Trip Lead: Jack Osman

Participants: 8 (6 participants & 2 volunteers)

Dates: March 5 – 8, 2018

Location: Navajo Dam, New Mexico. Elevation: 5,500 feet. Coordinates: 36.805232, -107.695730

Lodging: Soaring Eagle Lodge is nestled on the banks of the San Juan River in northwestern New Mexico. The lodge offers the San Juan River’s only all-suite lodging accommodations and gourmet dinning, along with meeting facilities for business and social events. Anglers around the world come here to fly fish, do that with a Soaring Eagle Lodge guide and you will have an experience second to none. There is a well-seasoned guide service providing fly fishing instruction on a choice of float, wade or combo trips. Along with that, the lodge has its own fly shop, private river access and much more.If you’re a novice at San Juan River fly fishing, the lodge can supply you with equipment, guides and fly fishing instruction. If you’re experienced at fly fishing the San Juan River, you’ll enjoy the solitude of being within a stone’s throw of the river and doing what you do best! There is a restaurant on premise with not only one but two culinary trained Chefs on staff. Guests rave about the fine dining and breakfast service. More information can be found at their website…soaringeaglelodge.net

The Fishery: The San Juan is world famous for large rainbows and occasional browns. The quality water section is truly world class, but the fishing is demanding. Expect to use tiny midge larva and emerger patterns tied in sizes 22-30. There are blue winged olive (BWO) hatches on some spring days that can provide mid-day dry/dropper activity, but even when the dries are working, emergers may be more productive.  Those of you who have wanted to tie flies for a specific river can find advice from several websites. Do your research before you load your fly boxes for this trip.

Flies: Sizes 22-30 midge larvae and emerger patterns – Black and Red are often good; Redd October; RS2 in red, brown, grey, and black; Krystal Flash emergers in black, brown, olive, and grey; chironomid patterns; San Juan worms; and small leech streamers. Dries: BWO Klinkhammer, various tiny parachute styles. Streamers:

Special Considerations: Wading can be very challenging.  A wading staff is a good idea. The river level is dictated by the folks who control releases from Navajo Dam.  Water flows from the bottom of the reservoir and the water temperature is a chilly, constant 40-45 degrees regardless of the air temperature. Cleats are helpful for the wading conditions, but have other footwear for the boat ride. Some of our anglers may be fishing from boats in the lower portions of the river.

PLEASE, NO CLEATS ON BOATS.

***This trip is sponsored by Platte Rivers Veterans Fly Fishing***