Fly Fishing Piedra River - Above Navajo Reservoir

Overview

The Piedra above Navajo Reservoir changes from upper-fork water to a main stem of wooded meadows, rock-walled canyons and lower valley runs. First Box and Second Box give the canyon stretch its character: broken current funnels between rocks before spilling into riffles, runs and deep pools. Rather than treating every pool alike, look for the softer seams beside the fast water and the pockets behind obstructions.

Stonefly nymphs suit the broken water, while caddis and smaller mayfly patterns offer alternatives when trout feed closer to the surface. Snowmelt can swell and cloud the river; as the water settles, individual seams become easier to read. Meadow banks add terrestrial fishing to the mix, while the deeper canyon pools invite a slower, more deliberate nymph presentation.

Fishing the box canyons

The canyon river rewards attention to small changes in current. Tilting rock shelves, boulders and narrow chutes break a run into several feeding lanes. Start with the nearer seam and adjust the depth before casting across faster water; a short, controlled drift often keeps the fly in a pocket longer than a broad cast through several conflicting currents.

Stonefly nymphs are a useful starting point around the larger rocks. Add a smaller nymph when the fish appear to be feeding on a different part of the drift, and change weight as the run changes rather than relying on the same rig from pool to pool. Deep pools call for a different pace from shallow riffles: give the fly time to reach the slower water beneath the main current.

Surface fishing and meadow banks

When stoneflies are active, a buoyant dry can cover broken water. Caddis are another option around riffles and into the afternoon; watch for rises before choosing between a dry and an emerger. Blue-winged olives, pale morning duns and midges call for smaller patterns and closer attention to the feeding lane rather than a promise of a hatch on a particular date.

The open stretches between canyon walls offer a different presentation. During terrestrial activity, work a hopper or other bank-oriented dry near the grass and follow it with a dropper where the current has enough depth. Keep the first casts close and controlled; the bank seam can be more useful than the middle of the run.

Seasonal changes

Runoff can obscure both the bottom and the feeding lanes. As clarity improves, focus on the softer edges and the current breaks that remain visible. Later in the season, a smaller fly and a deliberate drift can suit clearer water. In cold conditions, midge patterns and slower nymph presentations are options in the deeper runs when feeding activity is limited.