Fishing Season: Year Round

Chama River - NM

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

50

Ivan Valdez's Tip of the Week

Fishing is best below El Vado Dam. Flows increase on weekends to accommodate rafters. KEEP THIS IN MIND

Directions open in app

Map of Chama River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

The Reel Life

5-Day Outlook as of 7/24/25

Freestone section is low. Too hot to fish after 12pm. El Vado Tailwater is fishin great! Abiquiu Tailwater is chocolate milk until October

Techniques & Tips as of 7/24/25

Dry doppers in the freestone section Indicators and streamers below El Vado

Local Species Available Year Round

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    Brown Trout

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    Rainbow Trout

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    Rio Grande Cutthroat

Ivan Valdez's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer CAMO 10-14
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer OLIVE 10-14
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer BLACK 10-14
Tunghead Hare's Ear Flashback grey 12
Sculpzilla olive 8
Cranefly Larva olive 8
Micro Egg pink 16
Higa's S.O.S. black 18
Mayers mini leech black 14
Warderns peacock 8

Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer

Every angler needs an assortment of these weighted attractor Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer flies.

2.49

Item #0311

Buy Now

Ivan Valdez's Recommended Gear

Description: About Chama River

The Chama is one of NM’s most dynamic rivers, running from its source in the southern Colorado high country to its junction with the Rio Grande among the red and orange mesas made famous by Georgia O'Keefe. In spite of its relatively small size, there are big fish in the Chama, primarily browns and rainbows. There are two tailwater stretchs of the Rio Chama, one below Abiqui lake and the other upstream below El Vado lake. Above El Vado, The Chama is a classic freestone.

Nearest Airport:

Santa Fe

Hatches:

Stoneflies (freestone section) Baetis Craneflies Caddis Midges BWO's

Best Time to Fish:

mid day

Best Stretch:

El Vado spring thru fall, Abiquiu fall thru early spring, La Puente Late June- August

Best Access:

Below Abiquiu Dam and below El Vado Dam