Fishing Report 08/04 San Juan Seminar
Alb. NM 08/28
Capt. Mark Nesbit
August 4, 2010
San Juan River - Freshwater
Fishing Report
Hello Everyone,
The B.O.R will drop the river
flow tomorrow 08/05/10 to
500cfs.
Blue Sky Flyfishing will be
holding a seminar at the
Sportsman Warehouse in
Albuquerque, NM 08/28/10 from
10:00 am to 2:00 pm. It will be
a in depth look at presentation
techniques, from sight fishing.
nymphing, dry fly, and
streamers, that I use on the San
Juan, and Navajo Lake. I will go
over the the cast, the hook set,
the playing of the fish. the
landing, and release. Also
rigging suggestions, and basic
knots that I use. I will have a
Q and A time. I will also give
some insight on fishing Navajo
lake. My goal is to help all of
you be more successful the next
time out. Looking forward to
meeting all of you.
The fishing has been good to
great the last couple of weeks.
The water is clear with some
moss. The higher flows of recent
kept the snot rock from getting
to bad. It also made the fish
very active, and full of fight.
I hope the monsoon moves out,
and B.O.R. will increase the
flows again.
The upper areas, old catch and
release, cable, and upper flats
have been good to me using
#22-26 dark gray or black midge
pupa's, with a #24 black Jujube
or #24 gray Johnny flash. # 24
black, or gray Krystal flash
wing midges also working. If
there is fish sipping they are
on the emergence, if the water
is quiet try larva's and pupa's.
Cream ,gray, or red larva in
#20-24will also get bit. Natural
chamois #18-20 leeches are
working too.
The main channel is fishing ok
with above patterns in the am
and switching over to beatis
nymphs, #20 Brown Wd40s and Foam
wings around 11:00am into mid
afternoon.
Texas Hole down to the lower
flats has been awesome. Early am
into mid morning has been good
with#24 olive or black midge
pupa's and black #24 jujube and
Krystal flash wings. Around
10:30-11:00 am the beatis start
moving. We had a 60 fish hook up
day last Sunday. 90% on the #20
chocolate foam wing.
From the lower flats to the
catch and release takeout {the
gravel pit} the Pale Morning
Dunn's {PMD's} have been coming
off from mid to late am into mid
afternoon. For the nymphs I use
a #18-20 natural hares ear, for
the emergers I use a #16-18
hares ear with a trailing shuck,
or 16-18 sprout foam wing. For
fish rising and gulping I use a
#16-18 Sparkle dun with a
trailing shuck, also a #16-18
yellow sulphur mayfly dun. Until
next time,
Tight Line's to all.
Mark Nesbit
Blue Sky Flyfishing
San Juan River Fishing Forecast:
The PMD hatch is in full
swing
July 18, Fishing Report
Capt. Mark Nesbit
July 18, 2010
San Juan River - Freshwater
Fishing Report
Hello Everyone,
The B.O.R. raised the water flow
to 1100 cfs Friday 07/16/10 at
4:00 am. The N.M.G.F. stocked
about 600, 14-24 inch Fat
beautiful 3-6 lb. rainbows last
Monday, 07/12. The new fish took
a couple of days to get
acclimated to the water.
Thursday was awesome with my
client getting hooked up with a
good amount of the new Slabs. He
caught the pork chop, the ham,
and the whole dang hog. Thursday
pm the T- hole on down to the
gravel pit was on fire. The
T-hole produced fish every drift
before we had to head down
river. The edge of the current
lines, where the fast water
meets with the slow water, was
the ticket. I was using a #0
weight at about 6 foot. My
choice of flies where a #18
hare's ear and #20 chocolate
foam wing. Friday am wading in
the upper flats was tough, with
the the new higher water flow.
The afternoon was good, but not
as hot as the day before. It
takes a couple of days for the
fish to adjust to the new flows.
The upper areas, catch and
release and the upper flats has
been good using a white leech to
a #24-26 gray, or dark gray, and
black midge pupa or flash wing,
or juju bee. if the fish are
sipping on the surface. Water
temp is 42-45 degrees.
The braids and Kiddy hole have
fishing good with the above
patterns and also cream or
buckskin ufo's or midge pupa's.
Water temp 45-48 degrees.
The Texas hole down to Simon
Canyon has been great to awesome
with all the new big fish and
higher water flows. The back
channels are fishing great also.
I've done very well with #18 pmd
nymphs, natural hares ear and
beatis nymphs, #20-22 pheasant
tails, chocolate, olive, or gray
fluff beatis, RS2's, and #20
chocolate,or gray foam wings.
#16-22 Red larva's, and the
above midge patterns in the am,
have been doing good for me.
Water temp around 45-50 degrees
depending where your at.
Simon Canyon down to the gravel
pit was on fire for the last
week or so using a Goddard
caddis or #16 Yellow stimulator.
Wake it, and skate it up near
the banks. The new flows put the
rise on hold for a day or two. I
hope this report helps you get
hooked up. Water temps. 50-54
degrees.
Tight line's to All!
San Juan River Fishing Forecast:
If where Lucky maybe a ant
fall at the end of this week.
There predicting rain later in
the week.
We need a good soaking rain for
it to happen
River Flow raised to 880cfs, ANT FALL
anytime now
Capt. Mark Nesbit
June 27, 2010
San Juan River - Freshwater
Fishing Report
Hello Everyone,
The B.O.R. raised the water flow
to 880cfs Thursday 06/24/10. The
water is clear with visibility
4-5'. The fishing has been good
with the upper areas fishing
good to great. What has been
working for me is #24 black mono
midge, black krystal flash wing,
#22 gray and black midge pupa's,
and #22 red larva's. Dries have
been #16 dead chickens or 16-22
dark griffins knatt, and #16-18
black ant patterns.
The upper flats and the braids
fishing good to fair using the
above patterns.
The main channel fishing fair
using above midge patterns and
#20 dark chocolate beatis
nymphs, pheasant tails, WD 40,
Fluff beatis, and CDC wing, or
foam wing RS2's.
Texas Hole to top of death row
{frustration point}. Early am to
mid pm I've had my best luck
using #18-20 3m's olive, brown,
or gray. Big Mac's and Abe's
midge master. Late am to mid pm
#20-22 dark fluff beatis, WD-40,
RS2's, Pheasant tails, and Root
Beer's. #18-20 olive or cream
larva's.
Death row fishing good using
small #10-12 carp minnow
streamers next to the edges of
the slews. Big macs and large
#16-18 red larva's,
Simon Canyon to the gravel pit,
end of the quality waters has
been good with the caddis
starting to crawl. The PMD's are
on the move to.
#18-20 double bead head caddis,
and #16-18 hares ear or other
pmd nymphs. #18 Elk hair caddis
or #16-18 PMD's when you find
rising heads.
The caddis was coming off strong
until they raised the water
flow. It is still happening in
the bait waters in the early to
mid afternoon. The Pmds are
coming off in the lower river
section with #16-18 hares ears
and #16-18 dark bead head
pheasant tails.
ANT Fall could happen in the
next couple of days if we get a
good soaking rain. Rain showers
are predicted.
I hope the above info helps all
of you get hooked up.
Tight Line's to All,
Mark
San Juan River Fishing Forecast:
Ant Fall Could happen as
early as tomorrow. The first
good soaking rain will make it
happen. There is areas on the
lake that has had a ant fall
already. The Carp and Bass are
on the carp candy fly hard.
BUREAU OF
RECLAMATION
NAVAJO RESERVOIR
RELEASES
June 22, 2010
SENT VIA FAX AND
E-MAIL
The Bureau of
Reclamation will be increasing the
release from Navajo Reservoir to
800 cubic feet per second (cfs) on
Thursday, June 24, 2010, at 9:00
a.m. Releases are made for the
authorized purposes of the Navajo
Unit, and to attempt to maintain a
target base flow through the
endangered fish critical habitat
reach of the San Juan River
(Farmington to Lake Powell).
The San Juan River
Basin Recovery Implementation
Program recommends a target base
flow of between 500 cfs and 1,000
cfs through the critical habitat
area. The target base flow is
calculated as the weekly average
of gauged flows throughout the
critical habitat area.
This scheduled
release change is subject to
changes in river flows and weather
conditions. If you have any
questions, please contact Pat Page
at (970) 385-6560 or e-mail him at
ppage@usbr.gov.
RSwickard@usbr.gov
Engineering
Technician
Bureau of
Reclamation
835 East 2nd Ave.,
Ste 300
Durango CO 81301
970-385-6523
970-385-6539 FAX
Hot Temps. Great Fishing. The San
Juan loses two more.
Capt. Mark Nesbit
June 7, 2010
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing
Report
Hello Everyone,
Yesterday, the San Juan River
community of Navajo Dam lost another
one of it's fly fishing people.
Gretchen Lee, Owner of Enchanted
Hideaway Lodge passed away yesterday
afternoon. She had entered the
hospital 05/29 with respiratory
problems, underwent test for the
next week and was diagnosed with
lung cancer. She was to have been
released today. She was going to
have to under go the radiation and
chemotherapy treatment. Saturday
night 06/05 she had a massive
stroke, went into a coma and passed
away yesterday afternoon. As a
business owner serving the fly
fishing community she was involved
with promoting a positive image with
all. Gretchen was a country girl
that loved it here. She loved her
dogs and horses. Gretchen was a self
made woman. Hard headed, self willed
female with attitude. It's what made
us that new you , love you. You
where my dog training Buddy, and
friend. You will be missed much.
Miss Gretchen Lee.
Our second lost was Wes, the former
owner and original proprietor of the
Sportsman Inn. From what I
understand he passed away last week
in the Albuquerque, NM area. Wes was
a true legend from his days as a
navy seal and first Bar proprietor
in our area.
Fishing report
The no trespass area down to espn
hole the fishing has been good with
the hog trough living up to it's
name. The old cable hole area and
down through out the upper flats,
what has been working for me is a
#24-26 black pupas, flash back pupas
and around 8;30-9;00am when the
midges are coming off Black Krystal
flash midge #24-26.
In the Upper flats area the fish are
stacked up with fish in the
shallows. Perfect for sight fishing.
When the midges are clustering and
the fish are gulping try a new small
black #18-20 foam parachute ant from
Abe's. Small to large dark hackle
griffins gnat #16-22 depending on
midge cluster size's.
The main channel from the upper
flats to the Texas Hole fished good
in the afternoon using a chocolate
or olive #20 cdc wing rs2, followed
behind a chocolate rs2 foam wing of
the same size. Dark #20 beatis
nymphs working.
The sand hole, kiddy hole, and the
braids all fishing good with the
above black midge patterns.
The Texas hole down to the lower
flats fishing great early am to mid
afternoon. In the early am I've had
great luck on a new pattern that I
tie. I call it "3m" Mark's magic
midge. It is a simple tie. #18-26
tmc 100 gray bodied. black tread, or
silver wire ribbed, black headed,
pearl flash tinsel winged midge
pattern. It has been a good one for
me lately. Mid to late morning I
switch over to the above beatis
nymphs, and emergers. From lower
flats to the gravel pit, the above
patterns have been working for me
also. Small gray 324 tricos coming
off in the afternoon.
The lower river from the Village to
the Turley Take out, "Private Water
float" Fished good. large #16-18
pheasant tails and #18 double bead
head caddis nymph worked first.
little Sallie stones crawling around
and getting eaten. The caddis are
coming off strong from the winery
area down to San Juan de Las Vegas.
The Lake is hot with Bass crashing
top water poppers and jerk baits.
Tight Line's to all,
Capt. Mark
Blue Sky Flyfishing Co. L.L.C.
Cold Temp's, Red Hot fishing
Capt. Mark Nesbit
December 28, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing
Report
Hello Every-one,
The river is flowing around 480cfs.
The water is off-colored and clarity
is around 2-3 feet. The river is
fishing good to great. The hot
ticket has been red or orange
larva's #22-18. Bunny Leech
patterns, trailing a larva pattern.
Egg patterns are working Orange,
peach or apricot. Gray bodied, black
head #22-24 midge pupa's and #18-22
olive, or gray larva. The beatis
hatch is still going on good from
T-hole down. Heads still rising in
Three Island run down to the top of
Death Row.
The fish are in the deep slow runs
where the water temps are more
stable. With the very cold nights
the shallow water gets colder then
the deep water, fish don't like
colder temperatures, so they move
into the slow deep runs where the
water is warmer. The fish will move
to the shallows as the sun warms the
water late am into the afternoon.
The weather has been stormy and cold
this last week and the next couple
of days then it is going to start
warming up. The highs have been in
the mid to upper 20's and the lows
in the 0-10 degree range. The
current forecast is snow tonight,
and tomorrow. After that weather
will improve with the daytime temps
warming up into the upper 30's into
the low 40's. If you can endure the
weather the fishing is worth it.
For San Juan River fishing tips and
techniques visit my website.
www.blueskyflyfishing.com
Tight Lines, and a Happy New Year to
all.
Mark
Holiday season fishing on the San
Juan
Capt. Mark Nesbit
December 9, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing
Report
Hello Everyone, and Happy
holidays to all.
The river is flowing around 475 cfs.
The visibility is 4-6 feet. The lake
still has not turned over, so the
water is still very clear. There has
been a good rise to midge's and
beatis from Texas hole down. The
upper area is fishing slow to fair.
Size #10 Natural bunny leeches, and
ginger variant bunny leeches
dragging a #18-22 red or olive larva
behind it. Try agitating your
presentation every so often {20-30
seconds} and see if it doesn't
provoke a strike. Dark gray, black
or brown midges #24-26. Pupa's and
emergers of the same color has been
working for me. If the water is
quiet {no rise forms think larva's
and pupa's. If there is heads a
sipping, emerger's and Krystal flash
midge's in the top water column
should get bit. Texas hole on down
has been fishing fair to good. The
above patterns in the early am and
beatis from late morning to mid
afternoon then back to the midge
patterns. Egg patterns are starting
to work in the riffle bars. Dry fly
fishing in a snow storm can be quiet
rewarding on the Juan. If conditions
are right and the midges are
clustering it's the hoots. If the
fish are just sipping try a +#24-26
parachute Adams. If the fish are
gulping try a large midge cluster
pattern. A favorite is a large
griffin's gnat #14-16 {Dead
Chicken}. If you see beatis try a
#22-24 Parachute Adams. Lots of fish
in Simon Canyon on down to the take
out. Should be some nice spawning
fish in the riffles in Duranglers
corner.
My last fishing report I made a
comment on how much gear you should
consider to bring on the boat on
your trip. All I was trying to get
across is that there is a lot of
simple things that one can do to
improve there day on the water, and
not having a lot of extra gear that
you will not use is one of them. The
bottom line on this is SAFETY, and
will it interfere with the quality
of your trip, or the other person if
there is two. Will it keep the guide
from be able to do his job in a safe
professional manner. Here is another
thing that will help improve your
next trip. If it has been a while
since you cast a line, try to get
out to a local water hole or a
grassy area and practice a few casts
to a target 25 ft, then to a
different target 30-35 ft, and
another longer distance. I try to do
this before every salt water, or
precise dry fly action, and any trip
that I would like to be at my best
for. A little bit of time doing your
home work can pay-off with big
rewards. The other thing I got
reamed for was my comment about me
fishing and you holding the rods. I
know now that I should of explained.
I have a lot of clients ask me if I
miss fishing cause I busy working
the boat and keeping them rigged up
in the slot on the drift. I don't
get to fish much on my own, cause
I'm working all year. So I look at
as though I'm fishing and my
Client's are working the rods. I
have to fix the rig up. tell my
clients where to fish, and why there
fishing where they are, and all that
goes with it. It is a lot harder to
put people on fish that have never
fly fished before than myself. I
like the challenge and most of all
love to share the sport with others.
I not in this for the money but the
reward of watching someone get
hooked up with the our though
fighting trout. I do all that I can
to teach them some thing that helps
them catch more fish for today, and
the rest of their day.
Tight lines to all,
Capt. Mark
San Juan River Fishing Forecast:
The crowds are gone and winter
fishing is here at it's best
Fall Colors Peaking, Fishing is
good.
Capt. Mark Nesbit
October 22, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing
Report
Hello everyone,
The crowds are still here, at least
through this next week-end. The
river flow is around 480-500 cfs.
Some off color in the water
starting. Lots of moss. Visibility
is around 4 feet. The upper areas
are fishing kinda tough lately for
most. You might try using 7x tippet
to a 6x leader. The other thing to
think about and try to resolve, is
are the fish seeing your leader as
it drops down to them. Are they
moving from your leader,
presentation? If so try to get your
leader straitened out by lifting
your line up and making a up-stream
mend. Your goal is to get your flies
presented first in a drag free
drift, before the leader goes by the
fish. Give it your best shot and see
if that doesn't help get some more
fish on.
The best patterns of late for me has
been a #24-26 iron gray bodied,
black headed midge pupa, emerger and
flash wing midge. Some light gray
midges of the same size. Some
mornings big red larva #16-18, Abe's
midge master #20 gray/black. The
above patterns have been good for me
in the am and pm from the catch and
release all the way to the gravel
pit, the quality water boat take
out. Texas hole on down has a decent
to good BWO's beatis hatch late am
to mid afternoon. Gray or Brown
wd-40's, pheasant tails, Tav's
flashy beatis, rs2' foam wings and
cdc wings #20-22 have been doing
good to great for me.
Come and enjoy the last of mid fall,
and the colors on the San Juan.
I had a great duck hunt in Southern
Colorado in the San Luis Valley a
couple of weeks ago. The duck
hunting here has few numbers and
incredible amount of pressure
considering the season just opened
beginning of this week. Hunters
remember to pick-up your spent shell
hulls. Game and fish will be
watching and writing tickets if you
leave your hulls laying about. It's
like cigarette butts laying around.
Tight lines to All,
Capt. Mark and Peggy
Capt. Mark
Nesbit
October 7, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing
Report
Hello everyone,
The river flow is around 650 cfs as
of this morning. The water clarity
is clear with lots of moss in the
water column. Keep your flies clean.
The upper area has been fair fishing
with some days good and others
tough. The crowds have been here and
will start to thin out latter in the
month. The T-hole on down has been
fishing best for me. Abe's has a new
pattern called Abe's midge master
and it has been hot. Gray #24-26
midge emergers and crystal flash
midges have also been good for me.
Some large red larva #16-18 has been
working also. Yesterday there was a
good beatis {BWO's} coming off mid
am into the mid-afternoon T-hole on
down. Beatis nymphs and emergers,
Gray or Chocolate foam wings and
pheasant tails,wd-40's #20-22's. The
fishing has been good in the lower
river, Death row down to the gravel
pit. The trees are in their full
colors and fishing is good, the
weather is just right, not to hot or
cold. Enjoy the San Juan and please
take out what you take in trash
wise.
Need to put in the wind to the San
Luis river near Alamosa, Co for a 3
day duck hunt
Tight lines to all
Mark
Late Summer, Early Fall San Juan
River Fishing Report
Capt. Mark Nesbit
September 14, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing
Report
Hello Everyone,
The river flow is at 500 cfs. The
water clarity is around 6-7. There
is a lot of moss in the water column
depending on the how many waders are
in the upper areas. The fishing has
been good to fair in the catch and
release area. The cable hole to the
braids has been great some days and
tough other days. Early am using
cream, olive,, or gray #24-26 larva.
When the fish start suspending or
tailing try using #24-26 Iron gray ,
gray or black midge emergers and
krystal flash midges.
The above patterns have been working
in the Texas hole down to death row
in the early am to midday pm.
Beatis from around 11:00 am till
around 4:00 pm.
I have been using #20-22 flash back
pheasant tails and chocolate foam
wings and been doing good. There is
a lot of fish in slow shallow water
that you can sight fish to with a
short rig of 1-2'. Using the
lightest weight possible to get you
in the zone. Watch the fish and if
he turns and follows your flies, and
you see the white of his mouth
flash, and he is acting like he's
trying to puke, lift he has taken
your fly.
Some dry fly action going on in the
upper areas rising to midge
clusters. T- hole on down on some
days some rising to beatis.
Tight lines to all,
Mark
Blue Sky Fly fishing
Hot fishing, Hot weather
Capt. Mark Nesbit
July 5, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing
Report
Hello everyone, The river is flowing
around 500cfs , the water clarity is
2-3 feet. The upper areas have been
fishing fair to good for me using
black or gray midge pupa's in the
early am and switching over to
emerging and adult midge patterns in
black, gray, or black and gray. All
sizes #24-26. The main channel is
fishing good. Above patterns am and
beatis starting mid am. The T-Hole
is fishing fair with #26 midge
emergers early am. The beatis kick
in around mid morning. The fishing
has been good to great in the river
from T-hole on down. I have doing
best with brown beatis patterns
#20-22.
The dry fly action is good with fish
slurping BWO's #20-22 and some midge
clustering going on.
The weather is hot and so has the
fishing.
The mosquito's are thick so wear
your bug spray.
Tight Line's
Mark Nesbit
June 15th Report 500
cfs river flow
Capt. Mark Nesbit
June 15, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing
Report
Hello everyone,
The river is back to 500cfs and
water clarity is around 3 feet. The
river is clean and looks like the
high water did a great job of
scouring the old moss out. The ant
fall was last Thursday. it is early
this year so we might luck out and
get a second. Fishing was hot on
ants for the next three days. The
upper areas Catch and release to
Texas hole has been good to great
fishing using #24 black or gray
Krystal flash midge patterns, ants
and black midge cluster patterns.
The T-hole on down has been hot
using dark brown or gray beatis
nymph and emergers. Rs2's and foam
wings #22. The fish are looking up
in a lot of the river so dry fly
action is happening. Parachute Adams
# 20-22 for beatis and #26 for
midge's.
Remember to De-barb your hook's. The
game wardens pop-out out of know
where, and will check you. The river
is fishing good to great, we had a
dozen doubles today. Get to the San
Juan and get some.
Tight Lines to all,
Capt. Mark Nesbit
Hello everyone,
The water flow is 500cfs today but
will start going up Tuesday,
May 26. The water will increase by
1000cfs a day until Friday. The flow
will be at 5000cfs. The river gets
un-safe for wading at around
3500-4000cfs. Please do not take a
chance and wade unfamiliar waters at
the higher flows. The fishing from
the boats will be good to great.
Worm and gray # 22 scud patterns
should be the ticket. Red
larva's-J's, Princesses #16-22 will
be working. Ant's red or black
patterns #16-20 along the slow
flooded areas where fish will be
looking for terrestrials on the
surface. The first week of high
water the fish will be munching
brown earthworm or San Juan worms
#14-18. Egg patterns will be getting
bit. The back channels will be
fishing good . The first week after
high water has dropped to wade able
flows is the best the river has to
offer, June 15-23. Don't miss out if
you can do it.
Now comes the fishing tales I
promised about our Honeymoon to
Cancun, MX. Peggy and I Were wedded
May 5th,2009. Everyone has a good
excuse for a cervezas now on the
5th. Our wedding took place at pump
house run on the San Juan River, NM
in the day use area. Peggy arrived
in the drift boat with the best man
Peggy's oldest grandson, Juanito, at
the oars and the brides maid, and
flower girl in stow, granddaughters
Karma, and Jasmine. We had the
ceremony and reception there, then
Peggy and I Drifted down river at
sun down.
We arrived Sunday the 10th about
mid-day and went and got wet at the
pool and had a pina-colda. The trip
to Cancun was awesome except for the
guide from H*#*&* that I
picked thinking he was going to be
good. I had switched from one guide
service to another thinking I was
getting a more professional guide.
We were suppose to go out Monday
late afternoon and early eve trip,
but our guide said that Tuesday and
Wednesday would be much better
weather and bite. Ok, I rolled with
that. We had agreed to meet at
6:00am Tues. at the front of our
hotel. Rodman Hunter our guide and
owner of CancunFlyfishing.com,
Islablancaflyfishing.com or
Cancunsportfishing.com did not show
until 6:20 am. When we got in his
boat the first thing he did was
throw a tantrum about our shoes
making scuff marks in his boat.
Should of told us to take our shoes
off before we got in his boat. We
where fishing at around 7:00am We
motored out to the first flat from
his dock area, in Cancun lagoon.
Peggy, on her second practice cast
as she was retrieving it she got
bit, the battle was on. We didn't
have a clue what it was, but after a
10-15 minute battle the fish
surrender to her will and up
appeared a nice two lb bonefish. The
one and only hook-up of the day. Now
we where informed that our lunches
and drinks where back at he dock so
we had to motor back to the dock and
pick them up. Lost a half hour of
fishing time. We went back into a
cove of mangroves where some tarpon
where rolling. He used my flies and
leaders and anchored up just out of
our casting range to the fish. After
we killed a fair amount of time
there we motored to the next flat
looking for snook. He would barley
get the boat on plane when we would
go from area to area. At first I
thought it was may be to protect the
bottom from prop chop, but it was to
burn up as much of our fishing time
time as possible. A boat ride. I did
have a shot or two at some nice
snook but couldn't make it happen.
When we did see fish the boat was
out of position to make a good
presentation. Rodman, did as little
work as possible to make our trip a
success. He cut the trip short by a
hour. The wind was up all day and we
had a rough one so we where ready to
call it a day. The plan was to meet
at the front of our hotel at 6:00am
to go to Isla Blanca island area for
second day. At 8:00 am I am having
the Hotel congeries trying to locate
Rodman. His wife said that he was a
sleep, Rodman said he had been
sacked by the police and that is why
he did not show. I spent that day
recovering my rod and reel, and
dealing with the local police making
Rodman Hunter return my fly fishing
gear worth over $1200.00. Now i am
trying to recover the trip payment
of $450.00. Thursday we went out
with Manuel who guide's for Elite
guide service out of Isla Blanca, Mx.
What a difference. Manuel was all
about customer service. He was
rigging our rods as we motoring from
dock to area. As soon as we got to
our first spot Manny handed me my
rod and said go fishing. I did,
second cast I had a nice snook on. I
jumped about 4 young poon's and
landed one. Peggy snapped a 8wt.rod
on a larger poon as she was setting
and broke it like a twig. Manny let
us play with the poon's for awhile
when he suggested it was time to go
for permit. Peggy was first up.
There was permit everywhere on this
flat. A group of flats ghost where
coming at her. She makes a nice cast
out in front of the fish and slowly
retrieves the crab pattern. All of
sudden you see the fish race one
another for Peggy's presentation,
one grabs it , Peggy gives it a good
strip set and way she goes. 10-15
minutes later she has a really nice
permit to net. E.S.P.N. perfect. I
had a shot or two but I couldn't get
it right. It took two of us, two
days but we did get a super slam. We
finished our day catching cuda's and
Peggy caught a nice snapper that we
ended up eating for dinner that
night. The fishing was incredible
and Manuel was really good and
worked for you. We are already
planning on going back. If any-one
would like to join us on our next
trip let us know.
Tight Lines to all,
Capt. Mark and Peggy Nesbit.
May 09/09 Fishing Report
Capt. Mark Nesbit
May 9, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing
Report
Hello Everyone,
The river flow is 500cfs and water
clarity is 2-3'.
The upper flats and cable hole areas
are fishing good to fair. The flies
that were working for me was a red
larva early am. Then black or gray
crystal flash midge #24-26. and
black or gray scintilla bubble midge
patterns #24-26.
The T-hole on down is fishing good
to great from the boat's. I am using
#20 chocolate foam wings and dark
beatis nymphs. Black midges late
afternoon. The water flows will
increase starting May,15th. The
water flow rate increase chart is on
our web site.
www.blueskyflyfishing.com Peggy
and I are married and heading on our
honey-moon for Tarpon fishing and
margarita's. Check our fishing
report after we return, hope fully
it will be full of fish tales
Tight Lines to all,
Capt. Mark Nesbit
Late April Fishing Report 04/24/09
Capt. Mark Nesbit
April 23, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing
Report
Hello Everyone,
The river flow is around 520 cfs.
The water clarity is less that 2' up
in upper area below the dam. The
visibility is close to 5' in the
lower river below death row. The
river is fishing good to great. The
upper area been fishing good with
black dark brown or gray midge pupa,
and emerging patterns 22-26. Gray or
black, or dark brown crystal flash
midge patterns #22-26. T-hole down
to death row has been good using the
above patterns early am and beatis
around noon into the mid afternoon.
Root beers {trico's}, Fluff Beatis'
and pheasant tails#20-22's mid to
late am. Brown or gray RS'2 and foam
wings #20-22's as the emergence
kick's in. There is heads rising for
the beatis now. Olive or gray
sparkle dun's and gray BWO'S #20-22.
Some fish rising to midge clusters,
black midge or griffin's gnatt
318-22 mid am if the wind is not
blowing them off the water. Below
death row has been fishing decent
with the above pattern mid am to
late afternoon.
Easter Sunday Fishing report
04/12/09
Capt. Mark Nesbit
April 12, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing
Report
Happy Easter to all, The river flow
is around 500cfs. The water clarity
is around 3 feet. The river is
fishing good to great. The upper
section has been good . In the am
light colored egg patterns and cream
or red midge larva's have been good.
Mid to late am gray and black midge
pupa's, and emerging midge patterns
#22-24 have been good. Hooked over a
dozen in the mid am a few days ago
on a #24 black juju bee winged
midge. Mid am to mid afternoon small
gray foam wings and black/gray
scintilla midge patterns working
well. the T-hole has been great in
the am on the #24 black juju bee.
Mid am till late pm has been hot on
#20-22 beatis patterns, Fluff
beatis, root beer's small bead head
trico pattern, flash back pheasant
tails, Chocolate foam wings as the
beatis emerge. Still not many heads
rising yet but that will change over
the next week or two as the water
clears and the fish start looking
up. My client the other day hooked
up with 30-40 fish. The largest
being well over 20" and around 4-5
lbs. From the T-Hole on down is
getting better every day fishing the
same pattern as above and leeches in
the slow water. The lower river from
lower flats on down has fished good
again with the above patterns.
Navajo lake bite for big Pike is hot
right now. I would like you all to
take a look at my new web site that
my wife to be, San Juan River's own
Peggy Harrell built.
www.blueskyflyfishing.com Let me
know what you think, and what would
help improve it.
Tight line's to all,
Mark
Spring fishing
Capt. Mark Nesbit
March 26, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing
Report
Hello everyone,
River flow is 500cfs, water clarity
is 2-3 feet depending where your at.
Fishing has been fair to good
depending on location and day, and
what flies your using. White bunny
leeches or streamers #6-10, and
black midge emergers patterns
#24-26. Red or orange larva's
#18-22, Black midge pupa's or
Disco's #20-24. UFO's dark brown or
cream #24-26.
I've been doing pretty good with
beatis nymph's, and emergers from
T-hole on down to the end of the
quality waters in the early pm. Gray
or brown CDC RS2's, and foam wings,
flash back pheasant tails, WD40's
#20-24. Egg patterns still working
some days.
Some flash has been working, Desert
storms, Princess, Green machine
#18-24
Tight Lines to all,
Mark,
Blue Sky Flyfishing
Early Spring Fishing Report
Capt. Mark Nesbit
March 11, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing
Report
Hello Everyone,
The river flow is around 500cfs,
Water clarity is 2'. The river has
fished better the last few days.
Today, hooked up 8 in about 3 hours.
There is a good black midge #24
hatch happening mid to late am. From
catch and release area down to three
Island run. Fish are still eating a
fair amount of junk. Seen some fish
{grubbing} grabbing wads of moss and
shaking it apart then eating the
larva's and pupa today. Leeches #6-8
of different colors, olive, black,
natural, and ginger variant are
working. Early to mid pm I have been
hooking up using beatis patterns,
gray RS2, and foam wings #22. Egg
patterns of various colors are still
working. Black or Gray scintilla's
bubble midges #24 are working. Black
or gray pupa's are getting bit. From
Death row on down has a good small
beatis hatch happening in the
afternoon. #22-24 gray foam wings,
Gray Johnny flashers #22.
Tight Line's to all,
Mark / Blue Sky Flyfishing
March 5, 2009
Hello Every-one,
The river flow is at 504 cfs. Water
clarity is 2-3 feet depending on how
cold the night time temps are. The
warmer the night the clearer the
water, due to the therm-o-cline
rolling on the lake. Cold water
sinks and warmer water rises. Any
ways the river is fishing fair to
good depending on the day. I'll be
honest the days I've been out has
been fairly tough. When everybody
has a strait rod it is more than
likely the fishes attitude. The
barometer is the most dominating
factor in how the fish are on the
bite, that you can't control in
fishing. When every-one else around
you is hooking and your not, then
that has something to do with your
presentation, flies, rig length,
weight, location or some thing that
you can change, and make it happen.
Anyways, now that I have this excuse
out now, the truth is one day your
working hard for your hook-ups
lately, and the next day the bite is
on, and you can't do no wrong. I've
heard of some real good days, and
some tough days lately. That's
fishing.
What has been working for me is a
#24-26 black midge pupa's, emergers,
pearl glass bead heads #24-26 Black
Krystal flash wing midge if you find
fish sipping. Gray midge pupa's,
scintilla bubble midge, Krystal
flash wing midge #24-26, egg
patterns of varying colors and size.
A few on black, or white bunny
leeches #6-10, red larva's #20-24,
red hots #22-24, black or gray zebra
midge's. On some days you will find
a few large gray beatis #20 on the
water from the upper flats to death
row. From Simon Canyon down to the
take out has a good small gray
beatis #22-24 in the afternoon. Gray
foam wings and RS2's #20-24, Below
death row #24 gray Johnny flasher's,
eggs and Tav's big mac's #20-22,s
Tight lines to all,
U.S.C.G. Licensed
Capt. Mark Nesbit
Blue Sky Flyfishing
Spring Fishing on the way
Capt. Mark Nesbit
February 23, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater Fishing
Report
Hello Every-one,
The river flow is 500cfs. The water
clarity is around 3'. The main stay
rig is egg pattern #16-20 to red or
orange larva's #18-24's. There is a
good hatch of small black or gray
midges #24-26's coming off early to
mid am. You will find a few fish
rising to midge clusters #14-22's,
very close to the bank's in 2'of
water or less. There is a lite large
gray beatis {BWO's} #20's hatch late
am to early pm. You will find a few
fish rising to them T-hole on down.
Over-all as of today most of the
fish are still down deep and looking
for junk on the bottom. Hopefully
with the recent cloud cover and
warming' hopefully the fish will
start looking up. Make sure your
hitting bottom fairly often right
now. Gray and black midge pupa's and
emergers #22-24 have been working.
Gray or Chocolate beatis nymph's and
emerger's. CDC rs2, foam wings.
Tight lines to all.
U.S.C.G. Licensed
Capt.Mark Nesbit
Every-one,
The river flow is 500cfs. The
water clarity is around 3'. The
main stay rig is egg pattern
#16-20 to red or orange larva's
#18-24's. There is a good hatch
of small black or gray midges
#24-26's coming off early to mid
am. You will find a few fish
rising to midge clusters
#14-22's, very close to the
bank's in 2'of water or less.
There is a lite large gray
beatis {BWO's}#20's hatch late
am to early pm. You will find a
few fish rising to them T-hole
on down. Over-all as of today
most of the fish are still down
deep and looking for junk on the
bottom. Hopefully with the
recent cloud cover and warming'
hopefully the fish will start
looking up. Make sure your
hitting bottom fairly often
right now. Gray and black midge
pupa's and emergers #22-24 have
been working. Gray or Chocolate
beatis nymph's and emerger's.
CDC rs2,foam wings.
Tight lines to all.
U.S.C.G. Licensed
Capt.Mark Nesbit
Capt. Mark Nesbit
February 8, 2009
San Juan River - Freshwater
Fishing Report
Hello Every-one,
The river flow is still at 500
cfs. The water clarity is 2-3
feet. The upper areas are
fishing good to fair most days.
Eggs #16-20 and red hots#24 in
the am with a small black midge
#24-26 coming off mid am. The
main channel is fishing ok with
some spawner's pre- staging
before moving into the upper
flats. There has been a lite
beatis hatch early to mid pm
from the upper flats on down to
the take out. A 28" inch rainbow
was caught and released this
week in the lower flats area.
The fish ate a brown shammy worm
#18. The warm weather has
picked-up the bite this last
week in the lower waters. Black
Midge emergers or pupa's #24-26,
eggs assorted colors, red
larva's and princesses have been
the main bugs of late.
Tip: If your in the right spot
on the right day you may find
the fish rising. Look to see if
you can spot what bugs are on
the water. If you can't spot any
bugs, watch the rise form. Slow
sip: merger or single adults,
big fish. Heads up out of water
and gulping: Fish on midge
cluster's or adult beatis
mayflies.
Happy Love day to all. Three
weeks left to receive the
off-season rates
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