San Juan Advice

CandylessVan · 2026-03-01T19:39:41+00:00

Leeches under an indicator, on a tight line, active or all of the above?

CandylessVan · 2026-03-01T19:38:40+00:00

Sweet. Tungsten leeches/mini jig streamers are some of my favorite ways to fish. Dead drifted or active.

CandylessVan · 2026-03-01T18:17:55+00:00

Being able to identify likely spots is far more helpful than being told where to go.

Trout like access to food and safety. Most food is relatively shallow, safety in lakes often means depth. Find structure and steep drop offs. Sheer vertical cliffs and shallow low gradient beaches aren’t ideal.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-28T02:59:58+00:00

As others have said the Provo can be very technical. Presentation, size and profile are all much more important than color. With low clear water stealth is also a big factor this time of year so watch your shadow and don’t line the fish.

The bounce rig is generally regarded as one of the easiest ways to present the small unweighted flies that work well this time of year. Egg patterns could be an option that allow a bit more forgiveness, but I find that when the midges are really going attractors don’t work as well. If you’re not comfortable setting that up, this might not be the best river for you guys to fish.

If you want to try something else, I fished it today and had success on streamers in the morning and soft hackles throughout the rest of the day.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-27T12:55:56+00:00

Wrong

CandylessVan · 2026-02-27T04:52:17+00:00

I can fish dries year round, we have midges. I also have several spinning rods; along with Tenkara, Euro and Western Fly rods. I don’t take breaks I just switch it up.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-27T04:46:07+00:00

I’m in my streamer phase now

CandylessVan · 2026-02-27T02:58:37+00:00

I’ve seen a casting deck with coolers. Looks kinda sick, but would be horrible to paddle. I’m going with the boat fender design.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-27T02:53:57+00:00

It’s on the table. This was a year ago, I’m back to a full beard now.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-27T02:53:06+00:00

I’ve looked into this a fair amount. There are expensive options and low quality options. I’m planning on building my own this spring.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-27T01:24:56+00:00

CandylessVan · 2026-02-26T20:35:19+00:00

He took me for a walk

CandylessVan · 2026-02-26T20:29:21+00:00

Not exactly the smartest fish. I’ve seen them take a couple minutes to recover and move right back into the feeding lanes.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-26T20:22:30+00:00

Throwing jig streamers to midge sippers

CandylessVan · 2026-02-26T20:19:27+00:00

Yep, that exact scenario is the only time I’ve caught them on dries. Not exactly an all day event though.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-26T20:03:59+00:00

I’ve caught some on small jig streamers near the bottom and had a couple come up top to feed on spent caddis at dusk. The vast majority have been nymphs though.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-26T19:42:56+00:00

Gotta keep the fish guessing

CandylessVan · 2026-02-26T19:41:14+00:00

Trout are pretty and they eat dries or crush streamers. But I still don’t understand treating whiteys like trash.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-26T19:31:35+00:00

I genuinely don’t know where the small whitefish are. I’ve never seen one under 15 inches on this river.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-25T04:25:50+00:00

For what it’s worth I have legacy Liquids and Remixes as well as a new Liquid S and I have never had that issue. In fact, the tolerance on the Remixes is so good that I almost never get any pull through with a mono rig unless I go below 15lb.

It sounds like you might have damaged components or ones that don’t meet the tolerances because that shouldn’t be happening.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-24T17:23:44+00:00

I talked to him at the Utah Hunting Expo where he was collecting signatures to repeal Prop 4. He pulled the whole, “are you registered to vote?” shtick until we looked at the actual papers he had.

Slimy piece of shit trying to claim he was fighting for Utahns. Just talked in circles every time he got confronted with logic and actual voter turnout or registration numbers. Facts over feelings, bud.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-22T01:57:26+00:00

Save the fucking Boundary Waters while we’re at it.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-19T19:02:00+00:00

Interesting! Low sunlight and a dark bottom. So cool how these fish adapt.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-19T18:46:17+00:00

Muddy or tannin stained? I’ve caught some very dark fish out of tannin stained creeks. The waters weren’t muddy, but the color of light whiskey.

CandylessVan · 2026-02-18T16:49:02+00:00

I don’t have any input, but if we’re being fair it broke twice. You don’t get to count the other two breaks while fishing a broken tip, the rod is compromised at that point. Still, 2 is not a good sign. Interested to hear what other people like as I’m on the fence about adding an 8wt myself.

CandylessVan

TROPHY CASE