Freestone · Mixed · New Mexico

Rio de los Pinos (NM/CO border)

Rio de los Pinos (NM/CO border) terrain map
Prime · Brown Trout
Chubby Chernobyl · 6-10
Primelive now
About as good as it gets
Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelLight rain recentlyNo gauge reading
  • Water temp10.5°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Chubby Chernobyl
Chubby Chernobyl6-10
High-confidence seasonal pick
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Level
Light rain recently
No gauge reading
Water temp10.5°C
ClarityClear
Weather10°C
WindW 6 km/h
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent6.6 mm
Rain · ahead0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Water temperature for Brown Trout
Ideal
11°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Brown Trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though insect activity could be better.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 3 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

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Evidence
ModelledModerate confidence

Modelled from regional ecology — no survey or occurrence data for this water yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2
Mahogany DunHatch
2
2
American March BrownHatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • The river crosses the NM/CO state line repeatedly — applicable regulations and the required licence change with the bank, so verify reaches and rules against NMDGF (and Colorado where relevant) before fishing
  • A Habitat Stamp is required on USFS/BLM land in New Mexico
  • Access is mixed public/private; confirm legal access first.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 2
Conejos River (Antonito / Platoro)
12 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Rio Brazos (Tierra Amarilla)
31 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Water quality · US Clean Water Act
  • Aquatic life: Impaired
What this classification means

EPA ATTAINS assessment unit 'Rio de los Pinos (New Mexico reaches)' (NM-2120.A_900), 2024 Integrated Report. Aquatic Life use: Not Supporting. Listed impairment causes: Temperature, Metals Other Than Mercury. This is a Clean Water Act assessment-unit classification (the US analogue of WFD), not a live reading.

Status is for the Clean Water Act assessment unit covering this reach.

EPA ATTAINS (Clean Water Act) · NM-2120.A_900

The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 75%
How the 83 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow80 × 22%17.6
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time65 × 13%8.5
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity48 × 12%5.8
Conditions total= 83
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitymodelled from regional profilemodelled
What would change the calculation
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December
Related guides
Euro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts