I am going to New Mexico the end of July for the first time and wanted to know if you were going would you stay in Taos or Red River. Are the fly fishing opportunities about the same or is one superior?

Rio Costilla and red river at the confluence of the rio grande is well known for some big cut bows.

Les

I fish up there a lot.

For fishing, it just depends on what you like to fish. Lots of opportunity around Red River and north for small stream fishing. I haven't explored all of them but there are some good ones if you like to fish small water for for small fish. The Red River is fun, can get very crowded around town. You can get away from some people if you hike down past the hatchery in Questa.

The confluence of the Red and the Rio is a blast BUT if you are not in shape it will kick your butt. 800' down into the gorge in less than a mile. If you hike in the gorge make sure to take a ton of water. It can get extremely hot due to all the basaltic rock. Good fishing down there on the grand and the red. If the grand is muddy/hight you can hit up the red.

Rio @ Taos Bridge

Red River Rainbow

If you go to Taos the Rio Hondo is close. You can drive all the way to the bridge at it's confluence. The Hondo is fun, take a 2-3wt and you'll catch some 8-14" browns and some rainbows. Start at bridge an hike your way up into the canyon to get away from people.

bridge at the hondo/grand confluence

Hondo

Hondo brown

Sorry for the LOooong post but I love it up there. I'll put it simple about the two towns. Taos= hippiesh, cool shops, good food. Red River= Texas in the mountians

Awesome information! I disagree with you, there is no such thing as a �too looong post� when it comes to fly fishing. Taos it is. It will be a couple�s trip and the wives are �artsy�. If we decide to hire a guide I am open to recommendations.
Thanks Again!

Taos is the place to go to keep the wives happy. I have fished with a guide out of Solitary Anglers, I can't remember his name. We fished in S. Co. on the Culebra. That place is legit. A small stream with BIG fish. It's in a meadow so casting is a breeze. You should check them out along with the guys at the Taos Fly Shop.

Will do

Are most of these places accessible to the public?

public access is good for most of these waters with the excesption of the Culebra. Most of it is held by private owners. However access can be gained by booking a guided trip through Tailwaters Fly Shop in Taos.

Les

Thanks! Ive been trying to plan a weekend trip to NM sometime in the near future and have been having trouble finding something affordable for a weekend trip, that being said I am trying to avoid guides and private lands. Just need a place to go and clear my mind and get a few trout.

Jesse,
two words
Rio Costilla. The place looks like something out of MT-very alpine, and it's free. Just the place to clear your head..

Les

that looks like an awesome location to go! Thanks for the heads up! I'm going to look into that. $20 a day isn't bad if you're gonna camp. I can handle that for sure

Rio Costilla is definitely a nice surprise. Didn't really get any good pics of fish. Caught a decent number but it was a bit off due to a quick rise in the outflow the day I arrived.

Shurrie ponds, the Hondo, lower red, and I am shocked no one has mentioned the Los pinos caught some great fish there as well as the San Antonio. Fished the San Antonio to where it comes out of the ground caught fish the whole way. While your that close never pas up the conejo and tribs especially elk creek past second meadows.

I would stay in Red River. There are a LOT of Hippies in Toas!!!!!! It is a good location for summer fishing. You can drive right out of town and fish the Upper Red River or you can drive over to Eagle Nest and fish the Cimarron. Down the road in Questa, NM is where the fish hatchery is, so there are always going to be fish there. Dont fish the Red River between the town of Red River and Questa because of the old mine that has destroyed the fishing. Ask anyone in Red River and they will tell you about it. It has been declared a Super Fund site and will have to be cleaned up when the mine is completely shut down. They are currently running on a skeleton crew and will probably keep it that way for many years to come so they down have to spend the millions to clean up their mess.

Rio Costilla to get away from it all.

Upper Red River - above the town. LOTS of small fun Brookies. You have to stay IN the stream in many places due to private land issues.

Rio Grande for hiking and solitary fishing.