WILDERNESS ADVENTURE PRESS MAPS: NEW MEXICO RIO DE LOS PINOS RIVER

WILDERNESS ADVENTURE PRESS MAPS: NEW MEXICO RIO DE LOS PINOS RIVER The Rio de los Pinos descends from the mountains of south-central Colorado, through northern New Mexico and back into Colorado where it dumps in the Rio San Antonio. Its an underrated gem of a stream that has some surprisingly big trout.Above Trujillo Meadows Reservoir, its a small meadow stream that fishes best near the impoundment. Brown, cuttbow and rainbow trout get up to 18 inches here, and they keep their eyes to the sky looking for adult bugs.The reservoir itself hosts good-sized brook and rainbow trout that make runs into the creek to spawn. Callibaetis and midges come off in their seasons and provide ample opportunities to catch fish on flies.Between the lake and Colorado 17, the river flows through a canyon, then a meadow. Both are great places to wet a line, although fish size has been lower in recent years.The subsequent 15 or so miles are relatively remote, save for one road near Osier and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, which will drop anglers off where there are no roads.The adjacent Cruces Basin Wilderness hosts excellent small-stream fishing for brookies in a beautiful setting.Access improves around San Miguel with several campgrounds and forest roads paralleling the river.Below San Miguel, there is fishing to be done, but the fish are generally smaller than in the upstream sections. This bit also gets more attention from bait fishers, and private property abounds.Most of the remote forest roads require high clearance and four wheel drive. Bring bug spray.There are special regulations in certain sections, so be sure you have an updated copy of both the Colorado and New Mexico regulations. ISBN: 0-WAP-41004-6 publish date: 06/30/2011