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Fishing Rio Chama (below El Vado): what the data says
Rio Chama near Tierra Amarilla. wild trout water in the New Mexico high country. The river tops out around 10 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Rio Chama (below El Vado)
Spring rainbow trout on Rio Chama (below El Vado) hold shallow, usually 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 10 ft. tributary inflow is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 7 ft, rated prime for spring rainbow trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 10 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Brown Trout fishing at Rio Chama (below El Vado)
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 1 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 10 ft. The spot to know is tributary inflow, a inflow / creek mouth in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in spring. Plan around after dark and early morning in the warm months. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 10 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Notable structure
- Rio Chama pool: creek channel, around 10 ft
- tributary inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 7 ft
- riffle run: rock pile, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Rio Chama (below El Vado)?
Rio Chama (below El Vado) is about 10 ft (3 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Rio Chama (below El Vado)?
Anglers target rainbow trout, brown trout on Rio Chama (below El Vado).
Where is the best fishing spot on Rio Chama (below El Vado)?
tributary inflow is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 7 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Rio Chama (below El Vado)?
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
El Vado Reservoir · Heron Reservoir · Trout Lakes · Abiquiu Lake · Canjilon Lakes · Rio Chama (Abiquiu Tailwater)
See how Rio Chama (below El Vado) stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in New Mexico · best brown trout lakes in New Mexico
Browse all New Mexico fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.