All waters · New Mexico · San Juan River (Quality Waters)
San Juan River (Quality Waters), NM
River in San Juan County, New Mexico. New Mexico's most famous trout fishery, the cold tailwater below Navajo Dam in the far northwest corner of the state. The upper four miles below the dam are the legendary Quality Waters, a year-round catch-and-release-leaning section holding very large, well-fed rainbow and brown trout sustained by stable, cold dam releases. Best fished with tiny midge and baetis imitations. Releases from Navajo Dam keep water temperatures in the trout-ideal range through summer. Elevation roughly 5,700 ft.
Overall bite score
Scored 29 min ago · recomputed every 30 minutes
Each instrument reads 0 to 100. The score is their weighted blend, tuned for rivers and streams. No black box: every reading names its source.
What swims here
6 tracked species in San Juan River (Quality Waters), with the months each fishes best.
Water facts
Multiple public access points along NM-173 below Navajo Dam (Texas Hole, Kiddie Pool, Cottonwood, Crusher Hole) within the Navajo Lake State Park / quality-waters corridor. Special tackle and bag regulations apply in the Quality and Special Trout Waters; verify the posted reach before fishing. USGS gauge 09355500 (San Juan River near Archuleta) provides live flow and water temperature.
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