Santa Fe, NM
The Artful Angler in Santa Fe, New Mexico combines a full-service fly shop with a guide operation covering some of the most scenically spectacular trout water in the American Southwest. Santa Fe sits at an elevation that places it within easy reach of the Rio Grande Gorge to the northwest, the Pecos Wilderness streams to the east, and the Rio Chama canyon to the north — three completely different fly fishing experiences within a two-hour radius. The Rio Grande's big brown trout in the Gorge demand power and precision in a wind-prone canyon environment, while the Pecos River's headwaters in the Sangre de Cristo wilderness provide intimate dry-fly fishing for small but wild rainbow and cutthroat trout in spectacular mountain settings. The Rio Chama below Abiquiu Dam adds a productive tailwater option with excellent midge and caddis hatches. The Artful Angler's staff navigates this complex regional geography with the depth of expertise that distinguishes a serious local operation from a generic outfitter.
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout