PROPER SETUP FOR FLY FISHING THE SAN JUAN RIVER, NEW MEXICO
Proper nymphing rigging
You will be fishing with a leader that is about 7.5 feet long. Some people like to use a longer leader but I find that longer leaders make it tougher to land fish, especially when you are netting your own. Use either 5x or 6x tippet. You will hook into more fish on 6x but obviously it breaks more easily... so your choice.
You will be fly fishing with two flies. Fish with a float (one that you can quickly adjust on your leader to easily change your depth), a split shot 15 inches above your top fly, and a bottom fly tied 12-15 inches below your top fly with 6x tippet. Tie the tippet through the top fly’s eye. Pinch down the barbs on your hooks. I like to use a small red midge (size 22) as my top fly and then change out my bottom fly according to what bugs I see in the water. Adjust your weight and float positioning depending on where you are fly fishing and where the fish are holding.
It is as simple as that. That is the winning fly fishing setup on the San Juan. But don't even think about taking a step into the water without first reading the 10 biggest mistakes people make fly fishing the San Juan.