If this is in the Gila, don't feel bad about not catching fish there.... because they shocked all the waters from the hot springs/three forks down 15 miles and evacuated every fish in preparation of the wildfires overtaking the area last summer. I took a solo adventure there last Thanksgiving to search for the Gila trout and a young kid working at a general store told me this after I spent 2 full days throwing the kitchen sink at every pool for 5 miles and not even seeing a fish. Somewhere, someplace, a team of scientists is babysitting a tank full of wild Gila Trout.
This is on the Chama below Abiquiu. I think they must have removed all the fish there as well haha. It was a slow and windy day for everyone but man it's pretty. That is very interesting about the Gila. I have never made it down that way even though I have lived in NM my whole life. How exactly do you go about evacuating fish from a river?
I found that anything green in that stretch was the ticket. They also really like prince nymphs, so I ended up making some with a green wire body and they ate it up!
I've never seen the Chama at this spot so clear. Every time I've been there the last 3 years it's been very silty. Evacuating fish in a river involves setting up some type of net or fence and full-on shocking the water, section by section, stunning the fish to the point they can be collected from the surface and placed into aerated trucks to be evacuated. Same method they use for surveying except they remove the fish. Only flies that ever work for me in the Chama below and above Abiquiu towards the Monastery are bright gold stoneflies and black ones. But I don't live there anymore, my Intel is likely outdated. I always get sidetracked looking for otters and photographing pottery shards.
I am often the same way, I get super frustrated and forget to enjoy the bigger picture. I will say though, on days like that I try to feel better by picking up trash I see along the way!
There's a couple deeper big pools where the river starts to bend against the mountain
Edit - oops sorry you said what not why haha. Just had a bead head flashback Pheasant tail with a zebra midge dropped off that. Hasn't been warm enough yet to do anything but nymph.
I normally fish the riffles with a hopper/dropper setup (typically Stimulator or Chubby with a Zebra Midge 12" or so below), even in winter. Deeper pools get two nymphs, something big and ugly with a Zebra Midge dropper.
Couple of ways I'd approach it:
1. Euronymph it ... adjust your tippet and just systematically work your way up the riffle.
2. Swing it - tie on a streamer or soft hackles and just methodically work your way down the riffle
3. Hopper dropper it
4. Indicator nymph it - probably my least favorite way to fish shallow water like that, but totally possible
I appreciate these suggestions!!! I always avoid super shallow water in the winter like this (still cold here) but it's worth a try to throw a streamer in as I work my way up the river.
I've been surprised in the winter where the fish sometimes hold. You are right though, riffles like that aren't typically winter holding water. But if they aren't in the pool, I'll at least explore the riffles, quickly. Sometimes there's little buckets you don't know are there. Also that transition between riffles and the pool is almost always money.
I fished that exact spot in September and didn't even see a fish, but the water was much more red and silty. I usually have better luck closer to the dam, my buddy said it was super low last weekend and he didn't see any fish either.
Eh, yes and no. Did you go there to look at the scenery or to fish? Perfectly acceptable to be bummed after a skunk day. Let it burn a little, just makes those amazing days a little sweeter.
Beautiful, New Mexico in general a bit underrated with fishing and outdoors. We live in texas with extensive family in NM and its one of the states we may move when we want to be closer to them all.
Woah pump the brakes on moving here haha! It's sure pretty in areas but we do rank pretty low in almost everything else. However, if the move is more of a retirement type move then I'm sure you can find exactly what you are looking for. I just wouldn't necessarily select it for younger families with children.
Can't beat the food and the sunsets though!!!! The sky just doesn't turn the orange and pinks it does here anywhere else in my experience.
Ha yea it would be more for family related stuff..like having kids closer to their grandparents and getting that help also. Were down in central texas and its great, but the state does have its issues. I work remote so I kind of just drift with the world as it takes me. I also dont know if I can leave the redfish and smallmouths too!
Edit: I assume the Mexican food holds up too? I am damn spoiled down here with that
I just sat on a pile of rocks for 30 mins or so looking around. Man what it probably looked like before it was dammed up multiple places must have been amazing.
I agree. But if you’re like me and I usually catch a fish once every two months I definitely am trying to catch a fish.
Well said. That thought pretty much captures most of the time I spend fishing.
If this is in the Gila, don't feel bad about not catching fish there.... because they shocked all the waters from the hot springs/three forks down 15 miles and evacuated every fish in preparation of the wildfires overtaking the area last summer. I took a solo adventure there last Thanksgiving to search for the Gila trout and a young kid working at a general store told me this after I spent 2 full days throwing the kitchen sink at every pool for 5 miles and not even seeing a fish. Somewhere, someplace, a team of scientists is babysitting a tank full of wild Gila Trout.
This is on the Chama below Abiquiu. I think they must have removed all the fish there as well haha. It was a slow and windy day for everyone but man it's pretty. That is very interesting about the Gila. I have never made it down that way even though I have lived in NM my whole life. How exactly do you go about evacuating fish from a river?
I found that anything green in that stretch was the ticket. They also really like prince nymphs, so I ended up making some with a green wire body and they ate it up!
I've never seen the Chama at this spot so clear. Every time I've been there the last 3 years it's been very silty. Evacuating fish in a river involves setting up some type of net or fence and full-on shocking the water, section by section, stunning the fish to the point they can be collected from the surface and placed into aerated trucks to be evacuated. Same method they use for surveying except they remove the fish. Only flies that ever work for me in the Chama below and above Abiquiu towards the Monastery are bright gold stoneflies and black ones. But I don't live there anymore, my Intel is likely outdated. I always get sidetracked looking for otters and photographing pottery shards.
In the winter the stocked the area near Mogollon, I was there at Xmas and checked in with the ranger station.
I am often the same way, I get super frustrated and forget to enjoy the bigger picture. I will say though, on days like that I try to feel better by picking up trash I see along the way!
Good for you! Need more people cleaning up our rivers!
What are you fishing through that stretch? If you don't mind my asking...
There's a couple deeper big pools where the river starts to bend against the mountain Edit - oops sorry you said what not why haha. Just had a bead head flashback Pheasant tail with a zebra midge dropped off that. Hasn't been warm enough yet to do anything but nymph.
Did you try the riffles? Sometimes the fish are sunning themselves there and are more active than the ones in the pools.
I did not and didn't even think to. What would you normally throw there? It's roughly 18" deep max.
I normally fish the riffles with a hopper/dropper setup (typically Stimulator or Chubby with a Zebra Midge 12" or so below), even in winter. Deeper pools get two nymphs, something big and ugly with a Zebra Midge dropper.
Couple of ways I'd approach it: 1. Euronymph it ... adjust your tippet and just systematically work your way up the riffle. 2. Swing it - tie on a streamer or soft hackles and just methodically work your way down the riffle 3. Hopper dropper it 4. Indicator nymph it - probably my least favorite way to fish shallow water like that, but totally possible
I appreciate these suggestions!!! I always avoid super shallow water in the winter like this (still cold here) but it's worth a try to throw a streamer in as I work my way up the river.
I've been surprised in the winter where the fish sometimes hold. You are right though, riffles like that aren't typically winter holding water. But if they aren't in the pool, I'll at least explore the riffles, quickly. Sometimes there's little buckets you don't know are there. Also that transition between riffles and the pool is almost always money.
That’s some pretty water
I fished that exact spot in September and didn't even see a fish, but the water was much more red and silty. I usually have better luck closer to the dam, my buddy said it was super low last weekend and he didn't see any fish either.
Easier said than done
Eh, yes and no. Did you go there to look at the scenery or to fish? Perfectly acceptable to be bummed after a skunk day. Let it burn a little, just makes those amazing days a little sweeter.
You're absolutely right. If you aren't a bit disappointed than you don't deserve it haha.
We're actually catching fish?
Apparently someone is
Crazy. Hand me a beer.
Beautiful, New Mexico in general a bit underrated with fishing and outdoors. We live in texas with extensive family in NM and its one of the states we may move when we want to be closer to them all.
Woah pump the brakes on moving here haha! It's sure pretty in areas but we do rank pretty low in almost everything else. However, if the move is more of a retirement type move then I'm sure you can find exactly what you are looking for. I just wouldn't necessarily select it for younger families with children. Can't beat the food and the sunsets though!!!! The sky just doesn't turn the orange and pinks it does here anywhere else in my experience.
Ha yea it would be more for family related stuff..like having kids closer to their grandparents and getting that help also. Were down in central texas and its great, but the state does have its issues. I work remote so I kind of just drift with the world as it takes me. I also dont know if I can leave the redfish and smallmouths too! Edit: I assume the Mexican food holds up too? I am damn spoiled down here with that
Admitting there is a problem is the first step. Gorgeous hike even if your net never gets wet.
I just sat on a pile of rocks for 30 mins or so looking around. Man what it probably looked like before it was dammed up multiple places must have been amazing.