February 2010

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The plan was to go to the Rio Chama this morning but the couch was just a bit too confortable after waking up. So I quickly talked myself into a day on the Pecos. I knew there would be some more river open since the last week has been brilliant weather.

The wind was kicking up a bit but you can never tell how it will be in the canyon. I could imediately see that a lot of the river has opened up. I thought that even if I did not catch anything I would still be happy to get into some new sections of the river. Hotting the same three spots all winter was getting old fast.

I won’t say much about the first pool. The only action I had there was catching the bait fishermans birds nest that had been anchored on the bottom. It didn’t take long to call that one.

The next spot I was hoping would be open is Mile Marker 13 or at least that is what I call it. As I rounded the corner I could see up the river to the Private Property Cable (PPC) and sure enough it was nice and open. I didn’t change rigs from what I first had on, a Green Rock Worm with a small red San Juan Worm dropper. I made my way to the first section I would hit before heading the the PPC.

Maybe two casts? I don’t remember but I certainly felt the strike, which has no been common throughout the winter here. I got him in and it was a nice looking small brown.

After I let him get back to whatever business he was up to it didn’t take but a few more casts and got another fairly aggressive bite. I got this guy close and he wiggled off as I reached for him. I kept working this section and then got the most aggressive bite of the day. It kind of shocked me a bit. This one didn’t stay on too long, I did get to see that it was another brown of similar size.

They all were hammering the Green Rock Worm I had on. Nothing I put as a dropper even phased them it seemed. I figured that was enough in that section. I moved up to the PPC. It didn’t take long here either until I felt another strike.

This time it was a rainbow and he loved that worm as much as the browns below him.

This is the fly of the day. They were hitting this and only this with some serious intensity.

I figured that was enough for the day. I didn’t want to hit my other go to sections today. I might want to get their again tomorrow if time permits.

The action is picking up now and I can’t wait until the smaller tribs start clearing. It has been so long since I have caught a nice Rio Grande Cutthroat.

I must have patience…

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If anyone is still keeping up with this blog I am sure you are getting a bit tired of hearing about the Pecos and the Rio Grande. Well, get ready! I put feet in new water this weekend.

The Rio Chama just below Abiquiu dam is where I found myself on Sunday. This trip was with a few people from High Desert Angler. This isn’t a paid function it is just something they do every now and then. I think they were going to cancel it since I was the only who showed any interest in going but luckily I made a quick stop by the shop Friday night after work and a couple of the guys were in there and we made some plans.

So, on Sunday we all showed up at 9:00 AM and headed towards the river. The Rio Chama is located about 45 minutes NW of Espanola. The drive is very nice and I have been by the lake before after riding some of the FSR on my DR650 Dual Sport bike. This particular trip dropped us down the backside of the dam. After a few switchbacks you are there. The river surroundings are very scenic. It is a nice small canyon that twists along for a good little clip then opens up into your typical High Desert valleys you see all over this region.

The river is a major tributary of the Rio Grande and flows at around 80-100 cfs. Where we fished was very slow moving water with deep pools and large submerged structures, mainly large boulders that were successful in making it all the way into the river from the cliffs above.

It didn’t take long to hook up and as I pulled the first fish close I was sure it was a rainbow but as I got it closer it definitely had a browns spotting but the color of the fish was rainbow all the way. Either it is the lightest skinned brown I have ever seen or it is a hybrid of some sort.

The fish I caught that day were all about this size. Mr. Norman Maktima, a 13 year senior guide with High Desert Angler, managed to pull out a few good sized fellas.


Here is a distinguished member of the future of NM Fly Fishing. I forgot his name but he had to be around 13 or 14 years old. Just about the age when I started. He has some years behind him though.

Some of the slow sections we fished.

I only stayed for a couple hours but this will be my next trip as soon as I get a day off. I want to get a whole day in here. There is so much more to explore.

Over…

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I went out this last weekend to the Rio Grande near Pilar NM at the Toas Junction Bridge to try my luck at the elusive Trucha de Invierno, once again.

This isn’t easy fishing and I got skunked for the 2nd time out of 4 trips on this river this winter. I am thinking I just need to rig up for the pike which seems to be what everyone else is fishing for anyway.

But here are a few pictures just so you can get an idea of the lay of the land. I also took a small foot trip up a smaller feeder river, the Pueblo, looking for a nice looking hole but the banks were steep, muddy, and still had snow on them so I passed on sliding down into the canyon for now.

It is supposed to be really good Brown fishing on that smaller river.

This is where I always kick my day off on the Rio:
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This is the trail that climbs up the canyon alongside the Rio Pueblo
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This is one good section I will hit here as soon as the ground dries up a bit:
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