Welcome to Santa Fe’s premier Fly Shop and Guide Service! We specialize in guiding public and private waters throughout northern New Mexico. Our full service fly shop is conveniently located inside the De Vargas Mall and stocks everything you need to make your next fishing trip a success.
Our staff of patient and professional instructors can help you maximize your time on the water, all the while improving your Fly Fishing skills. We guide full and half day trips on the Pecos, Chama, Rio Grande, Brazos, Jemez and more!
In March of 2014 The Reel Life was purchased d by Nick Streit and Ivan Valdez and the store was moved to its current location inside the De Vargas Mall at 526 North Guadalupe. Both native New Mexican's, Nick and Ivan have extensive expireince fly fishing and guiding in the Santa Fe area.
Nick also owns the Taos Fly Shop and has built a reputation as one of New Mexico's top guides. When he was 17 he was on the Junior US Fly Fishing team that placed 2nd in Europe. Nick has guided and fished all over the world, cutting his teeth on rivers from Alaska to Argentina, not to mention the salt flats of the Caribbean.
Latest News
Fishing Reports
02/20/2023
Hi Reel Lifers,
Sorry for the late update on the fishing report. We have been putting up frequent updates on our social media pages and on our newsletter. If you would like to receive our newsletter please feel free to do so on our website on the upper right-hand corner. Fishin has been pretty good below the Chama River tailwaters of El Vado and Abiquiu. I would advise going on weekdays as the weekends are getting a bit crowded. Lots of good opportunities to fish dry flies, especially after the sun starts setting. Midges are the predominant insects that are hatching, so bring your San Juan fly box and think small. The cloudier days are bringing the beatis out, so if you see clouds in the forecast have some small mayfly patterns in your arsenal. The Rio Grande has been pretty cold for trout fishing. We have had a couple of successful Pike trips recently. Pike hunt by feel so get some big pike flies and move some water! The San Juan has been great recently as well, and the crowds have been very sparse. The lake turned over so fishing junk like worms, eggs, and leeches has been the ticket. Feel free to contact us either via social media or call us at the fly shop for up to the minute fishing reports. Things are only going to get better as the season progresses!
