07-06-25

*** Sorry for the delay in posting a fishing report, we have been crazy busy, and now are getting a little time to breathe.***

Where to fish?

We have entered low water, therefore stay tuned to the USGS discharge sites. Currently, the Rio Grande at thirty-mile is at 75.9cfs, at Wagon Wheel Gap its 346 cfs, and in Del Norte it’s at 486cfs. This is considered low flows for our river. Floaters, the river is dodgy, please know your lines, if you don’t I would not recommend floating right now. Anything from wagon wheel gap is floatable but very tough rowing. We would recommend floating anything from upper collar down. The best float right now is from upper collar to 149 bridge. It is that time of the year to have your water temp gauge with you. By about 1pm, we ask you to stop fishing, take temps and be diligent in respecting the local resource. Attached at the bottom of this report will be a document displaying when to stop fishing based on water temps. Wade fisherman, the upper river is the place to be right now. Our public land spots on middle creek road are fishing excellent. Please call the shop for directions and advice.

What time to fish? 

As we are in low water, our temperatures are rising. As we have seen lots of temps around 1pm hitting the high 60s. This means fish early. The early bird gets the worm, this time of the year! We are in the monsoon season and seeing small rain showers starting around 11ish most days. They are nothing aggressive, but bring your rain gear. 

Guide insight: The fish are utilizing the whole river. It is no longer the bank banging season, fish the middle. Look for red to green color changes. Buckets, shelves, pools, and riffles are in play now. Don’t be surprised if you find fish holding in a foot of water. Start your day off dry-dropper fishing once the sun is overhead, nymph for your last two hours of the day.          

What to use!  

Streamers: Hawkins sz.4, baby gonga sz.6, dali lama ol. sz.6, and sculpzilla blk sz.4

Nymphs: Pat’s Rubber Legs BK Sz.12, Tung RL Prince Sz.14, Olive HotSpot Sz.16, lighting bug sz.14, BH lighting bug sz. 12, tung jig red copper john sz. 16 and Gav Mr Patriot TGB Sz.12.  

Dries: We are seeing drakes, yellow sallys, sulphers, caddis, pmds, and crane flies. Seeing some random hatches of bigger bugs, just have to be in the right place at the right time. Lots of spinners are present too, so be smart about your dry fly choice. Patterns to use: pmd extended body sz.16, para pale morning dun sz.16, snowshoe caddis sz.14, last chance drake sz.10, para kicking hopper yellow sz.10, parachute adams sz.14, and flopper hopper sz.10.  

***Call the shop and we can talk to all flies you will need, the flies listed above will give you a good idea on what’s going on. The shop is fully stocked, come get it while it lasts. Lots of new apparel and flies this year. ***