New Mexico
Rio Grande below Taos Junction Bridge
Current River Rating
Poor · 43
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
- Recent observed air temperature suggests unfavorable river water temperature for trout.
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
- Light wind should make casting and boat control easier.
- Cloud cover is favorable for daytime trout fishing.
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
Overcast or filtered daylight is favorable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- 134 CFS
- Gage Height
- 3.4 ft
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Observation Time
- Sep 5, 2026, 7:30 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 08276500 · 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
Partly cloudy
Temperature
65°F
Feels like
63°F
Wind
5 mph NW
Wind gust
5 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
Partly cloudy
Temp 64°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Sat 6 AM
Clear
Temp 59°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Sat 10 AM
Clear
Temp 75°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 2 PM
Partly cloudy
Temp 88°F
Chance 7%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Sat 6 PM
Overcast
Temp 86°F
Chance 7%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 5 mph
Sat 10 PM
Overcast
Temp 73°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 6 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Overcast
High 90°F / Low 59°F
Chance 11%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 18 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Drizzle
High 90°F / Low 61°F
Chance 20%
Precip 0.03 in
Max gust 20 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Drizzle
High 84°F / Low 62°F
Chance 40%
Precip 0.09 in
Max gust 12 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 87°F / Low 61°F
Chance 20%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 8 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 Grande below Taos Junction Bridge, New Mexico. Monitoring-Backed via accepted air-derived river-trout path from USGS 08276500 (live discharge and stage; no current 00010). Distinct from Embudo 08279500 and Otowi 08313000.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Rio Grande.
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 Grande at Taos Junction Bridge is the public gorge trout fishery (Orilla Verde / Rio Grande del Norte country) at the downstream boundary of the NMDOW Special Trout Water from the Colorado line to N.M. 567. StrikeTracks publishes Monitoring-Backed conditions from USGS 08276500 (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; Rio Grande cutthroat are discussed in copy only. Hatch Match publishes general fly suggestions only. Flow Context remains default-deny. Distinct from Embudo, Otowi, Cochiti, and Albuquerque gauges.
Target species
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Unknown
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
NMDOW northern Rio Grande Special Trout Water: rainbow and brown trout. USGS 08276500 below Taos Junction Bridge. Distinct from Embudo 08279500. 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 northern Rio Grande Special Trout Water: rainbow and brown trout. USGS 08276500 below Taos Junction Bridge. Distinct from Embudo 08279500. 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
- Mixed flow regime
High-desert canyon trout river in the Rio Grande Gorge near Taos Junction Bridge, Taos County.
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 rules and BLM Orilla Verde / Rio Grande del Norte National Monument access at Taos Junction Bridge. Catalog coordinates are the USGS point. This ID is not Taos Pueblo water east of the gorge and not Cochiti Pueblo water downstream.
Stocking information
NMDOW manages the northern Rio Grande as Special Trout Water with wild and stocked trout. Confirm current official notices. Do not invent a stocking calendar.
Official sources
NMDOW 2026–27 Special Trout Water: Rio Grande from the Colorado state line downstream to the Taos Junction Bridge at N.M. Highway 567. Confirm current Green Chile / STW bag and tackle. This ID is the gorge representative, not Embudo, Otowi, Cochiti, or Albuquerque. Taos Pueblo and Cochiti Pueblo waters are separate permit systems. Do not invent trout CFS. Confirm current NMDOW pages.
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
Taos, 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
Taos
Management Category
Canyon trout river
Regulation Scope
Rio Grande Gorge / Colorado line to Taos Junction Bridge
Regulation Summary
Rio Grande below Taos Junction Bridge: NMDOW northern Rio Grande Special Trout Water. Confirm current NMDOW Fishing Rules and Information.
Target Species
rainbow-trout, brown-trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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