By Lance Cherry
Crosshairs for Christ, lance@crosshairsforchrist.org
May 26, 2006

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

- Matthew 4:19

They say fishing calms the soul and refreshes the spirit. Certainly, one can find truth in this by spending a day on the San Juan River.

Noted among the best tailwaters in the world, fly fishers annually trek across the globe just to throw a line in the 4.5 miles of quality water. Home to more than 80,000 trout, the San Juan is a place where 20 inch trout are abundant and your fishing skills are regularly tested. It’s a place where big trout play the game to win. A place where tiny flies and fine tippets are king, skills a must and patience supreme.

So you think you want to fish the San Juan?

Nothing would be more tragic in my opinion, than to spend the countless hours gearing up and traveling to one of God’s greatest places on Earth, only to be skunked by the crafty competition. There is a way to improve your chances of success, but keep in mind there are no guarantees.

The Rules

To better understand what you are facing, let’s start with the rules. The rules provide the insight and guidance needed to unlock the secrets of the San Juan. Rules are the combination to the river’s secret lock.

Turn the dial left stopping at #1, Catch-and-release. From Navajo Dam downstream 1/4 mile, these waters are catch-and-release only! This can be a harsh mental test as trophies abound everywhere, but you can’t keep them. The fishermen on this stretch know what they are doing and many are masters of the sport. You must return the trout to the water immediately.

Turn the dial right stopping at #2, Quality Catch. From the Catch-and-release area downstream 3.5 miles (Riverside boundary sign east of Crasher Hole Boat Ramp,) your dreams come true. You may keep 1 trout only that is a minimum of 20 inches. Yes, I said 20 inches. This is no joke and quit common. Fishermen keep one everyday, all year long. Many trophy trout have made there way from this stretch to the fireplace mantle. Still, the greatest joy will come from the same premise as the area before, catch-and-release. Monster after monster will provide enough challenge and joy, that keeping one will be the last thing on your mind.

Finally, Turn the dial back left, stopping at #3, Bait Waters. From Riverside boundary sign east of Crasher Hole Boat Ramp, this section of the San Juan is affectionately know as the bait waters. It’s fishing as usual here and traditional fishing methods are common. If you’re lucky, and I mean real lucky, you could score a limit of monsters here. Chances are not likely though. Don’t get me wrong. You will likely catch your limit. Just not 20 inch monsters. This section is regularly stocked by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department with catchable trout in the 8-10 inch range.

So how do you catch the fish?

Starting from the top, Catch-and-release, This is where the pros fish. I wouldn’t even dare walking in there without a fly rod. Not that it’s against any rule, but because your dealing with a crowd of do-it-right anglers. These are the “by the book because we wrote the book crowd.” If I were fishing it and didn’t have a fly rod, I’d simply move on downstream or pick up a cheap one from an area shop.

Set up with a long leader and tie two flies instead of one to increase your chances of scoring big. Keep your line tight and cast upstream, allowing your fly to float past you as it heads downstream. Remember, this isn’t “A River Runs Through It.” Long artistic fly casts won’t catch you any more fish and may just cause more agitation to the anglers around you.

Some of the flies of choice here are: San Juan Style Nymph Rig, Wooley Buggers, stoneflies, mayflies, caddis and of course, my favorite, the San Juan Worm.

A great resource for learning about fly patterns that work on the San Juan is the San Juan River Fly Fishing Site, www.ifly4trout.com. Additionally, it is advisable you take time to review the insect hatch information to get a clear understanding of the lifecycle, size, color, action, habitat and best fly patterns to use. In the spring, caddis and stoneflies hatch and often prove to be the best fly choice.

Now for the Quality Catch area. You can always stick with the techniques above, but since most anglers are not pros and many don’t own a fly rod, I will turn my focus to common spinner rods.

First and foremost, find Texas hole. This is trout heaven. Hit the area hard with a spoons and single barbless hooks. Make sure to take a slew of spoons in hot colors like Orange, Yellow and Gold. Sometimes spotted spoons that look like little trout are necessary to do the trick.

As for fishing; cast and reel, cast and reel. Vary your speeds and depths allowing the lure to work the fish’s instincts. In time you will find your rhythm and discover a new skill.

Another solid set up for your spinner rod, is to tie a fly on a leader 8-12 inches below a clear bubble. Monofilament 2 lb. test line is best, as trout tend to be easily stressed. Anything that looks odd, they avoid. Use the same flies as above and remember to study your hatch cycles.

Finally, we hit the bait waters. This one is simple. Do as grandpa taught you to do and nothing more. Despite the popularity of Powerbaits and scented artificial lures, nothing says “bite me” like a big juicey night crawler. Worms, corn and salmon eggs are traditional baits and for good reason. They work.

On the lure side, spinners like rooster tails are a basic must. When conditions are normal and stress is low, trout can’t resist taking a nip at a feather-covered hook with a flashy spinner.

When conditions are tough, I have learned the “must have” lure is a combination of one lure in two colors. A silver-colored and a gold-colored Super Duper® should reside in every fisherman’s tackle box. When all else fails, the Super Duper® delivers. When one color fails, the other delivers.

Final Thoughts

For my last few tips let’s focus on behavior. Trout are cold-water fish. They hang out in the shade. Find the spots where a nice shadow is cast over the water and fish it hard.

Second, trout are notorious for hiding behind objects. Sneak up on a big boulder and let your line float behind it or find a bridge, brush pile or tree that breaks the water. Be careful not to get to close. If a trout sees your shadow or reflection, they will be gone in a flash.

Lastly, trout find the bulk of their food in the water. Salmon eggs, worms, bugs are the prime eats. Only about 10% of their diet actually consists of flying insects. When you pick you bait, keep this in mind.

Now you’re armed with the knowledge to take your crack at conquering the San Juan. Should you fail, don’t fret, there are far worse things you could’ve done with a day in your life.

For more information on fishing the San Juan River, contact Lance Cherry, cherrydesigns@excite.com, visit Mike Mora’s San Juan River Fly Fishing Site, www.ifly4trout.com, or visit Trout Unlimited online, www.tu.org.