The San Juan River

The Quality Waters

The San Juan River lies in Northern New Mexico and is one of the most renowned tail-waters in the country. This outstanding fishery was created by the construction of Navajo Damn in 1962. The damn is 400 feet high and 3/4 of a mile long, the water released at the base of the damn is consistently around 41 - 42 degrees. Perfect trout habitat!  The management of the New Mexico Fish and Game and the New Mexico State Park system has created and maintained this outstanding fishery. The first 3.75 miles of river below the damn has been given the designation of "QUALITY WATER". The Quality Waters offer some of the most consistent fishing conditions, with fish averaging between 16 - 18 inches! Fish this size would be considered a trophy on any other river. Recent studies have shown that the river is supporting 15,000 fish a mile, through the Quality Waters.

2008 Spring Release for the Quality Waters

Nathan McChristy from CA, with his first trout on a fly rod.

Hundreds of Midges along the bank of the San Juan, these tiny Midges are the most important food source on the river throughout the year.

A guided trip on the Quality Waters will be the difference between success and frustration. The San Juan is not easy to fish, most first timers to the Juan leave disappointed and frustrated. They find it tough to understand that large trout eat the smallest flies (#20 - #26), and that they have to be fished on very light tippets. Detecting the strike is also very difficult, it is often hard to believe that fish of their size will have such a delicate and soft strike. We can help you unlock the secrets of how to fish on the San Juan. The San Juan doesn't require you to be an awesome fly caster. The casting is often fairly close with the most attention given to your leader and fly set up, the technique, finding where in the water column the fish are feeding, and most importantly - strike detection. 

Sarah with an excellent San Juan River Bow, and Scott rigging up on the Texas Hole.

ET Rock on a Fall float, and my dad Jack with his first New Mexico Rainbow.

Tom Davey with a nice bow taken during a BWO hatch, and Nate Davis with a hard fighting bow that took him to his backing on the main river!

Nancy Patton with a very nice bow she caught while on a November float.

Barry Simmers from Colorado Fishing Guides, with a bow that was taken on a BWO on a rainy afternoon.

The San Juan is primarily a nymph river with dry flies being of secondary importance except for when a hatch occurs. The following is a list on the main aquatic species  of importance to the trout on the San Juan River.

INSECTS;

Diptera - Midges & Black Flies

Emphemeroptera - Baetidae & Emphemerilladae - Mayfly Nymphs

Trichoptera - Case Caddis

ANNELIDA;

Leeches & Earthworms

There are also large numbers of Scuds, Damsel Fly Nymphs, Snails, and Stonefly's.

Last cast on the San Juan River!

970.946.5229

U.S. Coast Guard licensed & insured.

Colorado Outfitters Lic. # 2352

Home - Captains Bio - Fly Fishing School - Navajo Lake - San Juan River - Rates & Reservations - Contact Info - Photo Gallery - Area Information - Stream Flow