Rio de Los Pinos

Formerly known as “River X” to the fishing guides for years, the Pinos was a well-kept secret for a good reason. It has some of the best dry fly fishing in the entire Rio Grande watershed. This river is actually a tributary to the Conejos, which ends up in the Rio Grande. The Los Pinos winds up and down along the Colorado/New Mexico border. There’s a wonderful public stretch of about 8 miles that is controlled by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. It is standard bag limit water and is stocked regularly. This river boasts bug hatches that consist of yellow sallies, baetis, golden stoneflies, giant stoneflies, and spruce moths in the upper reaches of the river. The Pinos fishes best beginning mid-June until late July, and again in late September and October. 

We do have access to a private stretch of the Los Pinos that is situated below the Toltec Gorge. It’s amazing to be fishing in the stream, only to be interrupted by the whistle of the Cumbres Y Toltec train on the hillside above you. It’s a neat experience.