Rio Grande N.M. River Fly Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes that make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone Stream
Species
Rainbow Trout
Cutbows
Cutthroats
Brown Trout
Size
Medium
Location
Northern New Mexico
Nearest Towns
Española
Season
Year-round
Access:
Tough in most areas, deep gorges
Non-Resident License
State of New Mexico
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
The season is open year-round.
Spring:
Early, before runoff in April can be good.
Summer:
Summer is good, provided the water is clear. .
Fall:
September through October is considered the best time
to fish the Rio Grande in New Mexico.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing the Rio Grande River New Mexico
The Rio Grande River begins in the state of Colorado and flows into New Mexico.The Rio Grande in New Mexico section is known for its very deep gorges. The best area to fish is the upper gorge but you will remember it well when you fish it. It’s a mile hike with an almost 1000 foot vertical decline. Fly fishing New Mexico’s Rio Grande River can be difficult due to its ruggedness.
Trout in the Rio Grande River in New Mexico consist mostly of brown trout. There are also some good size cutthroats. There are also some large cutbows.
This can be a muddy river during heavy thunderstorm activity. It’s water is mainly used for irrigation. Summertime water clarity is unpredictable. From September through October is the most consistent water levels and clarity. Also the Red River tributary can greatly influenced the water clarity below its confluence.
There’s a great Little Black Caddis hatch referred to as the Mother’s Day hatch that occurs in the middle of April. The water is usually covered with them. It can be affected by the spring run off which is usually also in April. If the hatch misses the runoff, it can be a great time to fish the river. There’s also plenty of stoneflies in the stream. The Red River, Rio Pueblo, and Rio Embudo are the major Rio Grande tributary streams and each of these can also offer some great fishing opportunities if you fish them at the right time.
Fly fishing the Rio Grande River successfully is mostly a matter of timing. Other than that, it just takes the effort to get into its gorges. Once your there, if the water is at a good level and clear, fishing can be absolutely great.
The aquatic insect populations varies depending on the section of the river you are fishing but those listed below are plentiful throughout most of the stream from its headwaters to its lower section.
Prior to the runoff, the main hatches consist of Western March Browns and Blue-winged Olives. The March Browns can get caught up in the high runoff water depending on the exact time it occurs. The BWOs can start as early as late February and early March but April usually is the most consistent time for the hatches to begin. About six different species, mostly Baetis, species make up what is called BWOs. There’s also a Fall hatch of the Blue-winged Olives. It usually takes place from late September through the month of October.
Midges are very plentiful in the Rio Grande. Imitations will work well anytime and become more important when the water is too cold for most other insects. Small black winter stoneflies hatch in the early season, even when there’s snow on the ground. These are mostly found in the fast pocket water.
Salmonflies are present in some sections of the river and begin to emerge in early June. They are often caught up in the Spring runoff. You will find some hatches of Golden Stoneflies become to come off in late June to early July. The hatches can last into the first of August. Little Yellow Stoneflies are plentiful in fast water sections in late July and early August.
The first caddisflies to hatch are the Little Black Caddis, called the Mothers Day hatch in most places in the West. This hatch starts in mid April and last about a month. In is a sparse hatch but can be important.
In late June and early July, there’s several different species of caddisflies called Spotted Sedges that begin to hatch. These are the most plentiful of the caddisflies and the different species hatch throughout most of the Summer and on into the early Fall. There are also some
Green Sedges that hatch from May to September.
In late June, usually before the runoff ends, Pale Morning Duns will start hatching. The PMD hatch will last most of the summer and other than BWOs is the most consistent mayfly hatch.
In some areas of the fast water you will find a few Pink Ladies that hatch in August and September. Many anglers call these mayflies Yellow Quills.
In the late Summer, August and September, terrestrials can play an important role in the trout’s diet. Imitations of grasshoppers, ants and beetles will become important
flies.
Sculpin are very plentiful throughout the river. There are some other types of baitfish and minnows but sculpin are by far the most important in the food supply for the trout.