December 2014 Fly Fishing Report
Give yourself the gift of fly fishing this holiday season…by going fishing! Or better yet, give someone ELSE the gift of fly fishing this holiday season by taking them fly fishing! For some, December may seem like the time of year to mole-hole indoors to avoid the bitter wind and biting cold. While this may seem the prudent course of action; you may just miss out on the trout of a lifetime.
While major bug hatches have subsided for the year, there are still literal CLOUDS of midges hatching on the San Juan River tailwater right now. Midge cluster patterns (read Griffith’s Gnat) have been accounting for hundreds of fish caught in the past month. The weather has been fluctuating but that has not stopped the fish from looking up. If fish on top are hard to find, switch to midge pupa and annelids and sight fish to trout eating below the surface. Temps have remained around the 50’s and will continue that way with the coming forecast. Once the temps drop, make sure to layer up and have a good jacket to keep you warm on the water.
The Animas has also been producing pigs of epic proportions for us lately. With the colder temps, most fisherman have been chased from the water. For what reason, we are not sure as the fishing is still solid. Although this time of year is not a numbers game; the possibility of hooking into a 20 inch plus fish is still there. Fishing nymphs on the bottom will find you the fish; and don’t be afraid to get creative. Just remember; when in doubt, go a little smaller.
Insects and Natural Food Sources
If you have any questions on a specific river; please call the shop for more info. 970-385-4081
- · San Juan River, New Mexico – Blue Winged Olives, Midges, annelids, aquatic worms, scuds, eggs, Leeches.
- · Lower Animas – BWO nymphs, Midges, Cased Caddis, Stonefly Nymphs, Sculpins.
- · Upper San Juan – Stonefly Nymphs, Blue Winged Olives, Midges
- · Rio Grande – Stonefly Nymphs, Midges, Blue Winged Olives.
- · Piedra River & Williams Creek – Stonefly nymphs, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Mayfly Nymphs.
- · Los Pinos River – (Below Dam) – Midges, Blue Winged Olives, Baitfish.
- · Dolores River Above Reservoir, Los Pinos Above Reservoir – Stonefly Nymphs, BWO nymphs, Midges.
- · Dolores River (Below Dam) – Midges, BWO’s, …anything small.
- · High Country Lakes and Streams – Iced over
Recommended Fly Patterns
San Juan River:
- · Midges: Size 20-30 – Black Midge Pupa, Bling Midge, WD-40, Juju Midge
- · Baetis: Size 20-14 – Juju Baetis, Thread Body Baetis, Barr’s Baetis Vis-A-Dun, BWO CDC Emerger, RS2
- · Annelids: Red Sparkle Worm, Red annelids, Chamos Leech, SJ Worm in Red, Orange, Pink, and Tan
- · Scuds: Size 14-18 – Olive and Tan
- · Leeches and Streamers: Size 8-14 – Olive, Brown and Black Simi- Seal Leeches, Bunny Leeches, Buggers, Near Nuff Sculpin, Baby rainbow trout streamers.
Animas, Piedra, Upper San Juan, and SW CO rivers:
- · Stonefly Nymphs: Size 2-14 – 20 Incher Stone, Prince Nymph, Pats Rubberlegs, Little Black Sloan, Sparkle Stone
- · Caddis Nymphs: Size 12-18 – Caddisstrophic Pupa, , Hares Ear, Cased Caddis, Sparkle pupa and Sparkle emerger
- · Mayfly Nymphs 14-20: Red and black Copper John, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Hare’s Ear, Thread Baetis. Juju Baetis, RS-2
- · Midges: Size 18-24 – Flash Midge Pupa, Disco Midge, WD-40, Zebra Midges, Bling Midge
Rio Grande:
- · Stonefly Nymphs: Size 2-14 – 20 Incher Stone, Pats Rubberlegs, Sparkle Stone.
- · Caddis Nymphs: Size 12-18 – Caddisstrophic Pupa, Cased Caddis, Sparkle pupa and Sparkle emerger
- · Midges: Size 18-24 – Flash Midge Pupa, Disco Midge, WD-40, Deep Poison Tung
- · Mayfly Nymphs 14-20: Red and black Copper John, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Hare’s Ear, Thread Baetis. Juju Baetis, RS-2
Lower Dolores:
- · BWO Nymphs: Pheasant Tail Nymph, Juju Baetis, Brown Baetis Nymph
- · Midges: Size 18-24 – Flash Midge Pupa, Disco Midge, WD-40,
- · Streamers: Autumn Splendor, Magnum Super Bugger, Josh’s Ziwi, Simi Seal Leech
High Country:
The end of the High Country season has come. Plan for next year by checking out our guide to fly fishing the high country.
