Chama River (abv El Vado) fishing

Chama River (abv El Vado) fishing has Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 7.9 times a year since 2020, most often in June and September. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
July 20, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
55
Since 2020
Species recorded
2
Average size
10.6 in
Elevation
6,940.7 ft

Fish at Chama River (abv El Vado)

2 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 53 plants · last July 20, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked July 20, 2026 · avg 10.8 in · 53 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 2 plants · last October 5, 2020

Last stocked October 5, 2020 · avg 6.2 in · 2 plants

Cutthroat Trout species guide

How Chama River (abv El Vado) is stocked

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

The first plant of the year usually falls in the third week of April. In 2026 it was May 13, 2026, later than usual.

Fish stocked in 2020

61,600

Fish stocked in 2021

14,802

Fish stocked in 2023

2,098

Fish stocked in 2024

27,943

Fish stocked in 2025

12,793

Fish stocked in 2026

6,236

Stocking history

Showing 5 of 55 plantsShowing 55 plants

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
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
October 1, 2025Rainbow Trout1,07013.2 inreport
September 15, 2025Rainbow Trout1,00812.5 inreport
September 2, 2025Rainbow Trout51612.4 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 Trout1,08011.8 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 Trout1,05510.5 inreport
November 19, 2024Rainbow Trout4,9106.3 inreport
October 8, 2024Rainbow Trout91012.4 inreport
September 24, 2024Rainbow Trout3,4977.1 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 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 2, 2023Rainbow Trout84410.1 inreport
April 26, 2023Rainbow Trout40015.1 inreport
April 17, 2023Rainbow Trout85410 inreport
October 1, 2021Rainbow Trout79211.2 inreport
September 15, 2021Rainbow Trout1,07810.8 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 Trout1,4449.3 inreport
May 3, 2021Rainbow Trout1,0239 inreport
April 19, 2021Rainbow Trout1,0029 inreport
April 5, 2021Rainbow Trout93612 inreport
October 5, 2020Cutthroat Trout1,44010.9 inreport
September 15, 2020Rainbow Trout1,50010 inreport
September 15, 2020Cutthroat Trout54,0601.4 inreport
September 1, 2020Rainbow Trout1,4409.5 inreport
August 19, 2020Rainbow Trout1,03611.9 inreport
June 15, 2020Rainbow Trout1,00810.3 inreport
June 1, 2020Rainbow Trout1,1169.6 inreport
Show all 55 plants +Show less

Access and facts

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Nearest lakes

Chama River (blw El Vado) 3.9 mi last stocked September 16, 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

Public land at Chama River (abv El Vado)

Chama River (abv El Vado) is inside El Vado Lake State Park.

Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.

Common questions

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

Fishing Chama River (abv El Vado) usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 53 of 55 plants on record, ahead of Cutthroat Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked July 20, 2026, averaging 10.8 in. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked October 5, 2020, averaging 6.2 in.

When is Chama River (abv El Vado) stocked?

Last stocked July 20, 2026. It is stocked about 7.9 times a year since 2020, most often in June and September. The first plant of the year usually falls in the third week of April. In 2026 it was May 13, 2026, later than usual. No plants recorded in 2022.

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

Stocked fish average 10.6 in. Rainbow Trout average 10.8 in. Cutthroat Trout average 6.2 in.

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

Chama River (blw El Vado) (3.9 mi), Nutrias Lakes (aka Trout Lakes) (10.6 mi), and Laguna Del Campo (Burns Lake) (11.2 mi) were stocked more recently. Chama River (blw El Vado) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout, Nutrias Lakes (aka Trout Lakes) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout, and Laguna Del Campo (Burns Lake) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.