Best Fishing Times
The chart below is designed to give you an idea of what fishes and when. This is only a guideline, so please email or call Doc to discuss specific options based upon the time of year you will be fishing New Mexico. For additional information on each stream click the name or scroll down the page, and don't forget to visit the Photo Gallery!
Click here for fly fishing lodges information, or just scroll down!
Cimarron River
The Cimarron River is a small tail-water flowing out of Eagle Nest Lake and averages 20 feet wide. Although technically a tail-water fishery; the Cimarron does not look or fish like one, it is more representative of a classic freestone mountain stream with riffles, pockets, bend pools, undercut banks and beaver ponds.
The Cimarron is considered one of the healthiest wild brown trout fisheries throughout the Southwest with nearly 4,000 catchable sized wild browns per mile. Most of the browns landed are in the 10-14 inch range with the occasional larger brown. New Mexico Game and Fish does stock some rainbows in the public water.
There is approximately 9-10 miles of public access on the Cimarron in the Cimarron Canyon State Park and Colin Neblett Wildlife Area. This public water is tightly lined with willows, alders and towering trees. Doc Thompson's High Country Anglers has access to 3 miles of private water on the Cimarron. These private waters tend to be the most consistent fly fishing waters in Northern New Mexico with benefits including open casting conditions, easy wading, scenic mountain views and managed as catch-n-release creating larger fish on average. Doc has been guiding on this private water since 1995.
The Cimarron starts fishing in mid April but really picks up in early May continuing through the summer into early October. In June, Golden Stonefly and PMD hatches can offer fun dry fly fishing, followed by Caddis, Tricos and Terrestrials in July, August and September.
Rio Costilla
The Rio Costilla is a high mountain meadow stream in far Northern New Mexico, a few miles from the NM/CO border. This mountain valley stream is home to New Mexico's Native Rio Grande Cutthroat trout which inhabits 6-7% of their original home waters.
The Rio Costilla is one of the few public fisheries with Native Rio Grande Cutthroats. We also see some cutt-bows in the Costilla. Most of the trout caught here are 8-12 inches with the occasional larger cutthroat or cutt-bow landed. These trout take the fly quick like a Nolan Ryan fastball, so don't blink an eye.
The Rio Costilla flows out of the private Costilla Reservoir into the Valle Vidal Unit of the Carson National Forest. From the Valle Vidal the stream flows into the Rio Costilla Cattle and Livestock Association (RCCLA) land. Both the Valle Vidal and RCCLA sections are open to public fishing with special regulations. The Valle Vidal opens July 1 each year while the RCCLA does not have a fixed season.
Plush green grass lines the banks of this classic mountain meadow gem where fast riffles feed into beautiful bend pools, providing classic hopper action, a fly fisher's delight. The best time to fish the Rio Costilla is July, August and first half of September.
Red River
The headwaters of the Red River originate in the Wheeler Peak Area of the Carson National Forest high above the town of Red River. The Red is the largest tributary to the Rio Grande in New Mexico. There are two distinct sections of the Red River noted for fly fishing referred to as the Upper Red and Lower Red.
The Upper Red flows along NM 586 above the town of Red River and is mostly a small canyon stream along the road. Rainbows are stocked regularly here, you can also see brooks and a few wild brown trout while fishing in the summer months. The Lower Red River is below the town of Questa where the Red River turns into a wild canyon river and features wild browns and cuttbows.
The Lower Red is a 4 mile section of the Red River flowing through a deep canyon featuring classic fly fishing pocket water and short deep runs. The easiest access point is at the Red River Fish Hatchery. The better fishing requires hiking down one of two maintained trails in the BLM's Wild and Scenic River Area west of Questa, NM. Most of the trout here are wild browns in the 10-14 inch range with a few larger browns. In February, March and April some cuttbows move in and out of the Red migrating from the Rio Grande.
The Lower Red typically fishes best late February, March and April with runoff hitting the last week of April. The Red starts fishing again in September and continues to fish into December. The Lower Red is physical, be prepared with good legs, health insurance and a day pack with plenty of water, raingear and food.
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is the wildest and craziest trout river in New Mexico. As the Rio enters New Mexico it flows into the deep Rio Grande Gorge with depths reaching 1,000 plus feet. The best waters of the Rio are accessed by hiking down into the Gorge in the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic Area, not for the weak-kneed or faint-hearted. There is easier access available south of Taos around Pilar, NM.
The Rio Grande features crazy pocket water formed by large boulders, long deep runs and fast riffles. Many of the pockets are over your head deep so most fishing is from the banks and by boulder hopping to fish, wading is not always a solid option. I always say fishing the Rio is like adding a little adventure into your fly fishing, or is it the other way around?
The Rio is known for being a mystical and finicky wild brown trout fishery, with most of the browns caught around 12 inches. We do see larger browns that reach 16-20 inches. Healthy wild cutt-bows reaching 20 plus inches also inhabit the Rio.
The main season on the Rio is the fall, September into early November. This can be a fun time frame with the western fly fishing technique of hopper-droppers; we also use nymph and streamer techniques. Late March through April features the "Tax Day" caddis hatch, about half the time it coincides with runoff making it less predictable. When hiking down into the Rio Grande Gorge come prepared with strong legs and a day pack with supplies, and oh yeah: be sure your health insurance is paid up!
Private Waters
For those seeking out peace and quiet on a trout stream or wanting to treat yourself to those extra special days on the water you should consider some of the private water options that are available for guide trips. Doc has access to a number of different private waters on different streams throughout Northern New Mexico.
CIMARRON RIVER
The "Dream Water" is the nickname I use for 3 miles of private water on two different ranches, The Cimarroncita and Ute Creek, both near Ute Park, NM. These waters provide perhaps the most consistent wild brown trout fishing in New Mexico. Offering friendly casting space, immediate views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and are managed as catch-n-release with the fly fisher in mind resulting in larger fish on average compared to the public water. Doc was the first guide to develop access to these waters and has been guiding on them regularly since 1995.
The "Holy Water" is the ½ mile of the Cimarron River immediately below Eagle Nest Lake and Dam. The bottom half of the Holy Water is reminiscent of a spring creek while the top half a small tight mountain stream. This small stretch is highly depended on flow releases from Eagle Nest Lake and is ideal for half day with 1 or 2 people.
PECOS WATERSHED
The Pecos Watershed drains the area between Santa Fe, NM and Las Vegas, NM. The only waters I currently guide in the Pecos area are private.
Cow Creek Ranch is an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Lodge located high in the Pecos Mountains above Santa Fe. The ranch has 5-6 private miles of Cow Creek and 7 small lakes and ponds. Don't let this tiny jewel fool you, each year there are a number of trophy rainbows and browns caught here. The ranch operates the lodge during the summer season. The ranch will not be open for lodging during the 2009 season. However, they will be open for guided day trips for 2009 season May through September. Please contact me for specifics on Cow Creek Ranch day trips.
Pecos River Ranch is located below the town of Pecos, NM just 30 minutes from Santa Fe. The ranch has 6-7 private miles of the Pecos which features long riffles that feed into tantalizing deep bend pools. PRR is truly big fish water with both browns and rainbows and for that reason strongly encourage 2 consecutive days here. The prime time at PRR is March into early April and then September through early November.
Fly Fishing Lodges
Over the years I have developed friendly relationships with several premier fly fishing lodges and ranches in Northern New Mexico. These ranches offer wonderful experiences for those that prefer an all inclusive fly fishing vacation. I am happy to guide and arrange your stay at one of these lodges.
Cow Creek Ranch, Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Lodge, is located about 1 hour from Santa Fe in the Pecos Mountains. The fishing includes 5-6 miles of Cow Creek and 7 small lakes, all teeming with rainbows, browns and brooks. The ranch offers first class personal experience with a beautifully appointed log and adobe lodge and dining room for up to 16 guests. The ranch will not be open for lodging during the 2009 season. However, they will be open for guided day trips for 2009 season May through September. Please contact me for specifics on Cow Creek Ranch day trips.
Vermejo Park Ranch, Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Lodge, is a 580,000 plus acre ranch located west of Raton, NM. The ranch features about 30 miles of fine small trout streams and nearly 30 trout lakes. Rainbows, browns, Rio Grande Cutthroats and brooks abound the various waters on the ranch. Vermejo is noted for its vast landscapes, multiple fly fishing options and direct personal service. The fishing season runs late May through early September.
Cimarroncita Ranch is located near Ute Park, NM halfway between Cimarron and Eagle Nest. Formerly known for their summer camp, the ranch has recently become a retreat. There are approximately 1.6 miles of the Cimarron flowing through the ranch, which makes up part of what Doc calls the "Dream Waters." The ranch offers family style lodging and dinning in their historic railroad lodge. The main season runs May through September.
Pecos River Ranch is located below the town of Pecos, NM just 30 minutes from Santa Fe. The ranch has 6-7 private miles of the Pecos which features long riffles that feed into tantalizing deep bend pools. PRR is truly big fish water with both browns and rainbows and for that reason strongly encourage 2 consecutive days here. The prime time at PRR is March into early April and then September through early November.
