New Mexico Fly Fishing

Overview

This is a general guide that we have compiled to help our fellow fly fisherman who plan on exploring the great waters of New Mexico.

The majority of New Mexico trout streams can be found close to Santa Fen in the northern part of the state. Anglers can fish a variety of streams – small mountains streams, freestone, meadow streams etc. Towards lower elevations larger rivers (20-40 ft in width), lakes, and tailwaters abound. Almost all of which are public access. See San Juan River.

Keep scrolling for more information.

River Guides

• Brazos River Private Section – Fly Fishing
• Cimarron River Fly FIshing
• Jemez Watershed River Fly Fishing
• Lower Rio Grande Fly Fishing
• Pecos River Fly Fishing
• Pecos River Winter Flyfishing
• Red River – Rio Grande Box Fly Fishing
• Rio Chama Fly Fishing
• Rio de los Pinos Fly Fishing
• Rio Peñasco Fly Fishing
• San Juan River Tailwater Fly Fishing
• Valle Vidal Fly Fishing

Cabresto Creek

This is a small creek near Questa that offers great fishing for small (6-10″) trout and the occasional 12-14 incher. The fish are plentiful and willing. We have had many 50+ fish days here. The best patterns are the Elk Hair Caddis (#12) and Parachute Adams (#14). All four species reside here.

Cimmaron River

This is one of our favorite rivers. The Cimmaron offers great fishing for browns and rainbows throughout the summer and early fall until the flows are cut back. The stone fly hatch begins in May and lasts through the end of June. During this time large Stimulators, Zug Bugs, and Double Hackle Peacocks work extremely well. There is also a short Green Drake hatch in mid-June. After the stone flies are gone, productive patterns include the Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Adams, Humpy, Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear, Scud (orange and olive), and of course, the Woolly Bugger. Good patterns for the beaver ponds are black midges and gnats. There is a section of Special Water just below the Tolby Campground, but the fishing is great all the way to Philmont Boy Scout Ranch. Browns here average 12″ and rainbows just a bit smaller. A 29″ brown was taken from a beaver pond in the Special Waters earlier this summer.

Read more about fishing the Cimmaron.

Middle Fork

The Middle Fork of the Red River does not hold a great number of fish because of its steep gradient. This is a cutthroat fishery and holds some large (14″) cuts for its size. Standard dries do well here.

Pecos River

1 hour from Santa Fe. Browns and raibows. Flies: White Stone, Sofa Pillow, Red Quill, Elk Hair Caddis. Fishes best from April to early May, mid-June to August. More info.

Red River

The Upper and Lower Red Rivers offer great fishing. Matt and I landed about 15 fish each on the Upper Red one morning last August. These fish average 8 to 15 inches and are plentiful. All species reside here and can be taken on standard dries and nymphs. The Lower Red is enclosed in a deep canyon and covered with Volkswagen sized boulders. We caught many browns and rainbows in these swift waters this summer on Pheasant Tails, Zug Bugs, and Olive Woolly Buggers. This section of the Red is very productive during the fall run.

More info for fishing the Red River.

Rio Brazos

2 hours from Santa Fe for browns and rainbows. Flies: Brooks Stone, Bird’s Stonefly, Humpy, Elk Hair Caddis, Woolly Worm. Fishes best May to mid-June, September and October.

Rio Costilla

This is one of New Mexico’s best cutthroat rivers. Fishing is best here on the weekends because of the high irrigation flows during the week. The water is cut down on Thursday evenings and picks back up again on Sunday evenings. The fishing here was much better than usual last summer. Hopefully, this is an omen of what is to come. The upper section, Valle Vidal opens July 1 and offers the best fishing. The best way to fish Costilla is with any dry fly drifted through anyone of the inviting currents.

Rio Chama

Flies: caddisflies, stoneflies, mayflies. Fishes best late spring through early fall. More info on the Rio Chama.

Rio de Los Pinos

3 hours from Santa Fe, for brown and rainbow trout. Flies: Golden Stonefly Nymph, Brooks Stone, Peacock Simulator, Bird’s Stonefly, Brown Wulff, Adams, Light Hendrickson, Elk Hair Caddis, Griffith’s Gnat, Green Caddis Larva. Read this article about the Rio de Los Pinos

Rio Grande near Pilar

1.25 hours from Santa Fe , featuring Browns, Cuttbows, and Rainbows. Flies: Little Brown Stonefly Nymph, Brown Hackle Peacock Nymph, Green Caddis Larva, Elk Hair Caddis, Blue Dun, Midge Clusters. Fishes best from October and November, January and February.

Rio Guadalupe

2 Hrs from Santa Fe for Brown and Rainbow Trout. Flies: Bird’s Stonefly, Kaufmann Stone Nymph, Humpy. Fishes well late May to June, September.

Rio Hondo

We have only fished this river once, and the water was unusually clear. There are thousands of browns and cuts per mile and they love stone fly imitations.

Rio Penasco

The Rio Penasco is possibly Southern New Mexico’s best fishery. There are many gargantuan browns and ‘bows in this rich spring creek. There is a heavy spinner fall every morning all year and thick Baetis hatches during mid-day in the winter. Fish here range from 10 inches on up, and fish in the twenties are not uncommon. Tricos, BWO’s, Caddises, Para Adams, Dave’s and Joe’s Hoppers, Midges, Pheasant Tails,… work well here. Unfortunately, one of the best stretches of this river is now off limits (unless you want to pay a grand a year to fish it). The Cleve Ranch can still be accessed through the Mesilla Valley Fly Fishers Club for $10 per day. One fish over 20″ may be kept here, but we encourage you to release all fish. If a guided trip is what you desire, contact The Real Life at 1-888-268-FISH

More info on fishing the Rio Penasco

Rio Ruidoso

This river also hold browns and rainbows, and they are unbelievably healthy. These fish look like San Juan fish, only smaller. The river floods during the summer, making it primarily a winter fishery. Patterns here are the same as on the Penasco. The Hurd Ranch contains a great stretch of the Ruidoso, and can be accessed through the Mesilla Valley Club. Regulations are one fish per day over 20 inches.

Rio San Antonio

1.5 Hrs from Santa Fe. Brown and Rainbows. Flies: Kaufmann Stone, Adams, Red Quill, Light Cahill, Humpy, Green Caddis Larva. Fishes best from April to June, September.

Rio Santa Barbara

This river offers great fishing for browns and rainbows, but is known for its cutthroats. The upper reaches of this river are accessible by foot only and hold many of these crimson sided beauties. Fishing near the campground is great, but the West Fork (a 5 mile hike) is by far the best fishing. The fish average 12″ here (as compared to 10″ near the campground) and will readily thrash an Elk Hair Caddis. If you go, don’t spoil you trip by not fishing the West Fork. This river offers some of the best scenery in New Mexico.

San Juan River

The San Juan is one of the most well known tailwaters in the Rocky Mountains. This river is known for its monstorous trout that feed almost constantly on small flies like midges and beatis. This is also the most crowded river in New Mexico because it is a great fishery that gives any skilled angler a chance for a trophy. There are numerous fly shops and guides on the river that will be able to outfit you and lead you in the right direction so you can get out there and going.

More info on fly fishing the San Juan

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