At dusk, sunlight glitters on the water like so many jewels. A few nocturnal animals amble out for supper after their long day's sleep.
A fresh hatch of bugs swarm over the water, occasionally getting nabbed by a hungry trout arching out of the water and then flopping back leaving shimmering rings. Fishing, it’s more than a way to provide tonight’s dinner. This is food for the soul. And whether you catch for food, or catch and release, try the following:
Within the Angel Fire Resort, Monte Verde Lake is stocked with trout in summer. Permits range from $10 to $35. Guests can rent everything from poles to boats. The small, stocked pond at Olympic Park is free for children, seniors and those who are physically challenged.
Coyote Creek State Park, 17 miles south of Angel Fire, is ideal for fly fishing, as is Cimarron Canyon State Park, 22 miles northeast. Sections of Cimarron Creek are “special waters” and limited to barbless, artificial flies and lures.
Eagle Nest Lake, 12 miles north, is a primo fishing spot for kokanee salmon, rainbow and cutthroat trout. Shore fishing is an option but it’s worth it to hire a guide. The lake features a deep channel near the center, which is ideal for salmon trolling. Visitors must pay a State Park use fee and have a valid New Mexico fishing license.
The spectacular Valle Vidal Unit from Cimarron to Costilla north of Questa offers myriad options but, be aware that, at 70 miles to the entrance via Cimarron and 90 miles via Costilla, the Valle Vidal is not a short outing. Fish species in Costilla Creek include rainbow trout, brown trout and cutthroat trout. Once you enter the Valle Vidal Unit it's catch-and-release. The Valle Vidal is closed May 1 - June 30 during elk-calving season.
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