New Mexico
Rio Chama below El Vado Dam
Current River Rating
Poor · 37
Conditions are unfavorable based on the available readings.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Partial water evidence · Low confidence
Should I Go?
Wait
Limited opportunity
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is recommended while current river conditions remain Poor.
Why
- Very clear skies may make trout more cautious in shallow water.
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
- Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
Cautions
- Recent observed air temperature suggests unfavorable river water temperature for trout. Verify with a stream thermometer; this is not a measured water temperature.
Timing Evidence
Dawn low light is favorable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- 483 CFS
- Gage Height
- 2.77 ft
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Observation Time
- Sep 5, 2026, 7:30 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 08285500 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
61°F
Feels like
58°F
Wind
4 mph NE
Wind gust
4 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 1:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 2 AM
Clear
Temp 61°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Sat 6 AM
Clear
Temp 57°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Sat 10 AM
Clear
Temp 73°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 2 mph
Sat 2 PM
Overcast
Temp 83°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Sat 6 PM
Overcast
Temp 82°F
Chance 5%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 12 mph
Sat 10 PM
Overcast
Temp 68°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Overcast
High 84°F / Low 56°F
Chance 7%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 17 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Showers
High 87°F / Low 57°F
Chance 26%
Precip 0.26 in
Max gust 31 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Drizzle
High 78°F / Low 58°F
Chance 32%
Precip 0.15 in
Max gust 16 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 84°F / Low 56°F
Chance 22%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 15 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
Rio Chama below El Vado Dam, New Mexico. Monitoring-Backed via accepted air-derived river-trout path from USGS 08285500 (live discharge and stage; no current 00010). Distinct from Abiquiu 08287000 and Chamita 08290000.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Rio Chama.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
The Rio Chama below El Vado Dam is the public north-central tailwater trout reach toward Cooper’s and the Rio Chama Wildlife and Fishing Area. StrikeTracks publishes Monitoring-Backed conditions from USGS 08285500 (live discharge and stage) using the accepted air-derived river-trout thermal path — this gauge has no current water-temperature parameter. Rainbow and brown trout are the selector species. This is not El Vado Lake, not Heron Lake, and not the lower Chama near Chamita. Hatch Match publishes general fly suggestions only. Flow Context remains default-deny.
Target species
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Unknown
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
NMDOW Rio Chama below El Vado: rainbow and brown trout. USGS 08285500. Distinct from Abiquiu 08287000 and Chamita 08290000. Rio Grande cutthroat trout are New Mexico’s state fish and are not a StrikeTracks species-selector ID. They may appear in overview and regulation caution only.
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
NMDOW Rio Chama below El Vado: rainbow and brown trout. USGS 08285500. Distinct from Abiquiu 08287000 and Chamita 08290000. Rio Grande cutthroat trout are New Mexico’s state fish and are not a StrikeTracks species-selector ID. They may appear in overview and regulation caution only.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Tailwater
Regulated Chama tailwater below El Vado Dam, Rio Arriba County, upstream of Abiquiu Reservoir.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Shore fishing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public fishing is documented by NMDOW Special Trout Water / Rio Chama Wildlife and Fishing Area rules and El Vado Lake State Park / USFS corridor access. Catalog coordinates are the USGS dam point. Lower Chama near Chamita is near Ohkay Owingeh and is not this ID. Jicarilla Apache waters are a separate permit system.
Stocking information
NMDOW manages the El Vado tailwater and Rio Chama Wildlife and Fishing Area as trout water. Confirm current official notices. Do not invent a stocking calendar.
Official sources
NMDOW 2026–27 Special Trout Waters include Rio Chama from the USGS gauging station below Cooper’s and the Rio Chama Wildlife and Fishing Area. This ID is the El Vado Dam tailwater, not below Abiquiu Dam (separate 7-mile STW) and not Chamita. Confirm current NMDOW maps. Do not invent trout CFS.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Rio Arriba, New Mexico
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Rio Arriba
Management Category
Tailwater trout river
Regulation Scope
Rio Chama below El Vado Dam / Cooper’s USGS reach
Regulation Summary
Rio Chama below El Vado Dam: NMDOW Special Trout Water / Rio Chama Wildlife and Fishing Area. Confirm current NMDOW Fishing Rules and Information.
Target Species
rainbow-trout, brown-trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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