Post by mirvc17 on May 26, 2015 19:40:50 GMT -6
Cimarron River, NM
23-24 May 15
My first trip to the Cimarron was mostly a camping get-away (from the rain!) with my family and friends. I managed to fish the river section around the Blackjack camping area.
Unfortunately, I only fished the Horseshoe section of the special trout waters for about 15 minutes and drove by nice stretches of stream on the way to/from Eagle Nest. Anyway, I found
a couple of good holes around the camp ground and did OK considering the conditions. The Orvis fishing report said fishing was "good."
Visibility: 8 inches
Water temperature at mid-day: 52 Degrees F
Water condition: Slightly Turbid
I was a little worried when we first arrived and saw how fast and brown the river was. For the stretches I fished, I'd say they were "Just OK." Anyway, I thought it was challenging.
Like the report said, I saw BWOs and sporatic caddis hatching. Still a couple of weeks away from any stonefly hatches. I fished a pink nuclear egg with a size 16 jig Iron Lotus in
trail. Two rainbows (one wild) were caught on the egg. One brown again on the pink egg. Unfortunately, my materials for tying any pearl braid worms did not arrive before I departed.
The next day we fished the gravel pit ponds with the wives and kids. Chris landed a stocker rainbow on spinning gear (trout magnet jig). Fishing was slow. I tossed some nymphs with a
bobber and also tried some streamers with no luck. Later in the day, we drove up to Eagle Nest to get some supplies. Tim (I believe) of Eagle Nest Fly Shack saw me in waders and asked
me to stop by the shop after the gas station stop. He was extremely friendly and helpful. I bought some flies and firewood from him. His bundles of wood were big and he threw in a
couple extra logs.
After getting back to camp, I weighed down a pink nuclear egg with a black stonefly pattern in trail that I bought at the shop. I landed a beautiful brown, again on the egg.
My buddy Chris had never fly fished before but was very anxious to try it out after his run. After about 15 minutes of cast/lobbing practice and some discussion about things like slack,
line management, basic rigs, the drift, hook sets, reading water, and some basics about brown vs rainbow trout behavior, we were off to the stream. After about 10-15 casts, he hooked
into his first fish on the fly--a beautiful brown. It was awesome! It took a chartreuse nuclear egg. The next day we both had simultaneous hook ups 30 feet from each other. I lost my
fish and I scrambled over to help him land his...again, another brown on the same pattern. I think he's now hooked (pun intended). Watching him have success was really rewarding for
me.
All in all, it was a good trip. I wound up with five fish and he with two (3 if you count the lake). I lost at least 5 or 6 after the hook set, including one that felt about 14"+
brick. These small stream fish were strong fighters for sure.
We are thinking about going back on the 4th of July weekend. Pictures/video to follow.
-JP
23-24 May 15
My first trip to the Cimarron was mostly a camping get-away (from the rain!) with my family and friends. I managed to fish the river section around the Blackjack camping area.
Unfortunately, I only fished the Horseshoe section of the special trout waters for about 15 minutes and drove by nice stretches of stream on the way to/from Eagle Nest. Anyway, I found
a couple of good holes around the camp ground and did OK considering the conditions. The Orvis fishing report said fishing was "good."
Visibility: 8 inches
Water temperature at mid-day: 52 Degrees F
Water condition: Slightly Turbid
I was a little worried when we first arrived and saw how fast and brown the river was. For the stretches I fished, I'd say they were "Just OK." Anyway, I thought it was challenging.
Like the report said, I saw BWOs and sporatic caddis hatching. Still a couple of weeks away from any stonefly hatches. I fished a pink nuclear egg with a size 16 jig Iron Lotus in
trail. Two rainbows (one wild) were caught on the egg. One brown again on the pink egg. Unfortunately, my materials for tying any pearl braid worms did not arrive before I departed.
The next day we fished the gravel pit ponds with the wives and kids. Chris landed a stocker rainbow on spinning gear (trout magnet jig). Fishing was slow. I tossed some nymphs with a
bobber and also tried some streamers with no luck. Later in the day, we drove up to Eagle Nest to get some supplies. Tim (I believe) of Eagle Nest Fly Shack saw me in waders and asked
me to stop by the shop after the gas station stop. He was extremely friendly and helpful. I bought some flies and firewood from him. His bundles of wood were big and he threw in a
couple extra logs.
After getting back to camp, I weighed down a pink nuclear egg with a black stonefly pattern in trail that I bought at the shop. I landed a beautiful brown, again on the egg.
My buddy Chris had never fly fished before but was very anxious to try it out after his run. After about 15 minutes of cast/lobbing practice and some discussion about things like slack,
line management, basic rigs, the drift, hook sets, reading water, and some basics about brown vs rainbow trout behavior, we were off to the stream. After about 10-15 casts, he hooked
into his first fish on the fly--a beautiful brown. It was awesome! It took a chartreuse nuclear egg. The next day we both had simultaneous hook ups 30 feet from each other. I lost my
fish and I scrambled over to help him land his...again, another brown on the same pattern. I think he's now hooked (pun intended). Watching him have success was really rewarding for
me.
All in all, it was a good trip. I wound up with five fish and he with two (3 if you count the lake). I lost at least 5 or 6 after the hook set, including one that felt about 14"+
brick. These small stream fish were strong fighters for sure.
We are thinking about going back on the 4th of July weekend. Pictures/video to follow.
-JP
