When I was much younger, I used to spend a lot of my time hanging around my mother's kitchen, complaining that I was bored. Her standard reply was always the same--"Well, go outside and do something", and my comeback was the usual--"But there's nothing to do." This verbal exchange would always result in her response of running down down a litany of activities that ranged from going down to the creek to look for duck eggs, to spending time in the woods, gathering chestnuts; none of which held any allure for people of my generation; albeit, probably a good use of time spent outdoors, when compared to hanging around whining at the kitchen table, getting on her nerves. Lucky for her, I soon discovered fishing, a pastime that left us both, much happier. I find it a bit ironic, that I now spend a lot of my time as an adult, extolling the virtues of "going outside and doing something", to others. Fly-fishing writer Nick Lyons suggests that fishing can be; for some, a respite from unpleasant work, a kind of religion, or a type of psychotherapy. I agree that it can be all three of those things, but mostly it's just good clean fun. This week it looks there are reasons enough to get out on the San Juan, if nothing more than to get out of the house and enjoy some unseasonably warm weather. Monday and Tuesday may bring us a little of much needed moisture, but both days look to be in the mid to lower 40's, which puts them above my threshold for comfortable winter fishing. The rest of the week should be in the mid to high 40's with very little wind, which borders on downright pleasant for this time of year. The fishing is not what I would consider "on fire" right now, but it is what I would consider "good" for this time of year. There are still opportunities to find fish rising to midges in some of the flat, slower water, but most of these fish are a bit smaller, by San Juan standards. I know that 10 to 12 inch fish on this river, is considered by some a waste of time, but if I'm catching lots of them on size 24 dry flies in the middle of winter, with the lake turning over, I can easily lose my big fish snobbery, and keep myself amused for hours. If bigger fish are your game, then your best bet is to find some moderately paced water, below some major riffles, and nymph it with some size 18 red larva, 24 and 26 grey scintallas, or other standard San Juan pupa and midge emerger patterns. If you're seeing proposing fish or those holding higher in the water column, drop your indicator down to about a foot above your top fly and go light on the weight, even down to a #9 splitshot. I would also suggest exploring some of the lower river from Simon Canyon down past Cottonwood Campground, using a little more weight and some peach or orange egg patterns in sizes 20 and 18, followed by a size 18 flashback pheasant tail. If you do get a chance to make it out this week, I don't think you are going to going to be disappointed with your efforts. In the worst case scenario, it's going to beat sitting around the kitchen table, whining that there's nothing to do. If you need more info, or need to book a room or guide trip, give us a call at 505-632-2194.  

Report by Jay Walden

• The restaurant, "El Pescador" will be closed for the winter season beginning Nov. 9th and will reopen in the spring.