Fly Fishin inquiry

[Boondocker]

Lots of good advice and feed back folks, thanks! If I go ahead with this it will be a “learn on the fly” (hehe) process for sure. The San Jan sounds like a must do. Lynn, being the local expert in the north area, would the areas you recommended be nice in April, snow gone and all that sort of thing?

[eubank]

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

Lynn, being the local expert in the north area, would the areas you recommended be nice in April, snow gone and all that sort of thing?

Welll, basically it's a matter of avoiding the areas that are higher in altutide. Here in Angel Fire, for example, April is pretty much the usual thing for the higher altitude Rocky Mountains:: Snow, rain, melt, mud, wind.

What I'd suggest for April, then, would be either the Rio Grande or the San Juan, neither of which is on a mountain top. Oh, and earlier I forgot to mention the Orilla Verde Recreation Area, located on the Rio Grande between Taos and Espanola. You can check the BLM site at http://www.nm.blm.gov/ for details.


Lynn

[nymphfishin]

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

As I have mentioned before I am hoping to spend April on the road recovering from wraping up school (yeah Im a geezer of a student at 39 I know). The plan is to go out to the New Mexico area if gas prices hold, or down to TN/NC if prices climb. I plan on doing lots of photography of course, but I also have been giving thought to taking up fly fishing.

So....... Can you fly fishers offer up some advice on what equipment I should be looking at getting (not top of the line but not something I will regret getting in 6 months). Also good places to go would be appreciated. As a final note, budget is a significant issue for me under current circumstances, so indulgences like a $500 half day Orvis seminar isnt in the cards... Idealy, the overall cost of equipment needs to be held in the neighborhood of $250 or so if possible. Any other advice or insights would be welcome as well. Thanks in advance

Gen
Sounds like you have a plan.
I've fished the San Juan since the 1960's, it has great fishing and now has great crowds also. April would be a good month to fish it, summer/holiday crowds are horrible.
I would advise picking up any equipment in person, try it before buying.
One of my faoirite rods is a 6' Phillipson fiberglass #2 wt that I picked up at Gart Bros in Denver on sale for just $5.00. It's great for small streams and it landed a 7 lb rainbow on the San Juan. It won't handle ultra-long casts but it's very light just fun to use.
Pick whats comfortable for you, then learn to use it. If you're like most of us you will end up with several rods and reels.

[flyfshr]

The San Juan doesn't require long, elegant casts. That's one of reasons its a great place for those with less experience with casting. The flow rates vary depending on time of year and recent weather conditions, most of the time it is between ankle and knee deep. Take a wading staff and waders with studs if you plan on going into the high current areas. Some of those rocks in the north channels seem to be like bowing balls covered with snot (sorry so graphic, but its true). As a new wader, may want to stay out of those areas. Plenty of very fishable water everywhere else. In fact, you'll see so many fish and they'll be right under your feet waiting for you to kick up the little bugs in the mud so they can feed on them. In fact, this has been given the terminology of "the San Juan Shuffle" and is highly discouraged.

Talk to the guys in the local shops, Abe's and Float n Fish, they'll stear you correctly. Enjoy and remember - flyfishing is supposed to be relaxing and contemplative. No getting stressed out.

Tight lines,

Brad
FF

[Boondocker]

Any particularly good camping in the area, or those to avoid? I lean toward boondocking setups over more established sites.

[flyfshr]

Abe's Motel and Fly Shop has camping but it is really just a gravel parking lot with electricity. There is a campground above the San Juan at Navajo Reservoir that I hear is really nice. There is also a primitive campground along the northside of the Juan but I've only seen it from the opposite shore while fishing, so I might have been distracted.

Brad
FF

[nymphfishin]

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

Any particularly good camping in the area, or those to avoid? I lean toward boondocking setups over more established sites.

http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/nmparks/2003WEEKLY.htm

There are two State Parks on the San Juan, one on the river at Cottonwood Campground, it's in a huge grove of Cottonwood trees, it has some sites with water and elec, the other is across the dam with views of the lake. both are very nice..The elevation is about 6,000 ft so the trees will be bare until later in the year.
Abes store also has rv sites.
There is also another rv place on the Bloomfield hiway about 1mile from the community of Navajo Dam it on the river but I don't think they have any water or elec.
Don

[eubank]

You can find listings of all of the private and public campgrounds in the state at the
NM Assn of RV Parks & Campgrounds.

Lynn

[azflycaster]

Here is a picture of the campground at Abe's. Full hookups and not much more. No restrooms and no showers. Price is under $20. Also a picture of the San Juan taken from the top of the Navajo Dam.