03-06-2022, 09:18 AM
The exhilaration of hooking a 22 inch German Brown trout with a tiny #22 barb-less hook, it's like the size of a gnat bringing in a monster of a wild fish.
The San Juan River is one of the most famous trout waters in the United States. The most popular being what is called the Quality Waters.
The Quality Waters are a perfect stretch protected fishing waters about one and half miles long. The best being the first quarter mile is the catch and release. Meaning you can catch any size trout but you must release it unharmed. In doing so you are restricted to use only barb-less fishing hooks to minimize harming the fish. This also posed a challenge and excitement when it came to bringing in the fish before it shook itself loose.
At any given time you will see the shallows of the San Juan quality waters lined with fishermen of all shapes and sizes. Many of which have spent a small fortune on their fishing gear and waders. The water is very cold, nearly 47 degrees in the first quarter mile so a good set of insulated waders are essential. Due to the overwhelming population of trout you could practically take your hat off and scoop up a big one right out of the water. However, that's not such a good idea of https://wildfishingman.com/best-line-for-surf-fishing/ for your nearest neighbor in the water could very well be a park Ranger in everyday fishing attire, you get my point.
But the amazing thing, the trout are so use to seeing fishermen they appear to just ignore you as if you were a dear or some local cattle. They are more interested in a nice little morsel of food to be floating by ready to devour it in a slit second.
When I first began to fly fish I found the gear quite expensive and was known for my poor mans way of fishing and making flies. To buy the flies already tied in the shop were sometimes a buck or two a piece and for a beginner fly fisherman that could mean a costly adventure if I got my line caught in too many trees across the river. If you catch a tree you lose your fly that's all there is to it.
The San Juan River is one of the most famous trout waters in the United States. The most popular being what is called the Quality Waters.
The Quality Waters are a perfect stretch protected fishing waters about one and half miles long. The best being the first quarter mile is the catch and release. Meaning you can catch any size trout but you must release it unharmed. In doing so you are restricted to use only barb-less fishing hooks to minimize harming the fish. This also posed a challenge and excitement when it came to bringing in the fish before it shook itself loose.
At any given time you will see the shallows of the San Juan quality waters lined with fishermen of all shapes and sizes. Many of which have spent a small fortune on their fishing gear and waders. The water is very cold, nearly 47 degrees in the first quarter mile so a good set of insulated waders are essential. Due to the overwhelming population of trout you could practically take your hat off and scoop up a big one right out of the water. However, that's not such a good idea of https://wildfishingman.com/best-line-for-surf-fishing/ for your nearest neighbor in the water could very well be a park Ranger in everyday fishing attire, you get my point.
But the amazing thing, the trout are so use to seeing fishermen they appear to just ignore you as if you were a dear or some local cattle. They are more interested in a nice little morsel of food to be floating by ready to devour it in a slit second.
When I first began to fly fish I found the gear quite expensive and was known for my poor mans way of fishing and making flies. To buy the flies already tied in the shop were sometimes a buck or two a piece and for a beginner fly fisherman that could mean a costly adventure if I got my line caught in too many trees across the river. If you catch a tree you lose your fly that's all there is to it.
