Fishing Season: Year Round

San Juan River - NM

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

42

Chris Taylor, Fisheads of the San Juan's Tip of the Week

Well, we just had the flood of the century! Everything is fine with the river as the dam captured all of the water. The lake has risen over 30 feet since its low for the year in September. Things are looking great for an excellent 2027 season! The bad news is that all that water entering the lake has turned the lake muddy. Which in turn leaves the river we fish muddy as well. There is about an inch of visibility and catching fish has become very difficult. Just about everyone has canceled for the next couple of weeks. Hopefully things start to settle down and the river clears some. Fish don't starve when it is like this. They eat well and gain weight using sent to find all kinds of food. But they cant see much so catching them is super difficult. If it clears just a little we will expect to have things back to more normal. We will keep you updated.

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Map of San Juan River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Fisheads of the San Juan

5-Day Outlook as of 10/26/26

The weather this week is sunny to start and then expecting some rain. It is going to be in the 60's this week. Back to Fall conditions.

Techniques & Tips as of 10/26/26

Fish fluorocarbon tippets at the end of your mono-filament leader when nymph fishing. 4X to the first fly and 5X to the dropper. This will produce more strikes as the fish can't see the fluorocarbon. Fish an attractor fly like a bunny leach or an egg pattern to a colored larvae or a fly with flash on it. We are finding lots of baetis, especially on cloudy afternoons. Baetis live in fast water so look for them in the riffles at the top of holes and at the bottom of holes in the tail out. Fish are eating gray, olive and brown mayfly nymphs in these places, it just depends on the day so have them all. You may have the chance to see fish on top during this time. A parachute Adams or comparadun should do the job. The may flies are blue-gray and are about size 22. Use dark colored wings as the fish are turning away from white wings. If you can't see this try a marker fly about 12 inches above the baetis. You should fish mono-filament tippets when fishing on the surface as fluorocarbon sinks. Change back to midges when the fish stop eating your may flies. Try some bunny leaches if all else fails. Dead drift them like the rest of your nymphs. Fish are eating them for moss! They will shake the drifting moss to get the bugs out. All this goes out the door when fishing streamers. Get them on the bottom and fish 1X fluorocarbon.

Local Species Available Year Round

  • Fish Icon

    Rainbow and Brown trout

Chris Taylor, Fisheads of the San Juan's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Vernille San Juan Worm Brown, Black, Natura 8, 14
Lynch's Double Dot Egg Orange Blood Dot 18
Griffith’s Gnat Black, Olive 18
Rosenbauer Parachute Beetle Black 10 to 24
Midge Larvae Gray, Red, Olive, Br 18 to 24
Foam Wing RS2 Brown, Black, Gray, 18 to 24
Bunny Leaches Black, Olive, Gray, Natural, White 6 and 8
Ants Black 12 to 16

Vernille San Juan Worm

Fish the Vernille San Juan Worm fly dead drifted tight to the bottom and it can be deadly.

2.49

Item #0290

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Chris Taylor, Fisheads of the San Juan's Recommended Gear

Description: About San Juan River

Located in the northwest corner of New Mexico, 40 miles South of Durango, Colorado and 30 miles Northeast of Farmington, New Mexico. The San Juan River is world renowned for providing some of the most rewarding trout fishing you will ever experience. The San Juan is a consistent producer of both rainbows and browns averaging 16 to 18 inches, with many reaching much larger proportions. Recent studies have suggested that there are 15,000 fish per mile. Since the completion of the Navajo Dam in the early 60's, the river below the dam has provided a perfect environment for the growth of trophy sized trout. Brown trout naturally reproduce in the river and the rainbow fingerlings that are stocked yearly are essentially wild by the time they reach maturity. Catching them is an experience you will never forget! The San Juan has developed a far reaching reputation for Gold Medal trout fishing throughout the year. With comfortable temperatures all four seasons, you can be assured of enjoyable fishing whenever you come. The San Juan provides something for everyone, year round. Clothing should be layered so you can adapt to the widely varying temperatures. Afternoon rain showers are common also. Rain is common in the summer. Bring a rain jacket even if the sky is cloudless in the morning. Sun block (SPF 30+), sun gloves, hats, neck protection, polarized sunglasses and sun protective clothing are highly recommended.

Nearest Airport:

Albuquerque, NM (2.5 hr) or Durango, La Plata Airport, CO (40 min) or Farmington, NM (40 min)

Hatches:

Midge strongest from 11:00 am on Blue wing olives from 12:00 to 5:00 Caddis in the evenings further down the river is better. Some Dry action on cloudy days. Streamers are working early in the morning and all day on cloudy days.

Best Time to Fish:

All day long.

Best Stretch:

quality waters

Best Access:

Texas Hole parking lot