Hatch-chart pattern list
Best Flies for San Juan River (New Mexico)
The San Juan River in New Mexico is primarily a wade fishery. It is a tailwater fishery for Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout, with the most reliable window in January, February, March. The patterns below are matched to the hatch chart we publish for this water. They are not a live report of what other anglers caught this week.
What's hatching now
Month, insect, size, and pattern from the San Juan River hatch chart. August is highlighted when that month exists in the chart. We do not invent a hatch that is not on the chart.
| Month | Insect | Size | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Midge | #22-26 | Zebra Midge |
| Midge | #22-26 | WD-40 | |
| February | Midge | #22-26 | Brassie |
| Blue-winged Olive | #20-24 | Parachute BWO | |
| March | Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Parachute BWO |
| Midge | #20-24 | Mercury Midge | |
| April | Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Sparkle Dun BWO |
| Midge | #20-24 | Zebra Midge | |
| Pale Morning Dun | #18-20 | PMD Sparkle Dun | |
| May | Pale Morning Dun | #16-18 | Parachute PMD |
| Midge | #22-26 | Brassie | |
| September | Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Parachute BWO |
| Midge | #22-26 | Zebra Midge | |
| October | Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Sparkle Dun BWO |
| Midge | #22-26 | WD-40 | |
| November | Blue-winged Olive | #20-24 | Parachute BWO |
| Midge | #22-26 | Zebra Midge | |
| December | Midge | #22-26 | Brassie |
| Midge | #22-26 | WD-40 |
Nymphs
Subsurface patterns matched to this river's chart and catalog. Fish them at the size the chart lists, not the size that looks good in the bin.
Dries
Dries and terrestrials for the San Juan River. If the chart says a size 18 PMD, do not start with a 12.
Streamers
Streamers and wets for stained water, banks, and low light. This is not a claim that streamers are "on" today.
Setup
5X and 6X fluorocarbon on nymphs, 5X on dries unless the fish are on Tricos, then 6X or 7X. Start lighter than your home river. One small tungsten and a long tag often beats a 3.5mm bead in clear water. Tight-line the near bank and the heads of pockets. Use an indicator only when you need to search water you cannot euro.
FAQ
- What flies work on the San Juan River?
- Start with BWO Sparkle Dun and Zebra Midge, then match size to the hatch chart for the month you are standing in. The San Juan River does not need a 40-pattern box. It needs the right size on the insect that is actually in the drift.
- When is the best time to fly fish the San Juan River?
- The editorial window we list is January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December. That is a planning month range, not a guarantee. Shoulder months can fish well if flows and water temperature cooperate.
- Do I need a guide on the San Juan River?
- New Mexico has walk-up wade water and, on some sections, float water. A guide is worth it for a first float or a technical tailwater. A hatch chart and a gauge are enough for a first wade if you already nymph. We list local guides and shops on this page when we have them.
- Where can I see live flow for the San Juan River?
- Open the San Juan River river page for the USGS gauge, access notes, and the same hatch chart this fly list is built from. We do not publish other people's spots or fish counts.
- Is this a report of what's working now on the San Juan River?
- No. Executive Angler does not publish other anglers' catches, GPS, or a crowdsourced hot fly. This page is hatch-chart patterns plus catalog flies. Presence on the river page is gauge and weather only.
Related
San Juan River
Access, hatch chart, USGS gauge.
New Mexico
Trip planning for this region.
BWO Sparkle Dun
Dry
Zebra Midge
Midge
BWO Parachute
Dry
Artful Angler
Santa Fe, NM
Chama River Fly Fishing
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Open the river guide, then its fly list.
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Open the river guide, then its fly list.
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Open the river guide, then its fly list.