Rio Grande Fly Fishing

Fly Fishing the Rio Grande in New Mexico

The Rio Grande del Norte is New Mexico’s iconic river.  The San Juan may be more famous, but no river ‘is’ New Mexico like the Rio Grande.  The ‘del Norte’ derives from the time when the country that would become New Mexico was the northern reach of the land of the Spanish Conquistadors.  It was the ‘big river of the North’.

Storm on the Racecourse section

Today, the Rio Grande runs the full North-South length of the state.  The part trout anglers are most concerned with runs from the Colorado border to the town of Embudo at the southern end of the Rio Grande Gorge.  Santa Fe based fly fishing outfitters like Truchas Outdoors focus on the southern end of the range, from the Wild Rivers section north of Taos to the Racecourse near Pilar.  Every mile of that stretch offers great fishing, with some pretty special wildlife viewing opportunities as well.

Healthy Rio Grande Brown

The Rio Grande has a healthy population of wild, strong brown trout.  When I fish the Rio these are my targets.  However, there are many stocked and holdover rainbows as well as a smaller stream born population of bows.  You occasionally find Rio Grande Cutthroats, and will often run into smallmouth bass in summer months.

Access can be challenging

This river can be challenging to fish well.  Much of the range where I guide is characterized by difficult access and huge boulders both in the river and on the banks, making wading difficult to impossible.  Knowing where to go is key, which suggests hiring a guide to get a lay of the land.

Lots of wildlife

When to fish

In a typical water year, the Rio Grande is fishable all year, with runoff being the exception. Runoff usually peaks in May and impacts both flows and clarity.  The river can also be tough to fish after summer storms blow it out into a chocolate milk like condition.  It’s also worth noting that in low water years flows and temps can make fishing in afternoons dangerous for trout. Generally though, summer and fall are peak times, with winter and early spring providing some unique opportunities.

If I could only pick one river to fish in New Mexico, it would hands down be the Rio Grande.  The beauty, the ruggedness, the wildlife, and the exciting fishing make it incredibly special, and a true joy is to be able to share the Rio with clients.

If you are interested in checking out New Mexico's iconic river, book a trip or reach out with questions.