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Fly Fishing in New Mexico

50 featured rivers, lakes and streams in New Mexico, each with target species, a hatch chart and a map of nearby access.

Abiquiu Lake (Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout)
Reservoir on the Chama River in red rock country. Warm water species and some trout.
Bear Creek (Gila) (Gila Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Remote stream in the Gila Wilderness. Native Gila trout recovery waters.
Bluewater Lake (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish)
Western New Mexico reservoir with rainbow trout and catfish. Good family fishing.
Brazos River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Remote northern New Mexico stream. Wild browns and rainbows in meadow water.
Cabresto Creek (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Mountain stream near Questa with wild trout. Good access and scenic views.
Cabresto Lake (Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
High mountain lake near Questa. Stocked rainbow and cutthroat trout.
Canjilon Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Small northern New Mexico stream with wild trout. Scenic fishing in Carson National Forest.
Cebolla Creek (Cutthroat Trout)
Small stream with native Rio Grande cutthroat trout. Technical fishing in pristine setting.
Chama River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Remote northern New Mexico river with wild brown trout. Float fishing popular in the canyon section.
Cimarron River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Private waters at Cimarron Canyon State Park offer excellent trout fishing. Beautiful canyon scenery.
Cochiti Lake (Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish)
Large reservoir near Santa Fe with excellent bass and catfish. Easy access from Albuquerque.
Coyote Creek (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Small stream near Mora with wild trout. Beautiful meadow fishing.
Eagle Nest Lake (Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Brown Trout)
Large high-altitude lake with trophy trout and kokanee salmon. Beautiful Moreno Valley setting.
East Fork Jemez River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Upper reaches of the Jemez with wild browns. Scenic fishing in Valles Caldera.
El Rito Creek (Cutthroat Trout)
Small stream with native Rio Grande cutthroat. Remote and technical fishing.
El Vado Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon)
Reservoir on the Chama River with good trout fishing. Connected to Heron Lake by Rio Chama.
Fenton Lake (Rainbow Trout)
Small mountain lake in the Jemez Mountains. Stocked rainbow trout and easy access.
Gila River (Middle Fork) (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Remote wilderness stream with excellent wild trout. Multi-day backpacking access.
Gila River (West Fork) (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Gila Trout)
Historic waters in Gila Wilderness. Wild trout and hot springs.
Heron Lake (Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Lake Trout)
Large reservoir with excellent trout and kokanee fishing. No-wake lake for peaceful fishing.
Holy Ghost Creek (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Clear mountain stream in the Pecos Wilderness. Wild trout in pristine setting.
Hopewell Lake (Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
High elevation lake near Tres Piedras. Excellent rainbow trout fishing.
Jemez River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Mountain stream in the Jemez Mountains. Stocked trout and some wild browns in upper reaches.
Lake Fork Creek (Brown Trout)
Tributary to the Pecos with wild brown trout. Less pressured than main river.
Latir Lakes (Cutthroat Trout)
Remote alpine lakes near Wheeler Peak. Native cutthroat trout fishing.
Monastery Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Small scenic lake in the Pecos Wilderness. Stocked trout with easy access.
Mora River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Mountain stream with wild browns. Less pressured fishing near Mora Valley.
Morphy Lake (Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
High mountain lake accessible only by hiking. Wild trout in pristine setting.
Navajo Lake (Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike)
Large reservoir above the San Juan tailwater. Excellent bass, pike, and trout fishing.
Pecos River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
High mountain stream in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Wild brown and rainbow trout in scenic wilderness.
Quemado Lake (Rainbow Trout, Tiger Musky)
Western New Mexico lake with excellent trout fishing. Less crowded than northern lakes.
Red River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Northern New Mexico stream near the ski town of Red River. Stocked rainbows and wild brown trout.
Rio Costilla (Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout)
High elevation stream with native Rio Grande cutthroat trout. Beautiful northern New Mexico scenery.
Rio de los Pinos (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Remote northern stream with excellent wild trout fishing. Less pressured than popular waters.
Rio Frijoles (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Stream in Bandelier National Monument. Small wild trout in historic setting.
Rio Grande (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
The Wild and Scenic section offers excellent fishing in dramatic canyon scenery. Brown and rainbow trout.
Rio Hondo (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Mountain stream near Taos Ski Valley. Small wild trout in beautiful alpine setting.
Rio Medio (Cutthroat Trout)
Remote stream in the Pecos Wilderness. Native Rio Grande cutthroat trout.
Rio Nambe (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Mountain stream near Santa Fe with wild trout. Beautiful canyon scenery.
Rio Ojo Caliente (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Spring-fed stream with consistent temperatures. Wild browns in scenic canyon.
Rio Pueblo de Taos (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Scenic stream flowing through Taos with wild brown and rainbow trout. Good public access.
Rio Santa Barbara (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Beautiful wilderness stream with wild trout. Popular backpacking destination.
Rio Vallecitos (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Meadow stream with wild trout. Beautiful high country fishing.
San Antonio Creek (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Tributary of the Jemez in Valles Caldera. Excellent wild trout fishing in meadows.
San Gregorio Lake (Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Backcountry lake in the Pecos Wilderness. Excellent cutthroat and rainbow fishing.
San Juan River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Famous tailwater below Navajo Dam with some of the highest trout densities in the country. Year-round fishing for large rainbows.
Santa Fe River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Small urban stream with stocked trout. Easy access near downtown Santa Fe.
Snow Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
High mountain lake in the Gila with excellent trout fishing. Scenic backcountry setting.
Storrie Lake (Rainbow Trout)
Lake near Las Vegas, NM with stocked trout. Good float tube fishing.
Trampas Lakes (Cutthroat Trout)
High alpine lakes in the Pecos Wilderness. Excellent cutthroat fishing.

Fly Fishing in New Mexico

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