Copyright 2010 James Marsh
Fly Fishing the Rio Chama River New
Mexico
The Rio Chama River starts at the Sargent Wildlife Area
boundary in Colorado near the New Mexico border
downstream through the Rio Chama Valley for about
twenty-five miles. All of this is private property except for a
four mile long MNDGF easement south of the town of
Chama about two miles long. This section is mostly put
and take and is heavily stocked but it does have holdover
trout. Fly fishing the Rio Chama River is great in places.
Below the twenty-five mile segment of water south of
Chama that's mostly on private property, the river enters
the Rio Chama State Wildlife Area. Only Dirt roads enter
the RCSW area and they can get very muddy during
rains, so a 4 wheel drive may be required. The State
Wildlife area is eight miles long with a four mile long
canyon section in the middle of the area. You have to
hike in to get to most of the water. This is an excellent
stretch of pocket water that runs though a gorge with
plenty of wild browns and holdover rainbows. There's one
tributary sizable in this section - Willow Creek. It flows into
the Rio Chama River from Heron Reservoir not far above
the El Vado Reservoir.
This section of the river provides the best fishing. It also
has some terrific hatches of stoneflies, caddisflies and
mayflies. Dry fly fishing can be excellent at times in the
gorge section's pocket water. The brown trout spawn in
the Fall and some large ones can be caught on streamers
and nymphs.
Kokanee Salmon run upstream to spawn in the River from
the reservoir during the last part of September. Fly fishing
the Rio Chama River can be a lot of fun during this run.
The upper three miles of the Rio Chama State Wildlife
Area is managed as special trout water and requires
barbless hooks.
The lower Rio Chama River in this section ends where it
flows into El Vado Reservoir.
Seasons:
The season last year-round
Spring:
The fishing is best before the runoff begins and just after
it ends.
Summer:
Summertime can be a good time to fish the canyon area.
Fall:
Fall is the best time to catch the large brown trout.
Click Here For Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies
Mexico
The Rio Chama River starts at the Sargent Wildlife Area
boundary in Colorado near the New Mexico border
downstream through the Rio Chama Valley for about
twenty-five miles. All of this is private property except for a
four mile long MNDGF easement south of the town of
Chama about two miles long. This section is mostly put
and take and is heavily stocked but it does have holdover
trout. Fly fishing the Rio Chama River is great in places.
Below the twenty-five mile segment of water south of
Chama that's mostly on private property, the river enters
the Rio Chama State Wildlife Area. Only Dirt roads enter
the RCSW area and they can get very muddy during
rains, so a 4 wheel drive may be required. The State
Wildlife area is eight miles long with a four mile long
canyon section in the middle of the area. You have to
hike in to get to most of the water. This is an excellent
stretch of pocket water that runs though a gorge with
plenty of wild browns and holdover rainbows. There's one
tributary sizable in this section - Willow Creek. It flows into
the Rio Chama River from Heron Reservoir not far above
the El Vado Reservoir.
This section of the river provides the best fishing. It also
has some terrific hatches of stoneflies, caddisflies and
mayflies. Dry fly fishing can be excellent at times in the
gorge section's pocket water. The brown trout spawn in
the Fall and some large ones can be caught on streamers
and nymphs.
Kokanee Salmon run upstream to spawn in the River from
the reservoir during the last part of September. Fly fishing
the Rio Chama River can be a lot of fun during this run.
The upper three miles of the Rio Chama State Wildlife
Area is managed as special trout water and requires
barbless hooks.
The lower Rio Chama River in this section ends where it
flows into El Vado Reservoir.
Seasons:
The season last year-round
Spring:
The fishing is best before the runoff begins and just after
it ends.
Summer:
Summertime can be a good time to fish the canyon area.
Fall:
Fall is the best time to catch the large brown trout.
Click Here For Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies
| Type of Stream Freestone Stream Species Rainbow Trout (Stocked) Brown Trout Kokanee Salmon Size Small Location Northern New Mexico Nearest Towns Chama Season Year-round Access: Good in State managed areas but hiking is required Non-Resident License State of New Mexico Weather National Weather Service Link Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies |
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| Options For Selecting Flies: 1. Email us with the dates you will be fishing this stream and we will send you a list of our fly suggestions. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response. 2. Call us 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide which flies you need. 3. Call or email us with a budget for flies and we will select them and get them to you in time for your trip. Shipping is free in the U. S. Orders over $50 are shipped Priority Mail. |