Upper Rio Chama Colorado 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
Species
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Native Cutthroats
Size
Small
Location
Southern Colorado
Nearest Towns
Chama New Mexico
Season
Year-round
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Colorado
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
The season last year-round but it is frozen during the
winter.
Spring:
Spring time before the runoff can be a good time to fish the stream but it is very cold.
Summer:
The Summer season, after runoff occurs, is the best time for fly fishing the Upper Rio Chama River.
Fall:
Fall season is good through the month of October.
Winter:
The water is frozen most of the winter.
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 Upper Rio Chama River Colorado
The Upper Rio Chama River is formed in the San Juan Mountains. It has an East and West Fork, both of which originate from lakes which are about 12,000 feet in elevation. These two branches flow together about three and a half miles below the lakes to form the main stem of the Rio Chama River. The main stem flows another five miles within the Rio Grande National Forest. Below this section, the main stream runs through about eight miles of private property. You would need permission to fish this section. From there it flows into the Edward Sargent State
Wildlife area. This section is open to the public and has excellent fishing and very good access. It has brown trout and large, holdover rainbows. About six miles of water can be fished in this section.
We should note that runoff isn’t over until late in June or the first of July. There is also a problem with heavy rains. It can muddy the water for a long time. On the good side of the picture is the fact the average size of the trout in this very small stream is very large. Eighteen inch brown trout are not uncommon.
It takes a lot of hiking to get to the uppermost water in the National Forest. It is reached from the end of a state forest road. Fly fishing the Upper Chama River in this area takes a lot of effort. It flows through some very rugged country. The stream is easy to access in the state
wildlife area.
There are two tributary streams that flow into the Rio Chama in the state wildlife area. Both the Rio Chamita and Nabor Creek have lots of native Rio Grande Cutthroat trout as well as brown and rainbow trout. They are small but both well worth fishing. Fishing the state wildlife area can be done only using barbless hooks. There are several very good hatches on this stream including Salmonflies and Golden Stoneflies. n summary, the season is short but fly fishing the Upper Chama River is usually great.