Colorado ·
New Mexico ·
Rio Grande Fly Fishing Report - November 1, 2026
RIO GRANDE
ReportNOV 1 — 8, 2026
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Flow
1070CFS
RIO GRANDE NEAR CERRO, NM
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-10-31
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Weather
38–57°F
Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow has dropped significantly to 1,070 CFS at the Cerro gauge (height 6.35 ft) from last week's flood pulse of 3,080 CFS — water is clearing and fish are repositioning into feeding lanes. A major rain event arrives tonight with up to an inch or more of precip through Sunday night, so fish hard this morning before conditions deteriorate.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
BWO WD-40 #22
#22
Barr's Flashback Emerger - BWO #22
#22
Roza's World Spain Perdigon Barbless #18 - 32
#18
Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive #12
#12
Olsen's Straggle Stone Brown Barbless #12 - 32
#12
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Tungsten Jig Bugger - Olive - Barbless #14
#14
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Lil Bit Craven - Dark Olive #22
#22
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midge (Chironomid) | 20-22 | Heavy | 10 AM - 2 PM |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Moderate | 11 AM - 2 PM |
| Caddis | 18-20 | Light | 12 PM - 3 PM |
| Sculpin / Baitfish | 4-6 | Moderate | 7 AM - 10 AM |
Best Time Window
- 7 AM - 10 AM: Prime streamer and nymph window before cloud cover thickens — target deeper runs and channel ledges with the Sparkle Minnow or Jig Bugger for aggressive pre-storm browns.
- 10 AM - 1 PM: Best dry fly and emerger opportunity as overcast skies trigger BWO and midge activity — watch for rising fish in slower flats and present the Parachute BWO or Barr's Flashback Emerger.
- 1 PM - 3 PM: Fish nymphs hard in deeper holding water before rain arrives — the storm front will push fish down and nymphing the bottom with a Frenchie or Perdigon will be most productive.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows at 1,070 CFS and clearing after last week's flood, fish are actively feeding and repositioning — focus on the soft seams just off the main current and the inside bends of deeper runs where trout are stacking up. Set your indicator rig to fish 1.5 to 2 times the water depth and use a heavy anchor nymph like the Thread Frenchie to get down fast. Get on the water early this morning; rain arrives after 2 AM and conditions will deteriorate through Sunday with up to an inch of rain expected — this afternoon's overcast skies before the storm could trigger an excellent BWO hatch, so have a dry fly ready. After the storm passes Monday, expect flows to spike again and water to color up, so plan accordingly.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
