The New Mexico No Nonsense Fly-O-Matic

       A Quick-Start Guide for Fly Fishing New Mexico

      How do we take the mystery out of fly fishing in New Mexico? Truth is, most fly fishing situations can be handled with common sense. But as a cab driver in the Bahamas told me, “Common sense ain’t common.” Here’s what you need to know to successfully fly fish the best waters in New Mexico.

       Game Fish

      New Mexico is primarily a trout state, and that’s the focus of this guidebook. Don’t overlook other game fish, however: smallmouth, largemouth, striped, and white bass; kokanee salmon; lake trout; walleye; and pike. The Rio Grande has good winter pike fishing. Maxwell, Morgan, and other lakes, (see Mid-elevation Lakes section) have good largemouth bass populations.

       Catch and Release

      Because catch and release waters are few in New Mexico, please voluntarily return your trout to the water. Hold them loosely, with wet hands and upside down, to remove your barbless hook. Push the hook backwards from the bend. Don’t hold the hook near its eye. Release tools work well on small fish and increase fly life.

       Weather

      New Mexico fly fishing is generally good during fair weather but best on overcast and the rare drizzly day. It’s often very good just before and during a passing cold front, but then lousy afterward (except in warm weather). In late summer’s wet season, fly fishing is usually best following an afternoon rain shower.

       Altitude

      New Mexico is very high and very dry. Most trout fishing is done at over 5,000′. Beware of altitude sickness and exposure to intense sun. Drink lots of water (not from the streams), and wear sunblock and a hat. Always be prepared for nasty weather with a warm pullover or rain jacket. I’m continually amazed how blue-sky mornings can turn into mean afternoons!

       Hazards

      Meeting one’s demise in a flash flood, from a lightning strike, or from the fangs of a New Mexico panther, bear, or rattlesnake might be a glamorous way to go. It would certainly get noticed. Mosquito bites, altitude sickness, sunburn, dehydration, hypothermia, or “beaver fever” caused by Giardia are more likely hazards. Lightning is a danger in New Mexico that out-of-state-people might not understand. Beware! If you are in it, get away from tall trees and put your fly rod on the ground.

      Use caution when driving lonely highways at night. Elk, horses, and cows love rich roadside vegetation. Always slow down where forest meets road.

      Much of New Mexico fishing is in big, rough, and rocky country. Be realistic about your physical condition and balance. Several people break bones in the Rio Grande gorge yearly.

      Auto break-ins are possible in New Mexico, especially with rigs left unattended overnight. Consider this when packing for trips and choosing parking spots.

       Small Streams

      The most important factor here is trout spooking. Fish upstream with dry flies. Stay low, with the sun at your back (when possible) and use any available cover to break your outline. Try getting a drag-free float with a #14 attractor dry fly that’s easy to see. If you don’t get any strikes, you’re either scaring the fish or it’s the wrong time of day.

      Small high-elevation streams cool down at night. They usually fish best around midday after the water has warmed and insects become active. This is also true for most tailwaters. Lakes and large rivers are far less predictable, but generally fish best during low-light periods

       Flies and Their Use

      Other than on the San Juan, trout in new Mexico are generally not very selective. Elk Hair Caddis or Parachute Adams, #14–20, fool most rising trout when a drag-free float goes over them. Blue-Winged Olive dries and midges (for slower water) cover most other rising trout situations.

      Look about for stoneflies, spruce moths or grasshoppers. If you see them, use this larger imitation. Bigger flies bring up bigger fish, hook better, and are easier for you and the trout to see. They also support a Beadhead Nymph tied 2′ or 3′ behind the dry. This is an absolutely deadly setup for shallow water. In water 2.5′ deep or more, fish nymphs the regular way. In most cases in New Mexico they should be fished upstream with a dead drift back downstream. Add or subtract weight as needed so that your fly is close to the bottom. Use a strike indicator and set the hook as fast as humanly possible when the indicator does anything. Hare’s Ears #12–18 and Peacock Nymphs #8–14 work very well.

      Fly fishers are usually pickier about flies than are trout. Your fly fishing abilities and the trout’s appetite are more important. Always get the current information and flies from a local fly shop before heading to the water. [A list of fly shops is in the back of this guide.]

       Rods

      For most New Mexico fly fishing, 4 and 5 weight rods, 8′–9′ suffice. For small streams (without wind) 2 & 3 weight rods, 7′–9′ are fine. On big windy lakes, big rivers, and when using big flies or 6–7 weight rods, 8½′–10′ are helpful.

       Reels

      For New Mexican trout, a single-action fly reel suffices. Click and pawl or disk drag is up to you. The fish in large rivers, like the San Juan, and large lakes, like Stone, are bulkier. Disk drag reels help put the brakes on them. Backing fills the spool and reduces kinking. It also gives the angler some confidence when a hooked fish runs to the next county. Reels should hold approximately 50 to 100 yards of 20 lb. backing.

       Lines

      A floating fly line is all that’s needed for most trout fishing in New Mexico. A weight forward line helps combat wind and covers distance. Use a double-taper line for precise presentation casting. Sink tip lines are more user friendly than full sinking lines. Use either when lake fishing, particularly in warm summer months when fish hold in deep water. The most common weight lines are 4 to 6. The color of line doesn’t seem to make a tremendous difference.