NIGHT FLY FISHING ON THE SAN JUAN
If you have never tried night fishing you are missing out. It is a huge rush and you can often catch some monster trout. It’s actually easier for beginners to catch fish night fishing on the San Juan than nymphing, which is a tough technique to learn. Plus, you have the river all to yourself!
Here’s what you do: get yourself a headlamp and wade out into the Texas hole. Tie on a heavily weighted wooly bugger with a couple split shots a foot above it. Use pretty thick tippet, as the fish hit hard. 5x won’t cut it... go thicker.
Cast your fly out into the cut in the Texas hole and let the current take your line out a bit. Then slowly creep your wooly bugger across the bottom. Thoroughly work the cut as well as the slower water to the side of the cut and closer to the bank.
This is one of the most fun ways to fly fish the San Juan and often you can catch some huge trout. It is very exhilarating to be out in the river at night and battle 20 inch rainbows.