I didn’t fish the Red this month as the fishing on other streams that usually don’t fish this early such as the Rio Grande, Embudo and the Pueblo have been keeping me busy. Th Red is the most consistant stream in my area and this year a lot other opportunities have arisen and the Red almost always fishes well. With the drought I am not optimistic about the later season on the Costlla, Conejos and Cimarron.
Pat
Red River Fly Fishing Report 04/25/2000
No runoff again but I only fished the Red once this month on the 23rd and it was excellent. The Caddis hatch on the Rio Grande was the best in years so I spent the month on the big river..See the Rio Grande Archive.
Rio Grande Fly Fishing Report 04/25/2000
First report of Caddis in Pilar on 4/4. Flow was about 200cfs at the State Line which is ideal. The bugs moved upstream faster than in previous years and were all over the Box by 4/9 when I fished in the Wild Rivers area. The flow was 230cfs and not quite clear. We got a few nice Browns to 17″ on a Hares Ear #12 fished as a dropper. The water got murkier late in the day and we picked up a few fish along the edges on dries {Caddis}. In the Box on 4/14 flow was 249cfs and fishing was good from 3pm on dry Caddis #14. Again on 4/21 with the same results…Flows increased after that and ended the spring Caddis event.
Red River Fly Fishing Report 3/25/2000
More warm dry conditions and one of the best Marchs in memory. Resident browns in the 12-14″ range have been very responsive but I haven’t seen as many spawning Cutbos as in the past.
Red River Fly Fishing Report 2/25/2000
I saw the first Caddis on 2/1, the earliest I ever seen seen them on the Red. Its been exceptionally warm and very little precipitation. Fish have been very active on the surface and I have been fishing a straight dry [without a dropper] more this month than in past Februarys.
Red River Fly Fishing Report 1/15/2000
No snow and warm days in the 50*s as the drought continues. Skiers are crying but there have been some good Mayfly hatches on warm days in the afternoon. Best action on Para-Adams #14 and droppers [ Caddis larva & Mayfly emerger]..Cutbos are actively spawning thruout.
Red River Fly Fishing Report 12/15/1999
Some snow and some cold nights [0* 10*].I saw a few Cutbos in the Red in late November but they were really active thru this month and the afternoon Mayfly hatch is the main event for resident fish..Just before Xmas it got very cold [-0*] and fishing got pretty slow except for the odd spawning Cutbo.
Red River Fly Fishing Report 11/15/1999
The Browns are right on time and I saw the first ones working redds on 11/2. This year they finished their spawning by 11/15 and seemed to disappear back to the Rio Grande and the second half of the month was not very productive.
Rio Grande Fly Fishing Report 10/25/1999
Flows are higher than the past few years {600-700cfs} but fairly clear. This much water makes it tough fishing and guiding..On 10/12 I fished with a client and we fished streamers along the edges and fishing was fair. We got 6 fish over 16″. The best was a 19″ Brown..No further reports.
Cimarron River Fly Fishing Report 10/25/1999
Browns in the Cimarron spawn thruout the month. This is when you see the bigger fish but often the flows are real low and you end up just disturbing these fish in their reproductive process.
Red River Fly Fishing Report 10/15/1999
Flows and temps have been consistantly good all month and fish are getting very active as they fatten up for the spawn and winter. No spawners yet but excellent top water action with Caddis/Moth.
Rio Costilla Fly Fishing Report 09/25/1999
Good releases continued thru the last week of the month and fishing pressure decreased. This year the Costilla fished well thru September which is rare as they normally cut flows when the irrigation season is over .