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The Rio Costilla is also a small tailwater, 10-15 feet wide, flowing through sweeping green valleys. This classic meadow stream is home to New Mexico's official state fish, the Rio Grande Cutthroat trout. Carpets of grass along with fast riffles dumping into undercut bend pools makes this mountain gem a blast for fly fishers of all levels.
Most of these beautiful cutthroats range between 8-12 inches and larger ones lurk in the grass covered undercut banks waiting for a fat grasshopper or a free-floating caddis larva. Dry fly fishing is often fast and furious with hopper and caddisfly patterns. Be forewarned though, these cutthroats can be very fast on the strike, leaving even experienced anglers asking if that was a Nolan Ryan fastball, but keep an eye out for the occasional change up.
The best fishing on this delightful stream takes place in July, August and the first half of September. In September the green grass loses a little luster but the Aspens begin changing colors, brightening the valley. The Rio Costilla Cattle and Land Association controls the flows on the Rio Costilla with higher flows during the week and lower flows on the weekends. Like most places, weekends receive greater fishing pressure, although there is plenty of water to fish.
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