Here's your complete guide to fishing in and around Red River, New Mexico — a high-country haven for anglers of all skill levels:
Last updated: Friday, October 16, 2026
🏞️ Overview
Nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Red River is a tributary of the Rio Grande and flows right through the heart of the town. Its cold, clear waters — fed by snowmelt and natural springs — create ideal conditions for trout fishing year-round.
🐟 Fish Species You’ll Encounter
Red River and its surrounding waters are home to a variety of trout species:
- Rainbow Trout: Spring to fall. Best with dry flies, nymphs, and spinners.
- Brown Trout: Year-round. Best with night fishing, streamers, and worms.
- Cutthroat Trout: Spring to early summer. Best with small lures and fly fishing.
- Brook Trout: Fall. Best with wet flies and small spinners.
- Kokanee Salmon: Year-round at Eagle Nest Lake. Best with deep water trolling and spoons.
📍 Top Fishing Spots
- Mid-Red River Section: From Lower Red River to Goose Lake Trailhead. Look for deeper pools and swifter currents.
- Goose Lake: High-altitude lake with brook and cutthroat trout. Accessible via trail.
- Fawn Lakes: Two small lakes stocked with rainbow and brown trout — great for families.
- Town Ponds: Stocked with rainbow trout; perfect for beginners. Open March 1 through November 15.
- Green Chile Water (Goose Creek to Carson NF): Artificial fly/lure only, barbless hooks.
- Red Chile Water (Columbine Creek): Catch and release for Rio Grande cutthroat and Gila trout; no bag limit on rainbow, brown, and brook trout.
- Middle Fork Lake: A hike-in alpine lake above town, reached by the Middle Fork Trail off Forest Road 58 — Rio Grande cutthroat country in a postcard setting, and the Middle Fork creek below the lake holds cutthroat too.
🗺️ Nearby Fishing Gems
- Eagle Nest Lake (20 miles away): A 2,400-acre state park lake at 8,300 feet with kokanee salmon, rainbow and brown trout, yellow perch, and northern pike — any pike caught must be kept. Ice fishing in winter, and a special kokanee snagging season runs October 1 through December 31.
- Bitter Creek, Goose Creek, Pioneer Creek: Small tributaries with cutthroat and rainbow trout.
- Cabresto Lake (above Questa): A 15-acre Carson National Forest lake with rainbow, brook, and cutthroat trout — and Cabresto Creek below it is Red Chile Water for native cutthroat.
- Rio Grande at Wild Rivers (near Questa): The Red River meets the Rio Grande below the fish hatchery — wild browns and rainbows in a deep basalt canyon, at their best in the fall.
- Shuree Ponds, Valle Vidal (about 1 hour away): Trophy trout ponds in the Valle Vidal, open July 1 through December 31 — stocked with rainbows 15 inches and longer (daily bag: two), plus a kids-only pond for ages 12 and under, and catch-and-release cutthroat streams nearby.
- Red River Fish Hatchery (below Questa): The state hatchery that stocks these waters — a free self-guided tour, a free fishing pond for anglers 11 and younger or 65 and older, and river access with a license.
🧠 Tips & Techniques
- Fly Fishing: Use dry flies like Elk Hair Caddis or Adams; wet flies like Pheasant Tail Nymph during hatches.
- Casting Lures: Spinners and small spoons (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail) mimic local prey.
- Bait Fishing: Nightcrawlers and salmon eggs work well, especially in lower river sections.
- Seasonal Adjustments: After rain, use larger, colorful lures to stand out in murky water.
🪪 Permits & Regulations
- Licenses: Fishing licenses are required for anyone 12 and older. Available locally at Gold Hill Hardware and Lumber Co. LLC (formerly Williams Trading Post and Hardware, 306 E High St) and Sitzmark Sports, or online from the Department.
- Rules: Follow New Mexico Game and Fish rules — especially for protected species like Gila Trout and Rio Grande Cutthroat (must be released).
- Stocking Reports: Weekly stocking reports and the weekly fishing report are available from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
🧭 Local Expertise
- Fagan’s Guided Fly Fishing: 23 years of experience in Red River.
- Taos Fly Shop: Offers permits and guides for public and private waters across Northern NM and Southern CO.
- Starr Trading Post & Angler Fly Shop: Red River's full-service fly and tackle shop at 300 E Main St — flies, tackle and gear, local advice, and fishing licenses.
Read more on the Red River town site: Get Hooked on Fly Fishing In and Around Red River.