Santa Fe Area Fishing Report from Truchas Outdoors, 7/17/26
Fishing in the Santa Fe area continues to be good given the low water. I'm mostly avoiding small streams, but they may be worth exploring if we keep getting afternoon rains. The Pecos has been getting closer to respectable levels. As of 7/17 it is at 40cfs versus a median of 71cfs for this date, longer term that extra water will be good for fishing.
The Pecos (left) is still pretty, even if low. Dries and dry/droppers have still been effective. If a big storm clouds the water, drop a worm pattern off of your big dry and fish the edges.
The Rio Grande is still setting new record lows every day. At Taos Junction, the previous lowest recorded flow in 99 years of data for July 17 was 167cfs. Today's value is 148cfs. It is still fishing OK, but just be careful of the temps. Unless you are planning on eating everything you catch, get off the water when it reaches about 68 degrees. That usually happens around 11 to 11:30AM.
Change of Scenery
If you are OK driving a little longer and doing some walking when you get there, Rio Chama at Cooper's (below El Vado) is a good option right now. It's been at about 100cfs, a nice fishable flow. It's a little off color, but the fish are used to it and are feeding. You have a good shot at some size if you get down low and give them something they can see. These flies were all effective this week:
