Trip brief · San Juan River
How to go fish the San Juan River
The months we list for the San Juan River are January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December. August is outside that window, so this brief is written for September, the next month we list.
September
No USGS gauge is mapped to this river.
Flies to tie — September
Blue-winged Olive#18-22
Parachute BWO
Midge#22-26
Access
Below Navajo Dam
36.804, -107.612parking
Texas Hole
36.790, -107.608parking
Baetis Bend
36.783, -107.605parking
Cable Hole
36.776, -107.601parking
Regs — check current rules before you go
New Mexico fishing license required. Quality Waters (first 4 miles below dam): artificial flies and lures only, catch-and-release, 20-inch minimum to keep (1 fish over 20" allowed). Below Quality Waters to Abe's Motel: artificial lures only, 5 trout daily limit, 15-inch minimum. General regulations apply further downstream. No bait in Quality Waters ever.
Pack list
- A current state fishing licence
- Waders and boots you have already leak-tested
- Net, nippers, forceps
- Floatant and desiccant
- Tippet in the sizes the chart asks for
- Water, sun cover, polarised glasses
Generic gear. Anything specific to this water is above.
Full hatch chart, access map and live gauge on the San Juan River page →