Today
81°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph · 20% precip
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Today’s verdict
Current River Conditions
As of (20 days ago)
This intel is a couple of weeks old — conditions may have shifted.
As of ~3 weeks ago, conditions were fair.
The San Juan is fishing through a stretch of rising flows, and while that changes things up, it doesn't shut the river down — it just demands some flexibility. Cold water pushing out of the dam keeps conditions fishable even when the desert heat is cranking, and the first few miles below the dam stay remarkably cold. Further downstream, temperatures climb more noticeably through the day, so where you fish matters as much as how you fish.
After a flow bump, the edges and shallows are where you want to be — those spots warm faster and get fish moving. Cold water can make trout sluggish in the main current, so if you're nymphing deep runs, get your flies down into the lower third of the water column before you start swapping patterns.
Tactics
875 CFS is right around its typical level for September — this stretch typically runs 581–918 CFS.
Wading tends to be more manageable at typical flows, but beds shift and cold water saps strength fast — read the water, stay within your limits, and check conditions on-site. You remain responsible for your own safety.
At 46°F, the water is in the prime range for trout — cold enough to fish and to handle fish safely.
Weather
63°FClear
Wind ESE 3 mph
Sunrise 6:52 AM · Sunset 7:18 PM
Observed (3 hours ago) ⚠ 3h 4m old
NWS / weather.gov · fetched 11:00
Today
81°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph · 20% precip
Tonight
57°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SE 5 to 10 mph · 71% precip
Tomorrow
73°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 to 10 mph · 83% precip
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Size #20-22
Size #14-16
Size #22-24
Size #20-22
Conditions are estimates from USGS data. Always assess on-site conditions and use your own judgment.
The gauge near Archuleta sits just below Navajo Dam at the head of the San Juan's Quality Waters — the cold tailwater with extraordinary trout density that anglers wade and float below the dam. It carries both flow and water temperature, so the conditions reflect that tailwater directly. The fly picture here comes from a single report source, so it's lighter than our better-covered tailwaters.
Location
© OpenStreetMap contributors · © Geoapify
Helpful Links
New Mexico fishing resources
The San Juan below Navajo Dam is one of the Southwest’s most productive tailwaters, supporting very high numbers of rainbow and brown trout in cold, nutrient-rich water. The Quality Waters near the dam are the principal destination, with well-known access around Texas Hole and additional downstream reaches suited to floating. Fishing is available year-round. Midges form the foundation of the food chain and commonly require size 20–26 imitations, fine tippet and careful presentation. Blue-winged olives are important, especially under clouds, while caddis and PMDs become more relevant farther downstream. Seasonal ant falls and other terrestrials can produce unusual dry-fly opportunities. Tandem nymph rigs are the standard approach, often combining an attractor such as an egg, worm or leech with a small midge or baetis pattern. Sight-fishing dries to sipping trout and streamer fishing in deeper water provide variety. Wading access is good in several Quality Water areas, while a drift boat helps anglers cover the broader lower river. Regulations vary by reach and should be checked carefully.
875 CFSFlow
46°F−1°Water temp
81° / 57°WeatherSize #22-24
Size #22-24
