Visit this page for information on various goings on in the New Mexico flyfishing universe, which includes topics ranging from conservation, effective new techniques, and general blah, blah, blah. We will try, however, to keep the blah, blah, blah to a minimum in favor of more riveting yadda, yadda, yadda.
News - Main
The 2010 Fly Fishing Film Tour Is Coming!
Join us for an unforgettable evening of exciting fly fishing video.
There was a time in the not-too-distant past when the only fly fishing "entertainment" a person could find would come early on weekend mornings and consist of poor dialogue masquerading as instructional insight. But not anymore. Now in its fourth year, the Fly Fishing Film Tour has come to represent, if nothing else, a night of inspiration seen through the lens of some of our spot's finest filmmakers. Whether your passion is freshwater or saltwater, dry flies or streamers, PBR of microbrews, there is surely something for everyone in this season's selection of films.
Tickets are on sale right now at The Reel Life.
Dates: April 22nd & April 23rd
Place: New Mexico Film Museum, 418 Montezuma (formerly Jean Cocteau Cinema)
Time: Doors open at 5:00 PM, films start at 6:00 PM
There will be prize drawings and other cool extras. BYOB. Check out the web site by clicking here!
Planning your 2010 New Mexico Fishing Vacation
With all New Mexico has to offer the outdoorsperson/family/junky, the possibility always exists for a quick day of fishing, no matter what you strap to your back or feet. Right now in November, for instance, we're getting regular reports of some really good fishing on the Rio, the Chama, and, of course, the San Juan. Rio fish will be on the small stuff generally, or streamers as the water warms. As for the Chama, the big browns are all over the place doing the love thang, and the rainbows are in behind them. The key is in finding the fish.
The Juan will be the mainstay for winter NM fishing through December and January, with consistent action on midges and bait patterns (worms and eggs). The Rio and Chama and even Pecos will turn on at times, but only when the weather warms. And we don't want that; we'll pray for snow so big runoff keeps the rivers in fine shape throughout the summer. Wherever you fish in NM this winter, take the cold seriously. Wear lots of fleece and bring extra clothes in case you take a spill.
We'll see the big pike getting active in early February as they get ready to mate. We like the warm days, when their metabolisms heat up and they can't go another minute without a serious cheeseburger.
March and April bring the beginning of somewhat consistent trout fishing. You'll want to check the weather before you come, but generally a lot of wind and some warmish snowstorms will be what you can expect. In recent years, we've had some wonderful Indian Springs with plenty of good fishing. April brings the Rio Mother's Day caddis hatch, which hopefully will coincide with no snowmelt and clear water. I love the gorge at this time of year, before it warms up and goes whack with runoff.
May is lake time, Santa Cruz, Cochiti, and Stone. The Jemez is fishable too, since it usually finishes running off before anything else. But seriously, the belly boating is donde esta.
June and July are wide open. Fishing is good with any method, but all you dry fliers will find magical hatches of stoneflies, drakes, and caddis on most of our rivers, hoppers too. The San Juan has incredible terrestrial action, but if you want to stay closer to Santa Fe, the Pecos, Guadalupe, Chama (below Heron can be amazing in early June), Conejos, Cimarron, Los Pinos, and Costilla are boatloads of fun. Speaking of boatloads, taking a slow ride down the Orilla Verde State Park stretch of the Rio is an absolute blast for warmwater species, the smallmouth bass being my favorite. As always, the San Juan fishes just fine, if you like tons and tons of people fishing with you.
August can be pretty dull; the fishing is still good, but the low water levels sometimes make it painful to watch your dry fly inch slowly down your favorite run. August is when I just go for a walk at Orilla Verde, throwing a six weight with flies for whatever will eat, browns, rainbows, smallies, pike, or carp. A great exploring month for you backpackers who aren't afraid to bushwhack with your 3 weights.
September and October are my favorite months to fish in New Mexico, lots for tourists to do, yellow aspen leaves, the smell of roasting chile wafting through town. Who am I kidding; it's a great time because the fishing is off the hook. You name the river, the fish are biting in it, and since hunting season is beginning, there are a lot fewer people throwing the fly line. September is when the Rio gorge starts fishing really, really well on all methods. I like the Chama Sargent section too, or below Heron, or the Conejos (don't get me started). But I just like fall fishing.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of exciting fly fishing video.
There was a time in the not-too-distant past when the only fly fishing "entertainment" a person could find would come early on weekend mornings and consist of poor dialogue masquerading as instructional insight. But not anymore. Now in its fourth year, the Fly Fishing Film Tour has come to represent, if nothing else, a night of inspiration seen through the lens of some of our spot's finest filmmakers. Whether your passion is freshwater or saltwater, dry flies or streamers, PBR of microbrews, there is surely something for everyone in this season's selection of films.
Tickets are on sale right now at The Reel Life.
Dates: April 22nd & April 23rd
Place: New Mexico Film Museum, 418 Montezuma (formerly Jean Cocteau Cinema)
Time: Doors open at 5:00 PM, films start at 6:00 PM
There will be prize drawings and other cool extras. BYOB. Check out the web site by clicking here!
Planning your 2010 New Mexico Fishing Vacation
With all New Mexico has to offer the outdoorsperson/family/junky, the possibility always exists for a quick day of fishing, no matter what you strap to your back or feet. Right now in November, for instance, we're getting regular reports of some really good fishing on the Rio, the Chama, and, of course, the San Juan. Rio fish will be on the small stuff generally, or streamers as the water warms. As for the Chama, the big browns are all over the place doing the love thang, and the rainbows are in behind them. The key is in finding the fish.
The Juan will be the mainstay for winter NM fishing through December and January, with consistent action on midges and bait patterns (worms and eggs). The Rio and Chama and even Pecos will turn on at times, but only when the weather warms. And we don't want that; we'll pray for snow so big runoff keeps the rivers in fine shape throughout the summer. Wherever you fish in NM this winter, take the cold seriously. Wear lots of fleece and bring extra clothes in case you take a spill.
We'll see the big pike getting active in early February as they get ready to mate. We like the warm days, when their metabolisms heat up and they can't go another minute without a serious cheeseburger.
March and April bring the beginning of somewhat consistent trout fishing. You'll want to check the weather before you come, but generally a lot of wind and some warmish snowstorms will be what you can expect. In recent years, we've had some wonderful Indian Springs with plenty of good fishing. April brings the Rio Mother's Day caddis hatch, which hopefully will coincide with no snowmelt and clear water. I love the gorge at this time of year, before it warms up and goes whack with runoff.
May is lake time, Santa Cruz, Cochiti, and Stone. The Jemez is fishable too, since it usually finishes running off before anything else. But seriously, the belly boating is donde esta.
June and July are wide open. Fishing is good with any method, but all you dry fliers will find magical hatches of stoneflies, drakes, and caddis on most of our rivers, hoppers too. The San Juan has incredible terrestrial action, but if you want to stay closer to Santa Fe, the Pecos, Guadalupe, Chama (below Heron can be amazing in early June), Conejos, Cimarron, Los Pinos, and Costilla are boatloads of fun. Speaking of boatloads, taking a slow ride down the Orilla Verde State Park stretch of the Rio is an absolute blast for warmwater species, the smallmouth bass being my favorite. As always, the San Juan fishes just fine, if you like tons and tons of people fishing with you.
August can be pretty dull; the fishing is still good, but the low water levels sometimes make it painful to watch your dry fly inch slowly down your favorite run. August is when I just go for a walk at Orilla Verde, throwing a six weight with flies for whatever will eat, browns, rainbows, smallies, pike, or carp. A great exploring month for you backpackers who aren't afraid to bushwhack with your 3 weights.
September and October are my favorite months to fish in New Mexico, lots for tourists to do, yellow aspen leaves, the smell of roasting chile wafting through town. Who am I kidding; it's a great time because the fishing is off the hook. You name the river, the fish are biting in it, and since hunting season is beginning, there are a lot fewer people throwing the fly line. September is when the Rio gorge starts fishing really, really well on all methods. I like the Chama Sargent section too, or below Heron, or the Conejos (don't get me started). But I just like fall fishing.