Traveling to Eagle’s Nest NM at the end of the week, Any advise?
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Hello,
I have been trying to do some research on the Cimarron River and the Eagles Nest area fishing. I was wondering if anybody had any experience in the area and knew some spots. I have no clue about the area. I have been reading reports and trying to learn as much as I can. If anybody has any advise, tips, or suggestions I would love to hear them. Also if anybody knows of an affordable guide service that I might be able to book on a weeks notice.
Thanks guysChad
Check in with Doc Thompson at High Country Anglers (http://www.flyfishnewmexico.com). There is not a better resource on the Cimarron and the area of Northern New Mexico fly fishing. There is a podcast on Fly Fish Radio where they interview Doc Thompson about the Cimarron. I think it was done back in May or June of “06. Might want to check that out as well.
Chad,
In town, and on the corner of the road leaving Eagle’s Nest and heading to Red River, there is a flyshop, cannot remember the name. Will try to look it up when I get home. But the guy in there is knowledgeable and helpful. I bought my first rods from him. He can help with some guide services. But if I were you, I would keep driving West and try to hook up with a guide named Doc Thompson. Again, I will try to get his contact info for you when I get home.D.
Good call Shane! I did not remember which rivers Doc guided on. I thought he was further west: Chama, Pecos,….
D.Anothe guide is Greg Faught. I guided with him on the Cimarron and can say he is THE Best guide on that river, no disrespect to Doc. I have fishe dwith both. Greg can be found hanging out at Dos Amigos Anglers, the fly shop in Eagle Nest.
Check out his site here:
http://nmtrout.com/Home_Page.html
Tell him Juan sent you. Mark Stewart is the onwer of Dos Amigos and can be reached at 575-377-6226Right now the flow is at 32CFS, which is just perfect for the Cimarron. As Greg about the Cimarron Special and some of the other flies that were born on this river. PM me for more info.
The Cimarron is one of my top 3 rivers of all time to fish. It is a blast and you will have a ton of fun. Pictures and a report are required!!!!
Juan
Chad,
Juan just filled in my blanks: Dos Amigos in Eagle’s Nest. He was always very nice and flowing with info. when I went to that part of the country. Looks like you got your info. I think you should send Juan a case of beer. And no, Naty Light will not do.Dusty
Chad,
Juan just filled in my blanks: Dos Amigos in Eagle’s Nest. He was always very nice and flowing with info. when I went to that part of the country. Looks like you got your info. I think you should send Juan a case of beer. And no, Naty Light will not do.Dusty
I like your thinking. 🙂
Ok-more info.
Tricos should be on the river during this time. 9:00-11:00am spinner fall. Small spinner patterns #20-24
Hopper/dry/droppers work great here. Think a #14 yellow Stimi followed by a #16 Cimarron Special. Or a Parachute hopper followed by a #20 BH KF Emerger. Or heck, just go with a # 18 parachute adams and just have fun. You do not want to do a lot of walking on this stream. Find a good stretch of water and work every bit of it. A 4 hour guide trip would only move a couple hundred yards, so don’t get in a hurry to spot fish. You will never see them. There are an estimated 3-4,000 fish per mile in this little stream and they see a ton of people and they fit in the smallest nooks and crannies. Fish smart. Ask Mark how to fish slow and smart. Trust me, your trip will be much better taking it easy. Stay away from the beaver ponds, only turons fish those.Hope this helps.
Juan
Thanks again guys. I have emailed both guides. They both sound amazing and are priced relatively the same. I am just waiting to hear back from both to see if they have any openings next week. I know it is short notice, but I am keeping my fingers crossed. Either way I will surely visit both shops.
Next question! Does anybody know of any good bars or night life going on in eagles nest. A young bachelor as myself has to occupy his evenings with some for of entertainment!
Next question! Does anybody know of any good bars or night life going on in eagles nest. A young bachelor as myself has to occupy his evenings with some for of entertainment!
In Eagle’s Nest? Not much to my recollection. I would say go to Red River, visit Bull of the Woods, or Texas Red’s. But keep in mind that you still have to get back to the lodge after a night at the bar. And on this road there are rivers and cliffs you and your drunken frat brothers could fall into or off of. And knowing you and them as I do, and you stellar driving records, I would just save the money and load up on beer and head back to the lodge. Those N. New Mexico law officials love TX frat boy money. TX license plates are like a frekin’ beacon for those guys.
D.
And if your path takes you from Amarillo to Raton, you better get off the gas before you role through. Last time I went to Red River I got pinched by the local county mounty driving Gifford’s truck. the worst part is he ahd bought one of those fool-proof fuzz-busters. The hi-po officer looked at it and laughed.
I appreciate the advice! I’ll have you know that I have a perfect driving record, but I’d be a fool to risk it. I might try some of the local spots. A cabin full of dudes can be fun for a while, but we might have to see if we can find some warm bodies to invite to the cabin. There we go, two birds one stone.
As for the beer I owe Juan, its going to be kind of hard to mail. But I should get you some Lone Star, Shiner, or Zeigenbach. Put a little Texas flair in you.
Usually once I leave Texas I don’t really speed a whole lot so we will be okay there, but thanks for the heads up.
Juan,
I talked to him last night…and…uhm…fishing was not on his mind. Something about chasing some skirts. I think he has been landing some fish, though not what he had planned. They seem to be small and few, but he did get some fish at the Beaver Ponds on the way to Middle Fork trail, in R.R.D.
HEY HEY,
I am back, got the batteries recharged and ready to start year 5 1/2 of college. The Weather and landscape were a nice break from the miserable North Texas heat and scenery. Fishing was good.. at the end of the week. I had the toughest time fishing the Cimarron. It was more narrow and shallow than I am used too. I was using a 9ft and most of the deeper running areas couldnt have been more than 10 – 12ft wide. A lot of tree’s and brush made even roll casting hard. I know a lot of you told me not to go, but I was up there with some friends and thats where they wanted to go. But wait it gets worse… they were bait casters. (pause for boo’s and hisses) In their defense, they had a free cabin, so let’s leave it at that. Back to fishing, I took all of yalls advise and tried it all. I even printed most of yalls post off and put it in my pack for refrence. The folks at Dos Amigo’s shop were great. They had everything I needed. The Tricos went off like clock work around 10 – 10:30am. I am new to dry flying and need some work, but I was casting well and putting it right on them and nothing was biting. I was watching them roll to the left and right of me but couldnt get anything. Cimarron Special #14 and #16 got nothing either. I finally landed a few nymphing and they seemed to be hitting the smaller disco and zebra midges. Nothing more than 2 or 3 a day for the first couple of days.I should have just gotten a guide, but it was a little more money than I was wanting to spend. So finally the last couple of days, I just cleared my mind and tried to do the simplest thing possible, so I broke out the wooly bugger. You would not believe the success I had. I would find a deep run and just twitch it back up stream and I couldn’t real them in fast enough. I started catching much better quality fish too. I think the smallest I caught on the wooly bugger was probably a 14 inch. Had a lot of success in the ponds over in Red River with the wooly bugger too. Big fish, in the pond I was pulling 16 to 18 inches every time. Dusty called towards the end of my trip and suggested an ‘adventure’, I wish i could have made the hike, but I was WAY to hung over. All in all it was a good trip. Made me realize i still have a lot to learn. Also, I broke my rod, it was a three rivers rod from cabelas, (don’t laugh) but it was my best rod. So Dusty, I hope you still have some of those used rods your looking to pawn off. I think cabelas might actually guarantee the rod, but it was probably time to step up anyways.Dusty, I am still not sure on the trip this weekend. I would like to go but the Toadies Concert is on friday night and I got a hot date. I spent a lot of money on this last one and should probably save for a week or so, but then again when have I ever made good decisions. I really want to go but I’ll let you know by wednesday night.
I sure I forgot something in my report, so just ask me if you want to know anything else. Also, I am about to try and post some pictures but I really need to reduce the size. Dont want to make Zack mad. Thanks again everyone for all of your advise and interest.
My buddy David.
It’s a rough life!
Probably the coolest guy you will ever meet.
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