking has ended for the season and trout fishing is reported as slow.
Bluewater Lake – Fishing is fair for trout with Power Bait being your best bet. The tiger muskies are fishing slow. Catfish are reported as fair with stink bait and chicken liver.
Cochiti Lake – Closed due to fire hazard. Please stay away from the area! Cochiti lake is the base of operations for the type one incident management team who is fighting the southern part of the fire.
Fenton Lake – Closed due to fire hazard.
Tingley Beach – This is the best time of year to fish at Tingley – catfish, trout and bluegill are biting and all baits are catching them!  Reports are fair from fly-rod anglers at the South/Catch and Release Pond. Stocked with 1,450 channel catfish last week.

 

East–Central, including the Pecos River

 

Coyote Creek – Closed due to fire hazard.

Pecos River – The flow near Pecos is 31 cfs. Closed due to fire hazard.
Conchas Lake – No report this week.
Morphy Lake – Closed due to fire hazard.
Santa Rosa Lake – Same as last week, largemouth bass were active around brush and large structures, try flipping tubes and jigs into them. Walleye are reported as good, although many are small. Bass are everywhere; try downsized crank baits and soft plastics around the points and on the flats. Crappie, up to 1.4 pounds, are hitting just about everything presented to them. Best bites came from tubes in the main creek channel off the bluffs. Catfish are very active as well using minnows and cut bait.
Storrie Lake – Fishing is good for trout using Power Bait, with many limits taken.  Catfish are fair to good with chicken liver.
Sumner Lake – Fishing is good for walleye along the Eastern Bluffs and near the mouth of the Alamogordo Arm trolling white and fire tiger crank baits and rattle-traps 8-12 ft. Fair for largemouth and smallmouth casting white crank baits along coves and structure 2-5 ft. Good for white bass using a variety of plastic worms, spoons and crank baits. Fair for channel cat below the dam on the Pecos River, also on the West shoreline south of the Main boat ramp using chicken liver. No reports on crappie.
Ute Lake – Fishing is good to excellent. Walleye are fishing good to excellent trolling crank baits over brush in 10-15 feet of water or try crawlers in 17-22 feet of water. White Bass are fishing fair. Large and Small mouth bass are reported as excellent and are hitting most anything thrown at them.  For the smallies, try the top water early in the mornings and Senkos whacky rigged later in the day. The largemouth are on their beds in 4-6 feet of water. Crappie are fishing good up the Canadian around rock and brush and in the main lake coves using minnows in 2-4 feet of water. Catfish are good in 2-8 feet of water with chicken liver or stink bait. Fish near the reeds and brush for best results.

 

Southwest

 

Gila River – The flow is 22 cfs and there is no fishing report for the West, East and Middle forks.
Rio Grande – The flow is 1,940 cfs below Elephant Butte Dam. Catfish are fair using worms, liver or stink bait.
Bill Evans Lake: Winter stocking for trout has ended for the year and will resume late next fall.  No fishing report.
Caballo Lake – Fishing is fair to good. Water levels are coming up but still low. White bass are being caught with white and candy apple red Bombers. Crappie and walleye are reported as good when using worms and minnows. A few large catfish have been taken with chicken liver or stink bait.
Elephant Butte Lake – White bass are reported as very good early in the mornings with sassy shad lures.  Walleye fishing is very good with jigs and crank baits. Striped bass, averaging 30 inches, are reported as fair.
Glenwood Ponds – Fishing is excellent for trout when using Green Canadian Worms and Fireballs.
Lake Roberts – Fishing is reported as good. Trout are also good when using Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms.  No report on other species.
Quemado Lake – Trout fishing is reported as fair to good. Anglers are having success using Power Bait, worms and spinners. The tiger muskies are reported as fair when using rooster tails and Z-rays.
Snow Lake – No report

 

Southeast

 

Black River – Flow is 5.5 cfs. No report.
Bonito Creek – Closed due to fire hazard.
Rio Ruidoso – Flow is 0.39 cfs. Water levels are very, very low and fishing is reported as slow. The only fishing available is through town due to forest closure.
Bonito Lake – Closed due to fire hazard.
Bottomless Lakes: Winter stocking is over for the year. Stocking will resume in late fall.
Brantley Reservoir – There has been light pressure and no current report.  A mandatory catch and release is in place at Brantley Lake because pesticides have been found in the fish. Do not keep or eat them.
Grindstone Reservoir – Fishing is reported as fair for trout using Pistol Pete’s in the evenings and Power Bait and worms during the day. The lake was stoked with 4,825 triploid rainbow trout.
Lake Van: The lake was stocked with 623 triploid rainbow trout. No report.

New Mexico Vacation

WILDLIFE AREAS CLOSED DUE TO EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS

by | Jul 11, 2011 | | 0 Comments

The Santa Fe National Forest announced is was going to a full closure beginning Thursday, restricting all access to trails and campgrounds except those in the Coyote Ranger District and northern part of the Cuba Ranger District, which will remain under Stage 2 fire restrictions. The Carson National Forest announced closures for all ranger districts except the Jicarilla. The Lincoln National Forest is closed, and there are partial closures in the Cibola and Gila national forests.

Wednesday, Gov. Susanna Martinez declared a state of emergency regarding fireworks use in New Mexico, urging all New Mexican to refrain from buying, selling or using fireworks during the dry fire season. Fireworks bans already are in place on all state and federal lands and most county and city properties.

State Game Commission land closures and restrictions usually coincide with those imposed by bordering national forest, state and other federal lands. They include:

  • Pecos Canyon: All Commission-owned camping and fishing areas, including Monastery Lake and the Bert Clancy, Terrero, Mora and Jamie Koch camping and fishing areas are closed to public entry.
  • Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Area: The entire area along the Middle Rio Grande bosque composed of Bernardo Waterfowl Area, Belen Waterfowl Area and La Joya Waterfowl Area are closed to public entry.
  • Fenton Lake State Park: The park in the Jemez Mountains is closed to public entry.
  • William S. Huey Wildlife Area: The area north of Artesia is closed to public entry.
  • Rio Chama Wildlife Area: The fishing, camping, hiking and horseback-riding area near Chama is closed to public entry.
  • Humphries Wildlife Area: The hiking and horseback-riding area near Chama is closed to public entry.
  • Sargent Wildlife Area: The fishing, hiking and horseback-riding area near Chama will be open beginning July 1 under Stage 2 fire restrictions – no campfires, no charcoal fires, no smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, no chainsaws, no internal or external combustion engine with a spark arresting device, no welding, no off-highway vehicles.
  • Cimarron Canyon State Park and Colin Neblett Wildlife Area: The state park campgrounds and fishing areas, and all trails in the wildlife area near Eagle Nest are closed to public entry.
  • Urraca Wildlife Area: The area north of Questa is closed to public entry.
  • Barker Wildlife Area: The area northwest of Cimarron is closed to public entry.
  • Red River Fish Hatchery: The campground and parking area are closed.
  • Rio de los Pinos Fishing Area: The area northwest of Tres Piedras is closed to public entry.

For more information about fire restrictions and closures on U.S. Forest Service lands and other public and private

New Mexico Fly Fishing

Cimarron is Starting to Fish Well

by | Apr 4, 2010 | | 0 Comments

Ed Adams New Mexico Fly Fishing GuideThe Cimarron is starting to fish well with a pre-runoff inflow from the tributaries and should improve weekly thru June. We are still using Ute Creek Ranch and the Cimarroncita.

The Red hasn’t really had it’s usual good Spring but is getting there and the bestfishing will probably be post runoff this year. The caddis and mayfly hatches have begun but the deluge from the snowpack is due later this month.

We’ll be fishing the Culebra and the Conejos this year as usual and both have plenty of water.   

The Valle Vidal opens July 1 and we have some new private water on the lower Costilla which will start to fish after the dam opens on April 15. There are also some new lodging opportunities in Amalia for those who don’t relish the long ride back to Taos or Red River.

Our Spring Pike season was a bust this year with ice and high flows on the Rio Grande but last Fall we started really exploring the Ute Mt. area by the Colorado border and this Fall it should be great in October and November when flows on the Rio stablize. Rita has a new 13′ raft with a fishing frame and we will be using that in the Fall on the Grande. She will be here most of the summer with a few trips to Montana in the Spring and Fall.. You can check out some of her adventures at rioroseflyfishing.com.

We hope you had a happy and healthy winter and hope to see you streamside this season. 

Ed and Rita Adams

New Mexico Fly Fishing

Red River Spring Caddis

by | Mar 5, 2010 | | 0 Comments

After 3 warm and sunny days I went looking for bugs and fish on my favorite stream. El Nino weather patterns have stolen the sun that usually warms the flow of local streams. The Red always leads the way into Spring with caddis as early as Feb and BWOs and little Brown stones. I’ve been housebound thruout the first 2 months of the year except for a weeklong bonefishing expedition to Quintana Roo. It was very pleasant to be on a live trout stream again and altho the fish weren’t really active there were a fair amount of bugs around. Sight fishing was’t too good and multiple drifts brought the best results with a dry and dropper rig. Spring is only days away.

5th Annual Conejos Superfly Amatuer Edition April 9-11, 2010

by | Feb 8, 2010 | | 0 Comments

*40 to 46 teams
*Top 12 teams from each of first two days will compete for Superfly Champs on Sunday.
*Amateur fisherman only. If you have guided or worked in the industry at any time in the last 3 years you are not eligible for this event.
*Teams with off days will be able to sign up for fun fishing excursions to fish for trout, pike, and carp nearby but are not allowed on Conejos. Excursions depart 9:00 from CRA.
*1 fisherman fishing at a time
*Points are given for every inch of the best 2 fish, one from each participant. Points earned following the big fish are as follows. 1 Point Rainbow. 2 points Browns. 3 Points Cutthroats.
*Please indicate on entry form which day you prefer to fish for first day.  
*Entry fee $200 per person. Entry includes 2 catered dinners, Simms shirt or jacket, hat, prizes, misc. swag, access to private ranches, off day excursions, etc. (This year we are having to pay rod fees for private access to some of the properties)
*No limit to number of flies fished
*Draw for beats and registration each morning at shop between 7:30 and 8:00. Fish 9:00 to 4:00 daily.
*Assorted prizes for largest fish, those that might get skunked, etc.
*Most importantly this is for fun and to raise money for a great project. Fish with your dad, mom, brother, friend, or wife. This year is the first year that you will be able to participate in the event with only amateurs.  Many of commented on the difficulty of trying to qualify against so many professional teams so here is your chance. Amateurs Only !!!!!  

This is a fun laid back weekend with access to the best private and public water on the Conejos River. If you come you are not allowed on the river during your off day during the event. Last year was a lot of fun but spring conditions are totally unpredictable so do not register without being prepared for anything and we will not send refunds or cancel event for bad weather or conditions.   Call us with questions. (719) 376-5660 Jon Harp
To reserve a spot print out entry form and send $200 per person to:

Conejos River Anglers
34591 Hwy 17
Antonito, CO 81120

5th Annual Superfly 1st Annual Guide Edition April 17-18, 2010

by | Feb 8, 2010 | | 0 Comments

2-Man Teams
1 Angler fishing at a time
24 teams
Composite score for 2 days. No cut to be made as in years past
There will be 24 beats. Split in 2 different pools. You will fish a day from each “pool” of beats
Entry fee 185.00 per person. Includes catered parties, prizes, swag, Simms shirt or jacket, Hat, casting competion
Saturday there will be a party at Conejos River Anglers with music, libations, and food’ Possibly a trout flick.
Sunday afternoon there will be a casting competion, awards ceremony, and food
Scoring is the same as the Original Superfly. Each anglers largest fish counts as a point per inch. Subsequent fish are Bows = 1, Browns = 2 Cutts (not cuttbows) = 3 Brookies = 4. Team scores will be added together to determine Champion. No cut. If one of the anglers on the team  should not land a fish there will be a 0 on that side of the scoring column.
Catch and release, barbless hooks, fish must be netted to count.
Each team must have a measuring tape, net, and digital camera to document largest fish.
Each day a 700.00 custom Scott rod will be given away to the largest fish. As well as another pair of rods given away to the winning team.
To be held rain, snow, or shine. High water or low. Muddy or ice chunks drifting.
No refunds after March 30.
First 24 teams in. In years past this has filled extremely quickly so please if you are interested please get your entry in.  Questions let us know. Hope to see you there!

Checks and mail to:
Conejos River Anglers
34591 Hwy 17
Antonito, Co. 81120
Questions 719 376 5660 or info@conejosriveranglers.com

Where is British Columbia (BC), Anyway?

by | Nov 4, 2009 | | 0 Comments

Located between Alaska and Washington, the same salmon runs that pass by these locations also pass through British Columbia, often giving the anglers fishing in BC the first chance to nab the best and brightest fish swimming by.

Is fishing in BC actually as good or better than Alaskan fishing?

Definitely. Maybe. As with any good question, the answer does require a little clarification.

If you are looking for salmon above 50 pounds, the Kenai Peninsula has BC fishing beat. The fifty to seventy pounders that occasionally show up in parts of Alaska are rare in British Columbia.

However, most fishermen are mainly interested in spending a day on the water keeping busy reeling in consistently large, feisty, flavorful salmon. For these anglers, fishing areas of BC may actually be better than Alaska. Why? BC has fishing locations that keep the fish on the line as often if not more often than most Alaskan areas.

While many of the same salmon runs pass through both British Columbia and Alaska, BC fishing pulls in more Chinook salmon from the saltwater than Alaska. Fishing the BC coast usually provides more of the highly prized, twenty to fifty pound Chinook than Alaskan saltwater does. When fishing rivers, where most Alaskan Chinook are caught, the fish have “turned dark” and are heading back up the river to die. This changes the consistency and flavor of the meat, and the Chinook are usually significantly weaker and not as feisty of fighters. Another benefit of saltwater fishing is the large expanse of space. When fishing the Kenai River, for example, there are hundreds of other boats around. On the ocean, though, there is less chance of being surrounded by other anglers.

So why go fishing in BC?

For many people, British Columbia is more easily accessible than Alaska. For example, residents from the northwestern states can drive to their fishing destination. Even for those that fly, though, the travel time to go fishing in BC is significantly less than to most Alaskan destinations. Flights are usually cheaper to BC than Alaska, as well, and require fewer connections on average.

For Americans, depending on the strength of the US dollar, fishing in BC can also come at a discount. At times, when the exchange rate is good, the price in US dollars is only two-thirds of the price is Canadian dollars. Effectively, that is similar to a large discount.

While fishing in BC is not as well known as fishing in other areas, it has some surprisingly strong draws. Anglers here have a great chance to pull in a lot of feisty and delicious salmon while spending less time and money than at many other destinations. Now that the secret is out, don’t be afraid to take a visit and see for yourself!

For more information, visit the fishing in BC website.

Fishing Resort Exposé: Your need-to-knows about the industry

by | Sep 23, 2009 | | 0 Comments

Guided fishing trips can provide many anglers the best chance to keep the line tight and the coolers full, and many fishing lodges and fishing resorts do this. Unfortunately, many do not. Instead, some lodges are plagued by having a fixed location or substandard guides. In order to ensure the best possible fishing experience, potential customers should ask sufficient questions to find a guided-fishing experience that lives up to its claims.

Location, location, location. While location is not everything, when it comes to fishing it is definitely a big deal. When choosing where to go, investigate the catch quality of the prospective location. Many fishing lodges and fishing resorts have fixed locations, and to stay in business they aim to bring in as many customers as possible, whether or not the fishing is productive anymore. In some locations, fishing has declined drastically over the last decade or two, but fishing resorts still charge visitors thousands of dollars to fish mediocre areas.

Even some “floating lodges” have a similar problem. While they claim to move to the fish easily because they are built on a barge, large leasing space is difficult to come by in many areas. Because of this, some floating lodges occupy the same parking spot in the same harbor for many years, whether or not the fish are still biting there.

Finding quality, experienced guides can also be problematic for fishing resorts. In areas where fishing has declined and the bites are few and far between, the best guides have little motivation to stay. Instead, to keep staffed, these resorts pick up new guides or whoever will apply. The customer experience can decline significantly at lodges and resorts with high turnover rates and inexperienced guides. If an area has slow fishing and the guide has yet to master the art of when to wait for a bite or find a new location, there is a good chance that the cooler will stay close to empty.

Another possible guide-problem is substance abuse. While this issue is by no means exclusive to fishing lodges and resorts, it does seem to run rampant in the industry. Usually, if guides are hard to come by, troublemakers will be tolerated longer. Some guides wake up with hangovers on most mornings and still take out customers to fish.

Luckily, while some people’s lodge and resort experiences are impacted by these factors, there are still great options for guided fishing. By having awareness of these issues, potential customers can ask questions and read reviews that will help determine the quality of the lodge and guides.

Guided charters can offer an alternative to lodges as well. Some charter operations offer a lodge-like experience without being tied to a fixed location. Since charters can change their location to follow the productive fishing, they may have an easier time attracting qualified guides.

Whether fishing with a fishing lodge or a charter company, customers should do research and ask questions about the catch sizes and numbers throughout the season. Every location and lodge is different, as are customer expectations. Having an idea of potential issues helps possible customers ask educated questions to find the trip they want.

For further reading, visit www.salmoneye.net/fishing-resorts-lodges

Salmon Give Canada-Bound Fishermen Run for Their Money

by | Sep 23, 2009 | | 0 Comments

Due to poor spawning returns in 2008, many fishing areas in the northwestern United States launched the 2009 fishing season with low limits and strict regulations. Washington, for example, announced a late start to the season while Oregon and California closed salmon fishing in some areas altogether. Some fishermen wondered if great salmon fishing was a thing of the past. British Columbia, though, did not have to lower salmon limits and had a surprisingly strong season of King salmon fishing.

The fishing rebound in areas of British Columbia was aided by returns of larger Kings and high volumes of Silver salmon. Many visiting fishermen returned home with tubs of fish. Fishing charter owner Sam Vandervalk noted that in Ucluelet, where he owns and operates Salmon Eye Charters, there were so many Silvers that a fisherman could catch and release 200-300 fish a day.

The success of the 2009 fishing season helped keep lodge and charter owners from feeling the full effects of the recession. Vandervalk reported, “Like everyone else, I was concerned with how the economy would impact business this year, but the salmon fishing in Ucluelet was so good that we were 20% busier than last year. Despite the down-economy, good fishing kept us virtually one hundred percent full throughout the season.”

While Fisheries and Oceans Canada forecasted a better salmon fishing year than 2008, 2009 surpassed their predictions. Though for many this was unexpected, the areas of Canada that brought in these large Kings are known for consistently productive fishing. “We weren’t surprised by the good year. We have a lot of good years. In fact, an old fishing guide from Sitka, Alaska recommended that his friends come fish Ucluelet, Canada because of how consistent it is,” commented Vandervalk.

Forecasts for 2010 are calling for another year of good salmon returns, and many charters have already started booking for next season.

For further reading, visit www.salmoneye.net/category/fishing-reports or www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca