I am in charge of the fly fishing with our Boy Scout Troop...and I NEED HELP...advice...

There will be tweleve boys and we will fish the Valle Vidal area in New Mexico......Friday July 23rd....to be exact.

I have never been there.

Know abslutely nothing about the waters there.

My biggest nightmare and fear is getting the boys out there and BORING them to death because their scout leader doesn't know doodle-ly squat about where to go, what flies to take..etc.

The boys don't know it, but I do know how to fly cast and teach fly casting but the God's truth is, I have never caught one fish on a fly rod.

And I am confused....because I have seen so mnay TV fishing shows....Do you fish walking upstream and cast into the current or do you fish along from the bank and walk down stream when fly fishing in the Valle Vidal ?

We are going to use barbless hooks and catch n release only as well.....if we can catch anything at all.

See...I told you I need hlep.

If you can give me some advice...please feel free to do so..

We are leaving a week from today...so I need help now.
Thanks

tyff

here is one link http://www.flyfishingconnection.com/vallevidal.html
looks like common patterns are suggested here.

drill down to Valle Vidal here http://www.thesolitaryangler.com/main_movie.htm

he seems to recommend hoppers

more pattern suggestions
http://www.edadamsflyfishing.com/costilla.php3

Found all these on a Google search for "Valle Vidal fly fishing"

I am confident that if you email these folks that you are brining a load of Boy Scouts who need fly fishing assistance that you would run the risk of being overrun with volunteers eager to assist them in the art of fly fishing.

You guys are going to have a great time, I envy you! Hope you can post the results here upon return.

If you've never caught a fish on a fly rod, I suggest you get out and try before you go!
I suggest you find a small pond somewhere with bream, and cast a small trout fly, pretty much any fly, and you'll probably catch a few. If you cant find one let me know and I can show you a couple.
That would help you figure out what you do when you hook one, how you bring him in, etc... so that you not caught unprepared if you catch one in NM.

I grew up fly fishing in Colorado and Missouri/Arkansas and I have a suggestion. Yes, flyfishing is fun and rewarding. But instead of spending a weekend trying to teach yourself along with a bunch of kids who only care about "catching" not "fly fishing," try jigs. Use an ultra light rod spooled with 2 lb. test. Then use anywhere from 1/32 to 1/200 ounce jigs either free lined or under a float. Let the current take the jigs and I guarantee you'll catch trout. Try olive/brown, white, pink or cinnamon colored jigs. Jigs catch a lot of trout and you won't have any of the headaches of trying to learn to fly fish. Line mending, knots, fly selection and casting are all tough to learn, especially in two days.

Thanks you three for your assistance.

I have found that whenever I take a group of scouts fishing, it doesn't matter what we are fishing for, bream, trout, striipers, crappie...it's a situation about catching fish.

If we are catching fish, then the boys are having fun and not being bored.

This past May, I had us fish at Texoma for stripers. We had over 200 fish and all enjoyed themselves. That was out in guide boats of course.

But once they got back to land and had lunch some of the boys wanted to fish from the bank. Well, that lasted only about 45 minutes because they were not catching anything.

The same will hold true for us fishing in New Mexico. They will either be in water that they can catch fish or they won't be. And if they can't catch any fish, I doubt if they will even fish more than 2 hours at best.

I am pretty sure that the area where we are staying is also FLY FISHING only....no spinning gear.

Anyway....thanks for the replies and web sites.

We will have fun no matter what they catch. The boys are also backpacking up Wheeler Peak...13,265 feet, tallest peak in NM and spending the night on the peak.....so that will wear them out just hiking up that peak and down....gotta watch out for them mean ol NM bears too. It is bear country and all bear proof procedures must be followed.

Gone Fishing
tyff

I might look you up on the 24th. I'll be in the area too! y'all going up Wheeler on the 23rd to camp?

I think the troop is hiking Wheeler Peak on Wed=Thur.

Fishing is Friday for sure.

We will be camped in the first camp ground area as you head up into the canyon. A lot of horse haulers atay in this campground as well....usually not as WILD with crazies.

I will be fishing at Shuree Ponds every day trying to figure out what the rainbows like.

See you there.....Our troop is 280 and we have a big trailer with our logo etc on it.

gone fishing