The San Juan River flows from Navajo Dam located in the Four Corners region of the great southwest where the states of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah come together. The river is 'COLD' (45°), clear, and spectacular, swarming with Rainbow, Brown, and a few Snake River Cutthroat trout. A 1/4 mile section of the river just below the dam has been set aside as a catch-and-release area where all fish caught must be immediately returned to the water. Below this is a 3 1/2 mile section designate as Trophy Waters. In this stretch, one fish 20 inches or longer may be kept. Only artificial lures and flies with single barbless hooks may be used in both catch-and-release and trophy waters.
Below these special sections, the San Juan is fishable all the way down to the town of Blanco, approximately 14 miles from the dam. In the river below the trophy area, a limit of trout may be taken and fishing with bait is permitted. The river below the village of Navajo Dam runs through private property and permission must be secured before fishing this water.
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The San Juan is fishable year around as the blue skies and warm sunshine of Northern New Mexico provide ideal conditions for both wading and floating the big river. The fishing is regulated by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish so the quality of angling may never deteriorate. The land on both sides of the river is administered and maintained by the State Park Service to prevent land damage and waste pollution. Thus, the San Juan will always be pristine fishing water.
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