Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout

Body Type: The southernmost of all Cutthroat subspecies and a species of special concern in New Mexico and Colorado. The body has moderate, evenly distributed spotting with spots concentrated toward the tail. Coloring is golden-yellow to olive with vivid red-orange slash marks and a rose-red lateral band that intensifies during spawning.

Preferred Water Temperature: 48°F–62°F. Native to the upper Rio Grande drainage at high elevations — typically 7,000–12,000 feet — where water remains cold year-round.

Habitat: Isolated headwater streams of the upper Rio Grande basin in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Survives in stream segments isolated from non-native trout by natural falls or artificial barriers. Found in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Jemez Mountains, and San Juan Mountains.

Best Lures: Small inline spinners in gold or silver are effective. Tiny dry flies and nymphs produce excellent results — Elk Hair Caddis, Royal Wulff, and Hare's Ear Nymph are classics. Small floating Rapalas work in pools. Regulations vary — check before fishing.

Best Baits: Small nightcrawlers and red worms are the top bait. Salmon eggs produce in streams. Wax worms work in cold conditions.

Size & Weight: Typically 8–12 inches and 0.5–1 lb in native streams. Stocked waters produce fish to 16 inches and 2 lbs.

Top 5 Places to Catch Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout: 1. Costilla Creek, New Mexico — excellent accessible stream 2. Comanche Creek, New Mexico — outstanding native population 3. Rio Costilla, New Mexico — good fishing with decent access 4. Santa Barbara Creek, New Mexico — restoration stream 5. Brazos River headwaters, New Mexico — remote wild fishing

The southernmost of all Cutthroat subspecies and a species of special concern in New Mexico and Colorado. The body has moderate, evenly distributed spotting with spots concentrated toward the tail. Coloring is golden-yellow to olive with vivid red-orange slash marks and a rose-red lateral band that intensifies during spawning.

Isolated headwater streams of the upper Rio Grande basin in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Survives in stream segments isolated from non-native trout by natural falls or artificial barriers. Found in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Jemez Mountains, and San Juan Mountains.

48°F–62°F. Native to the upper Rio Grande drainage at high elevations — typically 7,000–12,000 feet — where water remains cold year-round.

Best Lures: Small inline spinners in gold or silver are effective. Tiny dry flies and nymphs produce excellent results — Elk Hair Caddis, Royal Wulff, and Hare's Ear Nymph are classics. Small floating Rapalas work in pools. Regulations vary — check before fishing. Best Baits: Small nightcrawlers and red worms are the top bait. Salmon eggs produce in streams. Wax worms work in cold conditions.

1. Costilla Creek, New Mexico — excellent accessible stream 2. Comanche Creek, New Mexico — outstanding native population 3. Rio Costilla, New Mexico — good fishing with decent access 4. Santa Barbara Creek, New Mexico — restoration stream 5. Brazos River headwaters, New Mexico — remote wild fishing

Typically 8–12 inches and 0.5–1 lb in native streams. Stocked waters produce fish to 16 inches and 2 lbs.