The State of New Mexico’s River Stewards Initiative has spent time and money in the past four years restoring the Red River with the help of Riverbend Engineering LLC (Albuquerque). The result: excellent fishing opportunities along the river from one end of town to the other.
Trout fishing guides have played an important role in the conversion of Red River from 19th century mining camp to 21st century vacation destination. Tony Simion of the Monte Vista Lodge in the 30s/40s, Dexter Walthall of Dexter’s Trading Post in the 50s/60s and Don Buchanan of The Starr in the 70s and 80s are icons of Red River fishing.
Fly fishing has experienced a nationwide resurgence of interest in the past 15 years. Currently the town is home base for fishing guides in the grand tradition of Red River angling. Everyday they work the river and high country streams and lakes, as well as the fabled Rio Grande and Eagle Nest Lake.
Jeff Fagan of Fagan Fly Fishing, with an office a block from the river at the corner of Main and Mallette Road, caught his first trout in Red River at age 6. He’s been guiding veteran anglers to the sweet spots and teaching the art of fly fishing for 21 years. He enjoys teaching and guiding with the goal of providing a quality outdoor experience. He advocates Catch and Release.
Sloan Covington has been guiding tours for the past seven years, working first from The Starr with Bobby “Chunks” Fellows until last summer when he opened Red River Angler Shop at the corner of Main and Copper King Trail. He sells fishing licenses as well as all the gear needed to walk to the river a block and a half away.
Kai Dunbar operates The Laughing Trout guiding service at The Starr, the corner of Main and Gilt Edge Trail. The Starr carries quality flies and equipment, fishing shirts and clothing, as well as Red River souvenirs. During the winter, he’s the chef at The Tip Restaurant at the Red River Ski & Summer Area. Last March he became the proud father of a baby boy.
Larry Patterson of Mountain Shadows Angler at 1301 E. Main has spent 20+ years delighting anglers on private lakes and ponds. He’s ready for 2018.
It’s called Willow Pond. Built in the early 1950s as Rainbow Lake, it was a pay-by-the-pound trout fishing lake. In recent years it’s been known as the Municipal Pond and it’s free for NM fishing license holders.
During the winter it serves as the source of water for snowmaking at the Red River Ski & Summer Area. In the summer and fall, it serves as a popular public trout fishing lake within the town limits.
Located on Claim Jumper St. across from the Ski Area, reconstruction in 2017 saw the lake closed to fishing. Completed last fall, it’s open again and the results are spectacular. Stocked by the Town of Red River and the NM Game & Fish, it promises fine fishing and easy access.
Williams Trading Post on High Street has a summer fishing contest for the biggest fish. Enter. Win a trophy.