Higher waters should make the natural sections of the Rio Chama between Chama and El Vado highly attractive once more, a great place to toss attractor dries to wild browns and rainbows.

The Rio de los Pinos, tight to the Colorado border near Tres Piedras, has fared well during recent dry years and should fish exceptionally well in the coming season. The upper stretches of the river flowing out of Colorado can be looked to for cutthroats and occasional brookies, while lower sections hold browns and rainbows, the biggest found just before the river turns north and into Colorado again. When in the area don't forget to check out the Rio Vallecitos for wild browns.

The Jemez region was due a fresh flush of moisture, and streams like the East Fork, Rio San Antonio, Rio Cebolla, Rio Guadalupe, Peralta Creek and Jemez River should fish exceptionally well this spring when giant and golden stoneflies begin to appear with higher flows. Later in the summer an abundance of hatches makes dry-fly fishing productive. Many of the area's stillwaters, such as Fenton Lake, should be worth a visit this summer for stocked rainbows.

Albuquerque residents need only wait for November to catch winter trout in the drains along the Rio Grande between Bernalillo and Belen. This area of the state receives the greatest number of winter trout between November and March, managed aggressively as a winter urbane trout fishery.

NORTHEAST
The northeastern portion of New Mexico holds the state's highest mountain ranges, thus its most reliable trout waters. The Rio Grande fishes well in low waters, but for the past several seasons those levels actually reached a point where the river warmed and water remained stained to put trout off. That situation should improve this season, beginning with February “snowfly” hatches, and continuing into spring caddis flies and stones.

Start your season early by hiking into the gorge sections and drifting minnows or salmon eggs, or cranefly larva and peacock nymphs, to spawning cutbows. The river's wild browns have held on well, and trophy fish can still be expected for those willing to work hard to get into the most remote areas.

I was able to fish the Red River late this year and caught good numbers of wild browns and a few rainbows on dry flies. La Junta Point and the state fish hatchery at Red River receive the brunt of angling pressure. These areas require scrambling over slick basalt rock and are more productive for those willing to spend the time required to leave crowds well behind. Wild, spawning cutbows enter the Red early in the spring. Some are in the 20-inch range. Should you land one of these gorgeous monsters you should do the wild population a favor and return it to the river unharmed. There are plenty of stockers from the hatchery above to feed hungry fishermen.

A plethora of small high-country creeks spill from the Latir and Wheeler Peak areas, as well as the Pecos Wilderness south of there. These provide the state's best opportunity to catch native Rio Grande cutthroats, as well as plenty of opportunity to catch numbers of wild browns. Several of these small creeks also harbor wild brook trout. In general, the best small-stream fishing in this area is found by backpacking away from roads and popular trailheads. Look to the Little Rio Grande Watershed, Rio Hondo, Rio Pueblo de Taos, Rio del Medio, Rio Santa Barbara, Jack's Creek and Embudo Creek to be more productive in the coming year.

Eagle Nest Lake remains a good bet for trophy-sized trout. More than one 10-pound-plus rainbow has come from this deep, cold lake in recent history. Successful flyfishermen cast damselfly nymphs, leech patterns and streamers from shore or float tubes, while those with boats and hardware often have the best luck trolling slowly along sudden drop-offs.

Other northeastern stillwaters should also come on strong this summer, including Cabresto Lake, Katherine, Spirit, the Stewart wilderness lakes, and especially McAllister Lake near Las Vegas. The latter is especially well respected as a producer of fat, heavy trout, sometimes in the 10-pound range. Early spring normally provides productive shore fishing, but by May heavy weed growth can demand a float tube or canoe to fish outside the thick weed-lines that form along shore and make it difficult to land fish.

If you are willing to spend about $300 per night, private lakes at the Vermejo Park Ranch offer guaranteed trout fishing for lodge guests. Some stream fishing is also available, but the ranch lake garners the most attention, as trophy lakes can assure catches of 20-inch-plus rainbows. The ranch also has brown and brook trout in many waters.

The Pecos River has come on strong in recent years. Officials stock this public water quite heavily. Big holdover trout commonly hold along private sections where fishing can be arranged through Santa Fe fly shops. Some of these areas extend all the way to Interstate Highway 25 near Las Vegas.