Fishing Season: Year Round

Chama River - NM

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

45

Nick Streit's Tip of the Week

The Abiquiu stretch is pretty much done for the summer. It will be best to find your way north below El Vado. The Freestone section is getting skinny!

Directions open in app

Map of Chama River

Water Flow Data

Tidal Conditions

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

The Reel Life

5-Day Outlook as of 7/26/21

Fishing is good below El Vado, but beware that the BOR releases flows for rafting Friday through Sunday.

Techniques & Tips as of 7/26/21

Double nymph rigs and streamers

Current Conditions as of 7/26/21

Fishing is good below El Vado, but beware that the BOR releases flows for rafting Friday through Sunday.

Local Species Available Year Round

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    Brown Trout

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    Rainbow Trout

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    Rio Grande Cutthroat

Nick Streit's Recommended Fly Patterns

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

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Blue Winged Olive brown 18
Tunghead Hot Spot Pheasant Tail Jig grey 14
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer olive 10
Tunghead Hare's Ear Flashback grey 12
Sculpzilla olive 8
Cranefly Larva olive 8
Micro Egg pink 16
Bead Head Woolly Bugger Streamer black 10
Master YODA grey 18
Warderns peacock 8

Blue Winged Olive

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Nick Streit'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 through late afternoon

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