Report: Rio Grande around Pilar, Los Pinos

I'm finally getting some fishing in in earnest...as best as I can with my two closest water sheds under forest closure.

I had a great couple days on the Los Pinos about two years ago.  This year it was not the case.  It seemed fished out.  My step-dad and I threw everything at them, hit a lot of water (the bait area, the special trout water).  He caught about three, and I caught one.  The brown he caught was bigger but very beat up looking.  We didn't see fish rising, even with the insane insect activity.  We didn't see fish running.  Either they were full and hunkered down, or more likely this watershed is being mistreated and too many fish are being harvested or otherwise harmed.  

The Rio Grande around Pilar was more typical.  The fish are in there...just sometimes hard to get.  They hit on pheasant tails, hare's ear, and prince nymphs between 12-16.  Fish 'em deep.  I also like to use one splitshot a foot or so above my nymph and sometimes fish a double nymph rig. 

I did get some good entertainment watching rafters fall out of their boats and having water fights, and saw some mountain goats!