After helping close up the cabin for the winter and getting some time on the water, I went to the river that got me hooked on catching big fish: the San Juan River in New Mexico--just south of Durango. The weather varied from cold and dreary with light rain to cool and sunny, but the weather was good to great each day. I fished five days and landed at least one fish 20 inches or bigger every day except the last one. That last day I hooked a fish so big I was convinced I was hung before he took off on a run and straightened my hook. Maybe I'll get him next time.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzq4qSDmz7FgMGtKzw96c8ySA7EY1DQCtRAlxQy3PliVJHWJVWiLZcNrzu1XESvSUubyImm9lCkQ7LFTsa2OFRb22p4bUcjHPvLX9G2IsQ6N0NlQHEbbyYc-7ToNeDZ6nzfCZd18vMFYFW/s320/IMG_3917.jpg) |
Still some beautiful fall colors in Durango at the end of October
|
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZmlmsmlyDxWBxzdkHtkuNE2_04uIjbX313PHddBNVnLSpD5cMxVHntqdk1z5S6PqJGQg2lEUzIsecZkdxJKkGa1KekkjlvI8myIyrwJqpmudlObPV6YPDfgnibFG053nybpbo_KZd-s_/s320/IMG_3926.jpg) |
Pretty rainbow on a pretty day on the San Juan |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxPlVN6M5C51Cgamv5qkq8rrLrEOvs1XPf3bPUt7eza42Thyi_w3gNT2bdIkojqCu2WOYJKxZ777N7qD6pXhvvjQB6HwXtuytep4nQjzTH-LubWEgVFjdSj6vqlgzTAm0DH4__5H4Dqhf/s320/IMG_3929.jpg) |
20-inch 'bow...
|
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLen6YvyvQqUQwmQTz0BaFhAHZaCwqdaqGy_-8GrlfrzgzCNkYkxSH3FysCEOlSkwFJLoSVW-KWSUdnPWfgTS7I97ypYC1cqT49czKrQ6rIxfkMKDQBetnIp1IX37-HVNCL_ebuT54lu8/s320/IMG_3932.jpg) |
...he was chubby |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0bj5OBTu5N3qo2-FOUym-X7cVUudBF9QVa4_QG0Vs9Jnm4Mw1KmFt7Xq7H91RiNgOCPKrCNjBkcuIj05QL5_etfxDPXiBQnYPe_cthkRhqgnB5ywUtOtYEDMfUOpJITcMLMQj0sM_oWG/s320/IMG_3937.jpg) |
Fall colors on an overcast day on the San Juan
|
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZM0HC0IKwMC69GFpBOUUromy1XB66i3_rA4kYqK7b0Dsi1KhjhA5Be-uK90yuNqPd6bytT6CYos-Lgqe_7HCwgOSTIQTn9V9demmdKsUJ-25tqtWYX7XuOLeKN3G0uM_r6V5N3kiR1DE/s320/IMG_3950.jpg) |
Smiling rainbow and me |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFzJ_RVASd2Ocd2_EFovjxU5kX4briUteo9XNM1AQHpvnOz6nRHNRb2xDEQU0gRutOa0LzmbYb9l7MpH4kr2w_53AoLqFJVJW9WXnmq4SjBfeB2whdhOC8B0_8vYQOmyHwKdN8iwyCoz5/s320/IMG_3972.jpg) |
21-incher, if not bigger |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFTQdh_iONACbHzOZiwe8IcJJJIpSDKkAW9c6MQutNpPlyn-jal8_m-KTI6Mmfhe6cMslHALMQZGEEXjEzoeFVBXq7q_RnAfbv42erQZKVmUmut_GcsOOmCD98EjZRdE84O0CorDyKyz9/s1600/IMG_3988+-+fall+SJ+-+take3.jpg) |
Sunset on the last day of my long summer of fly fishing |