2026 regulation year
Rio Chama below El Vado Dam 2026 — New Mexico Fishing Regulations
New Mexico statewide rules apply unless overridden below.
Last updated
Rio Chama below El Vado Dam carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of New Mexico's 2026 fishing rules — covering Brown trout. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.
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State-level special regulation
NMDGF Special Trout Waters Wild & Scenic reach — trout 5 / day combined; wild brown + rainbow + cutbow tailwater + float-fishing season May – October
Source: New Mexico special-water list
Per-species rules on Rio Chama below El Vado Dam
Trout 5 / day combined; wild brown + rainbow tailwater + float-fishing season May – October
Official source
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) publishes the authoritative 2026 New Mexico fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.
Visit official New Mexico fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to New Mexico Department of Game and Fish's emergency-order feed — check it before any New Mexico trip during the active season.
Other special-regulation waters in New Mexico
- Animas + San Juan Rivers (San Juan County)
- Bluewater Lake + Bonito Lake + Quemado Lake + Lake Roberts
- Brazos River
- Caballo Reservoir
- Cimarron River through Cimarron Canyon State Park
- Cochiti Lake
- Conchas Lake
- Costilla Creek + Comanche Creek
- Eagle Nest Lake
- El Vado Reservoir
- Elephant Butte Reservoir
- Gila Wilderness Area
Frequently asked questions
- What special fishing regulations apply at Rio Chama below El Vado Dam?
- Rio Chama below El Vado Dam carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override New Mexico's statewide 2026 rules, covering Brown trout. One of them reads: "NMDGF Special Trout Waters Wild & Scenic reach — trout 5 / day combined; wild brown + rainbow + cutbow tailwater + float-fishing season May – October." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
- Do I need a fishing license to fish Rio Chama below El Vado Dam?
- Yes. Rio Chama below El Vado Dam is in New Mexico, so a valid New Mexico fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF). The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Rio Chama below El Vado Dam; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide New Mexico rules.
- Do Rio Chama below El Vado Dam's special rules replace New Mexico's statewide limits?
- Only where they conflict. New Mexico's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Rio Chama below El Vado Dam by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
- Which species have special rules on Rio Chama below El Vado Dam?
- Brown trout has a water-body-specific rule on Rio Chama below El Vado Dam, each linking to its full New Mexico regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide New Mexico limits.