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Chama Watershed

     Rio Chama Wildfire Area:  Northern New Mexico fishing at it's best

The Rio Chama is a special river to guide.   Because of the well deserved, protected rights of the Tierra Amarilla property owners, most of the river remains private.  This fact, although frustrating to some people, has contributed to the Rio Chama being one of the most productive rivers in the state.  There are only four main access points to the Chama but each one gives fisherman the opportunity to catch a trophy Brown Trout.  The Rio Chama is quite a river, measuring about 15 to 20ft wide at most places.  We try to stay away from the first three access points on the Chama and focus on the Rio Chama Wildlife Area north of El Vado Lake.  The river here is wild and untamed.  To fish this section of the river requires transversing a rough road and some hiking.  The little bit of trouble it takes to get to the river prevents most fishermen from trying this section of the river.  All of these factors contribute to a solitary, rewarding fishing experience.   The river is primarily Brown Trout water with some fish reaching 20 plus inches.   Wading upstream we fish the many pools and freestone water with nymphs and attractor patterns.  The fishing excitement increases in the Fall when huge browns run up the river from El Vado Lake to spawn on the gravel of the river.  Casting streamer to the 20 inch meat-eaters our customers experience trophy fishing at it's best.  

   Rio Chama Tailwater Fisheries:

Some of the most consistent producers of trophy sized trout on the Rio Chama are below Heron and El Vado dams.  The Rio Chama flows around Heron Lake and then exits just south of the dam.  The river here is subject to low water releases from Heron lake and can be questionable to fish depending on flow rates and time of year.  When the time is right however, the water directly below the dam can be rewardingly fished.  There are many large boulders in the river here and getting to the water requires a hike down the side of a canyon.  When guiding a trip here at the right time we would expect wild Brown Trout fishing in a sandstone canyon.    The section of the Rio Chama below El Vado Lake is record water.  The only access point is through the Cooper's Ranch.