Chama River (below El Vado) fishing

Chama River (below El Vado) fishing has Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 11 times a year since 2020, most often in August and September. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
October 2, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
78
Since 2020
Species recorded
2
Average size
9.9 in
Elevation
6,916 ft

Fish at Chama River (below El Vado)

2 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 69 plants · last October 2, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked October 2, 2026 · avg 10.5 in · 69 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 9 plants · last September 24, 2025

Last stocked September 24, 2025 · avg 4.9 in · 9 plants

Cutthroat Trout species guide

How Chama River (below El Vado) is stocked

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

No plants recorded in 2022.

Fish stocked in 2020

56,686

Fish stocked in 2021

88,429

Fish stocked in 2023

1,370

Fish stocked in 2024

75,937

Fish stocked in 2025

72,535

Fish stocked in 2026

5,668

Stocking history

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
October 2, 2026Rainbow Trout1,00211.2 inreport
September 16, 2026Rainbow Trout57613.7 inreport
June 16, 2026Rainbow Trout52510.6 inreport
June 2, 2026Rainbow Trout50711.3 inreport
May 21, 2026Rainbow Trout55311.6 inreport
May 13, 2026Rainbow Trout55010.4 inreport
March 18, 2026Rainbow Trout1,95510.2 inreport
October 2, 2025Rainbow Trout43613.1 inreport
October 1, 2025Rainbow Trout5,0123.7 inreport
September 24, 2025Cutthroat Trout20,4801.6 inreport
September 15, 2025Rainbow Trout50412.5 inreport
September 2, 2025Rainbow Trout51612.4 inreport
August 18, 2025Rainbow Trout45311.8 inreport
August 4, 2025Rainbow Trout56412 inreport
July 14, 2025Rainbow Trout55711.6 inreport
July 2, 2025Rainbow Trout46811 inreport
June 17, 2025Rainbow Trout52012.4 inreport
June 3, 2025Rainbow Trout55810.3 inreport
May 19, 2025Rainbow Trout50111.4 inreport
May 6, 2025Rainbow Trout55211 inreport
April 14, 2025Rainbow Trout56510.3 inreport
April 1, 2025Rainbow Trout84810.5 inreport
February 12, 2025Rainbow Trout24,9985.2 inreport
February 3, 2025Rainbow Trout15,0036.2 inreport
October 31, 2024Cutthroat Trout20,1042 inreport
October 9, 2024Rainbow Trout52012.4 inreport
September 17, 2024Rainbow Trout55412.6 inreport
September 17, 2024Rainbow Trout4,8017.5 inreport
September 4, 2024Cutthroat Trout23412.9 inreport
September 3, 2024Rainbow Trout50811.9 inreport
August 19, 2024Rainbow Trout51511.9 inreport
August 7, 2024Rainbow Trout9,9955.9 inreport
August 6, 2024Rainbow Trout10,0015.8 inreport
August 5, 2024Rainbow Trout51311.3 inreport
July 23, 2024Rainbow Trout9,6685.8 inreport
July 18, 2024Rainbow Trout50211 inreport
July 1, 2024Rainbow Trout53810.5 inreport
June 18, 2024Rainbow Trout74410 inreport
June 13, 2024Rainbow Trout16,7404.5 inreport
May 2, 2023Rainbow Trout40014.2 inreport
May 2, 2023Rainbow Trout48210.1 inreport
April 17, 2023Rainbow Trout48810 inreport
October 1, 2021Rainbow Trout44011.2 inreport
September 14, 2021Rainbow Trout53510.5 inreport
September 2, 2021Rainbow Trout72310.1 inreport
September 1, 2021Rainbow Trout48210.1 inreport
August 26, 2021Cutthroat Trout71,3431.1 inreport
August 17, 2021Rainbow Trout22218.5 inreport
August 17, 2021Rainbow Trout1,0529.8 inreport
August 10, 2021Rainbow Trout5969.4 inreport
July 14, 2021Rainbow Trout1,08611.1 inreport
July 8, 2021Rainbow Trout50111.4 inreport
July 1, 2021Rainbow Trout86810.4 inreport
June 22, 2021Rainbow Trout82510.4 inreport
June 15, 2021Rainbow Trout50510.7 inreport
June 1, 2021Rainbow Trout5169.9 inreport
May 25, 2021Rainbow Trout49410 inreport
May 18, 2021Rainbow Trout49210 inreport
May 3, 2021Rainbow Trout6089.3 inreport
April 26, 2021Cutthroat Trout5,9983.7 inreport
April 19, 2021Rainbow Trout5019 inreport
April 1, 2021Rainbow Trout64211.9 inreport
October 20, 2020Cutthroat Trout35,5011.9 inreport
October 5, 2020Cutthroat Trout72411.1 inreport
September 16, 2020Rainbow Trout60510.1 inreport
September 2, 2020Rainbow Trout50010 inreport
August 21, 2020Rainbow Trout77511.7 inreport
August 20, 2020Rainbow Trout2,3049.9 inreport
August 19, 2020Rainbow Trout5017 inreport
August 19, 2020Rainbow Trout54311.7 inreport
August 10, 2020Rainbow Trout2,17810.1 inreport
August 4, 2020Rainbow Trout1,16411.1 inreport
July 21, 2020Cutthroat Trout6,0614.7 inreport
July 15, 2020Rainbow Trout52511.2 inreport
July 15, 2020Cutthroat Trout4,0854.7 inreport
June 22, 2020Rainbow Trout55310.4 inreport
June 15, 2020Rainbow Trout56010.3 inreport
June 2, 2020Rainbow Trout5589.6 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.

Nearest lakes

Chama River (above El Vado) 3.9 mi last stocked October 1, 2026 Chama River (above El Vado) 3.9 mi last stocked July 20, 2026 Heron Reservoir 6.9 mi last stocked April 22, 2025 Laguna Del Campo (Burns Lake) 12.4 mi last stocked September 16, 2026 Brazos River 13.1 mi last stocked June 16, 2026

Common questions

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

Fishing Chama River (below El Vado) usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 69 of 78 plants on record, ahead of Cutthroat Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked October 2, 2026, averaging 10.5 in. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked September 24, 2025, averaging 4.9 in.

When is Chama River (below El Vado) stocked?

Last stocked October 2, 2026. It is stocked about 11 times a year since 2020, most often in August and September. No plants recorded in 2022.

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

Stocked fish average 9.9 in. Rainbow Trout average 10.5 in. Cutthroat Trout average 4.9 in.