Doc Thompson's
Fly Fishing Reports & News

CIMARRON RIVER
Flows out of Eagle Nest are up the last few days to about 20 cfs. This is a higher flow compared to last week. The water is still a bit stained from the increase, which keeps the wild browns on the less skittish side; the clarity should clearing. Seeing a few stoneflies, should start to see more now that the unusual rains and cold fronts of early June have moved out. Also seeing a few mayflies and caddisflies. Fishing has been steady this past week, a big key to fishing during lower flows is to be stealthy! This lower flow can provide some dry fly fishing but also using dry-n-dropper techniques.

COSTILLA
The Rio Costilla is flowing about 38 cfs out of the reservoir and about 90 cfs down in town of Costilla. The fishing this past week has been steady overall, but did experience a couple of unusually cold nights and day but these cold fronts have moved out so the fishing is picking back up. The cuttrhoats and cut-bows are active, look for a few mayflies, some stones and caddis. Mostly using dry-n-droppers.

OTHER NOTES
We had some unusual cold fronts and rain in early June, these have moved out. The Rio Grande and Lower Red are still chugging with runoff. The upper Red is starting to drop and fish. I recently spent a couple days at Vermejo Park Ranch, the streams/lakes are in great shape with plenty of water and good flows in the streams. The Ranch is building a new Costilla Lodge in the high country and it is going to be mind boggling. If you haven't fished Vermejo you owe it to yourself. All of the streams are loaded with beautiful trout, there are a couple streams that hold some bigger wild trout for tiny mountain streams. For more information on fishing Vermejo Park please feel free to contact me. Cow Creek Ranch is fishing!, was up there earlier in June and the stream was in great shape with good flows and water temps. Seeing some very nice rainbows and browns in the stream, the ponds are in great shape as well with very active fish. Remember the lodging at Cow Creek is closed this summer but the ranch is allowing guided day trips. For more information on fishing Cow Creek please feel free to contact me.

TIP OF THE WEEK
When flows on streams are low it is key to have a stealth-like approach. One of the most common ways we spook trout is by making too much noise as we wade or move into position to work a run, pool or riffle. Move through the water or into position with soft quiet feet, if you hear yourself moving through the water odds are good the fish hear you also. Remember, you can't catch a spooked fish.

Friday June 5, 2009

CIMARRON RIVER
STONEFLIES!!!!!The Cimarron is flowing 7-8 cfs from Eagle Nest Dam and bouncing around 15-16 cfs down in town. This is a lower flow but definitely a fishable flow, the water clarity is a stained iced tea color which is good, keeping the wild browns a little less skittish. We have been receiving some afternoon rain showers throughout the last couple weeks which is helping to keep the water stained. The golden stones are here, starting to see a few at the very bottom end of the public water in the state park and on the private water near Ute Park. Aslo seeing a few mayflies and crane flies. The wild browns are starting to look up and are starting to take stonefly adults. The better fishing in the state park is below the Clear Creek confluence, and on the private water near Ute Park.

RIO COSTILLA
The Rio Costilla in the RCCLA stretch is fishing. The flows out of the resevoir are 33 cfs and in Costilla, NM about 100 cfs. Good fishing in the RCCLA section above the canyon with good water temps and water clarity. The cutthroats and cut-bows are active and eager, look for a few stoneflies and mayflies. Mostly fishing dry-n-droppers. Remember the Valle Vidal section of the Costilla doesn't open until July 1.

OTHER NOTES
The Rio Grande and Red River still have runoff, the upper end of the Red through and above the town of Red River is still high but dropping and should start fishing by mid June. I recently spent a couple days at Vermejo Park Ranch. The streams and lakes at Vermejo are in great shape with plenty of water and good flows in the streams. The ranch is building a new Costilla Lodge in the high country and it is going to be incredible! If you haven't fished Vermejo you owe it to yourself to fish this beautiful water and ranch, all of the streams are loaded with beautiful trout, there are a couple of them that hold some bigger trout for tiny mountain streams. For more information on fishing Vermejo please feel free to contact me. Cow Creek Ranch is fishing right now. Have been up there a few times over the last few weeks. The stream is in great shape with good flows and a slightly stained color. Seeing some very nice rainbows and browns in the stream, the ponds are in great shape with very active fish. For more information on fishing Cow Creek Ranch please contact me. On another added note; before you head out on your fishing trip spend a little time checking out your equipment. Look for any leaks in waders, old cracked dried out fly line and throughout the leaders and tippet material that you bought several years ago, they just might not old.