THE Conejos Fishin' Update - 6/23/12

First, some recent pics since last time:

Kass with a nice brownie in the canyon

Another nice bow to the net

Count it

Nice colors!

My new fishin' partner, Dante

Kass working some pocket water

Lauren saying thanks to the fish

Her first fish on a dry!!!

One of about 7 from one hole....CRUSHING grey drakes

Nymphing the confluence

Eat it, eat it...

Ok, Ok, I know it has been too long since the last post and I apologize.  Things have really heated up here both on the river and the actual temperature itself.  Flows are now down to 150cfs or below from Platoro and around 200 for the lower river, meaning the fish have no choice but to look up for food and our flies floating by.  Fishing has been incredible lately from top to bottom, and many clients and customers alike are coming in and rushing out in order to get back on the water.  If you like casting large grey drakes, golden stones and caddis at rising fish, it is the time and place to get here.  Make sure you stop in and get the latest before you head out for the day and to make sure you are dialed in for the exact section of river you will be fishing.  As a quick, general overview, here goes:

Lower River: Grey Drakes!  They are hatching in great numbers in the morning and you should not miss this. Make sure you have plenty of patterns as they are sometimes picky, and carry an extra bottle of dry shake.  You can thank me later.  Once the drake action slows down, nymping with mayfly, caddis and stonefly patterns has been most effective.  Into the evening, look for great hatches of caddis while throwing an adult pattern with an emerger or pupa.  Crystal Rubberleg Stimmys, Parachute Madam X's in various colors and sizes and Grillo's Hippie Stompers have been great flies to use while probing for fish interested in looking up.

Middle River:  Golden Stones!  They seem to still be the ticket so Yeagers Tantrum, Yellow Stimmy's, Flushfloater goldens and cdc goldens are all catching fish.  Hang a dropper like an iron lotus, salvation, or small pat's and you will be rewarded.  

Upper River:  Early and late for the most consistent dry fly action.  Smaller parachute adams like the Dennis Parawulf Adams and BWO, small caddis and some stones, especially on the lower end will be the dries.  For the nymphs, count on using small mayflies and emergers as well as midge larva such as the ole trusty flashbang.

Hope this helps, go out and catch (and release) some fish!
-Joe