Fishing around Red River NM

[apkleinschmidt]

Headed up to the Red River area in NM during the middle of August to escape this Texas heat. Wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations for some backcountry fishing spots. It will just be a buddy and I going so we’re not worried if it is a place that might be difficult to access. Really just trying to find something off the beaten path that has decent fishing. Any help is appreciated.

[BTLowry]

We hired a local guide and fished the Red River south of the junction of Goose Creek. Not any big fish but was my son's first time fly fishing and we had a good time.
They had a nice fly shop in town that could probably give you all the info you wanted.

Pretty sure there is some decent fishing in Val Vidalle.

Burnadell should be along shortly, think he has fished up there before

[Burnadell]

I have never fished the Red River, and we always use a guide, Ron Sedall, out of Taos Fly Shop. Great guy and works his butt off for us. It sounds like you two are doing it on your own? We were there a few weeks ago (Angel Fire), and the Rio Grande and some of the streams were not fishable, so we fished for 3 days on Eagle Nest Lake. They have some big pike and some large rainbows along with a good number of stocked rainbows.

You might try the Costilla which is a bit of a drive, but the creek flows through a beautiful meadow and has abundant but smaller fish. Also the Cimarron east of Eagle Nest, but make sure you are not in the private waters sections.

Hopefully, Shane will chime in with some ideas.

[Graysonhogs]

I have never fished the Red River, and we always use a guide, Ron Sedall, out of Taos Fly Shop. Great guy and works his butt off for us. It sounds like you two are doing it on your own? We were there a few weeks ago (Angel Fire), and the Rio Grande and some of the streams were not fishable, so we fished for 3 days on Eagle Nest Lake. They have some big pike and some large rainbows along with a good number of stocked rainbows.

You might try the Costilla which is a bit of a drive, but the creek flows through a beautiful meadow and has abundant but smaller fish. Also the Cimarron east of Eagle Nest, but make sure you are not in the private waters sections.

Hopefully, Shane will chime in with some ideas.

This.

[Shane]

Why was the Rio Grande not fishable, Randy? Water too high? Too low? Something else?

Rio Costilla is fun. While you're there, Latir Creek is small, but used to have lots of Rio Grande Cutthroats in it. If you go up Latir Peak to Latir Lakes, there's some good fishing up there in the lakes and the headwaters of Latir Creek.

The Red between the fish hatchery and the confluence with the Rio Grande is good. Also, the Wild Rivers area of the Rio Grande, back behind Questa is good (if it's not unfishable still, for whatever reason). Watch for rattlesnakes as you climb down the gorge to the river. It's not a bad climb going down, but you'll feel the altitude coming back up. Take lots of water.

The Rio Hondo at John Dunn Bridge at the confluence with the Rio Grande is also good.

The Red in town in Red River and down the canyon is always decent as well. You can go up to some of the lakes around Red River as well, if you want to fish lakes. Shuree Pond in the Valle Vidal, up from Rio Costilla and Latir is another option. The Cimmaron below Eagles Nest is fun fishing. Tight and brushy.

It's been a few years since I fished up there, so some of the spots may be better or worse fishing than I remember.

If you want to book a guided trip, Van Beecham at the Solitary Angler in Taos used to have access to the private water at the headwaters of the Cimmaron (the "Holy Water") as well as a good stretch of the Culebra River, just north of Questa a couple miles into Colorado. If he still has those, they're both excellent fishing on private water.

[Graysonhogs]

I fished the Cimmaron(private water) with Shane from High Country Anglers and had a blast. Very good guide. Fished around the Ute Park area.

[StickFlinger]

Several buddies and I make a trip every August (going early September this year due to work), to Red River for exactly this. If you wana just hammer fish rent a kayak or bring one with you and hit up Eagles Nest lake for rainbows, big pike, and occasionally a kokanee. Also there is a hatchery by Questa that has a trail that's a couple miles long, never seen anyone past the 100 yd mark and we've walked the whole thing. Between Questa and Red River is a dirt road that brings you to a little switch back into the rio grande, harder walking but again lots of fish to be caught. Underrated area imo, not a lot of monsters but plenty of action.

[StickFlinger]

Something to keep an eye on though, all the national forest areas are closed to the public at the moment due to fire hazards from extreme drought, unless they lifted it since about a week ago.

[Heath]

I did a float trip on the Rio Grande out of Taos Fly Shop last September before my elk hunt. We had a great trip on a beautiful river.

[14JKURX]

Try fishing Lake Eagle Nest.
It’s been a few years but we always had good luck there.

[basschump]

Did family summer vacations for 10 years in RR. One of my favorite places in the summer. Colorado has more water, but plenty of decent fishing to be found in northern NM. It’s been a couple of years since I was there.

To echo some advice in previous posts- the Rio Costilla /Valle Vidal are a must. Simply incredible scenery, wildlife and wild cutthroat trout. There are also fish in the small creeks- including Comanche. I fished these with a tenkara rod and small dry fly. Those cutts are lightning fast.

Red below the hatchery has great fishing. Heavily stocked with rainbows and both quality and quantity. Hike toward the rio grande to get away from crowds.

I don’t know what the current water level is in Eagle nest lake. Rent a boat and enjoy the lake. Pike love a big spinnerbait. You can catch yellow perch anywhere. It’s also has good trout fishing

The cinnamon has solid fishing. But can be crowded.

The upper red forks are small but stocked. I’ve hiked to down of the remote lakes and didn’t catch anything.

Cobresto creek has fish. Its a brushy sob on the lower end. The lake has Brooke trout, but they are picky.


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[TWarren]

Something to keep an eye on though, all the national forest areas are closed to the public at the moment due to fire hazards from extreme drought, unless they lifted it since about a week ago.

Those restrictions have been lifted except for areas directly impacted by the Hermits Peak fire.

[apkleinschmidt]

Thanks for all the replies. We had planned to stop at Eagles Nest Lake on our way in, but good call on bringing a kayak along for the trip to help out with the lake fishing.

Looking at Latir Creek and Lakes area on OnX shows the area to be on a piece of private land called Rio Costilla Cooperative. Is this an area you would need a guide to access or do they have a fishing lease access set up with the state of NM or something?

One more thing, any fishing advice, techniques or lures that typically work in mid-August on the rivers and creeks? I fly fishing a lot, and have done some trout fishing in the past, but I’m usually chasing bass with my fly rod around the hill country so I’m still relatively green when it comes to fishing High country trout.

Appreciate the help guys.

[StickFlinger]

When we go we just use microlite spinning reel setups. If you do a DIY walk along the creek session (our main thing), fly fishing is pretty tough in the spots we go (creek/river gets deep quick and you're casting around trees). Rooster tails/panther martin black or purple body silver blade in the creeks did the trick. Eagles nest: small jerk baits, spoons, anything shiny. If you wana go catch an insane amount of brookies on flies go up to Cabresto Lake by Questa. Not sure how good the road is at the moment, definitely need a 4wd truck or jeep to get up safely without walking (I have seen a prius up there, someone SENT it). You can also use gold spoons with red spots and slam them in that lake, but there will amost certainly be other people. However more than plenty room and fish for everyone. PM me if you have and specific questions or anything. Gig'em

[StickFlinger]

Side note, poutine at the brewery in Red River is a must as an appetizer.