226 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM 87571
Rio Grande Anglers is the fly shop closest to one of the American Southwest's most dramatic fishing environments — the Rio Grande Gorge, a 650-foot-deep volcanic rift that slices through the high desert north of Taos, New Mexico. The gorge holds a robust population of wild rainbow and brown trout sustained by cold, clear flows from southern Colorado, and the shop has spent decades helping visiting anglers decode its moody currents, basalt ledge pools, and technical midging conditions. The staff know the Rio Grande Gorge intimately, from the best entry points above the Taos Junction Bridge to the remote canyon stretches that require a strenuous hike-in and reward the effort with near-solitary fishing.
Beyond the gorge, Rio Grande Anglers covers the full spectrum of northern New Mexico fly fishing, including the Red River tailwater below the village of Red River, the Cimarron River, and the high-elevation streams and lakes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The shop stocks flies tied specifically for local conditions — pheasant-tail variations, caddis emergers, and the small midges that dominate the Rio Grande hatch calendar. Guided half-day and full-day float and wade trips are offered year-round, and the staff provides current fishing reports that reflect actual on-the-water experience rather than hearsay.
“Booked a guided trip into the gorge and it exceeded every expectation. Our guide knew every seam and eddy from the bridge down to the lower canyon. We landed nine wild rainbows before noon, including a 19-inch fish that hit a size 22 midge pupa. The shop had us dialed in on exactly the right setup before we even left the parking lot. This is what a local fly shop should be.”
“Stopped in before fishing the Red River tailwater and the staff spent 20 minutes walking me through current conditions, the best access points, and what flies were producing. Ended up with a dozen fish that afternoon on the exact patterns they recommended. The shop is well-stocked and the staff clearly fishes these waters constantly.”
“Good shop with knowledgeable staff who know the Rio Grande drainage thoroughly. Selection of local flies is excellent — they tie patterns specifically for the gorge's midge-heavy hatches. Gear selection could be broader, but for flies and intel this is the right place to start any northern NM fishing trip.”
