The midge pupa is gray and black, in a #22 to #28. Adults are black, or black and gray in a # 24 to #30. There have also been some larger #18 to #20 midge pupa that are black/red. The adult is olive/gray. For the BWOs fish brown wd40s and RS2s have been good. Foam wing emergers in chocolate and gray. Typical baetis emergers.

With the water green to clear fish bright patterns above natural patterns. Larva and red annelids in #18 to #24. San Juan worms in red, orange and natural. Buggers and leeches will also take fish. Leeches in gray and black. Fish have also been on orange, cream and red eggs. Some scuds as well in #22 gray. Natural streamers and leeches. Green moss patterns at times.

Insects (food) in the system: Caddis pupa, larva, midges, mayfly nymphs, snails, black fly larva, crane flies, eggs, worms and fry.

The San Juan River below Navajo Dam offers the fly angler a chance at large number of quality trout, regardless of the time of year. We offer float and wade guide trips throughout the winter, spring, summer and fall.

Drop us a line or type us an e-mail for more info and to check on guide availability and conditions.

The San Juan River at Navajo Dam-Details
The San Juan is located about an hour south of Durango Colorado and flows cold out from the bottom of Navajo Reservoir. Albuquerque, Farmington and Pagosa Springs are also a short drive to the river. Albuquerque is about 3 hours, and Farmington is 40 minutes and Pagosa Springs is an hour and some change. The Juan flows through a true desert canyon with high sandstone cliffs in bench form, each layer exposing millions of years of geology. On the river floor, the river runs slow over shallow riffles and deep pools, and is surrounded by willows and cottonwoods.

Trophy Trout Quality Waters
The Quality Water section located just below the dam in the Navajo Lake State Park is one of this countries top tailwater fisheries and boasts thousands of fish per mile. Packed full of trout; 15, 30 even 50 hookups per angler, per day is common. Fish size averages between 12 to 20 inches. A 16 inch bow seems to be the the typical fish these days.

Lower River Floats
The San Juan below the Quality Waters is know as the Lower River, and this section flows over numerous riffles, and is home to a large number of fish. Brown trout tend to out number the bows and they can be very aggressive to a dry or streamer. Fish size ranges between 10 and 15 inches the average seems to be 13 inch browns. But hold on, there are some monster bows and browns lurking about in the lower river. When the river is on, an angler can have a large number of fish to the fly.