Bugs and Flies

In this section we will look at some basic bugs in this area which are part of the trouts food source and the flies which one can use to emulate them.

Midges

Midges are the principal biomass in the San Juan and can be fished all year. They can be fished as larva, emergers, adults and in clusters.

Larva Patterns: red larva #18 - #24, cream larva #20 - #24, black beauty #18 - #24, miracle midge #18 - #26, tungsten midges, halo midge larva #20 - #24.

Emerger Patterns: FPA special emerger #18 - #30; FPA trailing shuck emerger #18 - #26 both black and grey; black RS2's #18 - #24, juju midge #18 - #26; trailing shuck midge, cream #20 - #24; Midge biot black, olive #20 - #24.

Adult Patterns: adult midge #18 - #26; CDC midge Adult, black cream, gray/olive #20 - #24,

Cluster Patterns: griffiths gnat #12 - #18, Local Fuzzball #14 - #24.

BWO's and baetis nymphs.

In the nymph stage, generally refer red to by its latin name "baetis". The adult is referred to as a Blue Wing Olive. Hence, BWO.

Nymph - pheasant tails #18 - #24, rubberlegged pheasant tails #18 - #24, BH beerhead baetis #16 - #24; lightning bugs,

Emerger - RS2's #16 - #22, BWO emerger, #18 - #22, Mercury RS2 's #18 - #24;

Adult - Parachute Adams #16 - #24, Parachute BWO #16 - #24, Gulper Special #16 - #22, Extended Body BWO #18 - #22; Wonder Baetis #18 - #24; No Hackle BWO #16 - #22; Adams #16 - 24, sparkle dun baetis #20 - #22, Thorax baetis - BWO #18 - #24

Spinner - Polywing spinner #18 - #24.

Larger Mayflies.

This description will include pale morning duns (PMD's) pale evening duns (PED's) red quills, and green drakes.

Nymph - pheasant tails #14 - #18, rubberlegged pheasant tails #12 - #18, GB CN Superflash, BTS nymphs, carrot nymph,

Emerger - RS2's, Barr's emergers, wet and dry, #16 - -#18, Bubbleback emerger, GT Emerger,

Adult - Parachute Adams #14 - #18, Parachute BWO #12 - #18, Gulper Special #16 - #22, Extended Body BWO #18 - #22; sparkle dun PMD #16 - #18, Blue Duns #16 - #20, CDC biot comparadun PMD, H&L Variant, Lawson's No Hackle

Spinner - rusty spinner, crystal wing spinner

Stoneflies.

Stoneflies move from spring when they begin to roll around for the moult through summer.

Nymphs: canyon stone, doublebead hare's ear, double bead peacock, poxyback stone, RF Stone, twenty incher, rubberleg patterns, Pat's rubberlegs,

Dries: improved golden stone #8 - #12, irresistible temptation stone, rogue foam, rogue stone, spectre stone,

Caddis.

The animas in particular is known for its spectacular caddis hatches in late spring and early summer.

Larva: cased caddis, stick caddis, caddis larva #12 - #20, crawling caddis #16 - #20, buckskins,

Emerger: caddis emerger hare's ear #12 - #18, spotlite caddis emerger, caddis emerger - peacock #16 - #18

Adults: Stimulators #16 - #22, Elk caddis patterns #16 - #20, stimi chew toys, etha wing caddis, goddard #10 - #18, peacock caddis #16 - #20,

Terrestrials

Over summer a range of terrestrials from hoppers, to ants, crickets and other terrestrials will blow onto or land on the water becoming an inviting meal for any big fish. Always a worthwhile consideration when the fishing is slow.

Hoppers: hoppers, triple decker hopper, parahopper, spent hopper, Foam hopper, kingfisher hopper, charlie boy hopper,

Crickets: black cricket, Dave's cricket,

Ants: Foam Ant, B-52 Flying Ant, Carpenter ant, CDC Ant, Chernobyl Ant, Fur Ant,

Cicadas: Foam Cicada, Low riding Cicada, Black Cicada, Baby cicada

Attractor Patterns

Nymphs: princes, copper johns, hare's ears, soft hackle pheasant tails, soft hackle hare's ears, lightning bugs,

Dries: PMX, Crystal Stimis, Royal Wulff, Humpys,

Annalids

annalid and san juan worm patterns.

For a more pictures of insects together with flies click here.

List of Flies

We have listed some of the flies together with photos for easy reference.

Click here for the index of Flies.

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