If you find yourself fly-fishing near a herd of monster bull elk, pristine grassy meadows, towering mountain peaks and meandering streams, you’ll start to think you’ve died and gone to heaven. If the place happens to be the Valle Vidal, you better believe you have.

People around here call this place New Mexico’s Yellowstone and for good reason. It’s the home of the state’s trophy elk herd and one of the last places you can find indigenous Rio Grande Cutthroat trout. It’s a place where one can easily clear their mind and remember the important things in life.

On Saturday, a small group of C4C members headed north to experience a cleaning of the soul. With the sound of a dry fly whipping through the air, beginners and experts picked up their rods and hit the streams and creeks in hopes of landing a cutthroat. What they found instead, was that fishing for one of God’s most beautiful creations, was more about the quite and stillness of the valley than the excitement and noise of a catch.

“Be still and know that I am God…” – Psalms 46:10

The trip started early, about 4:30 a.m. to be exact. I met up with Dan Lewis and Scott Fuller to race across New Mexico in hopes of hitting the stream before the fish quit biting. A quick stop at the golden arches for a handheld heart attack and we were off to find our adventure. Another stop for gas and yet another for a couple extra flies and we found ourselves rolling into the Valle Vidal.

I can’t begin to tell you how thick the excitement was, except to say that we nearly missed seeing the 300 lb. black bear staring at us buzz down the road from the hillside. Good thing I looked up in time to see him sitting there like a big teddy bear. We stopped to enjoy the moment and once he had walked away it was back to the task at hand.

By 9:00 a.m. we had arrived at Comanche Point and it was every thing we could do to keep from running down the hill and simply tossing in a fly-less line. We could see Jimmy Johnson, his dad and brother fishing downstream and even though we should have slowed down to spend some time chatting with him, the fact that they were fishing only stirred us up more. We all stuffed our feet in our waders like fireman put on their gear for a 5-alarm fire. By the time Scott and I had our lines tied, Dan had already fished out the first two holes and was hiking up stream for more. (For the record, he gears up at un-human speeds.)

After trying my hand at the point, I determined that under no circumstances, would I be skunked on this trip, especially after my two fish trip to the Arkansas. I struck up a plan with Scott, and called for Jimmy, to jump back in the truck and rush the river upstream from Dan and do some “fishing out” of holes ourselves. It was a good plan as I experienced a once in a lifetime kind of day. You know, the kind where you actually start to believe you’re a pro and even when you’re doing everything wrong, you’re still catching fish. I must have had better than 45 fish on the line at one time or another and actually brought in better than 25, to hold and release back into the wild.

Early in the day, when the action had heated up, I heard God say…

“Be still and know that I am God…”

I responded, how could I be still in the midst of a cutthroat feeding frenzy? What did God mean be still?

No sooner had the rebellion and questions left my head it struck me. In preparation for this trip, I had been studying Psalms 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth,” with the intent to deliver a thoughtful devotional to the small fishing group. In all the excitement I had missed the opportunity and now the group was scattered up and down the stream for miles. I knew there was no longer any hope of reigning them in to hear me yammer. So, I decided to reflect on the study myself.

I knew the literal meaning of the verse was intended as a power statement warning those who persecuted the Church to immediately stop their cruelty. This wasn’t about persecution or cruelty. I knew God was saying more.

Below the shadow of an aspen rich mountain, in a creek winding through a green grassy meadow, I began to let go and recognized his existence, control and power.

I thought hard about the thought provoking message I had written down, which was to drive home the point that as men we are always trying to control every situation ourselves, even at the expense of doing what’s right. I was going to use James 4:2 which describes the issue this way. “You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.”

Instead of delivering the message to the group, God began delivering it to me. Lately I had been obsessed with finances, the thought of selling my home, with work and the pressures of finishing a handful of tough tasks. The obsession continued with the family, my children headed back to school and my son charging towards mid-school and adolescence. As a man, I was trying to control every situation myself.

It’s funny how God will speak to you in the most unexpected places. Despite the action in the water and the excitement of the catch, I had managed to not only hear God speak, but also “be still.” It wasn’t about physical movement, rather spiritual movement. God knew what to say when I needed it most.

The day continued as it started with the fish biting hard and often and the sound of water dancing through my ears. I simply couldn’t leave because God had given me peace. It was nearly pitch dark when we rolled out of the Valle Vidal that night.

For most the departure would be disappointing, for me the same excitement from the morning returned. I knew I was going home to the same issues, but comforted by the fact that I was not alone.

I enjoyed the day’s stories of the big ones that got away. I loved hearing Dan talk about each of the multitude he also caught and I wondered if God had told him to be still. We all had the opportunity to stare at the wild fish in still pools and all had fully experienced God’s great creation. I love the fact that you can’t go to a place like the Valle Vidal without realizing just how real God is.

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Lance Cherry, a native of New Mexico, has worked several years in the outdoor industry, with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and the New Mexico State Parks Division. Lance is a founder of Crosshairs for Christ, a Christian ministry with a desire to connect and change lives by spreading Christ’s message to sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts through activity-based fellowship. For more information contact Lance Cherry, lance@crosshairsforchrist.org.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” - Matthew 4:19

They say fishing calms the soul and refreshes the spirit. Certainly, one can find truth in this by spending a day on the San Juan River.

Noted among the best tailwaters in the world, fly fishers annually trek across the globe just to throw a line in the 4.5 miles of quality water. Home to more than 80,000 trout, the San Juan is a place where 20 inch trout are abundant and your fishing skills are regularly tested. It’s a place where big trout play the game to win. A place where tiny flies and fine tippets are king, skills a must and patience supreme.

So you think you want to fish the San Juan?

Nothing would be more tragic in my opinion, than to spend the countless hours gearing up and traveling to one of God’s greatest places on Earth, only to be skunked by the crafty competition. There is a way to improve your chances of success, but keep in mind there are no guarantees.

The Rules

To better understand what you are facing, let’s start with the rules. The rules provide the insight and guidance needed to unlock the secrets of the San Juan. Rules are the combination to the river’s secret lock.

Turn the dial left stopping at #1, Catch-and-release. From Navajo Dam downstream 1/4 mile, these waters are catch-and-release only! This can be a harsh mental test as trophies abound everywhere, but you can’t keep them. The fishermen on this stretch know what they are doing and many are masters of the sport. You must return the trout to the water immediately.

Turn the dial right stopping at #2, Quality Catch. From the Catch-and-release area downstream 3.5 miles (Riverside boundary sign east of Crasher Hole Boat Ramp,) your dreams come true. You may keep 1 trout only that is a minimum of 20 inches. Yes, I said 20 inches. This is no joke and quit common. Fishermen keep one everyday, all year long. Many trophy trout have made there way from this stretch to the fireplace mantle. Still, the greatest joy will come from the same premise as the area before, catch-and-release. Monster after monster will provide enough challenge and joy, that keeping one will be the last thing on your mind.

Finally, Turn the dial back left, stopping at #3, Bait Waters. From Riverside boundary sign east of Crasher Hole Boat Ramp, this section of the San Juan is affectionately know as the bait waters. It’s fishing as usual here and traditional fishing methods are common. If you’re lucky, and I mean real lucky, you could score a limit of monsters here. Chances are not likely though. Don’t get me wrong. You will likely catch your limit. Just not 20 inch monsters. This section is regularly stocked by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department with catchable trout in the 8-10 inch range.

So how do you catch the fish?

Starting from the top, Catch-and-release, This is where the pros fish. I wouldn’t even dare walking in there without a fly rod. Not that it’s against any rule, but because your dealing with a crowd of do-it-right anglers. These are the “by the book because we wrote the book crowd.” If I were fishing it and didn’t have a fly rod, I’d simply move on downstream or pick up a cheap one from an area shop.

Set up with a long leader and tie two flies instead of one to increase your chances of scoring big. Keep your line tight and cast upstream, allowing your fly to float past you as it heads downstream. Remember, this isn’t “A River Runs Through It.” Long artistic fly casts won’t catch you any more fish and may just cause more agitation to the anglers around you.

Some of the flies of choice here are: San Juan Style Nymph Rig, Wooley Buggers, stoneflies, mayflies, caddis and of course, my favorite, the San Juan Worm.

A great resource for learning about fly patterns that work on the San Juan is the San Juan River Fly Fishing Site, www.ifly4trout.com. Additionally, it is advisable you take time to review the insect hatch information to get a clear understanding of the lifecycle, size, color, action, habitat and best fly patterns to use. In the spring, caddis and stoneflies hatch and often prove to be the best fly choice.

Now for the Quality Catch area. You can always stick with the techniques above, but since most anglers are not pros and many don’t own a fly rod, I will turn my focus to common spinner rods.

First and foremost, find Texas hole. This is trout heaven. Hit the area hard with a spoons and single barbless hooks. Make sure to take a slew of spoons in hot colors like Orange, Yellow and Gold. Sometimes spotted spoons that look like little trout are necessary to do the trick.

As for fishing; cast and reel, cast and reel. Vary your speeds and depths allowing the lure to work the fish’s instincts. In time you will find your rhythm and discover a new skill.

Another solid set up for your spinner rod, is to tie a fly on a leader 8-12 inches below a clear bubble. Monofilament 2 lb. test line is best, as trout tend to be easily stressed. Anything that looks odd, they avoid. Use the same flies as above and remember to study your hatch cycles.

Finally, we hit the bait waters. This one is simple. Do as grandpa taught you to do and nothing more. Despite the popularity of Powerbaits and scented artificial lures, nothing says “bite me” like a big juicey night crawler. Worms, corn and salmon eggs are traditional baits and for good reason. They work.

On the lure side, spinners like rooster tails are a basic must. When conditions are normal and stress is low, trout can’t resist taking a nip at a feather-covered hook with a flashy spinner.

When conditions are tough, I have learned the “must have” lure is a combination of one lure in two colors. A silver-colored and a gold-colored Super Duper® should reside in every fisherman’s tackle box. When all else fails, the Super Duper® delivers. When one color fails, the other delivers.

Final Thoughts

For my last few tips let’s focus on behavior. Trout are cold-water fish. They hang out in the shade. Find the spots where a nice shadow is cast over the water and fish it hard.

Second, trout are notorious for hiding behind objects. Sneak up on a big boulder and let your line float behind it or find a bridge, brush pile or tree that breaks the water. Be careful not to get to close. If a trout sees your shadow or reflection, they will be gone in a flash.

Lastly, trout find the bulk of their food in the water. Salmon eggs, worms, bugs are the prime eats. Only about 10% of their diet actually consists of flying insects. When you pick you bait, keep this in mind.

Now you’re armed with the knowledge to take your crack at conquering the San Juan. Should you fail, don’t fret, there are far worse things you could’ve done with a day in your life.

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Lance Cherry, a native of New Mexico, has worked several years in the outdoor industry, with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and the New Mexico State Parks Division. Lance is a founder of Crosshairs for Christ, a Christian ministry with a desire to connect and change lives by spreading Christ’s message to sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts through activity-based fellowship. For more information contact Lance Cherry, lance@crosshairsforchrist.org. For more information on fishing the San Juan River visit Mike Mora’s San Juan River Fly Fishing Site, www.ifly4trout.com, or visit Trout Unlimited online, www.tu.org.