Chama River (above El Vado) fishing

Chama River (above El Vado) fishing has Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 18 times a year since 2020, most often in September and October. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Chama River (above El Vado)
Photo: Matt Walter, CC BY 2.0
Last stocked
October 1, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
123
Since 2020
Species recorded
2
Average size
10.8 in
Elevation
6,940.7 ft

Fish at Chama River (above El Vado)

2 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 120 plants · last October 1, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked October 1, 2026 · avg 10.9 in · 120 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 3 plants · last October 6, 2020

Last stocked October 6, 2020 · avg 7.8 in · 3 plants

Cutthroat Trout species guide

How Chama River (above El Vado) is stocked

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

Chama River (below El Vado) (3.9 mi) was stocked more recently. Chama River (below El Vado) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout.

Fish stocked in 2020

72,767

Fish stocked in 2021

26,460

Fish stocked in 2022

2,117

Fish stocked in 2023

4,905

Fish stocked in 2024

39,287

Fish stocked in 2025

55,247

Fish stocked in 2026

12,835

Stocking history

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
October 1, 2026Rainbow Trout1,86011 inreport
September 14, 2026Rainbow Trout1,00813.7 inreport
July 20, 2026Rainbow Trout1,01312.2 inreport
July 7, 2026Rainbow Trout1,01511.9 inreport
June 16, 2026Rainbow Trout1,05010.6 inreport
June 2, 2026Rainbow Trout1,04011.6 inreport
May 21, 2026Rainbow Trout1,06311.3 inreport
May 13, 2026Rainbow Trout1,05510.5 inreport
May 5, 2026Rainbow Trout1,01710.3 inreport
March 5, 2026Rainbow Trout46012.9 inreport
February 17, 2026Rainbow Trout53612.3 inreport
February 2, 2026Rainbow Trout51612.4 inreport
January 22, 2026Rainbow Trout51211.4 inreport
January 6, 2026Rainbow Trout69012.1 inreport
December 16, 2025Rainbow Trout46812.8 inreport
December 3, 2025Rainbow Trout53212.3 inreport
November 21, 2025Rainbow Trout1,30511.9 inreport
October 23, 2025Rainbow Trout1,04813.6 inreport
October 20, 2025Rainbow Trout48513.6 inreport
October 20, 2025Rainbow Trout55011.6 inreport
October 1, 2025Rainbow Trout5,0123.7 inreport
October 1, 2025Rainbow Trout1,07013.2 inreport
September 18, 2025Rainbow Trout1,09010.4 inreport
September 15, 2025Rainbow Trout1,00812.5 inreport
September 2, 2025Rainbow Trout51612.4 inreport
August 18, 2025Rainbow Trout97312.1 inreport
August 18, 2025Rainbow Trout55612.1 inreport
August 4, 2025Rainbow Trout1,05812 inreport
July 14, 2025Rainbow Trout1,19311.6 inreport
July 2, 2025Rainbow Trout1,02911 inreport
June 17, 2025Rainbow Trout1,04012.4 inreport
June 3, 2025Rainbow Trout1,00111.7 inreport
June 3, 2025Rainbow Trout1,08011.8 inreport
May 19, 2025Rainbow Trout1,00211.4 inreport
May 6, 2025Rainbow Trout1,05611.2 inreport
April 14, 2025Rainbow Trout1,13010.3 inreport
April 1, 2025Rainbow Trout1,06010.5 inreport
April 1, 2025Rainbow Trout1,05510.5 inreport
March 18, 2025Rainbow Trout49814.4 inreport
March 5, 2025Rainbow Trout50412.7 inreport
February 20, 2025Rainbow Trout8,5273.2 inreport
February 20, 2025Rainbow Trout7,4353.3 inreport
February 17, 2025Rainbow Trout55812.6 inreport
February 12, 2025Rainbow Trout9,9995.2 inreport
February 6, 2025Rainbow Trout50412 inreport
January 22, 2025Rainbow Trout36912.6 inreport
January 6, 2025Rainbow Trout53611.7 inreport
December 16, 2024Rainbow Trout57512.9 inreport
December 2, 2024Rainbow Trout39610.8 inreport
November 25, 2024Rainbow Trout42612 inreport
November 19, 2024Rainbow Trout5,0186.3 inreport
November 19, 2024Rainbow Trout4,9106.3 inreport
November 5, 2024Rainbow Trout56812 inreport
October 24, 2024Rainbow Trout1,02911.9 inreport
October 8, 2024Rainbow Trout1,04012.4 inreport
October 8, 2024Rainbow Trout91012.4 inreport
September 24, 2024Rainbow Trout3,4977.1 inreport
September 19, 2024Rainbow Trout1,11612.6 inreport
September 17, 2024Rainbow Trout1,04612.6 inreport
September 3, 2024Rainbow Trout1,01511.9 inreport
August 22, 2024Rainbow Trout10,0016.1 inreport
August 19, 2024Rainbow Trout1,02911.9 inreport
August 12, 2024Rainbow Trout1,17611.4 inreport
August 5, 2024Rainbow Trout1,02611.3 inreport
July 17, 2024Rainbow Trout1,02711 inreport
July 1, 2024Rainbow Trout1,18310.5 inreport
July 1, 2024Rainbow Trout1,18310.5 inreport
June 17, 2024Rainbow Trout1,11610 inreport
May 4, 2023Rainbow Trout40514 inreport
May 4, 2023Rainbow Trout86810 inreport
May 2, 2023Rainbow Trout84410.1 inreport
April 26, 2023Rainbow Trout40015.1 inreport
April 17, 2023Rainbow Trout85410 inreport
March 16, 2023Rainbow Trout57411.5 inreport
March 2, 2023Rainbow Trout45811 inreport
February 16, 2023Rainbow Trout50211.2 inreport
December 9, 2022Rainbow Trout54611.6 inreport
November 3, 2022Rainbow Trout1,04211 inreport
January 14, 2022Rainbow Trout52911.8 inreport
October 18, 2021Rainbow Trout78112 inreport
October 5, 2021Rainbow Trout77011.3 inreport
October 1, 2021Rainbow Trout79211.2 inreport
September 15, 2021Rainbow Trout1,07810.8 inreport
September 14, 2021Rainbow Trout1,07010.5 inreport
September 1, 2021Rainbow Trout1,08510.1 inreport
September 1, 2021Rainbow Trout96410.1 inreport
August 23, 2021Rainbow Trout1,0649.8 inreport
August 10, 2021Rainbow Trout1,0439.4 inreport
July 15, 2021Rainbow Trout2,08211.1 inreport
July 1, 2021Rainbow Trout1,08510.4 inreport
June 15, 2021Rainbow Trout1,01010.7 inreport
June 1, 2021Rainbow Trout1,0329.9 inreport
May 24, 2021Rainbow Trout24710 inreport
May 18, 2021Rainbow Trout1,9609.6 inreport
May 18, 2021Rainbow Trout1,4449.3 inreport
May 3, 2021Rainbow Trout1,0649.3 inreport
May 3, 2021Rainbow Trout1,0239 inreport
April 19, 2021Rainbow Trout1,0029 inreport
April 5, 2021Rainbow Trout1,00812 inreport
April 5, 2021Rainbow Trout93612 inreport
March 15, 2021Rainbow Trout51710.9 inreport
March 1, 2021Rainbow Trout55811 inreport
February 15, 2021Rainbow Trout1,2229.8 inreport
February 1, 2021Rainbow Trout56010.3 inreport
January 20, 2021Rainbow Trout51713.8 inreport
January 5, 2021Rainbow Trout54611.6 inreport
October 19, 2020Rainbow Trout2,05211.3 inreport
October 6, 2020Cutthroat Trout1,05511 inreport
October 5, 2020Cutthroat Trout1,44010.9 inreport
September 15, 2020Rainbow Trout1,25010 inreport
September 15, 2020Rainbow Trout1,50010 inreport
September 15, 2020Cutthroat Trout54,0601.4 inreport
September 1, 2020Rainbow Trout1,0089.5 inreport
September 1, 2020Rainbow Trout1,4409.5 inreport
August 19, 2020Rainbow Trout1,02211.9 inreport
August 19, 2020Rainbow Trout1,03611.9 inreport
August 13, 2020Rainbow Trout2,2089.6 inreport
June 15, 2020Rainbow Trout1,00810.3 inreport
June 3, 2020Rainbow Trout1,0769.7 inreport
June 1, 2020Rainbow Trout1,1169.6 inreport
March 5, 2020Rainbow Trout52010.6 inreport
February 18, 2020Rainbow Trout51810.6 inreport
February 4, 2020Rainbow Trout45810.3 inreport

Access and facts

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish before you go.

About Chama River (above El Vado)

Photo of Chama River (above El Vado)
Matt Walter, CC BY 2.0
Photo of Chama River (above El Vado)
Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nearest lakes

Chama River (below El Vado) 3.9 mi last stocked October 2, 2026 Heron Reservoir 4 mi last stocked April 22, 2025 Nutrias Lakes (aka Trout Lakes) 10.6 mi last stocked September 21, 2026 Laguna Del Campo (Burns Lake) 11.2 mi last stocked September 16, 2026 Brazos River 11.4 mi last stocked June 16, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Chama River (above El Vado)?

Fishing Chama River (above El Vado) usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 120 of 123 plants on record, ahead of Cutthroat Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked October 1, 2026, averaging 10.9 in. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked October 6, 2020, averaging 7.8 in.

When is Chama River (above El Vado) stocked?

Last stocked October 1, 2026. It is stocked about 18 times a year since 2020, most often in September and October.

How big are the fish stocked at Chama River (above El Vado)?

Stocked fish average 10.8 in. Rainbow Trout average 10.9 in. Cutthroat Trout average 7.8 in.

Which lakes near Chama River (above El Vado) were stocked more recently?

Chama River (below El Vado) (3.9 mi) was stocked more recently. Chama River (below El Vado) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout.