Wading Gear
Most waters in New Mexico can be fished with stocking feet, lightweight hippers (hip boots), or chest waders with felt-soled wading shoes. During the warm summer months, wet-wade using wading shoes or boots and neoprene socks. Chest-high neoprene or Gore-Tex waders with proper insulating undergarments, are necessary for float tubing and wading the San Juan.
Private Fly Fishing Waters
New Mexico, like many states, has some excellent pay-for-fly-fishing opportunities. For fly fishing and catching, these arrangements are generally a good value. Their inclusion here, however, in no way implies an endorsement. Fee-fishing is a popular, time tested, and growing way to enjoy fly fishing. Opportunities of this type in New Mexico bear mentioning in this guidebook.
Vermejo Park Ranch and the Lodge at Chama are the state’s most expansive properties. These sporting retreats are top shelf in every respect. Both serve gourmet meals, offer other activities, and provide lodging and fly fishing in big, wild country. Prices are up there with world-class resorts.
Vermejo primarily offers lake fly fishing and some very good small streams. Excellent Damselfly hatches provide great dry fly fishing from mid-June to August. The lakes at The Lodge at Chama are deep and don’t fish well on top, but are loaded with two to three pound fish. Good catches are more than likely.
Corkins Lodge has a variety of cabins, a private lake, and access to the Rio Brazos.
Guides
A qualified fly fishing guide will steer you towards the best fishing in places that match your ability, taste and condition. Your outing should include fly casting and fishing instruction. There isn’t a New Mexico licensing system for guides but permits are required on BLM and Forest Service lands.
Manners and Considerations
Use good judgment when fly fishing in New Mexico, or anywhere else for that manner. Here are the basics that apply in most situations.
• Abide by the laws.
• Respect private property.
• Don’t litter.
• Never crowd another fisher.
• Catch and release.
• Support conservation groups.
Another popular two-fly rig for fly fishing in New Mexico uses a typical strike indicator placed on the butt section of the leader roughly 1½ times the water depth from the first fly. Use a large weighted nymph as the first fly, and then add a dropper and use a smaller nymph as a “trailer.”
Crowding
Urban dwellers (city folks) have a different idea of this than country folks. Generally there’s lots of room on New Mexico fly fishing waters. This room is measured in miles, or parts thereof, like ¾ mile, ½ mile, etc. Move away from others while they fish. And visitors, please acknowledge that your mannerisms, behaviors, and values may be quite different from those of the area’s residents.
Licensing
State law enforces the use of fishing licenses. Currently, the fishing license year in New Mexico covers the period of April 1–March 31. Annual licenses expire on March 31, and new ones are required as of April 1. Adults, and children over the age of 12 must carry a certified fishing license, which may be obtained by mail, web, or in person. Please contact the Department of Game and Fish for more information. Fishing on Native American Lands does not require a license. However, permission must be obtained from the tribal government before entering any reservation to fish.
Ratings
How do you rate a trout stream? What goes in the equation? Fishing pressure? Scenery? Solitude? Accessibility? The size and number of fish? I’ve tried to include all these aspects and more, when appropriate. For example, put fishing pressure in the equation for the San Juan River and it might not score very high. But on rivers like the San Juan you expect lots of people. My ratings take this into account. Or, hike miles up a remote river expecting solitude and fat cutthroats only to find screaming kids plunking worms to skinny browns and a low score might result. Expectations are a factor in the ratings, both in and out.
In this guide 0-5 is not worth writing about. A 6 is OK. A 7 is pretty good, an 8 good, a 9 is very good. All of the 10s I know of in New Mexico, are on private land.
Whirling Disease
This trout disease is caused by a tiny parasite, Myxobolus cerebralis. It starts as an extremely durable spore that can remain dormant in sediment at the bottom of lakes and streams for up to 30 years. The parasite consumes the cartilage of young fish. Damage continues until the spinal column deforms into a curve, the fish’s brain becomes inflamed, and eventually the fish dies.
Once disease-positive fish are released into a body of water, it is very difficult to eliminate the disease. Whirling disease is already established in several streams in New Mexico including the Pecos, San Juan, and Red River. The impact of the disease on the future of our fisheries is difficult to predict.
The most important thing anglers can do to prevent contaminating additional trout waters is to take the following steps: 1. Clean your gear including waders, boots, and gravel guards in a 10% solution of bleach in water. 2. Wash off all mud and weeds from float tubes, pontoon boats, kayaks, boats, and trailers. 3. Do not transfer fish from one stream or lake to another body of water. To learn more about whirling disease in New Mexico, see www.wildlife.state.nm.us/.
Contact Information
If you wish to contact Taylor Streit directly, please visit his website at www.streitflyfishing.com, or call (505) 751-1312.
Common Game Fish in New Mexico
Typical salmon, trout, or char. Most hatchery fish have a clipped adipose fin.
BROWN TROUT Brown-colored back with big black spots. A square tail and black and red spots on sides with light blue rings. Hard to catch, easily spooked.
RAINBOW TROUT The most abundant wild and hatchery fish. An olive-bluish back with small black spots. Sides have light red or pink band. Lake ’bows are often all silver.
BROOK TROUT “Brookies” are in the char family (Dolly Varden, Bull Trout, Lake Trout, etc.). Black, blue-gray or green back, mottled light colored markings. Sides have red spots with blue rings. Square tail. Lower fins red, striped with black and white. Prefers colder water.
LAKE TROUT In the char family (Dolly Varden, “brookies” included). Black color is light gray or green. White spots cover back and sides. Indented or split tail.