Spring Fishing on Culebra Creek
— As Good As It Gets —
Spring on Culebra
If you haven’t been fishing on the Culebra the last two weeks you haven’t experienced some of the best midge fishing since I started leasing water there more than 20 years ago! Over the last four years we’ve been going through a cycle of rebuilding the brown trout population after losing a majority of the big browns to fungus. Right now the browns are averaging 16 to 18 inches with many larger. They are healthy too! Despite the drought last year and the warm mid-summer temperatures, the fish were eating during the cool evenings, nights and mornings. Pressure was way down last year due to the discouraging conditions so the fish are fat and sassy!
Fishing requires changing tactics and techniques as conditions change, and fishing is a year-round activity with spring and fall being some of the best times to fish. Right now it’s nice spring weather, the water is clear and averaging a perfect 56 degrees, midges are hatching daily, spring baetis are already starting to hatch and will be in full swing soon.
Large bows and browns are feeding in the riffles, shelves, back-eddies and holes. The rainbows and cutbows have begun spawning, so we are really looking forward to some great spring fishing.
Contact us for latest conditions or to book a trip: Tailwater Gallery & Flyshop, 204 B North Pueblo Road (across from Kit Carson Park) in Taos NM, open 9 to 5 six days.
See Solitary Angler guide Spencer Seim Tie a Classic Fly:
Green Highlander by Spencer Seim
On Saturday, March 17th, St Patrick’s Day, Spencer Seim (ziafly.com) will be at the Tailwater Gallery & Flyshop in Taos tying a Classic Salmon Fly called the “Green Highlander.”
At the end of the day, Spencer will give the fly to the lucky winner of our drawing.
Stop by the Tailwater Gallery & Flyshop on Saturday and put your name in the jar! Spencer will be tying from 10-5.
Tailwater Gallery & Flyshop 204 B North Pueblo Road 1-866-502-1700
Spring Fishing on Culebra Creek
Already Good!
While there was a lot of ice on Culebra Creek this winter, the fishing was good in between the storms that brought much-needed snow to the Sangre de Cristos. Now winter’s icy grip is giving way to warm breezes, midges are hatching daily, and it won’t be long before the spring baetis are in full swing, bringing large browns and bows to the surface. The rainbows and cutbows have begun spawning and there are a lot of big browns in the river this year so we are really looking forward to some great spring fishing.
If you are a Member of the Solitary Angling Club you can just call to reserve your section and go fish. If fish are rising to midges try a single Griffith’s gnat, size 20, on a 6x tippet. If they aren’t rising try a small parachute dry fly with a dropper about 18 inches in length and attach a red or olive midge pupa or larva, size 18–22, or fish a standard nymph rig with a small indicator and two flies.
In addition to the midges try small mayfly nymphs (Van’s Rag Fly) and small, olive caddis and crane fly larva and micro egg patterns. If all else fails try any kind of medium-size streamer along undercut banks and deep holes.
If you aren’t a Member of the Solitary Angling Club, you need to call us today and book a guided trip for this spring!!
1-866-502-1700 OR Contact van@thesolitaryangler.com to get an application to join the SAC! We are running an “Introductory Special” only until April 30th!! Only a Few Left!!!
Lower Red River
Stephanie Woolley with a nice wild RR cutbow!
The lower Red River has been fishing well all winter although the icy banks were treacherous until things warmed up recently. There’s still time to get some good fishing in before run-off starts. Some blue-winged olives are hatching along with the normal midges, but we have seen a few caddis on warmer days and the rocks are covered with caddis larva, so we are expecting some good dry fly fishing during the next month or so.
Try dry-droppers using high-floating caddis or parachute mayflies on top and use a dropper 12 to 24 inches in length with a bead-head or standard mayfly nymph or caddis pupa/larva. Or try a standard nymph rig with the same flies. There are some bigger fish in the Red, both stocked and wild. Also look for recently introduced Rio Grande cutthroats, which should be approaching catchable size by now. We have caught a few to 12 inches already this year!
Call us to book a spring trip on the Red River
1-866-502-1700
Cimarron River / Holy Water
A beautiful wild Holy Water rainbow
They usually turn the Cimarron River up about mid-March and when they do the fishing is usually very good as fish start gorging on scuds, nymphs and larva to fatten up after a long winter. Most any good nymph or scud pattern will work when bounced off the bottom. If the water is fairly clear fish will come to the surface for midges and small mayflies especially in the slower pools and beaver ponds. BWOs usually start hatching early to mid April and PMDs start about mid-May.
While the entire river can be good during the spring, the best fishing is on our exclusive private stretch known as the “Holy Water.” In this ¾ mile stretch directly below Eagle Nest Dam the water is richer and the fish are larger (due to less pressure and C&R flyfishing only by reservation). We also have a beautiful Hacienda and rustic cabins on the property available for overnight rentals. Click here to book.
Every year anglers ask me about the fabled – if not almost mythical! – caddis hatch that that takes place every spring on the Rio Grande. Every year I tell them that depending on run-off and weather, it should be epic for the first week of the hatch. After that, depending on how stuffed the trout are and how murky the water is due to run-off, the dry fly action tapers off. This year we have near-normal snow pack and a warm, breezy spring so run-off should be a little less than average. That means we could have some great fishing during the hatch!
Depending on how warm it is, the hatch can start as early as mid April or as late as early May but usually it kicks off in late April. Use a standard dark olive elk hair caddis, size 14-18, by itself if they are rising. If they aren’t rising add a dropper about 18 to 24 inches long and attach your favorite caddis pupa or wet fly. Don’t worry, if you’re too early the spring baetis (blue-winged olive) will be hatching and it can be as good or better for dry fly fishing while they hatch from 11:00 to 3:00 every day.
Look for rises in the foam lines, back eddies and tails of riffles and runs as well as along the bank. Imitate them with a standard or parachute BWO, size 16 to 20. If they get fussy try 6x tippet and a fan-wing emerger or a no-hackle pattern with a CDC wing. Don’t hesitate to call us for current conditions and up-to-date forecasts.
Boulder covered with caddis!
The Rio Grande is one of the most difficult rivers to understand, making a guide from The Solitary Angler invaluable. Don’t put it off, call us now to book before it’s too late!!! Space is very limited due to permit restrictions. Call or email us today!!
We are located at 204 B Paseo del Pueblo Norte, one block north of the Plaza (right across from Kit Carson Park) in Taos, New Mexico. Please drop in next time you’re in town. Open 9 to 5 six days.
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