Copyright 2012 James Marsh
Fly Fishing the Pecos River New Mexico
New Mexico's Pecos River begins on the western slopes
of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It's a 926 mile long
tributary of the Rio Grande River. Just over twenty miles
of the Pecos River, from the headwaters to Tererro is
designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. Fly
fishing the Pecos River requires some hiking to get to the
best water.
The headwater streams flow together near Cowles to form
the main stem. From there it flows through two canyons
and consist mostly of fast, pocket water. The upper
canyon is called the "box". The lower canyon is just
downstream of the small Willow Creek tributary.
State highway #63 follows along nearby the stream but
hiking is required to reach the canyon sections. Both the
small tributary headwater streams and the canyon
sections have populations of smaller size rainbows and
browns. The rainbows are stocked but the browns are
wild, stream-bred trout. The tiny headwater streams have
a few Rio Grande Cuttthroats for those willing to hike into
the Pecos Wilderness area.
Fishing begins in April but runoff affects the first part of
the season. It usually starts in late March but can last well
into May depending on the snowpack. The fishing last
through September and into October but low water can be
a problem in the late Summer. The season is year-round
but it's almost impossible to fish the higher elevations in
the winter months.
The Pecos River has a good population of stoneflies
including the large Salmonflies and Golden Stoneflies.
There's also plenty of mayflies and caddisflies. Fly fishing
the Pecos River during the stonefly hatches can be very
rewarding.
There are two areas on the Pecos with Special Trout
Water regulations. It is catch and release, single barbless
hooks only in the Pecos Wilderness above Pecos Falls.
Only two trout, 12 inches long can be take from the "Box"
from 1/2 mile above the confluence of the Mora-Pecos
upstream 1.5 miles to 1/4 mile above Cowles bridge. All
other sections are under the normal New Mexico trout
regulations.
Seasons:
The season runs year-round.
Spring:
Fly fishing the Pecos River is good just before and after
runoff which ends in May.
Summer:
Fishing is good from the end of the runoff in May through
the summer months.
Fall:
Fall fishing is good trough September and sometimes into
October.
Click Here For Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies
New Mexico's Pecos River begins on the western slopes
of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It's a 926 mile long
tributary of the Rio Grande River. Just over twenty miles
of the Pecos River, from the headwaters to Tererro is
designated as a National Wild and Scenic River. Fly
fishing the Pecos River requires some hiking to get to the
best water.
The headwater streams flow together near Cowles to form
the main stem. From there it flows through two canyons
and consist mostly of fast, pocket water. The upper
canyon is called the "box". The lower canyon is just
downstream of the small Willow Creek tributary.
State highway #63 follows along nearby the stream but
hiking is required to reach the canyon sections. Both the
small tributary headwater streams and the canyon
sections have populations of smaller size rainbows and
browns. The rainbows are stocked but the browns are
wild, stream-bred trout. The tiny headwater streams have
a few Rio Grande Cuttthroats for those willing to hike into
the Pecos Wilderness area.
Fishing begins in April but runoff affects the first part of
the season. It usually starts in late March but can last well
into May depending on the snowpack. The fishing last
through September and into October but low water can be
a problem in the late Summer. The season is year-round
but it's almost impossible to fish the higher elevations in
the winter months.
The Pecos River has a good population of stoneflies
including the large Salmonflies and Golden Stoneflies.
There's also plenty of mayflies and caddisflies. Fly fishing
the Pecos River during the stonefly hatches can be very
rewarding.
There are two areas on the Pecos with Special Trout
Water regulations. It is catch and release, single barbless
hooks only in the Pecos Wilderness above Pecos Falls.
Only two trout, 12 inches long can be take from the "Box"
from 1/2 mile above the confluence of the Mora-Pecos
upstream 1.5 miles to 1/4 mile above Cowles bridge. All
other sections are under the normal New Mexico trout
regulations.
Seasons:
The season runs year-round.
Spring:
Fly fishing the Pecos River is good just before and after
runoff which ends in May.
Summer:
Fishing is good from the end of the runoff in May through
the summer months.
Fall:
Fall fishing is good trough September and sometimes into
October.
Click Here For Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies
| Type of Stream Freestone Species Rainbow Trout (Stocked with some holdovers) Brown Trout (Wild) Cutthroat Cut Bows (hybrids) Size Small to medium Location North Central New Mexico Nearest Towns Cowles Tererro Santa Fe Season Year-round Access: Good but hiking required to reach most areas 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. |