Today we’re hanging out with Norman Maktima: world champ fly angler, guide, and all-around fishy guy. Norman grew up in Pueblo tradition, fished his way onto the international stage, and knows how small details can make a huge difference.
In this episode, he shares tips on reading water, watching for subtle changes in water levels, and selecting flies that work well in both competition and everyday fishing. We also get into how to stay sharp when every single cast might be the one.
Find the show: Follow the Show | Overcast | Spotify
Show Notes with Norman Maktima on Coaching Team USA, Euro Nymphing & San Juan Tactics
Norman has been busy since the first episode we did with him. He’s now at Los Pinos Fly Shop in Albuquerque, still guiding on the San Juan River, and even coaching the U.S. Women’s Fly Fishing Team.
That team just crushed it in Idaho, sweeping gold in both team and individual spots, plus a silver and bronze. The Youth Team also grabbed gold and a bronze. Norman says the keys are teamwork, adapting to tough sessions, and leaning on each other when things get rough.
Inside Team USA’s Winning Game Plan
Norman says it wasn’t about one magic fly or one secret trick. The big factor was time management and strategy. On rivers like the Warm, with clear water and long beats, every minute counted. As captain, Norman could coach during river sessions, and his role was to keep the team calm, focused, and efficient. Here’s how that played out on the water:
Keys to Success
- Time management: Each angler had 3 hours to cover beats that ranged from 100 to 250 yards. Picking the best water mattered more than fishing it all.
- Spotting fish water: Whitefish hugged the bottom in calm buckets. Trout spread out more, especially in pocket water.
- Practice pays: Seeing rivers at different flows (like in low water months) helped anglers mentally map where fish hold later on.
- Weight and bead control: Adjusting bead sizes lets flies sink into the strike zone, from tailouts to heads of buckets.
- Reading hydraulics: Small breaks in the current or subtle shifts in flow often revealed the best holding water.
- Mental game: Norman reminded anglers to stay calm and trust the process, even when fish got spooky.
Guiding on the San Juan
Norman shared how he splits his time between working at Los Pinos Fly Shop and guiding on the San Juan with his buddy James Garrettson of About Trout. He mainly teaches euro nymphing, but says he can work with anyone on any style.
Norman talked about breaking the old idea that euro nymphing doesn’t work on tailwaters. On the San Juan, trout eat year-round thanks to steady flows and abundant food, so it’s all about presentation and adapting flies to the conditions.
Why the San Juan is Special:
- The river has abundant food and steady conditions, so fish feed all day.
- Euro nymphing works, but dry flies and streamers can also be great. Blue-wing olive hatches in spring and fall bring insane dry fly action.
- The San Juan has upper, middle, and lower sections, each fishing differently.
- Releases from the dam change access and fish behavior. At 800 CFS, walk-wading is easier than when flows hit 1500.
- Browns in the upper 20s and even low 30s are common now. Rainbows usually top out in the upper 20s.
When is the best time to fish the San Juan?
The San Juan stays fishable all year thanks to steady tailwater flows. Each season has its own rhythm, with shifts in weather, crowds, and hatches. Here’s what Norman says about each season:
- Spring (Mar–May)
- The blue-wing olives come back strong, flows stay steady, and the fishing is excellent before the summer rush.
- Summer
- The weather is hot and vacation crowds show up, but the water stays clear and steady, which keeps the trout active.
- Fall (Sept–Oct)
- The temperatures cool down, the crowds thin out, and the blue-wing olive hatches really start to pop.
- Winter
- The river is quiet with very few anglers, the trout keep feeding, and the water often feels warmer than the cold air.
Norman Maktima says most people come to him wanting to learn Euro nymphing, especially for technical rivers like the San Juan. But every trip is different. Some anglers had a rough go the last time and just want to catch fish, while others bring their own gear and he teaches them how to use what they already have.
If someone doesn’t have a Euro setup, he shows crossover tricks with indicators and droppers that still work well. And then there are days when the river sets the tone.
Norman Maktima’s Setup
Norman talks about how he rigs his leader so he can fish almost any style without switching rods. By building a leader that works across techniques, he can move from nymphs to dries, add a dry-dropper, or clip on an indicator when needed. This keeps him efficient and confident, especially in competitions where time matters.
Norman’s leader formula:
- 10 feet of 12 lb Maxima Chameleon as the base.
- 5 feet of sighter material, stepped down from 1x to 2x, ending with a tippet ring.
- Add tippet from there within FIPS-Mouche rules.
He shares more about this system and how he fishes it on his YouTube channel. Check out NMaktima Fly Fishing on YouTube.
Norman says he runs two sighter sections. Right now, he’s using three feet of Rio two-tone tip in 1x, then two feet of tricolor sighter in 2x, tied to a tippet ring. The 10 feet of Maxima above that cuts down on knots sliding in and out of the rod tip. When he feels that sighter knot touch, he knows he’s close to netting a fish.
The two-foot lower section also makes counting depth easier since each color block is about eight inches. If he has to dip the sighter, he can track how far down it is just by subtracting segments. On cloudy days with glare, the longer three-foot section helps him pick it up higher and track it back down.
Droppers and Flies
From the tippet ring, Norman builds out tippet depending on the depth. He usually runs two flies and keeps about 20 to 24 inches between them. His dropper tag is six to eight inches, tied with a triple surgeon’s knot. Even if it twists, it still hangs away from the leader and gives the fly the presentation it needs.
When he pulls tippet off the spool, he adds that extra six to eight inches for the dropper. For the point fly, he uses about 30 inches, which keeps his spacing right.
Go-To Rod
Norman says the sweet spot for him in the Shadow X series is the 10.5 ft 3-wt, and that’s what he fishes everywhere. He says it’s light in hand, with a soft tip and medium-fast action that makes it easy to cast dries, nymphs, or a dry-dropper without needing to change setups.
The backbone provides him with power for distance and solid hook sets, while still being versatile enough to accommodate different water types. Norman also shared that the rod was developed with input from him, Pete Erickson, and Tim Rajeff.
Casting Tips with Long Leaders
Casting long mono leaders isn’t the same as casting fly line. You need to keep your stroke wider and more open so the flies don’t tangle. Norman Maktima uses an oval path on the back cast instead of a straight line, and sometimes relies on water loads or what he calls the pendulum swing when space is tight.
These tricks help him keep flies moving clean and forward. When he switches to a dry fly, he goes back to a traditional cast with some fly line out, pairing his setup with a double taper 2-weight instead of the usual euro nymphing lines.
Norman Maktima’s Fly Patterns
Norman is also a fly designer for Umpqua Feather Merchants. He’s been dedicating more time to fly-tying videos and has a few signature patterns available now, with more on the way.
The Flash Fav was released last fall, built upon his earlier HDA Fav Variant from his High Desert Angler days. His newest design, the May ICU, is already on Umpqua’s site and will be in shops by spring 2026. It’s a CDC perdigone-style fly with pearlescent cheeks, giving just the right flash while keeping a natural profile.
You can find Norman’s flies, such as the Flash Fav, HDA Fav Variant Jig, ICU Midge, Low Water Baetis, May ICU, and Perdichingons, on Umpqua’s website and in fly shops.
Norm Maktima Collab
Norman talked about teaming up with Rep Your Water this year.They asked him to use two of his own art pieces for their gear. Now you can find his artwork on sun hoodies and trucker hats. He said the designs were influenced by his Pueblo heritage and that he’s been enjoying the chance to mix his art with fly fishing culture.
Pueblo Heritage
Norman shared how Pueblo culture is still a big part of his life. He respects his family and heritage every day, even when out fishing. His dad grew up hearing stories from grandparents about the old ways before big changes came with jobs and schools.
Pueblo people were mainly agricultural and had to adapt through Spanish, Mexican, and US rule. Norman also explained how Pueblo leaders carry ceremonial canes given by Spain, Mexico, and the US. Did you knwo that Abraham Lincoln was the first US president to recognize their leadership? Even today, Pueblo people keep traditions and prayers alive for their land and the world.
Casting Tips
Watch your rod as it moves and keep it in the same plane. Small wobbles waste energy, so step aside to see your rod’s path.
Stop points matter too. Make sure the rod tip comes to a full stop. Don’t try to force the cast.
Less is more. Let the rod do the work for you.
Check out NMaktima Fly Fishing on YouTube
Follow Norm on Socials: Instagram | Facebook
