by Van Beacham
Forests Reopen Due to Rain
Fishing is Excellent!
Recent monsoonal moisture has resulted in the opening of most public waters in New Mexico after being closed for over a month. While bad for anglers, the closure allowed trout to feed and grow, undisturbed by man. Fishing on most area waters has been good despite the lack of water this year. While low, most streams are maintaining reasonable flows and temperatures due to regular afternoon showers and cloudy skies. If we continue to get afternoon showers through August most area streams should remain good.
Stream of the Month – Rio Costilla
Cory & Marla on the Rio Costilla
The Rio Costilla in Valle Vidal usually opens with a bang on July 1st but drought conditions resulted in the closure of most public land before it had a chance to open. For most of July it remained closed and the fish were able to feed freely without disturbance until it opened at noon on July 22nd. Stephanie Woolley, owner of the Tailwater Gallery & Fly Shop in Taos, was at the gate waiting for them to open and was the first to wet a fly in this emerald gem. And she didn’t have to wait long for the first crimson Rio Grande cutthroat to come to hand; in fact it was her first cast!
What followed was an epic day that few others will experience, since everyone else will be after her. Nevertheless, fishing on the entire Costilla has been good to excellent and the cutts are averaging larger than they have in some time.
Try golden stones, hoppers and ginger or gray duns on the surface and copper Johns, golden or brown stonefly nymphs, pheasant tails and olive hare’s ear nymphs as droppers under your dry fly. Ants, beetles and other terrestrials are also working.
Here is an excerpt from my second edition of my book Flyfisher’s Guide to New Mexico. Order your own signed copy today!
The Rio Costilla is a rich tailwater, but it also has a steep grade and strong currents, which means it has a wide variety of large, swift-water aquatic insects. Giant Golden Stones, various caddis, large brown sedges, and Gray, Olive, and Brown Drakes, PMDs, and Blue Duns start hatching in June and continue through mid-August. Ginger Duns and PEDs hatch from July through mid-September, and the evening spinner fall can bring some larger trout to the surface.
Hoppers and a variety of ants are plentiful along the tall grassy banks from July through September, and yellow pine moths frequently find themselves trapped in the fast currents and back eddies.
Cimarron River
The Cimarron was closed due to fire danger for over a month. When it reopened last week, the flows were optimum, the hatches were on and fishing was as good as it has been in years. Since then the flows have been reduced, the angling pressure has increased and I’m sure a few nice fish have been harvested. Yet, dry fly fishing has remained consistently good.
Try a variety of caddis and may fly patterns including ginger duns, parachute Adams, Adams irresistible, olive elk hair caddis and Goddard caddis. Small golden stones and yellow Sallys are also still working. At dusk look for caddis, and in the morning look for tricos. Don’t hesitate to try an ant or beetle under overhanging brush, trees and grass during mid-day heat.
The Holy Water
Flyfishing heaven - Cimarron Holy Water
The perfectly named “Holy Water” is the first ¾ of a mile of the Cimarron River below Eagle Nest Dam. The Solitary Angler has an exclusive lease on this magnificent stretch of the Cimarron, along with lodging facilities that include a beautiful historic ranch house now available for vacation rentals:
Hacienda de Cimarron above The Holy Water
Hacienda de Cimarron, also cabins on the property available for clients of The Solitary Angler and for members of the Solitary Angling Club.
Prices – Hacienda de Cimarron
The Holy Water has been fishing very well using tricos in the morning and caddis in the evenings, although they are getting a little selective in the lower water. Nice browns and bows 12 to 18 inches can be caught with a good drift and the right fly.
Call us today to book a trip and stay at the cabins or the Hacienda de Cimarron, remodeled just for anglers! Call 1-866-502-1700 Today!
Culebra Creek – Low Water, Big Fish
The Culebra’s flows have been fluctuating between normal and just below normal until a week ago when it dropped down to around 35 cfs and has hovered around there since. Sanchez Reservoir is the lowest it’s been in years and the water coming out of the bottom has been murky and warm for most of the summer.
Fishing has been spotty with mostly slow action during mid day punctuated by some fantastic flurries during morning and evening hatches. The size and health of the fish are incredible though, indicating that they are eating, just not when most people are fishing.
The lower flows, clearer water, cooler nights and afternoon showers have all made the fishing better recently and some very fat browns and bows have been caught in the last week. If the conditions stay about like this, the fishing should be good all through August. Try small golden stones and hoppers during the day, tricos in the morning and caddis in the evening. If they won’t come to the top try a dropper or standard nymphing techniques using stone fly nymphs, may fly nymphs, crane fly larva and cadis larva.
The wild brown population is as good as ever and they are averaging over 16 inches this year. Give us a call today or contact us here to book a trip on this blue ribbon trout stream and you’ll see why it has become, by far, our most popular fishery.
Call (575-758-5653 or 1-866-502-1700) or visit Jack or Stephanie at The Tailwater Gallery & Fly Shop for latest flows and conditions.
Beat the Heat at Trinchera Ranch
(Available to SAC Members)
One of the beautiful wild brookies in Ute Creek, Trinchera Ranch
While everyone else was wishing they were fishing during the Forest closures, Solitary Angler clients and members of Solitary Angling Club were enjoying the pristine, high alpine dry fly fishing for wild bows, browns, brookies and cutthroats at the sprawling Trinchera Ranch.
The all-inclusive Trinchera Lodge serves as our base of operations for those fishing one or more days. Culebra Creek is also just 25 minutes from the lodge.
Enjoy 5-star accommodations at Trinchera Lodge
Now is the time to fish all the high mountain streams on the 180,000 acre Trinchera Ranch and beat the heat of the lower rivers and streams, available to Solitary Angler clients and members of SAC. Come fish on over 30 miles of crystal clear streams teaming with wild trout.
Don’t wait, because the season on Trinchera Ranch ends at the end of August. Come experience the best dry fly fishing for wild trout anywhere! Call The Solitary Angler at 1-866-502-1700 or research using the links below, then contact us today to experience this one-of-a-kind wild trout fishery!
Lodging at Trinchera Lodge
Fishing at Trinchera Ranch
Third Annual Taos Two Fly Contest
August 19th 20th & 21st
Trinchera Ranch and Lodge
We still have a few openings for the Taos Two Fly Contest for anyone who wants to participate in this one-of-a-kind event. Includes lodging and fishing on fabulous Trinchera Ranch and other Club waters.
Two-person teams select two flies per team-mate per day, which they can use together or separately. Points are scored for each fish with larger fish scoring higher. Prizes include a 3-day guided trip in Wyoming with The Solitary Angler, a custom-built fly rod and reel combo, and other nice prizes. Contact us for more information.
