San Juan River Fly Fishing Report - October 18, 2026
SAN JUAN RIVER
ReportOCT 18 — 25, 2026
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Flow
272CFS
SAN JUAN RIVER NEAR ARCHULETA, NM
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Water Temp
48.2°F
Updated 2026-10-17
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Weather
39–63°F
Partly Cloudy
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running 272 CFS at a gauge height of 3.87 ft — low, clear, and fully wadeable with fish stacked in predictable seams and tailouts. Water temperature is 48.2°F, right in the prime fall feeding window for midges and Blue-Winged Olives.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch Barbless #22 - 24
#22-24
Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20 - 28
#20-22
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Olsen's Quilldigon - Olive - Barbless #22 - 24
#22-24
Roza's World Spain Perdigon Barbless #18 - 32
#20
Egan's CDC Rainbow Warrior #22
#22
Tungsten Rainbow Warrior - Pearl #22
#22
Tailwater Sowbug - Rainbow #10
#10
Barr's Flashback Emerger - BWO #22
#22
Lil Bit Craven - Dark Olive #22
#22
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midge (Chironomid) | 20-24 | Heavy | 9 AM - 12 PM |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Heavy | 11 AM - 3 PM |
| Midge (Chironomid) - Afternoon Cluster | 22-24 | Moderate | 2 PM - 5 PM |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) - Emerger | 22 | Moderate | 10 AM - 1 PM |
| Sowbug / Scud | 10-12 | Light | 7 AM - 10 AM |
Best Time Window
- 7 AM - 10 AM: Pre-sun nymphing with sowbugs and zebra midges along the bottom of deeper runs and main channel seams.
- 10 AM - 2 PM: Prime BWO and midge hatch window — watch the flat tailouts for rising fish and be ready to go dry with a CDC pattern.
- 2 PM - 5 PM: Afternoon midge cluster activity picks up in slower water; nymph the mid-column with Blowtorch and Perdigon patterns as light fades.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith 48°F water and mostly sunny skies today, fish will be slow to move early — spend the first two hours nymphing the bottom of the deeper runs with a sowbug or zebra midge set 3-4 feet under your indicator. As the sun hits the water around 10 AM and temps tick up, shift to the flat tailouts and flats where BWOs will start popping; drop your indicator depth to 18-24 inches and switch to a Blowtorch or Juju Baetis. If you see consistent risers between 11 AM and 2 PM, pull the indicator off entirely and go to a CDC dry — a 6X or 7X tippet is non-negotiable in this clear, low water. Stay low, wade slowly, and approach rising fish from directly downstream.
Main Species
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
