Fly Fishing Taos, New Mexico
Guided fly fishing trips on the Rio Grande and throughout Northern New Mexico.
Based in Ranchos de Taos, Ramblin’ Fly Fishing offers year-round guided trips for anglers of all experience levels.
Taos is one of the Southwest’s premier fly fishing destinations, known for its stunning scenery and exceptional fishing. Whether you’re brand new to fly fishing or have years on the water, we provide the local knowledge, instruction, and on-the-water experience for a safe and memorable day on the river.
Trips & Rates
Wade Trips
1 → 3 Anglers
$350 → $590
Half Day & Full Day Trips
Most fly fishing in Northern New Mexico is done on foot. From the Rio Grande to high mountain streams around Taos, wade fishing is the primary way to access some of the best water in the region.
Float Trips
1 → 2 Anglers
$420 → $600
Half Day, Full Day & Summer Evening Floats
Float the Rio Grande just south of Taos through two productive stretches offering excellent year-round fishing.
When To Book
We target a diverse range of species throughout Northern New Mexico, with an emphasis on trout fishing. Anglers can expect opportunities for rainbow trout, brown trout, Rio Grande cutthroat trout, and brook trout, along with warmwater species including smallmouth bass, northern pike, and carp. What makes fly fishing in Taos and along the Rio Grande truly unique is the year-round variety—no matter the season, there are always fish actively feeding and willing to take a fly.
Spring (March – May)
Spring can be one of the most productive seasons for fly fishing on the Rio Grande. As snowmelt begins and flows stabilize, trout become more active and feeding windows increase. Early-season Blue-Winged Olive hatches appear in March, followed by strong caddis activity through April and May. Spring runoff can vary year to year, but when conditions align, this season produces some of the best dry fly fishing of year on the Rio Grande.
Summer (June – August)
Summer conditions shift from trout fishing to smallmouth bass fishing on the Rio Grande due to warmer water temperatures. Summer is our prime season for fishing our high mountain streams. We have an abundance of water in the area with native and wild trout more than eager to take a dry fly. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains east of Taos and the Tusas Mountains to the west are home to some of the region’s most scenic and productive waters.
Fall (September – November)
Fall is widely considered the best season for fly fishing in Taos and Northern New Mexico. As water temperatures drop, trout activity increases significantly on the Rio Grande. Brown trout become aggressive in preparation for spawning, creating excellent streamer fishing opportunities. Stable flows, cooler weather, and active fish make fall one of the most consistent and productive times of the year.
Winter (December – February)
Winter fly fishing on the Rio Grande can be surprisingly productive. Trout remain active, they just change their feeding approach compared to the rest of the year. Midge hatches can provide late-day opportunities, while deep nymphing rigs and streamer fishing are the go to techniques on most days. Check out our Winter on the Rio section. Winter also opens up opportunities on nearby waters such as the Red River and the Rio Chama, both below Abiquiu Damn and El Vado Damn, which can offer some excellent winter fishing as well.
Your Guide
Eric has spent the past decade searching every nook and cranny of Northern New Mexico in search of wild and native fish.
Eric guides out of a genuine passion for time on the water and a deep appreciation for the ecosystems that sustain it. He takes pride in introducing others to fly fishing in a way that is both engaging and approachable, combining clear, effective instruction with a deeper understanding of the stream ecology.
With a patient, approachable style and years of hands-on experience, Eric creates an environment where clients can relax, build confidence, and fully enjoy their day—while walking away with lasting skills and a deeper connection to the water.
Fishing Report
8-9-2026 — Most of our waterways continue to be low, just like they have been for most of the summer. We’ve gotten a few rains recently, but nothing like what we would typically see during monsoon season. If you’ve got a good rain dance, now is the time to use it because we could definitely use the moisture.
Early mornings in the Rio Grande Gorge continue to be productive, with water temperatures staying below 68 degrees until around 11 or 12, depending on which stretch you’re fishing. We’ve seen some good dry fly activity on certain mornings, with fish keying in on very small mayflies. If you can’t get them to eat your dry, try a small black dropper nymph fished just below the surface.
Once the risers have stopped, I like to fish the fastest water in the runs with either a dry/dropper or a Euro rig. A medium to large Chubby Chernobyl up top with a mixture of dropper nymphs has been the ticket, depending on what the fish are keying in on that day. Most of my nymphs have been perdigons, Hare’s Ears, Pheasant Tails, Waltz and Sexy Waltz nymphs, and anything in that general realm. Lately, and especially for me, less flash has been better, unless I’m throwing a smaller size 18 perdigon.
If you’re into hucking some meat for trout, first light has been great for streamers. Any variety of your typical Kelly Galloup-style streamer has been working well, along with baitfish and crawfish imitations depending on the day. Remember to mix up your pattern size, color, and retrieve speed depending on what the trout are willing to eat that morning. Sometimes a small change in any one of those can make a big difference.
Fishing the lower end of the Rio Grande in the OV, Racecourse, and Bosque sections continues to be great for smallmouth bass. They’ve been eating well both on the surface with poppers and hoppers and below the surface on baitfish and crawfish imitations. There are a lot of overgrown weed beds down there right now, so fishing in and around those has been very productive.
I’ve had several good mornings on the Cimarron River below Eagle Nest Dam. We’ve mainly been fishing a dry/dropper setup with a smaller Chubby or another attractor pattern up top, followed by a Pheasant Tail or Hare’s Ear. They’re still releasing around 30–35 cfs from the lake, so the flows have been awesome. Get there early if you want a good fishing spot, as it has been one of the go-to fisheries around here lately.
Fishing during the week on the Chama River below El Vado Reservoir has been great, mainly stocker bashing with the occasional brown mixed in. The water is stained, so nymphs with hot spots or colored tungsten beads have been the ticket. Flashy nymphs like Sexy Waltz nymphs, egg patterns, Squirmy Worms, Mop Flies, and leeches have also been go-to patterns.
On the weekends, they are still doing their weekend flows for the overnight trips in the wilderness section. Because of that, the water will jump from around 100 cfs to roughly 500 cfs from Friday morning through Sunday morning. Keep that in mind when planning your trip and be aware of the changing flows.
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