Streamers on the San Juan with About Trout & Pheasant Tail Fly Fishing

I have been fishing the San Juan once or twice a year for the past 8 years and it’s a fishery that’s never really caught my attention. I’ve never been a big fan of nymphing or fishing tiny flies and the crowds on that river have also been a deterrent. James (About Trout) totally changed my perspective of this place.

Kris Bare (Pheasant Tail Fly Fishing) and I ventured out to New Mexico in the evening, arriving at our hotel in Bloomfield at around 2am. We met up with James by the river at 6am. I really wished we had a chance to get a good night’s sleep before night one because what followed was two packed days of dedicated streamer fishing. We were either fishing some huge 7”+ monstrosities or a tandem rig with “smaller” articulated streamers. The bite was electric. We moved a ton of fish and landed a number of really great browns. This is both, the most exciting, and most exhausting way to fish for trout.

This trip was amazing. James is a fantastic guide. It’s really a breath of fresh air to float with a guide that’s excited to do the hard thing even if it’s at the expense of quantity. If you are interested in fishing streamers with James (or any of his other talented guides), I caution you to consider the prospect of casting big. heavy, and wind resistant flies for hours on end. It really is one of those things that only works if you go all in and trust the grind.

Thanks again, James, this was so sick