Pecos River, El día del gusano verde

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…