Rio Hondo Fishing Guides
Formed where two mountain streams meet at Hondo, this southeastern New Mexico river carries Sacramento Mountain water east across the desert toward the Pecos at Roswell.
Guides on the Rio Hondo
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About the Rio Hondo
The Rio Hondo begins at the village of Hondo, where the Rio Ruidoso and the Rio Bonito come together after draining opposite flanks of the Sacramento and Capitan mountains. From there it runs east through the Hondo valley, a green irrigated corridor of orchards and small farms cut into otherwise dry country, and continues toward the Pecos River at Roswell. It is one of the few places in southeastern New Mexico where mountain water reaches the desert floor in any quantity, and the contrast between the valley and the land on either side of it is striking.
The fishery changes completely along that gradient. The two forming tributaries above Hondo are genuine trout streams, and rainbow and brown trout are present in the upper system and occasionally wash down into the main river. Below Hondo the water warms and the fishery becomes a warmwater one: channel catfish are the most reliable species, largemouth and smallmouth bass hold in the deeper pools, and bluegill, green sunfish, black crappie, carp and white sucker occupy the slower water. Two Rivers Reservoir, a flood-control structure downstream, holds fish that move up into the river when conditions allow.
The gauge near Roswell reports discharge and stage, and on this river it is indispensable, because flow here is governed by irrigation diversion as much as by weather and the lower reach can go dry in stretches. A reading in the twenties or above means a connected, fishable river; a very low reading means a series of isolated pools. Summer thunderstorms over the Sacramentos can also push the river up violently and briefly, so a recent reading matters more than a seasonal expectation. The valley itself is worth the drive regardless of the fishing, and the orchards at Hondo and San Patricio make it one of the more pleasant places in the state to spend a day on a small river.
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Access
Hondo - the village at the forming confluence of the Rio Ruidoso and Rio Bonito, and the head of the river.
Roswell - the city at the downstream end, near the junction with the Pecos River.
Two Rivers Reservoir - the flood-control impoundment downstream, holding fish that move up into the river.
San Patricio - a village in the Hondo valley with road access to the upper main river.
Tinnie - a small settlement on the highway through the valley with river access.
Picacho - a village further down the valley, giving access to the middle reaches.
Rio Ruidoso - the northern forming tributary and a genuine trout stream in its own right.
Seasons
Spring: snowmelt from the Sacramento Mountains gives the most dependable flows of the year and the best chance of a connected, fishable river.
Summer: hot and heavily diverted, with the lower river often reduced to pools, punctuated by violent brief rises from monsoon thunderstorms.
Fall: flows settle and the water clears as irrigation demand falls away, making the deeper pools worth working for bass and catfish.
Winter: low and cold, with the river at its clearest and fish concentrated in whatever deep water remains.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Rio Hondo?
As of Nov 2, 5:30 am, the USGS gauge RIO HONDO NEAR ROSWELL, NM reads 24 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Rio Hondo?
Anglers target Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, White Sucker on the Rio Hondo in New Mexico.
Where can you access the Rio Hondo?
Hondo - the village at the forming confluence of the Rio Ruidoso and Rio Bonito, and the head of the river. Roswell - the city at the downstream end, near the junction with the Pecos River. Two Rivers Reservoir - the flood-control impoundment downstream, holding fish that move up into the river. San Patricio - a village in the Hondo valley with road access to the upper main river. Tinnie - a small settlement on the highway through the valley with river access. Picacho - a village further down the valley, giving access to the middle reaches. Rio Ruidoso - the northern forming tributary and a ge...
When is the best time to fish the Rio Hondo?
Spring: snowmelt from the Sacramento Mountains gives the most dependable flows of the year and the best chance of a connected, fishable river. Summer: hot and heavily diverted, with the lower river often reduced to pools, punctuated by violent brief rises from monsoon thunderstorms. Fall: flows settle and the water clears as irrigation demand falls away, making the deeper pools worth working for bass and catfish. Winter: low and cold, with the river at its clearest and fish concentrated in whatever deep water remains.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Rio Hondo?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the New Mexico agency site: https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/