Any New Mexico Stillwater Recommendations?

Peach

Peach

Stillwater Fanatic
My Daughter and her boyfriend recently moved to Albuquerque, NM. The boyfriend used to be a white water river guide on the Salmon River in Idaho. He wanted to learn how to fly fish so we are working on a short trip down the Rio Chama for a two nighter to get some rafting, camping and allow me to do so fly fish introduction for him at the end of April/early May. Should be interesting since my specialty is more Stillwater, but I have fished enough rivers and have enough general FF experience that I hope I can get him into some fish, the Rio Chama is supposed to have some nice Browns in it, with decent Rainbows to supplement as well. Any information that anyone can provide on the Rio Chama below El Vado would be appreciated :).

But on a side solo trip, since I will be down there I wanted to take a couple days to try to hit some of the Northern NM Stillwater. After some research, sounds like the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation has some good high desert lakes that I am accustomed to. Stone Lake, Mundo Lake and Enbom Lake are three lakes on the reservation that I think I want to try. Since I am flying down to NM, I am just bringing my Ultralight Backpacking Float tube, so I can get out on the water some and not be confined to just the bank.

Does anyone have any experience on these lakes? Are there any recommendations of any other Stillwaters that I should look into that is with in a couple hour radius of the El Vado Reservoir/Chama area?

One other item that I would like to inquire about is just in case we don't get selected for a permit on the Rio Chama - our contingency plan is to push out the trip to late summer/early fall to try to hike into some Alpine Lakes and catch some Rio Grande Cutthroat. I know this is kind of a sensitive ask, but if anyone can provide me with some leads on where to catch some Rio Grande Cutties would be great, I know that we may need to travel into Colorado for that opportunity.

In future trips, I will be looking to go more South into the Gila National Forest and try for my first Gila Cuttie, but that is for another day.

Whew - lots of questions, I know but just looking for some high level knowledge and starting points, I have never been to NM before. I just love exploring and trying new water. DMs are welcomed and encouraged if you don't want your information on a public forum.

Thanks,
Peach
 
I advise you to contact Duranglers in Durango, or High Desert Angler outa Santa Fe. Both quality outfits, High Desert in particular I recommend as straight shooters.

FYI, I was there that same time period last year and hit a late spring runoff right in the middle, no fishing to be had. Try, try again.
 
I lived in ABQ when I first started fly fishing. I spent a lot of time on the Rio Chama at Cooper's below El Vado. I can confirm that there at least used to be some monster browns in there. I was always curious about the Jicarilla Lakes but I never tried them. I was a broke college student with a $30 walmart special and no float tube.

An option a little ways from ABQ is Fenton lake. I never personally fished there but I know people fly fish it.

I'm sorry I'm not more helpful on the stillwater side of things. Fishing NM is pretty different than the PNW but it can be pretty great. I hope your daughter settles in to ABQ, it's a pretty fun place to live.

I don't know if you're aware, but it's required that you leave the ABQ international sunport, and go directly to the Frontier on Central for a green chile cheeseburger and some of their amazing fresh tortillas.
 
Travis Bille said:
I lived in ABQ when I first started fly fishing. I spent a lot of time on the Rio Chama at Cooper's below El Vado. I can confirm that there at least used to be some monster browns in there. I was always curious about the Jicarilla Lakes but I never tried them. I was a broke college student with a $30 walmart special and no float tube.

An option a little ways from ABQ is Fenton lake. I never personally fished there but I know people fly fish it.

I'm sorry I'm not more helpful on the stillwater side of things. Fishing NM is pretty different than the PNW but it can be pretty great. I hope your daughter settles in to ABQ, it's a pretty fun place to live.

I don't know if you're aware, but it's required that you leave the ABQ international sunport, and go directly to the Frontier on Central for a green chile cheeseburger and some of their amazing fresh tortillas.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info - very helpful, especially on the food recommendation. I am looking forward to trying the New Mexico cuisine, and I have been told to make sure not to call it "Tex-Mex". They do love their chili's down there. :)
 
Second the High Desert Angler outa Santa Fe.

You might look at Nambe Lake, tribally managed. I haven't fished that or any NM lake but it is real pretty!

I fished a lot of small moving water north of Santa Fe when I lived there. Happy to share streams via PM if you like. And the Rio Chama can be great!
 
I fished a few alpine lakes in the Pecos and Wheeler Peak wilderness when I lived in NM in the '80s. The cutthroat were not very selective. Any small black fly worked well fished on or just under the surface.
 
No one has mentioned the San Juan River fishery in northern NM, which isn't stillwater, but might be worth checking out. I used a guide named Andy Kim when I fished down there (he has some videos on YouTube that you can check out). You don't need a boat or a guide to fish the San Juan River, as it is easily accessed and amenable to wading in many parts of the river.
 
My Mom lives in Santa Fe. Northern New Mexico has a lot of quality fishing for mostly small, wild trout. I have to say I know very little about stillwaters there. The Chama and the San Juan are well-known spots for big fish, but the fishing can be tough without a few local "tricks" up your sleeve. Especially in the spring, remember that there is a reason the most popular worm "fly pattern" is named for the San Juan....

Just up the interstate from ABQ (and East of Santa Fe) is the Pecos River. It's absolutely full of small, wild trout (biggest I caught was 14", but I caught a bunch). The upper river is beautiful, and there are several public access sites. Fishing is good right at the accesses. Hopper-dropper setups get it done. The day I fished, we hired a guide from the aforementioned High Desert Angler. It's a good shop, and their half-day trips are cheap. I think it was less than $400 for all 3 of us. Our guide was great and really helped my Mom get into some fish, but if you have done any meaningful amount of trout fishing in streams, you should have no trouble catching fish DIY. Main thing is to remember to high-stick as much water as you can. It's a small, clear stream, and they seem to be aware that fly line is no Bueno. That rule applies to most of that region, but especially the small water.

Sorry I have nothing to offer as regards stillwater, but my Mom has seen a lot of beautiful lakes on hikes, and I bet High Desert Angler can tell you which ones are worth a go and how to fish them.

Have fun! I suspect you will....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top