- Rio Grande River – The nearly 20-mile stretch between South Fork and Del Norte is Gold Medal Waters.
- Pass Creek – Only use artificial flies and lures here.
- La Garita Creek – There is no boating allowed in this creek.
- Carnero Creek – Fish with artificial flies and lures only.
Table of Contents
Is the fishing good in the Rio Grande River?
The Rio Grande and its tributaries offer slow running waters, excellent for fly fishing as well as with lures. Many of the river’s smaller tributaries offer stream sized fish, and are abundant with aquatic life like cutthroat and rainbow trout. The most popular streams include: Embargo, Beaver, and Rock creeks.
Does the Rio Grande River have trout in it?
All kinds of trout from rainbows to browns can be found in these waters, but the Rio Grande is best known for its gigantic brown trout.
How do you fish in the Rio Grande River?

Is there salmon in the Rio Grande river?
The Rio Grande is home to abundant stoneflies, and the salmon fly hatch of mid- to late June can be heavy. Although the hatch may occur during runoff, the water is clear enough to permit dry-fly fishing.
Are there any fish in the Rio Grande river?
At least 166 species of fishes have been found in the Rio Grande, of which 86 are freshwater species (Dahm et al., 2005). However, many of the fishes in the Rio Grande today are not native to the river.
Is the Rio Grande river saltwater?
At the river’s headwaters, the water is “pristine,” Ganjegunte said. By the time the river reaches El Paso, the salinity of the water is above 1,000 parts per million. Water above 1,000 parts per million is no longer considered freshwater and, while still safe to drink, is above secondary drinking water standards.
How deep is the Rio Grande in Colorado?
Furthermore, the river acts as a natural border between the United States and Mexico. Translating to “big river”, the Rio Grande flows through three U.S. states as well as four Mexican states. The river’s depth varies significantly by location, ranging as deep as 60 feet to barely a trickle.
Can you swim in the Rio Grande?
Swimming in the Rio Grande is highly discouraged. The presence of sunken debris poses a risk of injuries and being caught and dragged under the water by the current.
How deep is the Rio Gorge?
The gorge depth is 800 feet (240 m) just south of the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, which spans the gorge 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Taos.
Is there fishing in Big Bend National Park?
Fish of Big Bend. The Rio Grande and its two tributaries, Tornillo and Terlingua Creeks, are the only locations in the park that fish inhabit.
Where can I fly fish in the Rio Grande in New Mexico?
Costilla Creek is possibly New Mexico’s best wild Rio Grande cutthroat stream. It is actually a small tailwater flowing out of Costilla reservoir, down through the gorgeous mountain meadows and gorges of the Valle Vidal. Most of the upper Costilla is fly fishing only.
Is there bass in the Rio Grande?
The Rio Grande River below Lake Amistad, is a legendary smallmouth and largemouth bass fishery. It’s rumored to be home to the “world record” bass.
What kind of fish are in the Rio Grande reservoir?
Rio Grande Reservoir is near Durango. The most popular species caught here are Rainbow trout and Brown trout.
Can you fish the Rio Grande in Albuquerque?
The Rio Grande in Albuquerque is also available for fishing.
Are there sturgeon in New Mexico?
HISTORY. Shovelnose sturgeons are the smallest and most abundant of the three river species. Historically, shovelnose sturgeons were found throughout most of the Mississippi and Missouri River basins, from Montana south to Louisiana, and from Pennsylvania west to New Mexico.
What lives in the Rio Grande River?
- Spotted ocelots are rare, but small numbers of them still live in the thick brushy country and woodlands of the Rio Grande Valley.
- The Texas tortoise is a protected species.
What species live in the Rio Grande River?
The Upper Rio Grande is home to a broad array of wildlife including bighorn sheep, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, golden eagles and Rio Grande cutthroat trout.
Is there alligators in the Rio Grande?
Whatever their origins, the RGV has harbored a relatively small population of alligators along the coast at least since the 1970’s. Periodic surveys on refuge lands have yielded as many a 110, but their numbers fluctuate depending on drought. They do occasionally appear in the bay and Arroyo Colorado.
Does New Mexico have Gar?
In New Mexico, the longnose gar is native to the Pecos River and it’s major tributaries, including the lower reaches of the Black River, a small tributary of the Pecos River near Malaga.
Is there fish in the Pecos River?
The Pecos River is known for its Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and Rio Grande Cutthroats. The river has benefited from extensive restoration and rehabilitation to restore native trout, helping make the Pecos a great place to fish in almost any season.
Who owns the Rio Grande?
The United States and Mexico share the waters of the Colorado River and the Rio Grande. A bilateral water treaty from 1944 (the 1944 Water Treaty) and other binational agreements guide how the two governments share the flows of these rivers.
What does Rio Bravo mean in English?
Definitions of Rio Bravo. a North American river; boundary between the United States and Mexico; flows into Gulf of Mexico. synonyms: Rio Grande. example of: river. a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
Does the Rio Grande belong to the US or Mexico?
The Rio Grande is the fifth longest river in the United States and among the top twenty in the world. It extends from the San Juan Mountains of Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico (1,901 miles) and forms a 1,255 mile segment of the border between the United States and Mexico.
Is the Rio Grande river polluted?
Along with its reduced and regulated flow, the river frequently contains high levels of salts and bacteria, as well as agricultural and industrial chemicals. Such contamination affects a wide variety of species.