My Top 3 Places to Go Fly Fishing in New Mexico

By Ivan Valdez, angler and owner of The Reel Life Fly shop in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

I was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico. My family moved to Virginia when I was five, but I mostly grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. I've always been drawn to the mountains of New Mexico, its culture, and its heritage. In 1998, I moved back to the Land of Enchantment and have been here ever since. 

New Mexico is the perfect playground for outdoor enthusiasts and anglers like myself.

We are at the lower end of the Rocky Mountains. In New Mexico, we have a mild climate and can fish all year round.

Here are my favorite places to fish in New Mexico:

·      Rio Grande: I currently live in Española, New Mexico. These waters are within an hour's drive from my home and have such a big diversity of fish! You can catch trout, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and more. This abundance of fish makes this river pretty unique. 

·      Chama River: I grew up fishing on this river, a major tributary of the Rio Grande. It flows from south-central Colorado on the border down to Española, where it meets the Rio Grande. Chama River has some really big fish in it, and it's just a really fun fishery.

·      San Juan River: This is a major tributary of the Colorado River in the Southwestern United States, located in the Four Corners area. It is a world-famous fishery that is super popular here in New Mexico.

If you want recommendations on where to go fly fishing or want to get into this sport but don't know where to start, check out this blog for tips, visit us at The Reel Life , or call (505) 995-8114.