San Juan River

The San Juan river is located in northwestern New Mexico, about 1 1/4 hour drive from Lone Wolf Lodge, just south of the Colorado/New Mexico line. The San Juan, below Navajo Lake dam, is a tailwater fishery with mostly rainbows averaging 14" – 20". There are also browns and cuttbows (rainbow/cutthroat hybrids) and fish to 28” are possible.

The river can be fished year around with water temperatures ranging from the mid to low 40's. Early spring, summer and fall are generally the best times. Late spring sees increased flows from the lake, up to 5,000 cfs. That makes wading difficult.

Brush, submerged rocks, coves.

Flies are generally small, 18-24 but at times larger San Juan Worm style flies are the pattern of choice. Most action is under the surface on nymph patterns. Occasionally we can find a few trout that are keying on dry flies. If you're real lucky and we hit the river on a day when the ants are active it will blow your mind! Using 3-5 pound tippets the San Juan's strong fish will test even the most skilled angler. Northwest New Mexico., Quality Water (six-mile stretch below Navajo Dam). Freestone tailwaters, Year-round fisher, good any time, including the dead of winter.Rainbows and cutthroats average 13 to 20 inches with many over 20 inches. Expect to catch several in the two to five pound range. Browns get big, too, but aren't as plentiful. Ten-pound browns are pulled from the river every now and again. No-Kill Area, which as the name implies means that for this quarter mile catch-and-release only; for the first three and a half miles below the dam, fishing is limited to barbless flies and lures only with a strict possession limit. There are different regulations along the river so be sure to check the current rules in place. Other famous and productive areas on the river include the Upper Flats, Lower Flats, Cable Pool, Baetis Bend, Simon Point, and the always crowded Texas Hole. This is some of the best water anywhere in the Southwest , but it is also some of the most difficult. The trout have been caught many times and are extremely wary.