Category: NM Trout Fishing

*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

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

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.

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

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

We kicked off the season with the Superfly competition on the Conejos. Jon Harp put on another great event and we had the usual Conejos weather, wind, snow and one beautiful day for the finals. The snowpack above Platoro is in good shape and summer flows from the resevoir should be adaquate. The river should be fishable by mid June in time for the Stonefly and Green Drake hatches.

        The Rio Grande Cutthroat Restoration Project on the Rio Costilla [Valle Vidal] is in the second year of a 15 year duration. They applied a piscicide to the upper reaches of Commanche Creek and all the tributaries thereof. They put a fish barrier by the Little Costilla Peak trail along the road to Shuree and will restock that area this summer with pure Cutts. They will concentrate on the lower part of Commanche and its tributaries this year so the Rio Costilla will still fish well from July 1st thru September.  

        The Rio Grande and the Red are getting to peak flows and should be chugging for a while.  The Red should improve over the last few years. After the flash flood event in ’07, which killed a lot of brown trout the fishing in the canyon  fell off precipitously and still hasn’t returned to its former glory. We were down last fall a few times and had fair days.  The river looked good as far as gravel, bugs and health of the fish were  concerned. The numbers should improve this year barring another cataclysmic event.

      Rita has been in the Bahamas, Yucatan and currently in Montana doing what she does best, catching lots of fish. She will be back in NM by June 1st and guide here until mid August and then she is  back up north and a month of guiding on the Kootenai, Yaak and Clark Fork in NW Montana. She has been doing some drift boat guiding on those bigger Montana rivers. This winter I got to Baja and fished the Sea of Cortez for a few weeks but mostly watched the snow fly and prowled the upper Rio Grande looking for Northern Pike.

     We hope to catch up with you this spring/summer/fall. Ed And Rita Adams