The Jemez drainage, located northwest of Albuquerque
and west of Santa Fe is comprised of several small rivers
and streams, most noted include the Rio San Antonio,
Jemez River and Rio Guadalupe. Wild browns and rainbows
claim reside in the high meadows, tight banks, deep runs,
fast riffles and pocket water of these small rivers.
RIO SAN ANTONIO
The Rio San Antonio starts high up in the Jemez Caldera
on the soon to be public Baca Ranch. The San Antonio
is mostly public from the Santa Fe National Forest/Baca
Ranch downstream to the confluence with the East Fork-Jemez
at Battleship Rock at which point it becomes the Jemez
River. The upper stretches flow through long open meadows.
Stalking and short casts are a must for success with
these nervous browns and rainbows on the upper San Antonio.
Below the small village of La Cueva, the San Antonio
turns into a classic pocket water stream, featuring several
miles of raging pocket water, plunge pools and the occasional
small waterfall. NM Highway 4 parallels the boulder-strewn
canyon where three pullouts offer easy access-Indian
Head, Hot Springs and Deep Canyon.
Spring kicks off the season on this jewel. Mornings are
still cool, as the day progresses water temperatures
rise and the Blue Winged Olives start hatching. Runoff
usually starts in March continuing through April; by
May the water begins clearing. There is a Giant Stonefly
hatch (Pteronarcys californica) through June. Big dry
flies work well in the edge water during the stonefly
hatch for 8-12 inch wild browns, nymphing the deep runs
and pools can produce the occasional 14-16 inch brown.
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JEMEZ RIVER
The Rio San Antonio and East Fork-Jemez join to form
the Jemez River at Battleship Rock. From Battleship Rock
down to the town of Jemez Springs public access is shy,
limited to just one mile below Battleship and then a
short stretch between Soda Dam and Jemez Springs. There
are approximately 4 miles of public water from Jemez
Springs downstream to NM Highway 485 |
Most of the Jemez ranges between 15-30 feet wide and
generally 2-3 feet deep with a few deeper pools reaching
five feet. Cottonwoods, willows and alders are scattered
along this freestone like river forcing anglers to wade
up the middle. NM Highway 4 parallels the river so access
is extremely easy.
The Jemez is a low elevation trout stream, during the
heat of summer water temps can soar making for a tough
day. Winter on the other hand is cold but seldom freezing
making this a wonderful winter fishery. Midge hatches
provide the bulk of dry fly action during the winter
months, however a well-filled box should include nymphs
and streamers. Wild browns range from 8-12 inches, New
Mexico Game and Fish stocks rainbows throughout the winter
months.
RIO GUADALUPE
The Rio Guadalupe is formed by the confluence of the
Rio Cebolla and Rio de las Vacas, from this confluence
the Rio Guadalupe flows south 10-11 miles until joining
the main Jemez River at the town of Canones. NM Highway
485 and Forest Service Rd 376 parallel the 15-30 foot
wild Guadalupe. The fast tumbling, boulder strewn canyon
river is home to wild browns in the 10-14 inch range.
There is a section designated as Quality
Trout Waters.
Adventurous anglers seeking solitude should consider
the upper canyon between FR 626 and Porter. Many consider
this to be the best stretch of the Guadalupe, the steep
canyon walls and limited access scares most people. The
most thrilling time to fish the Rio Guadalupe is during
the Giant Stonefly hatch (Pteronarcys californica) in
mid May to mid June. Unfortunately snow and runoff can
coincide with this heavy hatch. During mild runoff anglers
have realistic odds at 14-16 inch wild browns on giant
adult stonefly patterns. Browns up to 20 inches have
been know to be fooled by big stonefly nymphs fished
deep.
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