hello all, first post!! Okay, I just moved to Lubbock and have been looking for places close to do some fly fishing. I was just curious if anyone had any input on a good places close, with accessible public waters.... I don't really want to pay $1000 for a resort and guide.... All input is greatly appreciated!

what's close mean for you?

3-5 hours... closest possible of course. Ive been looking at some places in NM.

Get a float tube or kayak and take your fly rod to Allen Henry for some bass fishing. It's a lot closer...

Thanks, but Ive got a fever for trout. I bass fish when I visit my folks in Nocona.

gonna have to head to the mountains in Northern NM. I don't see 3-5 hours being possible.

I too am beginning to come back to that conclusion... womp womp... at least I've got a fuel efficient car. whew

My first thought was, "Is this a trick question?"

Not sure there is a good answer unless you have a very liberal definition for "near."

The closest good trout fishing that I know of is Charlie Mulcock's ranch in Mayhill, NM, on the Rio Penasco. It's been a few years since I've talked to Charlie, so my information may be dated, but here is the link to his website:

http://www.mulcockranch.com/Mulcock_Ranch/Welcome.html

According to Mapquest, it's 245 miles to Mayhill from Lubbock and you can make it in four hours and 38 minutes.

well, I didnt know if there was anywhere closer that I didint know about. Worth a shot.

Try Pecos River Between Santa Fe and Las Vegas NM. It should be about 4.5 hours and you can get up in the mountains. The fish might not be huge, but it'll be pretty.

That certainly looks like a great place to go, but Im shooting for public waters to avoid any guide fees or fees to access land. I'm on the cheap, working off an internship salary...

The Cimarron (I think that's it) coming out of Eagle's Nest is public water. Might investigate the water around Pecos. I don't know anything about it, but it would be a little closer to you.

It's 300 miles to Pecos from Lubbock. I would get gas in Clovis, cause there ain't nothin' til you get to Pecos. The drive alone would give you plenty of alone time.

This time of the year many of the smaller rivers (Cimarron, Red River, Ville Vidal area) are not very good because of low flow. I would recommend a book by Taylor Streit from the Taos Fly shop called "Fly Fishing New Mexico" He list most of the waters in NM and has what months are best to fish them. I would recommend the Rio Grande between Santa Fe and Taos this time of the year because it has good water and there is trout and Northern Pike. I would also recommend the San Juan river but it is a little more of a drive from LBK. Stop by Mountain Hideaway on 50th St and talk to those guys. They have lots of info on NM fishing and what would be good during the next few months.

You could also go up to Eagle Nest lake on Feb 9 for an ice fishing tourney if you are in to that kind of thing. I would like to try it some day, I just dont want to go out and buy all the equipment.