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Navajo Dam quality water. 20,000 trout per mile in the flats below Texas Hole. The river tops out around 10 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The outline encloses 408 acres, worked by 39 miles of shoreline. The 13.8 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Call it 13.8 mi long by 2.8 mi wide at the broadest reach. San Juan County claims this one. Navajo Reservoir sits 17 mi northeast — the closest neighbouring chart.
Spring rainbow trout on San Juan River hold shallow, usually 3 to 10 ft. Depth-wise the year is flat: 3 to 10 ft in summer, 2 to 10 ft once it turns cold. Put Navajo Dam tailrace first on the milk run — a dam tailrace near 9 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Navajo Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas Hole (8 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Navajo Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 10 ft | dawn | Navajo Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 1 to 10 ft. Summer keeps them at 3 to 10 ft, and they winter in 1 to 10 ft. Navajo Dam tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for spring brown trout. Time it for after dark and early morning. You won't need more than a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Navajo Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dawn | Navajo Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Navajo Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 10 ft | dawn | Navajo Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
13 pieces of structure are mapped here — Navajo Dam tailrace, around 9 ft, is the deepest of them.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New Mexico waters are set by the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish — and special regulations can apply to San Juan River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Mexico fishing regulations →
San Juan River is about 10 ft (3 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target rainbow trout, brown trout on San Juan River.
Navajo Dam tailrace is the top-rated area: a dam tailrace in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on San Juan River is regulated by the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish. Check the official New Mexico regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Navajo Reservoir 17 mi, NM/CO · Lemon Reservoir 44 mi, CO · El Vado Reservoir 54 mi · Rio Chama (below El Vado) 57 mi · Heron Reservoir 57 mi · Puett Reservoir 59 mi, CO · Andrews Lake 66 mi, CO · McPhee Reservoir 69 mi, CO · Road Canyon Reservoir 71 mi, CO · Trout Lake 73 mi, CO · Trout Lakes 75 mi · Abiquiu Lake 75 mi
See how San Juan River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in New Mexico · best brown trout lakes in New Mexico
Browse all New Mexico fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.