International Fly Fisher

Season Edition

Building Your Own Leaders

Dying Fly Lines

Dying CDC Feathers

Adding Removable Studs To Your Felt Soles

Secret Dry Fly Floatant From Argentina

Midges In The Snow

Death Of A Spring Creek

12 Pound Rainbows In The Shadow Of Glaciers

Destination England

Hooking Large Rainbows At 6 Degrees

Catching Atlantic Salmon On Dry Damsels

In View Of Bacon Ridge

Casting With Wolves

The Ghost Of Old Faithful Inn

Summer On The Test And Anton

Midges In The Snow

Bob Kloskowski

Snow had been falling all night and when I looked out of the window in the morning there was no sign of it easing up. The temperatures in the valley were warm enough to keep the snow from accumulating on the roads but reports on the radio indicated that it was pretty rough traveling in the Durango area.

I had traveled to New Mexico to fish the San Juan River and in spite of the weather I thought that I would try making the drive from Farmington to Navajo Dam. As I made the turn onto SR 511 I found portions of the highway covered with slush and snow. On a few occasions I thought that perhaps I should turn around but as I passed the Sportsman Inn the snow seemed to let up a little. I made the turn at the old Catholic Church and drove down to the Texas Hole parking lot. To my astonishment there were no other cars. I had the river to myself.

The snow was falling lightly as I made my way from the parking lot to the river. As I entered the river I could see fishing working just were the slower water began at the tail of the riffle. As I eased into position, trying to keep my movements to a minimum in an effort to reduce the chance of spooking the fish it appeared that they were feeding on midges. I tied on one of the #24 midge adults that I tied the night before and made my first cast to a feeding rainbow. Within seconds a head the size of a small water melon engulfed the tiny midge. The 7X fluorocarbon tippet strained as the rainbow ripped through the pool. Before long I was able to lead him into the net and eased him back into the water. I worked my way through the water to the next fish and then the next. It turned out to be one of those days that every fly fisher dreams about. No one in sight during a wonderful hatch on one of the finest trout streams in the world. As I concentrated on my next quarry, I found it more difficult to see my fly. The snow had increased in intensity and the flakes became larger. As the snow hit the water it became impossible to see that small white tuff attached to the top of the midge pattern. I did manage to hook up several more times before the hatch finally ended.

On my drive back to Farmington I was able to reflect on one of the nicest days that I had ever spent on the San Juan River. I was actually looking checking the long range weather forecast for the next snowy spring day.

Copyright @ 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 by Bob Kloskowski


	Season Edition
Building Your Own Leaders Dying Fly Lines Dying CDC Feathers Adding Removable Studs To Your Felt Soles Secret Dry Fly Floatant From Argentina Midges In The Snow Death Of A Spring Creek 12 Pound Rainbows In The Shadow Of Glaciers Destination England Hooking Large Rainbows At 6 Degrees Catching Atlantic Salmon On Dry Damsels In View Of Bacon Ridge Casting With Wolves The Ghost Of Old Faithful Inn Summer On The Test And Anton		Midges In The Snow Bob Kloskowski Snow had been falling all night and when I looked out of the window in the morning there was no sign of it easing up. The temperatures in the valley were warm enough to keep the snow from accumulating on the roads but reports on the radio indicated that it was pretty rough traveling in the Durango area. I had traveled to New Mexico to fish the San Juan River and in spite of the weather I thought that I would try making the drive from Farmington to Navajo Dam. As I made the turn onto SR 511 I found portions of the highway covered with slush and snow. On a few occasions I thought that perhaps I should turn around but as I passed the Sportsman Inn the snow seemed to let up a little. I made the turn at the old Catholic Church and drove down to the Texas Hole parking lot. To my astonishment there were no other cars. I had the river to myself. The snow was falling lightly as I made my way from the parking lot to the river. As I entered the river I could see fishing working just were the slower water began at the tail of the riffle. As I eased into position, trying to keep my movements to a minimum in an effort to reduce the chance of spooking the fish it appeared that they were feeding on midges. I tied on one of the #24 midge adults that I tied the night before and made my first cast to a feeding rainbow. Within seconds a head the size of a small water melon engulfed the tiny midge. The 7X fluorocarbon tippet strained as the rainbow ripped through the pool. Before long I was able to lead him into the net and eased him back into the water. I worked my way through the water to the next fish and then the next. It turned out to be one of those days that every fly fisher dreams about. No one in sight during a wonderful hatch on one of the finest trout streams in the world. As I concentrated on my next quarry, I found it more difficult to see my fly. The snow had increased in intensity and the flakes became larger. As the snow hit the water it became impossible to see that small white tuff attached to the top of the midge pattern. I did manage to hook up several more times before the hatch finally ended. On my drive back to Farmington I was able to reflect on one of the nicest days that I had ever spent on the San Juan River. I was actually looking checking the long range weather forecast for the next snowy spring day.
	Copyright @ 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 by Bob Kloskowski