San Juan River Fly Fishing Report - September 6, 2026
SAN JUAN RIVER
ReportSEP 6 — 13, 2026
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Flow
859CFS
SAN JUAN RIVER NEAR ARCHULETA, NM
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Water Temp
48.2°F
Updated 2026-09-05
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Weather
56–89°F
Partly Cloudy
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running 859 CFS at a gauge height of 4.71 ft — slightly down from last week and firmly in the sweet spot — with water temperature at a cold 48.2°F, keeping trout active and feeding throughout the day. Clarity is excellent, making precise presentations essential.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch Barbless #22 - 24
#22-24
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20 - 28
#20-22
Tungsten Tailwater Sowbug - Rainbow #10
#10
Roza's World Spain Perdigon Barbless #18 - 32
#18-20
Egan's CDC Rainbow Warrior #22
#22
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Egan's Frenchie Chironomid #10
#10
BWO WD-40 #22
#22
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midge (Chironomid) | 20-24 | Heavy | 8 AM - 12 PM |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Moderate | 10 AM - 2 PM |
| Caddis | 18-20 | Light | 4 PM - 7 PM |
| Terrestrials (Ants) | 16 | Light | 11 AM - 3 PM |
| Sowbug / Scud | 10-12 | Moderate | All Day |
Best Time Window
- 6:30 AM - 10 AM: Pre-hatch nymphing with midges and sowbugs along the bottom of the Texas Hole and upper flats before crowds arrive.
- 10 AM - 1 PM: Prime BWO and midge hatch window — watch for rising fish in the riffles and switch to emergers or dry flies on 6X.
- 4 PM - 7 PM: Evening caddis and terrestrial window along shaded banks and tail-outs; fish are aggressive before the cool night sets in.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith 48°F water and clear conditions at 859 CFS, trout are active but spook easily — drop to 6X fluorocarbon tippet and keep your casts short and precise, especially in the Texas Hole where fish have seen everything. Focus your morning on subsurface midges drifted dead-slow along the bottom in 18-24 inches of water, then watch for surface activity to develop between 10 AM and 1 PM as the BWO hatch kicks in. In the afternoon heat, work the shaded bank edges with a terrestrial or swing a caddis through the tail-outs — September fish on the San Juan are aggressive and willing to move for a well-presented fly.
Main Species
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
