San Juan River Fly Fishing Report - June 14, 2026
SAN JUAN RIVER
ReportJUN 14 — 21, 2026
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Flow
—CFS
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Water Temp
—
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Weather
58–89°F
Mostly Cloudy
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flows have dropped to approximately 500–515 CFS below Navajo Dam following the recent bump from 800 CFS, and water clarity is improving rapidly (visibility ~4 ft and climbing). USGS real-time gauge data was unavailable at report time — confirm current flows at waterdata.usgs.gov before heading out.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Wiggly Worm (TBH) #8
#8
Slush Egg Apricot #14
#14
Egan's Frenchie Chironomid #10
#10
Black Zebra Midge (TBH) #20
#20
Tungsten Rainbow Warrior - Extra Heavy #14
#14
Tungsten Split Case Nymph - PMD #20
#20
Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive #12
#12
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Jorgensen's Zola Bug Purple #14
#14
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midge (Chironomidae) — black, red, olive | #18–22 | Heavy / All Day | All day; peak 11:30 AM–2:00 PM |
| Midge Clusters (surface) | #18–20 | Strong — fish rising to clusters in flat tailouts | Midday |
| Pale Morning Dun (PMD) — building | #16–20 | Emerging / Building as water clears | Morning to early afternoon as water warms |
| Caddis (Hydropsyche) — lower river | #14–16 | Moderate — picking up with clearing water | Afternoon into evening |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | #20–22 | Sporadic — triggered by cloud cover | Overcast afternoons only |
| Terrestrials (Ants, Beetles) | #12–16 | Building — early summer terrestrial activity beginning | Midday to afternoon along grassy banks |
Best Time Window
- Early Morning (6:00–9:00 AM): Best streamer and worm/egg nymphing before crowds arrive — fish are aggressive in low-light conditions along the main current seams
- Mid-Morning to Noon (9:00 AM–12:00 PM): Prime PMD and midge hatch window as water warms slightly — transition from deep nymphing to emerger and dry fly presentations in the flat tailouts
- Late Afternoon (4:00–7:00 PM): Caddis activity picks up on the lower river; watch for BWO risers under cloud cover ahead of Sunday's storms — avoid being on the water during afternoon lightning
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows dropping from 800 to ~500 CFS and clarity improving daily, the San Juan is transitioning fast — what worked last week (big, bright, heavy) is giving way to more refined presentations. Start your morning with a worm or egg pattern fished deep in the main current seams, then switch to a PMD nymph or Frenchie jig as the sun hits the water and fish begin to move up in the column. Watch Sunday's afternoon sky carefully: the 30% thunderstorm chance after 3 PM could push a brief BWO hatch — have your Parachute BWO ready and get off the water before lightning arrives. Fish the Quality Waters section early to beat weekend crowds, and don't overlook the lower river for caddis and streamer action in the afternoon.
Main Species
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
