San Juan River

[Gregresh]

Can anyone reccomend a guide service for the San Juan River in New Mexico? I am thinking about going there Memorial day weekend. Or if you have a better suggestion...

[spilunkr]

Better check on the river conditions and dam releases if you are going specifically to fish. A friend was in the process of setting up a group of us to fish the San Juan later this month. He has family in the area and was down late last month visiting and checked on the release schedules before booking any flights. Apparently, Navajo Reservoir will be dumping major amounts of water through the rest of the spring. Some of the releases are to benefit some threatened species down river while later releases are due to excessive precipitation in late winter which resulted in high pool level in the lake. It looks like our trip is now being planned for September.

Guy

[msaba]

I've booked out of Duranglers in Durango, Colorado a few times always with good results...So much great water to fish!! Let me know if you have any other plans to travel in that area and I can give you some suggestions where to do some DIY fishing.

Mark

[fcgarcia]

I grew up in Durango. Duranglers is a good bet. I am going to Durango this summer for a week. Will use them for sure.

F

[Striper22]

If you haven't looked at ifly4trout.com, take a look. Good message board and local information on the San Juan. Also has flow information. One tip, if the main river is slow, ants and beetles in the side channels will keep your rod bent. Size 18 and 20 sparkle duns are must have flies for the BWO hatch.

[Striper22]

BTW, Looks like the flow is scheduled for around 4000 cfs. There will be limited wading opportunities at that high level. You will not be able to cross the river anywhere I know of. I have never needed a guide there but at 4000 the drift boat would be well worth the price.

You may want to consider the Green River as it will fish much easier. It's not New Mexico but a good alternative if you want to go west.

[Salty Fly]

For a number of years I used guides through Abe's Fly Shop, 505/632-2194. If Jeff Chaison still guides for them, I highly recommend Jeff. There's also a motel and restuarant there. I haven't fished the San Juan for about six years, so if you use Abe's I would love to know the results.

Good luck,
Lew

[twelch]

Abe's Motel, Fly Shop & Guide Service has served me very well over the past 10 years of trips to the San Juan -- take a guided drift boat one day and then wade the next. They are very good and love to show you a good fishing trip.

It's a heck of a great midge factory and the Rainbows in the Quality Water section grow huge, and you will even catch a big Brown every now and then. If you float out the lower few miles below the Quality Water, you will get into some good Brown trout action.

One of my all time favorite Trout rivers to fish anywhere -- wish I was going too!! [excited][excited][excited] Be sure and post a report upon your return.

Good luck and bmail if you want more info.

Tom
On The Fly

[fish4evr]

I fished the San Juan with a buddy last August and it is an interesting river to say the least. We got a guide out of Duranglers (not the Durango shop but the one on the San Juan) and I was definitely not impressed. It's hard to fault the entire shop for one bad guide but there should be standards... It started with the guide talking us out of taking the boat we had booked, then he left his tippet and flies on the bumper as we left the shop, then he spent the rest of the day smoking cigarettes and asking the other guides what was the hot fly of the day.

We stayed at Abe's motel and I think next time I would book through Abe's since I have only heard positive reports about them. Be prepared that if you're wading the San Juan it's a very strange river; certain sections you'll be fishing elbow to elbow with a bunch of other guys. Fish are huge and very tame so at times it felt like I was somewhere between a fish farm and petting zoo. Caveat emptor, if you're OK with big fish and lots of people definitely fish the Texas hole and the kiddie pool area, if you're not then make your way further downstream. Be prepared for light tippet and extremely small flies (24-32), you might want to practice by watching dust float around in your bathtub. Lastly, make sure you practice your precision casting since you'll do much better if you can really land your fly well.

Regardless of a few negatives, the San Juan is still a river well worth fishing. Huge fish and dramatic landscape. Check out the duranglers.com webpage it has some good information for conditions and other local rivers. Have a great trip!!

[RJohn]

You should look into Float & Fish. They are relatively new but are are well informed, professional and I and my friends have had good guide experiences with them. See if Bear Goode is available.
Phone: 505-632-5385, Email: floatnfish@acrnet.com

Abe's is good, Orvis endorsed for what that is worth, but particularly in the morning can be a zoo. Good 1-star to 2-star accomodations, clean, comfortable NO frills and 1 TV channel. Most if not all rooms ahve a stove, sink and fridge.

John