The Solitary Angler Fishing Report
Updated June 19th 2008 by Van Beacham
Run-off Subsiding on Some Streams!
After another great winter and a long and steady run-off, many streams in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado have peaked and will soon be fishable. Flows should be about normal throughout the season for the first time in a long time. Fish populations and sizes are up on most streams this year since we’ve had average or better snow pack 4 out of the last 5 years, thus finally bringing us out of a 10 year drought.
Culebra Creek – Our Crown Jewel!!=
The Culebra’s flows have been fluctuating between high and very high lately as farmers downstream have been calling for a lot of water. The fishing has been fair to good depending on the flows using small dark hare’s ears and pheasant tail nymphs, San Juan worms, crane fly larvae and stone fly nymphs, and occasionally on the surface using golden stones, parachute Adams and ginger duns. Streamers have also been working well lately, especially when the river is high and off-color.
Fishing on Culebra Creek is expected to improve now that farmers are drying out their fields so that they can start cutting, resulting in moderate flows (between 50 and 90 cfs) and great fishing. Already, hoppers are working on section 2A and 2B. Soon, rainbows, cutbows, brookies and browns will be taking PMDs, golden stones and caddis, both on top and underneath, and it appears we’ll have a bumper crop of hoppers this year. Give us a call today or email us at fish@thesolitaryangler.com 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 (204 B Paseo del Pueblo Norte) Jack or Stephanie at The Tailwater Gallery & Fly Shop for latest flows and conditions.
Rio Grande Gorge and Lower Tributaries
The Rio Grande and its tributaries are already getting high and a little bit murky due to the abundance of low snow this year, which may keep it murky until the high snow starts melting. Sometimes we’ll get a little window between the low and high run-off, allowing for some great dry fly fishing during the heavy baetis hatches in April and/or the blizzard caddis hatches in late April and May. We’ll keep you posted as the conditions change or call the shop for the latest conditions.
Other Spring-time Options
As expected, the Cimarron River is fishing better than it has in years due to 3 years in a row of above average moisture, pulling it out of a long drought. Already stone flies are hatching in abundance, with scrappy browns and rainbows gorging on them until they are falling out of their mouths. For the first time in years giant salmon flies, medium orange and golden stone flies, small golden stones and yellow and brown Sallys are hatching simultaneously, in abundance this year. Ginger duns (PMDs), blue and olive duns, green and grey drakes and evening caddis will all be hatching during the next month providing great dry fly fishing all day long. In the first couple of miles below the dam, shrimp are abundant and small tan, orange or olive scuds bumped along the bottom can produce great results if you can’t get them to come to the surface.
The Holy Water is Back!
The Holy Water on the Cimarron River is fishing better than it has in years. Bows and browns are regularly reaching 16 to 18 inches, and dry fly fishing should be great for the next few months. Give us a call today at 1-866-502-1700 to book this exclusive private fishery!
Solitary Angling Club
The Solitary Angling Club, I am happy to say, is almost filled to capacity for the time being. Currently, I only have one (1) Annual Membership, zero (0) Charter Memberships and one (1) Legacy Membership available. Call or email us at fish@thesolitaryangler.com for more information and/or an application to become a member of this exclusive angling club of flyfishing enthusiasts and start enjoying “quality flyfishing without the crowds”.
Contact us at van@thesolitaryangler.com for a full color brochure and more information on the Solitary Angling Club, or go to our web site at www.thesolitaryangler.com and click on “the Solitary Angling Club” at the top of the opening page to view our full on-line brochure.
For Members Only
Taos Two-Fly Contest – August 15th, 16th & 17th
We are happy to bring to the Members of the Solitary Angling Club the First Annual Taos Two-Fly Contest, sponsored by The Solitary Angler, The Solitary Angling Club, The Tailwater Gallery and the Trinchera Ranch (Formerly Forbes – Trinchera Ranch).
This is the realization of an idea that I’ve been contemplating ever since a few guides and I were sitting around BSing about how to provide a venue where members of the SAC could meet and get acquainted and generate some revenue for stream improvements at the same time.
- There will be a limit of ten (10) 2-man teams on a first-come first-serve basis.
- Each team must have at least one member.
- Each teammate gets to choose two flies per day. If you lose them both, you are out of the contest for the remainder of the day, although you may continue to fish unofficially.
- Ten percent (10%) of the proceeds generated by the Taos Two Fly Contest will be used directly for habitat improvement on Club waters.
- Silent Auction for fine art, lodging, fishing trips and fishing equipment.
- Prizes for 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd & last place teams, top rod, biggest fish and smallest fish.
The 3-day event includes: Lodging, meals, guides/judges and access to Trinchera Ranch and Club Waters
August 15th 12:00 – 5:00 pm - Check in to Trinchera Ranch –
5:00 – 7:00 pm - Cocktails, Orientation, draw for teammate and sections.
7:00 – 8:00 pm - Dinner
8:00 – 9:00 pm - Slide show by Van Beacham on fly fishing club waters and stream improvements on club waters.
August 16th 8:00 – 5:00 - All 10 teams will head out with their judge/guide and two flies to their respective sections on Culebra Creek or Trinchera Ranch.
5:00 – 7:00 - Cocktails and score tallies.
August 17th 8:00 – 5:00 - All 10 teams will head out with their judge/guide and two flies to their respective sections on Culebra Creek or Trinchera Ranch.
5:00 – 7:00 - Cocktails and score tallies.
7:00 – 9:00 - Dinner and Awards Ceremony.
August 18th 8:00 – 10:00 - Depart Trinchera Ranch
If you are a Member of the SAC and would like more information on the Taos Two Fly just respond to fish@thesolitaryangler.com or call us at 1-866-502-1700 and we’ll send you a complete information packet including an application.
Trophy Ponds Still Fishing Great
We also have access to another fabulous springtime flat-water fishery in southern Colorado. Here, you can catch trophy size (up to 16 pounds) rainbows, cutbows, browns and brookies on one lake and huge Northern Pike and Tench on another lake the next day.If you’ve never caught pike on a fly you’ve got to check this trip out. It will blow your mind, as it did mine! The trout lake usually closes by early July and reopens after it cools off in September, while the pike lake stays open through fall. The owner only allows one guided party per day and he rests it more than 60% of the time so don’t hesitate to book this one today! On a recent trip five trout over 6 pounds were caught including a 10-pound rainbow and a 7-pound cutbow. They also landed more than 10 pike over 10 pounds including three over 20 pounds. Give us a call at 1-866-502-1700 to book this rare experience!
Wyoming Fishing Report
With the fishing getting better there is more demand for the limited amount of guided trips we are allowed to take on the Green River. We were unable to accommodate everyone last year because they waited too late to book so don’t wait, especially if you want to fish with me, personally.
If you want to fish the Green this year contact me (Van) personally at van@thesolitaryangler.com or call me at 575-776-5585. Leave a number where you can be reached. I’m already getting bookings into October and space is limited. Don’t miss out on another great year on the Green!
The Ham’s Fork - The Ham's Fork is still one of the best dry fly streams in Wyoming, especially for rainbows. It’s had a good recovery from past dry years and there are bigger rainbows than ever before. That’s because of the strain of rainbows (Eagle Lake Rainbows) the Wyoming Game and Fish has been stocking the last few years. They grow larger and faster than previous strains. The Ham’s Fork also fishes well in June unlike most Wyoming fisheries and the PMDs will bring large trout to the surface almost all day long. Combine fishing the Ham’s Fork with a guided trip on the Green and the Smith’s Fork.
The Smith’s Fork – The Smith’s Fork basin has had a good snow pack with a late run-off this year. I expect flows to be about normal this year, which means that dry fly fishing should be good by early July. Like the other area streams, Smith’s Fork has been steadily improving with normal snow packs the last two or three years. Last year we were catching many fish 12" to 16" and some 16" to 20", with some days seeing numbers caught in the 50 to 100 range in our private waters. The Smith’s Fork season is fairly short, basically July thru mid September, so don’t wait until the last minute to book this trip.
While fishing on the Smith’s Fork, stay at the Clark B&B who we work exclusively with. It’s actually a cozy old ranch house (cabin) that has been refurbished and redecorated. It’s so sweet and the hosts are actual ranchers and wonderful people who provide superb hospitality. Book your trip now for this gem.
To book a trip in Wyoming, email us at van@thesolitaryangler.com and I’ll respond as soon as possible, or call us today!
Call The Solitary Angler & Tailwater Gallery in Taos at 575-758-5653 or 1-866-502-1700 for current conditions or to book a guided trip on The Solitary Angler's eleven private miles of Culebra Creek, on the Cimarron Holy Water, or our trophy lakes or our new “secret fishery”.
At Tailwater Gallery & Fly Shop, you can purchase a wonderful piece of art - beautiful landscapes & figures, stunning fly fishing scenes and vibrant studies of our elusive quarry! - plus all of your fly fishing equipment (flies & tippet to rods & reels, hats & shirts and waders & shoes), and you can book a trip for your next great fly fishing adventure! We book all of our Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado (Culebra Creek) fly fishing trips with Van Beacham’s Solitary Angler guide service. Our international fly fishing trips are booked with Mark Cowan’s Pescador Solitario. We are located at 204 B Paseo del Pueblo Norte, one block north of the Plaza and across from Kit Carson Park in Taos, New Mexico. Please drop in next time you're in town. Open 9 to 5 seven days, six days in winter.