My detailed fishing report is just few pictures away.
Spring runoff schedule status : B.O.R is delaying the increase of flow for one more week on S.J, hence I do have that week open for guiding if anyone is itching for some S.J trout trophy and tranquility.
But then again you'll be listening to your reel screeching and me telling you how to land those trout due to hookups...so forget the tranquility part.
The fishing is still excellent.
If you are interested in catching quality trout on S.J then give me a call or email me for booking.
505-334-0909 or yspecial1@msn.com
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| Larry is my very first client and has been my regular for 16years since I started guiding service on the San Juan River. Thanks Larry, for your patronage and friendship! Did you notice that he is sitting on a lawn chair in the middle of the river? Catching trout sitting down on a lawn chair...mmm Since he has difficulty hiking or wading, I thought that sitting on a lawn chair might help him to rest and catch trout at the same time. I break out this lawn chair for my elderly clients on the river frequently. Place we're fishing is called "Lawn Chair hole" |
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| These teenage girls had so much fun and they will be back next year! |
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| Tommy's biggest trout ever! this wasn't on S.J Great job Tom! |
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| My trout isn't big as Tom's but still a nice trout nevertheless... |
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| My trout in the net that was given to me by Brad C from San Diego. This net opening is about 22" long. |
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| Tommy's trout in the net. We need a bigger net! |
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| My trout isn't wide as Tommy's |
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| Steve caught several brown trout like this, this was his first trip to Taylor River but sure did well with Yong Special flies. |
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| This brown was caught just above the bridge. It has distinctive adipose fin, see close up below |
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| John at Arkansas River fishing Yong Wing and Cream Yong special was the choice of these pretty trout. |
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| We had lots of fun catching and enjoying great friendships all around. We will do this again next year. Can't wait till next year. Our annual trip to Colorado every year! |
This report is for San Juan and my annual trip to Colorado
(Taylor River, Arkansas River and South Platte River)
Let me start with the San Juan River, although I’d like to talk about the Taylor River hogs we caught but...
***Make sure to read finalized San Juan spring runoff schedule from B.O.R at the end of this report.***
The river visibility is still about 2 feet plus or minus. It really depends on the wind condition for that day. Winds up to 50 mph on some days but we'll still catch fish regardless.
I’m seeing more people on the river especially during the weekends now, so let’s be nice and respect each others space and have lots of fun.
The fishing is still same for us; catching lots of trout everywhere on the San Juan. We have fished using both nymphs and dries.
I believe there are more baetis populations on the river this year compare to last few years past. It seems that baetis population is recovering steadily from the Kiddie Hole flood 7 or 8 years ago.
Hopefully they will continue to thrive and reproduce more and more each and every year.
Anyway this is a good thing for those people who can’t see too well with fly size 24 since most of baetis patterns I tie now are size 18-22, Yong Wing and Andy’s Candy Mayfly.
The best flies have been:
Yong Wing; Yong Flasher; Yong Blondie; Andy’s Candy (both midge and mayfly); Yong Special
Now, let’s talk about my trip to CO.
My youngest brother John, Steve and Tom whom have been my friends/clients for many years joined us at Salida, Colorado. This trip is our annual trip to Colorado. We started this gathering about 6 years ago. We visit Colorado each year to enjoy the magnificent scenery and fly fishing opportunities.
The first day which was Friday morning. We drove up to Taylor River, quality water section.
There were four other vehicles there before us already. By the time we got suited up, it was 9:30 am so we had to fish the left over section (less popular area) of the river and that happened to be just below the bridge.
I caught 3 little browns right away using Yong Blondie and Yong JR so make sure everyone use the same flies and the rig if you fish out there.
Then Tom spotted huge trout (27-28 inches long see photos, look at the girth of this cut-bow) and told me to catch it so I started to cast to that large trout then my little brother asked me to help him with his setup.
At that time my brother and Steve needed small Yong Blondie flies for their setup so I left that spot to hand them over my Yong Blodie flies out of my box and then I hear Tommy calling out for me to help him for some reason. That is when we all saw that big hog trying to spit out irresistible Yong Blondie.
We were using 6x tippet so I quickly flanked the trout around the bank and helped him to land the trout of his life time. He did a marvelous job fighting the trout. You can see my youtube action videos on Taylor River.
http://www.youtube.com/user/yspecial1#p/a/u/1/WKPvofYIDhk--Taylor River
http://www.youtube.com/user/yspecial1#p/a/u/2/7RX10Xp616Q--Arkansas and So. Platte River
The funny thing is that Tom was a victim of speeding ticket 4 am in the morning coming from Denver.
He was late to meet us at Salida because of his mishap with the officer.
I told my brother John that he may get lucky today and catch the biggest trout amongst all of us and my prediction was correct and you can hear that on youtube video if you pay attention on our conversations.
The river was running high due to spring runoff but we caught lots of trout there till 4:30 pm.
The best flies were: Yong Blondie; Yong Wing; Yong JR; Y. OJ
The next day we fished the South Platte River and it was a blast.
My brother John and Steve never fished So. Platte before so I helped them where to start and what to tie on and the rest was history.
We caught so many trout there in many different types of waters, even down at the bait fishing section
was fun. Then it started to snow. It was icing on the cake!
My little brother just loves fishing in the snow, typical So. California dude!
The best flies were: Yong Special; Yong Wing; Andy’s Candy (both midge and mayfly)
The last half day we fished Arkansas River.
No caddis hatches were witnessed this time around but trout were hungry for caddis larva and baetis though.
Though Arkansas was also running high due to spring runoff, hence bit murky with low visibility but no problem catching them on Yong Special flies, mostly nymph fishing technique was used.
After an hour of fishing the weather turned bad so we drove into town of Salida to fish the local lake for one more hour or so before my brother had to leave to catch his airplane in Colorado Springs.
The best flies were: Yong Special; Yong Wing; Y-Ugly
Recent letters:
Andy,
Thanks for the good time and pictures. How was the Arkansas? It was cold and rainy here in Denver yesterday. Ate the fish last night was very good.
Looking at coming down the week of June 19. Let me know what you have available that week. I assume run off will be coming to end about that time.
Tom
It was best time I ever had fly fishing in terms of fishing
in many different ways.
I've learned a lot from you on this trip.
Your technique has now sunk in with me as far as
how to mend the line properly and how to fish certain types of waters that was
front of me. Riffles, drop offs, deep pools, slow pool, fast waters, pocket water,
and more...
You know which one was my favorite of them all...
Caught so many trout fishing that technique you'd taught me especially
on that middle of a long riffle, on top of the bank to a feeding trout below.
Distinguishing and setting up #2 or #3 is still bit hard but
I'll certain always have knots in between two flies as well as knot above the
first fly as wel
I was lazy and really didn't care about it since I don't nymph fish much at all.
I now know that when I visit Merced river near Yosemite National Park and Kern river,
I'm confident that I can catch more fish since I now know how to setup for nymphing waters there properly.
I still caught trout being lazy before but now? I'm more confident in what I do now.
I just needed to figure out what flies (nymphs) will work on Merced river.
Do you have any ideas?
Fishing there will be awesome once water level and all the crowds dissipated.
If you come around that time, fall time, then you can show me how to nymph that
water if dries are not on the menu.
I know there are some big ones in those deep pools. Will require # 4 rigging perhaps.
Yes, #4 rigging, using egg sinkers for the weight--HA HA!
Can you kindly send me Tom's and Steve's email address please?
I need to learn to tie Yong wing. I'm sure that is one of the best flies anywhere.
Thanks again for all the great time I had with you and your great friends.
--
Best regards,
John Kim
Hey Andy I am back in Albuquerque now. Thank you for the guided trip it was awesome. I plan to do it again in September because you showed me a lot, and I want learn more from you. It's cool that you still helped me even though you were guiding someone else.....I lost all the yon flashers cause my line was all screwy and from forcing the fish to much so I tried a black mono midge that I tied that worked well so I will be ordering more flies from you and your leader that you make
Adam
Hey Andy,
This is Bruce ( the one armed fisherman ) and I was wondering when a good time would be to contact you on Tuesday or Wednesday? I am interested in looking at your flies and buying some. I hope you had a great fishing trip in Colorado. Your client Larry was great fun to watch. Let me know a time. Thanks and have a good week.
Bruce Stell
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
NAVAJO RESERVOIR
2011 SPRING PEAK RELEASE SCHEDULE
May 24, 2011
SENT VIA FAX AND E-MAIL
The Bureau of Reclamation has finalized this year's scheduled spring peak release from Navajo Reservoir. The attached chart shows the end of day release rates throughout the spring peak release period. Reclamation will begin to increase the release on Monday, June 6, 2011 at 1:00 AM, reaching 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Thursday, June 9th at approximately 3:00 PM. The release will stay at 5,000 cfs for seven days. On Wednesday, June 15th at approximately 7:00 AM, the release will begin to decrease, reaching 500 cfs on Friday, June 17th at approximately 10:00 PM, where it will remain until further notice.
The release pattern, duration, and magnitude for the spring peak release follow the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (SJRIP) Flow Recommendations for Endangered Fish.
Adjustments may be made to the release if significant precipitation occurs during the scheduled release period.
If you have any questions, or would like further information, please contact Ryan Christianson at 970-385-6590or e-mail him at rchristianson@usbr.gov.
Happy fishing!
Andy Kim
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