I am beginning to plan a trip to the San Juan in Farmington. Feedback on guide/guide service as well as accommodations for a few days will be appreciated. Needless to say accommodations need to be clean, good beds and easy access to meals. Thanks.

I've been going to the SJ for several years with a friend. The fishing varies a lot based on flows...we like Oct. when the flows are less than 600 cfm because we like to wade fish without a guide. There is an airbnb we also rent...PM if you want the name. Abe's motel is great for fishing supplies but I would not recommend staying there. The couple of fly shops have decent diners, but we do most of are own cooking at the house. As for flies...tiny...22s, 24s, and 26s.

Thank you for the info. And yes I would like the name of the airbnb.
I also enjoy wa de fishing w/o guide but would probably hire one for one day just to get the lay of the land. Thanks again

Abe's closed during the pandemic and Tim has sold it. FYI.

we have fished the Juan with Fishheads before the corona hit. It was great fishing and guide service

Art Martinez for a guide. Soaring Eagle lodge for hotel. Not much choice in lodging within 30 minutes

I'll be there 5/31 and 6/1 for my first fly fishing experience. I plan on staying in Durango

We have used Scotty Warren as a guide a few times +1 (970) 946-1697, and he will put you on the fish. Super good dude. Soaring Eagle lodge is pricey. I'd try and find a nice AirBNB. Abe's is rustic, sweepable if you don't mind a fishing lodge, if it is open.

google farmington, guides and motels/hotels will show.

been way too long since I lived in durango so no idea who guides for who.

if the dam is closed wade fish, this time of yr. med. mosquito, caddis or black nymphs always worked good for me.

you will have some huge bows swim between your legs if you get out in 4' of water, beaver too sometimes.

if you have time, go up to 160 where the piedra river crosses, west side used to be public access and probably still is, great place in a few weeks just watch for the flow rate since it will be runoff still.

the lodge on the other side was one of the outfitters I guided for and fished that whole stretch a lot, catch it right and there are some good browns and an occasional cutthroat.


you will have a blast, one word of warning, be very observant of the weather, if they have not built a bridge over it there is a wash that will flash flood with no warning, rain may be way up in colorado.

Abe's is closed Tim has apparently sold it. I would check out the Octagon Inn if you don't end up staying in Durango. Let me know if I can help with a guide.

https://www.aztecanglers.com/

4Weight

Just got back from a guided float fishing trip on the San Juan. There are so many trout it is amazing however the fishing was very slow. I saw several boats from Soaring Eagle and others that didn't net a single fish. My guide helped me as it was my first time to fly fish and I was able to net about 8 nice trout. I lost several for lack of setting the hook and allowing the trout to have line to run. The Texas hole had about 6 fishermen and I saw 2 that netted a trout. I stayed at the new HOME2 Hilton in Farmington at a fair price.

Whoa. Abe's closed? That is news. All I know about that place is the fish are Phd's and their eating habits change almost daily. Get a guide for sure - that is the best advice.

My Friend lives in Edwards Colorado, he said the rivers are to high with the run off right now. He's hoping the waters will subside in a short while.

The San Juan below Navajo Dam in New Mexico, the latest report: San Juan River: Streamflow Monday morning was 297 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using Griffith gnat flies, leech pattern flies, red annelid flies and midge pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good when using nightcrawler worms.

For wading, flows are about right at 500 cfs., so right now, the flows are low. Releases from the dam can change that for agriculture, primarily. When it get above about 800 cfs, wading gets tougher but it gets better for boats.

The San Juan in Colorado, upstream of the dam, may well be blown out with high flows.

I had a really good stay at Fishheads two years ago with my father. The food was excellent.