Hatch-chart pattern list
Best Flies for Rio Grande — Taos Box (New Mexico)
The Taos Box and the Orilla Verde water are different fisheries that share a name. The Box is a float through a canyon. The wade water above and below is pocket water and seams for browns. Golden stones and caddis are the honest hatches. Streamers have a job in stained water after a rain. This page tracks the Rio Grande hatch chart, not a permit-era rumor mill.
What's hatching now
Month, insect, size, and pattern from the Rio Grande — Taos Box hatch chart. August is highlighted when that month exists in the chart. We do not invent a hatch that is not on the chart.
| Month | Insect | Size | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | Midges | #20-24 | Zebra Midge, Mercury Midge |
| March | Midges | #20-24 | Griffiths Gnat |
| Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Parachute BWO | |
| April | Blue-winged Olive | #18-20 | CDC Emerger, RS2 |
| Midges | #22-24 | Zebra Midge | |
| May | Caddis | #14-18 | Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis |
| Blue-winged Olive | #18-20 | Parachute BWO | |
| June | Caddis | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis |
| Stonefly | #10-14 | Stimulator | |
| July | Hoppers | #10-14 | Dave s Hopper |
| PMD | #16-18 | PMD Sparkle Dun | |
| August | Hoppers | #10-14 | Turks Tarantula |
| Trico | #22-24 | Trico Spinner | |
| September | Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Parachute BWO |
| Trico | #22-24 | Trico Spinner | |
| October | Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Parachute BWO |
| Midges | #20-24 | WD-40 | |
| November | Midges | #20-24 | Zebra Midge |
| Blue-winged Olive | #20-22 | CDC Emerger |
Nymphs
Subsurface patterns matched to this river's chart and catalog. Fish them at the size the chart lists, not the size that looks good in the bin.
Dries
Dries and terrestrials for the Rio Grande — Taos Box. If the chart says a size 18 PMD, do not start with a 12.
Streamers
Streamers and wets for stained water, banks, and low light. This is not a claim that streamers are "on" today.
No catalog patterns in this group yet. Use the hatch chart and the river guide.
Setup
4X and 5X cover most nymphing. 4X on dries until the fish get picky, then 5X. A 3.0–3.8mm tungsten on the point and a lighter dropper is a default until you see the water. Tight-line the near bank and the heads of pockets. Use an indicator only when you need to search water you cannot euro.
FAQ
- What flies work on the Rio Grande — Taos Box?
- Start with Midge Larva and Olsen's CDC Midge, then match size to the hatch chart for the month you are standing in. The Rio Grande — Taos Box does not need a 40-pattern box. It needs the right size on the insect that is actually in the drift.
- When is the best time to fly fish the Rio Grande — Taos Box?
- The editorial window we list is April, May, September, October, November. That is a planning month range, not a guarantee. Shoulder months can fish well if flows and water temperature cooperate.
- Do I need a guide on the Rio Grande — Taos Box?
- New Mexico has walk-up wade water and, on some sections, float water. A guide is worth it for a first float or a technical tailwater. A hatch chart and a gauge are enough for a first wade if you already nymph. We list local guides and shops on this page when we have them.
- Where can I see live flow for the Rio Grande — Taos Box?
- Open the Rio Grande — Taos Box river page for the USGS gauge, access notes, and the same hatch chart this fly list is built from. We do not publish other people's spots or fish counts.
- Is this a report of what's working now on the Rio Grande — Taos Box?
- No. Executive Angler does not publish other anglers' catches, GPS, or a crowdsourced hot fly. This page is hatch-chart patterns plus catalog flies. Presence on the river page is gauge and weather only.
Related
Rio Grande — Taos Box
Access, hatch chart, USGS gauge.
New Mexico
Trip planning for this region.
Midge Larva
Midge
Olsen's CDC Midge
Dry
Thread Midge
Midge
Artful Angler Guide Service
High Desert Angler Guide Service
Artful Angler
Santa Fe, NM
Chama River Fly Fishing
Chama, NM
Pecos River
Open the river guide, then its fly list.
Rio Chama
Open the river guide, then its fly list.
San Juan River
Open the river guide, then its fly list.