2001 Conejos River Fly Fishing Report Archives
The Conejos is the largest
tributary to the Rio Grande. It flows out of Platoro Resevoir which at over
10,000' elevation is the highest man made impoundment in the USA. Its flow
is augmented by numerous smaller tributaries that drain surrounding areas.
This drainage historically gets a lot of snow and rain and runoff often
continues into July with the best fishing being usually from early July
thru September. Recently with successive mild, dry winters the best fishing
has often been in June and July. Low flows and high water temps has made
August and September less predictable.
June: June saw a lot of runoff from the tributaries but levels
in Platoro were low from lack of precipitation and at Mogote the flow was
600cfs and blow the Pinnacles it was 350cfs.. Wading was tough everywhere
and best fishing was along the dges. Stoneflies were around by 6/10 and best
fishing was in the Flywater along Hiway #17. Crossing the river at this flow
was impossible.
July: By early July
the flow was down to 260cfs below the Pinnacles and altho wading was
difficult
it was doable for the adventurous angler. We
had good days on the Hamilton Lease on 7/6 and 7/7 with D&D Rigs with
a Stimulator #10 with a Prince or Caddis emerger #14 about 24" below
the dry.. We also got some nice fish with a #8 Peacock Stonefly nymph fished
with an indicator in the deeper runs. In the second half of July flows
were down to 90cfs and we fished the Pinnacles with Caddis #12 with a Caddis
emerger dropper. The dry fly fishing was excellent and there were a lot
of Caddis around all day most days.
August: Fishing remained consistant and flows stayerd around 90cfs until
later in the month when they rose to 130cfs. Wading was tough at 130cfs
in the Pinnacles and above. Below the Pinnacles fishing was good with Caddis
patterns. For rising fish a Para-Adams #14 or 16 worked well. Good flows
and cloudy days kept the water temps in the good range {50-65*}.
September: Flows remained in the 90-130cfs range for the first half of
the month but fishing wasn't as good as in August.
Conejos River
Fly Fishing Reports
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New Mexico Fly Fishing Report Archives