Check out the Membership Information Page to learn about the benefits of becoming a NM Trout member. It's easy to pay via PayPal or by sending in a check. The trout of New Mexico appreciate your membership!

A warm welcome to our newest members—glad to have you as part of the NM Trout community!

When: 2nd Tuesday of each month

Time: 5:00 pm for fly tying demo. 5:45 pm for dinner. 6:30 pm for presentation or event.

Where: The Daily Grind. 4360 Cutler Ave NE

Upcoming Presentations and Events:

• Nov 11: Jim Brooks. Gila Trout
• Nov 11: General Elections
• Dec 9: Brian Beaudoin. State of the Organization.
• Dec 9: Holiday Event

When: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month

Time: 6:00-8:30 pm

Where: Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center (Rm 3)

501 Elizabeth St SE

Upcoming Ties:

• Nov 4: Mega Prince Wet Fly
• Nov 18: The Damsel Fly nymph Wet Fly

When: 1st Thursday of each month

Time: 5:30 pm

Where: January, April, July, October, November at Sandia Presbyterian Church, others via ZOOM.

Upcoming Meeting: Nov 6, Sandia Presbyterian Church.

President’s Message - Officer Elections

Rick Luitich, President

November marks an important time for New Mexico Trout - our annual elections for President and Vice President will take place at the general membership meeting on the 11th. This is your chance to help shape the future of our club, support new leadership, and ensure that the direction we take continues to align with our values.

Over the past year, we’ve had strong participation at events, successful conservation projects, and great energy around our tying roundtables and clinics. None of that happens without members who care and leadership that listens. Voting is one of the simplest ways we contribute to an organization that better represents the diverse views and interests of its members. Every vote truly matters and helps guide how we support trout waters, conservation efforts, and education here in New Mexico.

As your “lame duck” president, I want to thank all of you for your support and involvement during my term. It’s been a privilege to serve, and I’m excited to see where the next team of leaders will take us. So come to the November meeting, cast your vote, and stay for the camaraderie that makes this organization special.

Hopewell Lake Fly Fishing Clinic & Campout, Sept 16-18

by Dave Klosterman

New Mexico Trout members gathered for a late-September weekend of fishing, instruction, and camaraderie at Hopewell Lake, a high-mountain gem located between Tres Piedras and the turnoff to Chama at 10,000 feet. Though modest in size—about 14 acres and 15 feet deep at its deepest point—Hopewell’s shallow weed beds provide rich insect life and consistent trout action. The lake is regularly stocked by NM Game & Fish and also holds naturally spawning brook trout.

Conditions for the clinic couldn’t have been better. The surface temperature hovered around 55–56°F with partly cloudy skies and a steady south wind that kept a light chop on the water—ideal for fly fishing. Trout were feeding actively along the weed edges and channels, rising to midges and a small Callibaetis mayfly hatch.

Instructors Dave Klosterman and Brian Beaudoin led sessions on lake tactics, effective flies, float tubing, and water safety, while Eric “Bug Man” Collins showcased the fascinating insect life of the lake—everything from mayflies and damselflies to aquatic worms, scuds, and beetles.

Anglers fished with floating lines and 7- to 9-foot leaders. The top flies were size 12–14 brown and olive Buggers, with small leeches also producing. Short, six-inch retrieves with pauses proved most effective, though some trout struck immediately after the fly landed—just as Marvin Wafer discovered when his twenty-inch rainbow inhaled the fly seconds after his cast straightened.

The event began Friday as members set up camp and gathered around the fire to enjoy Frito Pie Chili prepared by Eric. That evening brought good fishing and even better camaraderie. Dave tested the waters early and landed an impressive 40 trout, including several between 17 and 20 inches.

Saturday featured the main clinic, with hands-on instruction and a hearty lunch from Dave’s Famous BBQ. For many attendees, it was a day of firsts—Marvin landed his first 20-inch rainbow, while Yayo, new to float tubing, quickly found her rhythm and caught several trout up to 19 inches. “Yayo stood out as a natural for this style of fishing,” said Dave.

Both Marvin and Yayo reflected on how rewarding the outing was. Marvin shared, “The camaraderie was great, the instruction was very informative, and the fishing was excellent. This is what I joined NMT for!” Yayo added that she hopes to see “more outings, both lake and river.”

By the weekend’s end, everyone agreed: events like this are what make NMT special. Dave plans to continue leading future lake clinics—two in the spring (March and April) and two in the fall (late September and October)—and discussions are already underway for a Smallmouth Bass clinic.

2026 Conclave is Right Around the Corner!

📅 Save the Date: March 7, 2026

📍 CNM Workforce Training Center

For more than 40 years, the New Mexico Trout Conclave has been our signature annual event—part celebration, part learning experience, and our largest fundraiser of the year. Membership dues help, but it’s the Conclave that truly sustains our conservation and education efforts.

For new members—or anyone who hasn’t yet attended—the Conclave is a special day dedicated to everything we love about fly fishing. You’ll hear from dynamic speakers, discover new techniques, and learn about some incredible fishing destinations. There are exciting raffle prizes, including guided trips, along with vendors, demos, good food, and great company. It’s a perfect chance to make new friends, reconnect with old ones, and share our passion for fly fishing.

We’re excited to announce one of our headline speakers for next spring’s Conclave: Cinda Howard, owner and operator of Fly Fish Arizona and Beyond. Since 2013, Cinda has been guiding anglers across the White Mountains of Arizona and beyond. To get to know her better, visit her YouTube channel.

Finally, a big thank-you to Bruce Newton and Peggy Clews for volunteering to co-manage this year’s Conclave raffle. Be sure to thank them when you see them at a meeting or event—they’re helping make this one of our best Conclaves yet!

Habitat Restoration on the Rio de las Vacas, Oct 8

Ron Loehman

On October 8, Rio Grande Return staff and volunteers from a half dozen organizations, including NM Trout, turned out for the last restoration project of the season in the Jemez mountains watershed. The location was a reach of the Rio de las Vacas near the intersection of highway 126 and FR 20 that is the first part of a multiyear $1.2M project to restore fish and wildlife habit on the Vacas. The objective was to get some beaver dam analogs (BDAs) installed and functioning this year before everything is shut down by cold weather. 

The Rio de las Vacas originates in the San Pedro Parks wilderness and is one of the main drainages of that ten-thousand-foot-high plateau. In most years San Pedro Parks receives a deep snowpack that melts slowly through the spring and powers runoff and flows to the Rio Guadalupe and Jemez Creek that last well into summer. Beaver dams and BDAs slow runoff, raise the water table, increase streamside vegetation, and improve stream habitat for aquatic organisms. 

The Vacas project will include the same elements as other Jemez area riparian restorations: BDAs, elk and cattle fencing, and dense plantings of willow and cottonwood cuttings. The rationale and expected results are the same as I described in the October Issue of the newsletter. I anticipate that this project will provide many volunteer opportunities in the 2026 season.

Fluttering Caddis - Oct 7 Class

Our most recent fly tying class was a fun and educational evening focused on simplicity and technique. Instructor Rod led the session using a projector setup so everyone could easily follow along with each step. Participants received all the materials and a detailed instruction sheet to take home.

Five members attended the class, with extra help from Dave to guide beginners through the finer points of tying. The featured pattern was the Fluttering Caddis—a straightforward yet effective fly using just three materials: green dubbing, red hackle, and elk hair.

Throughout the session, attendees learned how to properly dub a body, size elk hair for a balanced wing, and palmer hackle for durability and movement. By the end of the night, everyone walked away with a few finished flies and sharper tying skills ready for the next hatch.

Whether you’re brand new to tying or have been at the vise for decades, our Fly Tying Roundtable is a great place to connect, learn, and share ideas. We encourage all members—beginners and seasoned tiers alike—to join us. The Roundtable is a wonderful chance to pick up new skills, learn effective patterns, and enjoy the fellowship of our fly fishing community.

Modern Fly Tying/Fishing

Jerry Burton

Editor’s Note: As fly fishing continues to evolve, some anglers are fully embracing modern materials and techniques and finding great success along the way. In this month’s piece, Jerry shares his perspective on how innovations in gear and fly tying have changed the sport from the days of bamboo rods and polar bear hair flies.

I no longer use fur and feathers when tying dry flies — I only use foam. The bodies are foam, the wings are foam, and the legs are rubber. My rod is made of carbon fiber, and my tippet is a carbon fiber line called SpiderWire. The reel is die-cast aluminum, the line is a plastic-coated material, and the leader is monofilament.

When I first started fly fishing, things were very different. My first fly rod was ten feet long and made of bamboo. It had an automatic reel, and my dad would occasionally coat the line with some kind of dressing. As a boy, I remember it feeling heavy. The only fly we used was a small bunch of polar bear hair, and we mostly fished for bluegills at my grandmother’s cottage in northern Wisconsin. When we went after yellow perch, we used night crawlers for bait. All that time spent roll casting as a kid made me pretty good at it.

The biggest event that changed fly fishing was the release of the movie A River Runs Through It. Suddenly, everyone wanted to try fly fishing. That boom brought loops on the ends of lines and leaders, “poppers” (strike indicators), and a flood of new anglers — many of whom knew very little about trout or where to find them. But what a bonanza it was for fly shops and gear makers!

Recently, I went out using a mix of old and new — a modern rod setup paired with a foam fly and SpiderWire tippet. In just two hours, I caught 21 nice browns. I doubt I could have done that with traditional dry flies and 4X or 5X tippet. I never had to change the fly, dry it to make it float, or worry about breaking off a fish. The durability of foam flies and the strength of modern lines made all the difference.

Modern materials may not have the romance of fur and feathers, but they sure make for a productive day on the water.

(under $10) Needle hooks for tying legs

submitted by Dave K.

Whether you've seen Dave tie pheasant tail legs or you just watched the video in pro pointers above, you're now ready to do it yourself. Buy some needle hooks, give some to friends, and get ready to have some fun (after a little frustration).

(under $10) Paint filter to sample underwater

submitted by Alberto P.

Wrap a fine mesh paint filter around your net and use it to sample the aquatic insects in the stream you're fishing. When nothing is hatching above the surface there's still plenty of action below and this is one way to figure out what the trout are eating.

(under $30) RestorLine to repair fly line

submitted by Miguel P.

RestorLine products are quick, permanent fly line repair solutions that restore your fly line to factory condition so you're back to fishing with confidence. No matter the damage, there is a RestorLine solution. Check out ReLoop to replace your fly line's damaged welded loop.

Los Pinos - Our Local Fly Shop

Tucked away on Cutler Ave, Los Pinos Fly Shop has been a cornerstone of New Mexico’s fly-fishing community for years. Originally opened by Bob and Lee Wigdren, the shop has been under ownership of Mark and Cindy Sawyer since 2008. For the Sawyers, running Los Pinos isn’t just about selling gear — it’s about sharing the joy of fly fishing with anyone who walks through the door.

The name Los Pinos traces back to the Los Pinos Creek in Colorado—a place that still carries the soul of the shop’s beginnings. For Mark, taking over the store wasn’t something he planned. “I was taking a fly tying class at Los Pinos,” he recalls, “and found out it was for sale.” That twist of fate turned a hobby into a lifelong passion project. Since then, the family-owned shop has become a friendly hub for anglers from all over. “Meeting new people and watching them evolve,” Cindy says, is the best part of running the business.

If you stop by, you’ll likely be greeted by Mark, Cindy, or Tom Sawyer — or maybe even Norm Maktima, a world champion fly fisher and one of Umpqua’s signature tyers. Norm’s patterns, such as the Iron Midge, Hot Shot Baetis, and the famous Perdichingon, are shop favorites and go-to flies for many local anglers.

The Sawyers’ own story in fly fishing began back in high school, and their appreciation for the sport is woven into every corner of the shop. From fly-tying materials to rods and reels, Los Pinos carries gear that speaks to both newcomers and seasoned anglers alike. They host fly-tying classes in the fall and winter, and often bring in local tiers for special events — a great way for the community to stay connected and inspired.

Their favorite waters? The Conejos River tops the list — though when asked about the allure of fishing in New Mexico, Cindy simply describes it as “unique and beautiful.” That sentiment captures what many of us feel about casting a line in this state’s diverse landscapes.

As part of their connection to the local fishing scene, Los Pinos regularly supports New Mexico Trout, Trout Unlimited, and Project Healing Waters — doing what they can to keep the angling community strong and sustainable.

Los Pinos also makes it easy for New Mexico Trout members to support their local shop. Members receive 10% off all full-priced items, including rods, reels, and lines, when they present their valid NM Trout ID in-store (so don’t forget to bring it!). And in an especially generous gesture, Los Pinos stays open late on NM Trout general meeting days, giving members an extra chance to stop in, browse, and chat before heading to the meeting. It’s one more way the Sawyers show their appreciation for the club and its members.

As for memorable moments? The crew jokes that Tom “falls in the water a lot,” and that lighthearted spirit sums up what Los Pinos is all about — a place where fishing stories, friendships, and laughter flow as easily as the rivers they love.

If you haven’t visited yet, now’s the perfect time to stop by, say hello, and see what’s new. Supporting Los Pinos means supporting a local business that gives back to our community — one cast at a time.

Shops

Los Pinos Fly Shop, Albuquerque NM

Custom Fly Rod Crafters, Albuquerque NM

San Juan Rodworks, Albuquerque NM

Guiding Services

About Trout, San Juan, Conejos, and Upper Animas

Float n Fish, San Juan NM

Book it to the River, Jeremy Dugger