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(505) 629-5688
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are some of the more commonly asked questions and answers about fishing in New Mexico and our guided fly fishing trips. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need more information.
I have never been fly fishing before, is this a problem?
Do I need to have my own fishing gear for the trip?
What type of clothes do I need to wear; what do I need to bring?
Do I need a New Mexico fishing license?
Can we keep the fish we catch to eat?
What is the proper amount to tip my guide?
How cold is the water; can I wet-wade?
How do we get to the fishing spot; do you provide transportation?
What time do we leave and get back?
How long does it take to get to the fishing spots?
I have special dietary and/or health issues; is that a problem?
Are your guides certified in CPR and First Aid?
Is there cell phone service where we are fishing?
When is the best time of year to come and fish in Northern New Mexico?
Are we guaranteed to catch fish?
I have never been fly fishing before, is this a problem?
No. We guide novices as well as experienced anglers alike. All of our guides are great teachers and enjoy helping clients to learn about fly fishing. All of our trips are set up taking each client’s skill level in mind. We also offer individual and group classes covering all aspects of fly fishing and fly casting.
Do I need to have my own fishing gear for the trip?
No. We provide all of the fishing gear (rods & reels, tippet, flies, wading boots & waders, etc.) you will need for your trip, at no extra cost. This being said, if you have your own gear you would like to use, bring it along. We will do our best to set it up for you to suit the particular fishing spot you are going to on your trip.
We use all Sage and Orvis fly-rods and reels as well as Orvis and Dan Bailey chest waders, hip waders and wading shoes. All of our guides tie their own flies, many of which are custom fly patterns which they have developed specifically for the streams and rivers of Northern New Mexico.
What type of clothes do I need to wear; what do I need to bring?
Dress as if you were going for a hike. Bring an extra sweatshirt or sweater and a rain jacket if you have them. If you go to the “Book A Trip” page, towards the bottom, you will find a checklist of some items you should consider bringing with you to make your trip more enjoyable.
Do I need a New Mexico fishing license?
Yes. Everyone 12 years or older needs a fishing license to fish anywhere in the state of New Mexico. You can get a fishing license online. If you go to the “Book A Trip” page, in the “After You Book a Trip” section you will find a link to the website where you can purchase and print out your fishing license online. You also can get a fishing license in many stores around the state.
Can we keep the fish we catch to eat?
This depends on the spot where we are fishing. Many places we go to are catch and release only. Even if we are fishing in a spot that allows an angler to keep fish, we encourage our clients to release any fish they catch. If you really want to keep some fish to eat, let us know and we will try and take you to a spot that will accommodate your needs.
What is the proper amount to tip the guide or guides?
Giving a tip or gratuity to your guide is completely at your discretion. If the guide/guides did a good job for you and you had a good time, it is the norm in the industry to give them a tip. How much is up to you. A good starting point would be to give your guide/guides somewhere between 15% and 25% of the cost of your trip. If you had phenomenal time, consider giving them more. If you were not satisfied with the service you received from your guide/guides, don’t tip them and please let us know what the problem was so we can make it right with you.
The water temperature is governed by the time of year and the altitude of the stream or river. In the summer, wet-wading is possible and often the best way to go. Usually mid-June through to the beginning of October are the only months you should consider it.
How do we get to the fishing spot; do you provide transportation?
Depending on where you are staying or located, we usually can pick you up and drop you off for no extra charge. Transportation is included in the price of the trip, within reason, depending on the location of your fishing trip. We often arrange to meet clients along the way to the fishing spots. This can work out very well for the clients, giving them more time fishing.
A full-day trip is usually 8 to 10 hours from pick-up to drop-off. A half-day trip is usually 5 to 6 hours from pick-up to drop-off.
What time do we leave and get back?
For a full-day trip, we usually pick clients up/leave for the fishing spot somewhere between 7 and 8 in the morning and get them back by 5 or 6 in the evening. For a half-day trip, we usually head out between 7 and 8 in the morning and get back by 1 or 2 in the afternoon. We can also do half-day trips in the afternoon, to suit your schedule. These are general guidelines as to how our trips go. The times can all be adjusted a bit to suit the time of year, specific fishing locations and your personal preferences.
How long does it take to get to the fishing spots?
Usually the driving time to the spots we fish is between 1 to 2 hours. There are some spots that can take a bit longer to get to, i.e. The San Juan River and The Brazos River Ranch. We can do day-trips to both of these locations, but with the driving time being so long, we encourage clients to try and make their trips a day, night and a day.
I have special dietary and/or health requirements; is that a problem?
No. We just need to discuss your requirements so that we can take care of them and accommodate your needs. If walking is an issue, we have quite a few spots where we can get our vehicles right next to the stream or river.
Are your guides certified in CPR and First Aid?
Yes, all of our guides are certified in both CPR and basic First Aid.
Is there cell phone service where we are fishing?
Yes and no. Many of the spots we fish at are out of cell phone service range, especially if the stream or river is in a bit of a canyon. Often we will have cell phone service during the drive to and from the fishing location. The best bet is to make any important phone calls before you go on your fishing trip; we can’t guarantee that you will have cell phone service throughout the duration of your fishing trip.
When is the best time of year to come and fish in Northern New Mexico?
We have good fishing year-round here in Northern New Mexico. The summer and fall offer the opportunity to fish all of our rivers and streams. During the winter and spring there are less spots available to fish but there are less people out fishing. If you pick your days during the winter and early spring, before the run-off, the fishing can be excellent. The fall offers great fishing for larger brown trout. The fishing is good throughout the summer.
Almost all of the locations we go fishing at are in very rural and wild country. This means that on any given trip, you stand the chance to see many different kinds of wildlife. If you are interested in seeing a particular type of wildlife on your fishing trip, let us know and we will try and take you to a spot where the odds are good for spotting what you would like to see. Check out the “Trout & Wildlife” page to learn more about the types of trout we fish for and some of the wildlife you might see on any given fishing trip in Northern New Mexico.
Are we guaranteed to catch fish?
We can’t 100% guarantee that you will catch fish (it is called fishing, not catching). That being said, it is a rare day that we get skunked. We always do our best to take our clients to spots where the fishing is good and they will catch fish. We also will advise you if the water and weather conditions are not good and be honest with you about how the fishing may be. The real answer to this question is that all we can truly guarantee is that you will see some beautiful country, have fun and have a great lunch!
Fly fishing guides for the Santa Fe, Chama, Taos and San Juan River areas.
Fishing trips on public water and private ranches, on all the best creeks, streams and rivers in New Mexico.
San Juan River • Rio Grande • Red River • Chama River • Brazos River • Pecos River • Costilla Creek • Rio Vallecitos • Cow Creek
Rio de Los Pinos • Jemez River • San Antonio Creek • Guadalupe River • Rio Pueblo de Taos • The Valles Caldera