Get Hooked on Fly Fishing In and Around Red River

Jeff Fagan, the owner of Fagan’s Guided Fly Fishing, which has been in operation in the town of Red River for 23 years, is one of many locals who has turned his passion into a profession. “Yes, this is my business, but more than that, trout fishing is a lifestyle. I have been fishing most of my 66 years here in New Mexico, and still have not touched many of the beautiful places to fish.” According to Fagan, the waters around Red River boast a variety of trout, namely rainbows, browns, ‘brookies’ and the native Rio Grande cutthroat.

Another local expert is Taos-born angler Nick Streit. He is the son of Taylor Streit, who, in 2001, was inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a legendary guide. Nick Streit now owns and operates Taos Fly Shop, originally founded by his dad in 1980, providing permits and insurance to guide “every piece of public water in Northern New Mexico, as well as some private water in Colorado”.

According to Streit, New Mexico is a wonderful place for fly fishing for several reasons.

“Firstly, in northern New Mexico we are not known for fly fishing like a place like Montana or Colorado. Which means we get to fish really good places without tons of crowding and lots of people. And what’s particularly nice about fish that don’t get fished a lot is that they are easier to catch.”

(Turns out, trout are really smart! As an avid angler recently shared: “getting good at trout fishing means learning how to think like a trout.”)

Streit continues, “We are also blessed with a lot of public land and miles and miles of waters, which means a lot of opportunities for people to fish without having to pay a premium.”

“Finally, in this area we have a climate that lends itself to fly fishing. We have high enough elevation that we have cold water for trout but not so cold that we can’t fish year round.”

In terms of top fishing spots, both Streit and Fagan are partial to Red River, especially for beginners and recreational anglers.

“We prefer to teach casting on open water without many trees,” says Fagan. “Once you learn how to cast, we like to move down to the river where fishing can be more technical. For more experienced anglers we like using the Rio Costilla or upper Red.”

Streit states that “the Red River is a great place to fish with a lot of different elements. The Upper Valley headwaters very much embody a high mountain trout stream with brook trout and cutthroat trout which are native to this area.” He adds that the spring water below Questa provides a great spot to fish in winter. There is also a fish hatchery nearby.

In addition to “the Red” (as it’s affectionately called by locals), other good spots in the area include Eagle Nest Lake, Costilla Creek, Cimarron River, Middlefork Lake, Goose Lake and other Rio Grande tributaries are good options as well, depending on the weather and what is fishing well at any given time.

So, what are some strategies to keep in mind before gearing up and heading out? Streit shares the following pro-tips:

1 - Hire a guide! No better way to improve your odds of success than to work with someone who has intimate knowledge of the area. This will allow you to maximize your time on the water.

2 - Keep in mind that generally, a good way to approach the river is to fish upstream with a dry dropper set up, as dry flies float and wet flies sink.

3 - Really stop in and connect with the passionate people in the area fly shops. (Like these in Red River.) Even if you don’t book their services, these people are extremely knowledgeable and happy to swap stories and share strategies.

4 - Do your homework.

How about Taylor Streit’s fishing guide, Fly Fishing New Mexico, for starters? Check out more resources for learning and inspiration here.