Santa Cruz Lake Delivers

It’s a fine way to wile away a summer afternoon, sitting under the cool shade of a towering cottonwood, watching the clouds build up and waiting for a fish to bite.

And Santa Cruz Lake in the hills overlooking Española delivers in a big way.

Located just 35 miles north of Santa Fe, this Bureau of Land Management (BLM) operated recreation area provides camping and picnic shelters, a boat dock and floating fishing pier and some of the cleanest restrooms in the business.

“We’re well known for that,” Karen Martinez says with pride after she checks a visitor’s permit at the lake’s office one recent day.

In years past the lake might have been better known for its rowdy residents, auto break-ins, random thefts and trashed-out atmosphere.

But conditions have improved at the lake with regular patrols and oversight from hardworking locals like Martinez, 49, of Rio Chiquito.

“Because someone’s here all the time now, things have quieted down,” she says with guarded optimism. “We try different things to keep it that way.”

Martinez, a seasonal BLM worker, says local law enforcement officers also make it a habit to swing through the recreation area on a routine basis, especially on the weekends and evenings, to keep a lid on things.

Nonetheless, she cautions those who visit the remote lake located below the historic Spanish settlement of Cundiyo.

“I wouldn’t leave a generator sitting out while you go fishing all day,” she said. “It’s just common sense. Secure your valuables.”

And while the lake has always been a favorite spot for Española Valley locals, the high price of gas these days has made it even more popular.

“We’ve got people from Española bringing up their motor homes,” she says with a laugh.

That’s quite a feat considering the steep, narrow, twisty road that leads down to the lake’s recreation area and the limited number of campsites that can accommodate such vehicles.

The lake is well known among anglers for another reason.


It is the home of the state record rainbow trout held by Peter Romero of Santa Fe who in March 1999 while fishing with six-pound test line and a homemade jig is said to have hooked and landed a 31-pound, 33½-inch rainbow trout.

A battered picture of Romero holding the fish graces the bulletin board inside the BLM’s office at the lake.

The lake is popular with boaters and allows their use at trolling speed only. The facilities at the lake include a good ramp and a spacious parking lot.

Those who fish from the bank can find plenty of trails leading around the lake to prime fishing spots including a steep, tortuous trail from the overlook campground down to the north end of the lake where Santa Cruz creek enters.

The overlook campground features several campsites situated along the rim of a mesa high above the lake. It is a remote campground occasionally visited by locals and not as well patrolled as the lakeside recreation area.

The overlook campground offers greats views of the lake and Española Valley below and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the rear.


Martinez said what with the price of gas being what it is these days there seems to be more out-of-towners stopping by at the lake.

“We’re getting a lots of new folks asking for information,” she says.

Martinez notes that a season’s pass for admission to the lake and other BLM recreation areas in northern New Mexico like the Rio Grande at Pilar and at the Wild Rivers at Cerro is a bargain for only $20 a year.

The season pass allows unlimited day use at these areas while a one-day pass costs $5.

Martinez said visitors should know swimming isn’t allowed at the lake but waist deep wading is tolerated. Well-behaved and leashed dogs are welcome and alcohol consumption is not prohibited.


If You Go:

From Santa Fe take 84/285 north to the Nambe turnoff just north of Pojoaque. Take State Road 503 up through the village of Cundiyo and follow the sign down to Santa Cruz Lake. On the way, just past the turnoff to Chimayo, you will see the entrance to the Santa Cruz overlook; pull in here for a great view of the lake and surrounding valley. About 35 miles one-way. Last chance for gas and groceries in Pojoaque.

Failed to Draw Out? Hunters Have Options

So what if you failed to draw out for a hunt this year? Do you have a back-up plan?

Here’s some options that might improve your odds of staying in the hunt, even if you don’t luck out in the lottery (for this year's lottery results and ways to improve your odds see second story below).

First and foremost, check the state Department of Game and Fish’s website regularly at www.wildlife.state.nm.us. and read the Big Game rules and information manual carefully.

Hunters have until April 9 to apply for most big game public land hunts including elk pronghorn antelope, ibex, javelina and bighorn sheep with results available June 18, 2008.

If you fail to draw out, stay alert, the department frequently offers late season hunts to fill licenses that weren’t taken or to meet game management goals.

For instance, the Valles Caldera hosted special hunts for cow elk during the first two weekends of December 2007 for 37 lucky hunters at the cost of a $59 license and a $300 access fee.

Compare that with an outfitted and guided hunt on the Valles Caldera that can cost anywhere from $3,500 to $5,000 during the prime hunting season.

The Caldera boasts a herd of about 3,000 elk, spectacular country and restricted access that guarantees a quality hunting experience. They also offer their own lottery with results coming out before the state’s so hunters can participate in both. Check their website at www.vallescaldera.gov for more info.

Needless to say the late season special hunts were snapped up by online applicants within 30 minutes of going on sale, said Dan Williams, spokesman for the department.

“Anyone who gets to hunt there should feel very privileged,” he said.

But the hunt to meet management goals was marred by inclement weather that restricted hunter mobility, said Dennis Trujillo, Valles Caldera Preserve manager.

“It was challenging to say the least,” Trujillo said of the first year effort at managing such a hunt. Thirty-seven hunters harvested 22 animals, he said.

Those hunters got to go hunting because they were quick to jump on an opportunity that arose. The department issued a total of 329 licenses, 100 for muzzleloaders and 229 for any legal sporting arm during that particular special hunt.


Hunters who fail to draw out can also turn to the private market for hunting opportunities.

Every year thousands of private landowners in New Mexico receive hunting authorizations from the Department of Game and Fish that they can use, sell or barter away.

The programs are called A and E-Plus and they issue landowners hunting permits in exchange for their providing habitat to wildlife. The permits can then be redeemed for a hunting license.

Hunters can negotiate with a landowner involved in the program to obtain an authorization and then use it to buy a license from the department.

For instance, during the 2006/2007 hunting season landowners received about 17,000 authorizations under the E-Plus program, which resulted in about 9,700 licenses being issued, Williams said.

The state also issued 31,878 elk tags in the public drawing that season with 78 percent going to New Mexico residents, he added.

Hunters on public land had a success rate of about 30 percent compared with 59 percent on private land that season, Williams said.

The state’s elk herd varies anywhere between 70,000 to 90,000 elk with about 30 to 35 percent of those being bulls, he said.

The A-Plus antelope program in 2006/2007 resulted in 4,326 authorizations being issued and 3,266 licenses being sold while the public drawing resulted in 1,524 licenses being issued, Williams said.

Many of these authorizations end up being sold to guides and outfitters who in turn offer them to out-of-state hunters who pay a premium for hunting here, said Bob Gerding of Bob Gerding’s Outdoor Adventures.

But some landowners hang on to their permits and then sell them on the open market if they don’t put them to use.


Gerding suggest hunters make a habit of checking newspaper classified ads, inquiring at sporting good stores and gun shops and checking in with area Game and Fish offices for leads, Gerding said.

“Many times the offices know of someone who has them available,” he said.
Hunters can also find information about the E and A-Plus programs -- including lists of participating landowners -- online at the department’s website.

Gerding recommends a hunter pick a hunting unit that he or she may be familiar with and start their search from there.

Hunters playing the open market have to take into consideration a number of variables including whether the hunt is on a private ranch or unit wide, Gerding said.

Hunters should keep in mind that at the time of the hunt, animals may no longer frequent the private ranch for which the authorization was issued, thus a unit-wide authorization would be preferable.

However, on a large private ranch, that may not be an issue.

Another issue is hunters may want to make arrangements with a landowner before the public draw concludes in an effort to lock in a hunt.

But waiting until late in the season can sometimes result in a better deal, he said.
These and other variables are the reason why outfits such as Gerding’s are in business, to help hunters negotiate the complexities of hunting in New Mexico.

The department’s website also features lists of guides and outfitters for hunters to consult and Gerding said he is always willing to help someone in the hunt for a license.

Hunters who fail to draw out can also try to find a private landowner within a specified hunting unit where deer hunts are allowed - consult the proclamation for more information. A hunter with written permission to hunt deer on private land may then purchase an over-the-counter license.

Unlike the A and E-Plus programs, there is no departmental listing of private landowners who offer hunting on their land.

And if all else fails, hunters who draw out for a big game hunt can look into bear, cougar, turkey and other game that can be hunted with an over-the-counter license.

“If you’re like me, where getting out there is the most important thing,” said Williams, “then any hunt’s a great hunt.”


How to Improve Your Odds and 2008 Public Hunting Draw Results

Hunters who submit multiple applications for different big game hunts stand the best chance of drawing a license, according to a recent state Department of Game and Fish study.

The study of drawing odds based on the 2003 through 2006 hunting season showed hunters who submitted an application for elk, deer, antelope and oryx stood a 77-percent chance of drawing a license for at least one of those hunts during the study period, said Dan Williams, department spokesman.

Submitting an application for just one hunt such as antelope or oryx resulted in less than a 10-percent chance of drawing a license in any one year, Williams said.

A single application for deer stood a 16-percent chance of drawing out at least once during the study period while the chances for elk were much better, coming in at 39-percent, Williams said.

Hunters can improve their luck of the draw next year by studying the department’s odds report and tips posted in the hunting section of the department’s website at www.wildlife.state.nm.us

This year hunters submitted 172,536 applications which resulted in 56,796 hunting licenses being awarded on June 18, Williams said. About a 33-percent success rate overall.

Williams released the following statistics related to the drawing for big game hunting licenses for the 2008/2009 season:

The department received 68,963 applications for 20,253 available elk licenses and 20,199 were awarded. State residents received 16,381 of those elk licenses while non-residents obtained 3,817.

Hunters submitted 66,717 applications for 34,814 available deer licenses and 32,717 were awarded. Non-residents picked up 5,382 of the deer licenses while state residents received 27,331.

Antelope drew 18,535 applications for 1,689 available licenses and 1,685 were awarded with 1,340 going to state residents and 342 to out-of-state hunters.


Bighorn sheep brought in 9,740 applications for 16 available licenses with 11 going to non-residents and 5 to New Mexicans.

Bighorn sheep, oryx and ibex licenses do not fall under the department’s quota system which earmarks 78-percent of public draw, hunting licenses to state residents, Williams noted. However, it should be noted that Bighorn sheep drew more applications from out-of-state residents, 5,612, than state residents, 4,128.

Ibex attracted 5,132 applications for 175 available licenses, all of which were awarded with 118 going to residents and 57 to non-residents.

And Javelina resulted in 3,449 applications for 2,005 available licenses with 2,004 being awarded, Williams said. Residents obtained 1,846 of those licenses while non-residents received 157.

Any minor discrepancy in the final tally of some hunts reflects the issuance of licenses for military use on McGregor Range in southern New Mexico, Williams said.

More hunters used the online application system this year, about 75-percent, Williams said.

Adopted by the state several years ago, the online system allows hunters to forgo submitting money up front for a license and eliminates the paperwork involved.

And the system makes applying and checking for results as quick as the Internet will allow.

This year the department’s website performed well this year in handling the increased number of hunters going on online to check drawing results, Williams said.

“Everything went pretty smoothly,” he said. “We had plenty of bandwidth to work with this year.”

Last year the department’s website nearly crashed and burned as the site received about 1.8 million hits from hunters seeking results of the annual drawing.

This year the site saw 2.7 million hits but took it all in stride due to the increase in bandwidth designed to accommodate higher volume traffic, Williams said.


This article also appeared in the Santa Fe New Mexican's Outdoors section.

Where's the Gila Trout? Here's the Maps & Directions

A native of New Mexico, the Gila trout can be found in clear running streams deep within the Gila National Forest. Photo courtesy of Jerry Monzingo, Fisheries Biologist, US Forest Service.

Fresh off the endangered species list after a long running, and often heroic, recovery effort, anglers can fish for Gila trout in three creeks within the Gila Wilderness and National Forest beginning July 1st.

And Outdoors New Mexico has the maps and directions you'll need to navigate the backcountry of the Gila National Forest and Wilderness where these wonderful fish reside.

Iron Creek is now open year round while Mogollon and Black Canyon creeks are open between July 1st and October 31st.

Anglers wishing to fish for Gila trout need to go online to the state Department of Game and Fish’s website and download a free, Gila trout fishing permit. This is required in addition to possessing a regular fishing license.

Special thanks to Jerry Monzingo, US Forest Service Fisheries Biologist with the Gila National Forest for preparing the following text and maps for public use.

Monzingo is a 13-year veteran of the US Forest Service and a native of Cliff, NM. He holds a BS in Wildlife Biology from Western New Mexico University in Silver City and when he's not working he can be found helping his wife and two sons raise livestock for 4-H and FFA competition.

Mogollon Creek

Mogollon creek is a tributary of the Main Stem Gila River,located in the Gila Wilderness on the Wilderness Ranger District.

The stream is expected to provide excellent opportunities for some exciting Gila trout fishing.

To access the stream, travel approximately 30 miles northwest from Silver City, NM on State Highway 180 West to the small town of Cliff, NM where gas and groceries are available.

From Cliff travel northeast on State Road 211 for approximately 2.25 miles to 916 Ranch Road which is a county maintained dirt road that can get sloppy when wet.

Head North on 916 Ranch Road for approximately 7-8 miles to an intersection, take a right and head east for approximately 6.5 miles to the "74 Mountain" trailhead where there is a small parking area and trailhead sign.

There is a stream crossing along this 6.5 mile road that is typically dry during the summer months but during monsoon season could flow high enough to prevent passage and leave one stranded on the other side for several days.

So be prepared.

From the trailhead your hiking adventure begins.

Trail #153 begins with a relatively mild hike of about 1.5 miles through pinon-juniper canyons to the base of "74 Mountain".

The trail up "74 Mountain" is rocky and steep and will require some sweat, so take plenty of water and note that in July and August it can be brutally hot and dry.

Leave the trailhead by daylight or before to minimize discomfort.

Once you reach the saddle near the top of "74 Mountain", the trail winds mid-slope around the east facing slope of the mountain for approximately 1.75 miles to a junction with trail 189, West Fork Mogollon Creek Trail.

Stay right along the top of the ridge on trail 153.

From the junction of 153 and 189 you will travel approximately 1.5 miles on the ridge and then begin your descent into Mogollon Creek.

The hike down is steep and moderately difficult with plenty of switchbacks.

Once you reach the bottom, fishing for Gila trout is open from approximately a half mile downstream of the trail to approximately 3.5 miles upstream at the confluence of Trail Canyon and Mogollon Creek at the intersection of trails 153 and 301.

At the junction of trail 153 and 301, trail 153 turns north up Trail Canyon and is impassable. Trail 301 continues up Mogollon Creek but fishing is not allowed upstream of the trail junction.

There are numerous great camping spots along the creek but be sure to practice minimum impact camping and pack out what you packed in, after all, this is the first designated wilderness area in the Nation.

A note of caution, be mindful of weather conditions that can change rapidly in southern New Mexico.

From July through August expect afternoon thunder storms that can be quite severe. Avoid being out on the trail during a lightning storm and pack a poncho.

Mid-day temperatures during the summer can reach the upper 90’s, so plenty of water and cool, loose clothing are essential.

Download a map to Mogollon Creek here .

Johnny Zapata, a Forest Service Range/Wildlife Technician, Wilderness hauls Gila trout by mule into Black Canyon during a restocking effort in 2007. Photo courtesy of Jerry Monzingo, Fisheries Biologist, US Forest Service, Gila National Forest.

Iron Creek

There are two routes that can be utilized to access Iron Creek from the northern boundary of the Gila Wilderness.

Choose one or the other depending on your hiking capability and ability to deal with higher altitudes.

From the town of Glenwood, NM travel north on State Highway 180 for approximately 4 miles to State Road 159, also known as Bursum Road.

Follow 159 east for approximately 16 miles to Sandy Point Trail Head.

The first 10 miles of 159 to the Ghost Town of Mogollon is paved but is very steep, narrow, and windy.

Once to Mogollon the road turns to a gravel and dirt surface for the remainder of the way to Sandy Point.

The trail head at Sandy point provides parking, a toilet and camping is allowed.

From Sandy Point at an elevation of 9,100 feet. you will begin your ascent to 10,500 feet, the highest elevation on the trail near Hummingbird Saddle.

Start downhill through Hummingbird Saddle and the trail skirts around the north slope of Whitewater Baldy, at 10,895 ft. the highest peak on the Gila.

Approximately 0.75 miles south of Hummingbird Saddle turn east on trail 172 and travel approximately 3 to 3.5 miles northeast.

There is no trail dropping into Iron Creek so you have to pick you poison and just drop off trail 172 into the creek where you think you may be able to pick your way through rock outcrops to the bottom.

See the map for Iron Creek for a possible route.

To access Iron Creek by the second route continue along State Road 159 for another 10-12 miles past Sandy Point to Willow Creek campground at 8,000 ft.

From the trailhead at Willow Creek hike 1 mi. south on trail 171 to Iron Creek Lake, there are no fish in here and then turn south on trail 172.

Take 172 southwest for approximately 4 miles and again pick a spot to drop off into Iron Creek.

From Iron Creek Lake at 8,300 ft it is a steady climb to 9,400 ft. along 4 miles to the drop off spot.

Alternatively you can take trail 151 from Iron Creek Lake and drop into Iron Creek and fish your way up the creek to the fish barrier located approximately 3.5-4 miles upstream of where trail 151 hits the creek.

Hiking up the creek will be rigorous as willows are thick.

If you are coming from the north through the Forest you will have to avoid Forest Road 28 near Gilita Creek as it is washed out and is currently under construction near the confluence of Gilita Creek and Willow Creek.

From 28 you can take Forest Road 119 to Bearwallow Mountain then Forest Road 153 to State Road 159 to circumvent the construction area.

As noted earlier, it will be hot during the month of July when the fishing season begins, however, higher elevations will be a little cooler.

But be prepared for afternoon thunderstorms and dropping temperatures afterwards. Remember you are in the Gila Wilderness, pack out what you pack in.

Download a map to Iron Creek here .

A Gila trout. Photo courtesy of New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

Black Canyon

Black Canyon is the one Gila trout stream within in the Gila National Forest which anglers can drive to and fish.

But even so it can be a long, challenging trip.

From Silver City take State Hwy. 180 E 6 mi. to NM-152 at town of Central also known as Santa Clara. Turn right onto NM-152 and after 15 miles turn right, east, onto state road 35 and continue for approximately 17 miles in a northwest direction to Forest Road 150 also known as Northstar Mesa Rd. Turn right on Forest Road 150 and continue for 18 miles to Black Canyon.

It should ne noted Forest Road 150 is a dirt and gravel road that requires high clearance vehicles especially where it traverses Rocky Canyon. Sections of the road can become slick and muddy with precipitation. There are no services for approximately 80 miles in Winston, NM.

From I-25 north of Truth or Consequences take exit 83 to NM 195 then NM 181/US 85 to NM 52. Continue north for 28 miles on NM 52 to Winston, NM where gas and food is available. From Winston continue approximately 10 miles to NM 59 and follow NM 59 for approximately 31 mi. to Beaverhead, a Forest Service work station. The road is paved to this point. At Beaverhead turn left onto Forest Road 150/NM61 a gravel and dirt raod and proceed approximately 25 miles to Black Canyon.

Camping is available along Black Canyon downstream of Forest Road 150. Campgrounds have toilets and picnic tables.

Lower 1 mi. reach of Gila trout area is accessible from FS 150 where it crosses the creek. To access the upper reaches of the creek you must head back north on FS 150 and climb out of the canyon to a trail that will take you around the private property located in Black Canyon. See the attached map. Sections of the trail are not a system trail and are not marked or maintained.


Download a map to Black Canyon Here.

Those seeking more information about these directions, road conditions and other information about the Gila wilderness and forest areas can visit the Gila National Forest’s website or call their office in Silver City at (505) 388-8201. hereHere.

On the San Juan River with Fishing Guide Peggy Harrell

Peggy Harrell, Fall 2007

You could call her the queen of the San Juan River.

She’s that good-looking gal behind the counter at Fisheads Fly shop.

The one dispensing expert advice on how to fish the blue ribbon trout waters or offering to guide a couple of lucky anglers below legendary Navajo Dam.

And in the man’s world of flyfishing, it’s a role she relishes.

“I love this job,” she says with a beaming smile, “And being a woman doesn’t hurt either.”

Peggy Harrell grew up with her younger brother and sister out in the Oil Patch of Hobbs, NM.

Their father was an auto mechanic while Mom worked for the telephone company.

In the summer the family would vacation in Texas, renting a cabin at a lake where the kids learned to fish.

“All the guys would get to go out in the boat but us girls always got left behind on the shore,” she says. “I felt bad but maybe it was just because they didn’t know what to do with us if one of us had to pee.”

During her career she has had to overcome other gender based obstacles in order to achieve respect as a fishing guide.

“When I first started out it seemed I’d get a lot of guys who didn’t listen to me or questioned everything I said,” she said. “Or maybe someone would try to squeeze into my hole out on the river. I always felt like it was because I was a woman.”

But Harrell says that changed, as she grew more experienced, confident and assertive.

“Now I feel like most clients who ask a lot of questions just want to know what my qualifications are,” she says.

Harrell says she’s been fishing on the San Juan River for almost 30 years and guiding for the last fifteen.

She ended up in this remote corner of the state because her husband was a lineman.

The couple moved to the area so he could work a job at one of the nearby power plants.

Harrell says her husband then was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish and he taught her a lot.

“We would go snagging for salmon up on the lake and then shoot ducks and fish for trout down on the river,” Harrell says. “We were in heaven here.”

But the husband moved on and Harrell stayed behind, making a go of things in the small community of Navajo Dam.

Harrell’s 34-year-old daughter, Nicole, lives nearby and she has five grandchildren.

“I don’t know if he (her former husband) knows what I’m doing these days but I’d like to thank him for nursing me through a lot of those early fishing trips,” she said.

Harrell also credits Chuck Rizuto of Rizuto’s San Juan River Lodge with giving her a start in the fishing business, along with a little help from Jane Fonda.

The way Harrell tells it she heard Fonda, the famous movie star and Vietnam War activist and her media mogul husband, Ted Turner, were floating the river with Rizuto one day.

So Harrell wandered down to Texas Hole to see the famous couple as they fished from their boat parked just off the bank.

Harrell says she struck up a conversation with Fonda after which the celebrity made a point of asking Rizuto why he didn’t have female guides on his staff.
Harrell says the next day Rizuto offered her a job.

“He was my mentor,” Harrell says. “I learned a lot from the man.”

And one of her first trips was to guide movie actor Kevin Costner on the river.

“I had to pinch myself at the end of the day,” she said. “Imagine, I got to go fishing with Kevin Costner.”

Harrell, who now a flyshop manager at Fisheads and still guides on occasion , says she enjoys working with a lot of men.

“And I enjoy being a woman,” she says. “So that certainly hasn’t hurt the business.”

Harrell likes to point out that fraternity of fishing guides on the river don’t treat her like she’s “just one of the boys” and that’s something she proud of.

Harrell, a 1970 Sandia High School of Albuquerque, says one of the most satisfying parts of her job is teaching clients how to successfully fish the San Juan River.

“And the primary key to that is an absolutely drag-free drift,” she says. “You can’t learn that fishing out of a drift boat.”

Harrell says she often feels sorry for those who take an expensive and productive float trip down the river but then find in ensuing days -- while wading on foot -- they may not be having as much luck.

That’s because the boat provides a perfect platform from which to dead drift an angler’s offering through the water, while the guide steers the boat to the best holes, picks the flies to use, sets the rig for the proper depth and tells the client when to set the hook.

“The poor guy hasn’t learned a thing for himself,” Harrell says.


A client who takes a wading trip with a guide like Harrell receives a half or full day’s instruction in how to read the water to detect fish, how to determine which flies to use and at what depth and other techniques like casting and how to detect a strike and then play and land a fish.

“That client walks away with enough information and hands-on experience to continue fishing the rest of this river with sucess,” she says. “When I hear them say I learned a lot, you taught me a lot, that makes my day.”

Harrell has some sage advice to those venturing out on the San Juan to stalk the river’s great population of big rainbow and brow trout especially this fall.

“Always stop at one of the fly shops and ask what’s working and where,” she says. “It’s amazing how many people come up here, fish all week, and then stop in on the last day and tell me what a lousy trip they had. They should have come see me first.”

Harrell finds verbalizing for customers what she can’t show them down on the river is a challenging but rewarding part of her job.

“When they come back and say ‘hey that worked,’ I always feel good,” she says.
And anglers need to remember the basics when fishing the heavily fished but well populated waters of the San Juan.

Harrell says stealth and a delicate presentation are just as important on the San Juan as a wilderness stream if anglers want to be successful, especially during the fall when the water is so clear.

During her guide work Harrell has also been tapped to served as an ambassador for the guides and fly shops on the San Juan. This spring (2007) she got to travel to California to speak to several fly fishing clubs about fishing the fabled river.

“I really enjoyed representing us,” she said.

Harrell can be reached at peggy@blueskyflyfishing.com.

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Surprisingly, when Harrell’s not working, she’s fishing.

“I love to fish, I gotta have my fix,” she says.

During her off-time Harrell can often be found cruising Navajo Lake in search of bass and other freshwater fish with her boyfriend and fellow fishing guide, Mark Nesbit of Blue Sky Fly Fishing .


During a fall 2007 interview on the banks of the San Juan below Navajo Dam, Harrell offered the following insights:

Favorite time of year to fish the river:

“I tell people the best time to be on the San Juan is any time you can be here,” she says. “But for me it’s got to be the two weeks after the water comes down (usually in the early summer).”

Favorite spot to fish:

“Above the cable hole in the catch and release area, there’s no boats to deal with.”

Favorite fly:

“Right now it’s the grey Zebra midge.”

Favorite piece of equipment:

“A magnetic fly holder, it works easier and better than a patch.”

Favorite rod and reel:

“A Sage DS 9-foot, 5-weight rod armed with a Galvan reel.”

Worst pet peeve about clients:

“People who try to teach the sport to their children too soon and clients who don’t listen to me,” she says. “Most kids don’t have the physical capabilities or attention span before the age of twelve and why hire me if you don’t want my advice. Both can be a waste of my time.”

Most common mistake anglers make:

“Overcasting!” she says. “Casting over fish and casting too far to control the drift.”

Favorite river:

“I fish the San Juan almost exclusively,” she says. “I’ve been spoiled by the size and quantity of fish here.”

If you go:

From Santa Fe, take US 84/285 north to Española, cross the river and take US 84 north to Chama and then take US 64 West through Dulce to State Road 539. Cross the dam and go down to the river and the village of Navajo Dam is further downstream. About 185 miles one-way. An alternate, high-speed route but about 40 miles longer involves taking I-25 south to Bernalillo, then State Road 550 northwest to US 64 at Bloomfield to State Road 511 at Blanco and up to Navajo Dam. Camping at State Parks at the lake or down on the river. Rooms and services available in Navajo Dam.

This article originally appeared in the Santa Fe New Mexican's September, 19, 2007 edition of its Outdoors section.

National Trails Day Puts Volunteers to Work

National Trails Day volunteers work on the Circle Trail at Hyde Memorial State Park in the mountains above Santa Fe on June 7, 2008. Photo courtesy of Bob Ward.

A group of volunteers armed with shovels, rakes and picks hiked high into the hills above Hyde Memorial State Park early this summer to give a forest trail a face-lift.

The effort was just one of many throughout the country to mark National Trails Day and highlighted two local organizations with a history of performing such public service.

The veteran group, New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors (NMVFO), teamed up with newcomers, REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) of Santa Fe, to provide about 60 workers, including the author, to do the job.

“These guys were just fantastic,” said Sarah Wood of Hyde Memorial State Park. “This was one of the best turnouts we’ve ever seen.”

Bob Ward, manager of the soon to be opened REI store in the Santa Fe Railyards was credited with bringing in the bulk of the volunteers for the work.

Ward said he invited prospective employees of the new store to participate in the volunteer effort and filled the roster so quickly he had to turn many away.

About 40 REI volunteers joined NMVFO members and others to tackle the first mile of the Circle Trail that climbs a ridge just across the road from the state park in the mountains above Santa Fe.

The volunteers worked on the first mile of the trail which involved a steep climb of almost 900 feet to the top of a ridge which affords excellent views of the Pojoaque Valley and the Jemez Mountains.

Crews then worked their way back down the trail grooming it as they went.

NMVFO regulars like Jason Koschmeder, 30, of Albuquerque, served as crew leaders to train the volunteers how to eliminate trail side berms for erosion control, construct rock, water barriers and retaining walls and removal of debris and downfall.
Koschmeder, a nuclear medicine technologist, said he enjoys hiking and working outdoors, the camaraderie of a grass roots organization and doing something positive to preserve and protect the environment.

It’s a common bond that has drawn 150 members to the non-profit organization dedicated to improvement of outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the state, said Lowell Hioki, chairman of the group’s Board of Directors.

NMVFO has been in operation since 1982 and frequently assists local, state and federal agencies with projects.

The group’s volunteers have helped build or maintain hiking trails, paint visitor centers, stabilize archeological sites, remove barbed wire from wilderness areas, improve wildlife habitat, and perform other work as proposed.

Some work can be performed in a day, while other projects may require a weekend or even a weeklong, backcountry backpack trip.

The group has been doing a National Trails Day project at Hyde Memorial State Park for the past ten years, Hioki said.

The volunteers have also worked regularly in the Gila National Forest and Wilderness, at Navajo Lake State Park, on the San Juan River, Chaco Canyon and the Jemez Mountains, Hioki said.

Projects are open to anyone interested in helping out and can be found posted on the group’s website at www.nmvfo.

“You don’t have to join the group to join us on the trail,” he noted.

Hioki said he would love to see more parents and their teenage children get involved with the organization because it presents such a great opportunity to develop a family bond and more appreciation for the outdoors.
















Lowell Hioki. Photo courtesy of Lowell Hioki

Hioki, a Hawaiian of Japanese descent, retired to New Mexico in 1997 after 33 years as an engineer with Hughes Aircraft in Los Angeles.

Hioki said he decided to move to New Mexico after he became bedridden with pneumonia and his wife brought him a Tony Hillerman novel to read.

Hioki became hooked on the New Mexican author and has since collected and read every one of his novels and is now a proud resident of the state.

Hioki said his volunteer work is one way to give back something to his new home.

Ward of REI is a former Californian who ALSO moved to New Mexico after falling in love with the state after a business trip to Albuquerque.

Ward, who has been with REI for 15 years and formerly managed its Berkley and San Francisco stores, said he jumped at the Santa Fe job so he could move here.

Ward too said he hopes to give something back to his new home state and intends to have REI’s employees and members become actively involved in outdoor projects.

REI members and employees have a long history of performing outdoor, volunteer work in communities where their stores are located. Anyone with volunteer project ideas can contact Ward at bward@rei.com.

REI, a consumer-owned co-op that sells outdoor recreational equipment has about 4,000 REI members living in Santa Fe. The company has had a store in Albuquerque for many years.

The new Santa Fe store slated to open in late August or early September will be the co-op’s 100th nationwide.

REI, consistently ranked by Fortune Magazine as one of the nation’s best company’s to work for, has attracted an estimated 600 applicants for about 60 jobs at the new store, Ward said.

Volunteer efforts by groups such as NMVFO and REI are essential to the successful operation of the facilities such as Hyde Memorial State Park, Wood said.

The park needs even more for the summer season including volunteers to assist guests at the park’s visitor center, conduct educational programs for kids brought in on field trips or serve as trail stewards.

“They are our lifeblood,” Wood said of volunteers.

Anyone interested in assisting at Hyde Memorial State Park can contact Wood at 983-7175. Sarah Wood thanks volunteers for their efforts after a day of hard work on the Circle Trail at Hyde Memorial State park on National Trails Day.

This article also appeared in the Santa Fe New Mexican's Outdoors section.