The Rio Chama is northern New Mexico's most varied trout river, a multi-character stream that transitions from high-altitude freestone through a remote wilderness canyon before settling into a broad tailwater below El Vado and Abiquiu Dams. Few rivers in the Southwest offer the Rio Chama's combination of diverse fishing habitat, stunning red-rock scenery, and legitimate trophy-trout potential — particularly in the tailwater below El Vado Dam where brown trout averaging 14-18 inches and pushing 20 are caught regularly by those who know its nuances.
Above El Vado Reservoir, the upper Rio Chama drains the Colorado state line and the Carson National Forest, with small freestone streams that hold native Rio Grande cutthroat in their headwaters and planted rainbows in accessible lower stretches. This upper reach is ideal for family outings and beginners who want a classic mountain stream experience at elevation.
The float canyon stretch — the 31-mile section from El Vado Ranch through Chama Canyon to Big Eddy above Abiquiu Reservoir — is one of the premier multi-day float fishing trips in the Southwest. Towering ochre and crimson canyon walls rise 1,000 feet from the river corridor, cottonwoods and willows crowd the banks, and the fishing for wild browns and rainbows in gin-clear water is exceptional. This section is accessible only by raft or kayak and requires proper backcountry preparation.
Below Abiquiu Dam, the regulated tailwater section is the most consistent producer for large trout. Cold, clear releases from the reservoir maintain stable temperatures and create prolific caddisfly, midge, and mayfly hatches that concentrate fish in predictable feeding lanes. The brown trout population here is exceptional — double-digit fish are a realistic goal for skilled anglers working Elk Hair Caddis in the evening or midge clusters at the surface on overcast mornings.
The New Mexico constitution guarantees public access to the Rio Chama within the active streambed, making this a surprisingly accessible fishery despite stretches of private land along its banks. Whether you're hiking the canyon, floating the wilderness section, or wading the tailwater below Abiquiu, the Rio Chama delivers world-class fly fishing in one of the West's most spectacular settings.
