New Mexico is home to some fantastic fishing opportunities. Most anglers come here to fish for a variety of trout, but you can also catch bass, northern pike, salmon, perch and more. Take a look below to learn more about our featured fishing destinations in New Mexico.
Featured Destinations – Quick Links
Rivers & Lakes
| Animas River | Rio Grande River |
| Colorado River | San Juan River |
| Pecos River | |
Featured Towns & Regions
| Chama, NM | Navajo Lake, NM |
| Eagle Nest, NM | Sante Fe, NM |
| Farmington, NM | Taos, NM |
Learn more about our featured fishing destinations below.
Animas River
The Animas River originates in the San Juan Mountains, northeast of Silverton, Colorado. The river flows more than 120 miles through Colorado and New Mexico where it eventually joins the San Juan River in Farmington, New Mexico. The river has several areas that provide good access as well as some times that provide everything you need to plan an excellent fishing vacation. Anglers target rainbow trout and brown trout in the river with most fish in the 10 to 16 inch range. There are some big trout in the river as well, so don’t be surprised if you catch a few big brown trout on a trip to the Animas River.
Chama, NM
Chama, New Mexico is a small town in the northern New Mexico Rocky Mountains. This area is beautiful and it is a popular vacation destination for people who enjoy the outdoors. The Chama River flows right through this town and anglers enjoy good fishing due to the regular stockings on the river. Anglers target brown trout and rainbow trout.
Colorado River
The Colorado River is a large river that covers more than 1,400 miles from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the Gulf of California in northwestern Mexico. In the United States, the river flows through Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. There are so many good sections of this river to fish. Whether you fish the river portions or the reservoirs, there are some awesome fishing opportunities for a variety of fish such as striped bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, sunfish and a variety of trout.
Eagle Nest, NM
Eagle Nest is a small, laid-back town in north central New Mexico. The scenery is beautiful and there is plenty to do if you enjoy the outdoors. Anglers have lots of options with lake and river or stream fishing in this area. Eagle Nest Lake is a good fishing lake with a variety of fish such as northern pike, rainbow trout, Kokanee salmon and perch. A variety of trout can be caught in the nearby rivers. Anglers target big brown trout, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout in the area rivers.
Farmington, NM
Farmington is where the Animas River meets up with the San Juan River. The San Juan River is a famous tailwater fishery that is known for its excellent trout fishing. This town gives people plenty of lodging options, lots of places to eat, to go along with many unique shops. The San Juan River has good numbers of trout with plenty of big rainbow trout and brown trout available year round.
Navajo Lake
Navajo Lake is a good-sized lake located in northwestern New Mexico. The lake is beautiful and it is a popular recreational lake for fishing and boating. In the lake, anglers fish for a variety of fish including largemouth bass, northern pike and crappie. Below the dam, anglers have access to an amazing tailwater fishery for brown trout and rainbow trout.
Pecos River
The Pecos River originates in north central New Mexico and flows into the state of Texas where it eventually converges with the Rio Grande River. The area this river covers is huge as it flows for more than 900 miles. While some parts of this river are known for holding lots of small fish, there are certain sections of the Pecos River that provide some excellent fishing opportunities for anglers to catch some quality-sized trout. Most anglers will be targeting rainbow trout and brown trout, but cutthroat trout are in the river system as well.
Rio Grande River
The Rio Grande River is a very large river that flows almost 1,900 miles in the United States and Mexico. It originates in south-central Colorado and flows to the Gulf of Mexico. There are several parts of the Rio Grande River that flow through or near our featured fishing destinations on our website, so you can definitely find some great places to experience some excellent fishing on the Rio Grande River. This river is unknown to most, but many anglers do know about the legendary fishing that is found in the 22 mile section of river near South Fork, Colorado that is designated as Gold Medal Water. Rainbow trout and brown trout are caught here in good numbers and many big fish are caught in this stretch of the river.
Sante Fe, NM
Sante Fe is a unique city in New Mexico. Its tagline is “The City Different, at every turn.” There is plenty of history and culture that is evident as you move around through the city. There are a lot of lodging options to go along with some excellent restaurants and some awesome recreational opportunities. Anglers fish the area rivers, streams and lakes for rainbow trout, brown trout and northern pike.
The San Juan River is a major tributary of the Colorado River. It flows more than 350 miles and it is the primary drainage for the Four Corners region of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. The river originates in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado and it flows west towards New Mexico. Below the Navajo Dam, the San Juan River flows through a narrow farming valley in the high desert country of the Colorado Plateau. At Farmington, New Mexico, it is joined by the Animas River to the north.
The fishing in the San Juan River can be outstanding and it is a year-round fishery, which makes it appealing to anglers from all over. The tailwater fishery below the Navajo Dam is what makes this river special for trout anglers. The river provides about 20 good miles of fishing and the best is usually in the cool waters just below the Navajo Dam. There are special regulations for fishing closer to the dam, so make sure you are up to speed with the current regulations. This part of the river is very popular, so don’t plan on having the river all to yourself, especially if you are fishing during the weekends or during the summer tourist season. Anglers do well with large brown trout and rainbow trout year round in this tailwater fishery.
Taos, NM
Taos, New Mexico is known for being home to a world-class ski resort, a World Heritage Site and one of the most iconic churches, the Gorge Bridge and the beautiful Rocky Mountains. This town is a popular recreational vacation destination. Fishing is very popular as well. The Rio Grande River is home to excellent fishing for rainbow trout and brown trout.
