The three sections of the San Juan I float are the Quality Waters, Mid-River and Lower River. The Quality Waters or “Q-Dub” as locals call it is one of the most productive and trout dense stretches of river in the country. Both beginner and advanced anglers can find their own challenges and rewards on this stretch. This section is filled with slow long pools that allow the beginner angler to work on their casts, mends, and hooksets in a low pressure and calm environment. Advanced anglers will relish in the chance to sight fish to large trout feeding on emerging baetis and midges. Fishing light tippets, twitching their bugs, and setting the hook on really tiny movements of the bobber will test ones skill!

One of my favorite things about this zone is the reliable chance to catch a 20+ inch fish any day of the year. That could be a rainbow or brown trout too!  Depending on the fishing conditions I often include the Mid-River on a full day float, but the Mid-River itself is worthy of its own full day trip. Some anglers are deterred by the catch and keep regulations of the mid-river but in my opinion that has only led some fish to grow ino to epic proportions owing to their education. On the Mid-River I frequently switch up from the normal bobber set up and fish streamers which can induce some heart racing takes. Fishing the Mid-River also allows us to escape some of the crowds that can occur on the quality waters depending upon time of year.