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Ed Adams
575.586.1512
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Red River Fly Fishing

We fish the Red from October through March when the other waters are too cold. Springs at the top of the canyon double the flow and raise water temperatures in the lower Red to a balmy 48° - 52° thoughout the winter months. Large Cuttbows come up out of the Rio Grande to spawn during this time. Resident fish (Browns and Cuttbows 8 - 14") are numerous and will take a dry fly in January. Best fishing here is from the confluence of the Rio Grande upstream to the Red River fish hatchery below Questa.

Access is via the Fish Hatchery or one of two trails in the Wild and Scenic Rivers area. Both trails descend over 600' in elevation.

* Residents, Travelers and Spawners*
After summer rains, the Red clears by mid-September and some larger Browns and Cuttbows use its spring enriched waters for spawning. October/November can be great for larger fish either traveling upstream or back down to the Rio Grande after taking care of their reproductive business.

Although it's very tempting, I try to refrain from fishing egg patterns or woolly buggers for actively spawning fish. If they'll take a dry, or a bead head, fine. They already get plenty of pressure from bait fisherman and trophy hunters.

The Red was once one of the premier rivers of its size in the Western United States. Years of abuse from the mining concern upstream in the 70's and 80's has reduced the size of the resident fish in the river. The larger Browns and Cuttbows moving through the river below the Red River fish hatchery reflect its former glory. The Browns move upstream in October and November. The Cuttbows are in the steam from Thanksgiving through March. There are lots of resident fish in the 10 to 13" range that love to take dries all winter long.

Red River Dry-Fly Chart (Type of dry flies that are working best, by month)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

BWO

CADDIS

STONE

HOPPER

MOTH

PMD

• BWO = "Blue Winged Olive"
• STONE = "Stone Fly"
• CADDIS = "Caddis Fly"
• MOTH = "Moth"
• HOPPER = "Grass Hopper"
• PMD = "Pale Morning Dun"