But under the cut banks and between the watercress channels, the Rio Pe asco holds big browns and rainbows, many over five pounds. Southern New Mexico near Cloudcroft and Ruidoso. Rainbow and brown trout. Small flies, small tippet. This is one of the premier fisheries in the West.
Few anglers know about it, but many anglers fish it incorrectly.
If you like to fish with big flies, use streamers. The Powell Ranch stretch does not advertise, but its four or five miles is fishable, if not exactly prolific. The Bernard Cleve section, the only public water on the river, has plenty of gravel, which means the fall spawners end up on this water come autumn, although it does get awfully low at times. Both the Foley and Mulcock sections, about seven miles of water, charge day fees and require anglers to fish with a guide. Move on to The San Juan Return to Top Article Mark D. Willliams, 2000.