Gila River Basin

The Gila River Basin in southwest New Mexico is a wilderness fishery unlike anything else in the state. Home to the endemic Gila Trout — found nowhere else on Earth — the basin's streams flow through the Gila Wilderness, America's first designated wilderness area. This is backcountry fly fishing at its purest, with pristine waters, minimal pressure, and the chance to catch one of the rarest trout species in North America.

Key Fisheries

• Gila River (West Fork): Remote wilderness stream accessed by trail, holding recovered populations of Gila Trout in crystal-clear pools. Bucket-list water for native trout anglers.
• Gila River (Near Hot Springs): More accessible sections near Gila Hot Springs with brown and rainbow trout.
• Gila River (Main Stem): Lower sections with transitional warm/cold water fishing.
• Mimbres River: A small stream near Silver City with seasonal trout fishing in the upper reaches.

Native Species

The Gila Trout (Oncorhynchus gilae) is a conservation success story. Once reduced to five small populations, recovery efforts have restored the species to multiple streams. These golden-hued fish are beautiful, willing dry fly eaters in their native habitat.