We’re grateful to recognize Artful Angler as one of the generous partners supporting our annual fundraiser auction this year.
Artful Angler donated a guided fly fishing trip to help support our chapter, and we truly appreciate that generosity. Support like this helps make our fundraiser possible and strengthens the work we do throughout the year in conservation, education, and building a stronger angling community here in Northern New Mexico.
Based in Santa Fe, Artful Angler offers guided fly fishing trips across Northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, including waters around Santa Fe, Taos, Chama, and Navajo Dam. They guide on a wide range of rivers and streams, including the Rio Grande, Rio Chama, San Juan, Jemez streams, Pecos, Vallecitos, and Brazos, and offer both wade trips and float trips depending on the season, conditions, and the kind of day an angler is looking for.
What we especially appreciate about Artful Angler is the way they bring together fishing, learning, and a deep sense of place. Their trips are designed to meet anglers where they are, whether that means introducing someone to fly fishing for the first time or helping a more experienced angler sharpen technique and spend time on new water. They provide all equipment, flies, tackle, food, and drinks, and they build each trip around current conditions and the needs of the anglers they’re hosting.
There is also a thoughtful, educational side to what they do that feels especially meaningful. Artful Angler describes its trips as environmental education-based experiences, with time spent not just on tackle, rigging, casting, and presentation, but also on the river ecosystem itself, from aquatic insects to trout habitat to the broader conservation work that protects these fisheries. They also emphasize catch-and-release ethics and careful fish handling, which reflects the kind of values we’re always glad to see in a chapter partner.
That spirit carries through their guide team as well. Founder Jake Clemens grew up in La Cienega, returned home to Santa Fe after time away, and built Artful Angler after guiding for other local shops and services. His background in environmental science and outdoor education comes through clearly in the way the business talks about fishing and teaching. The broader guide team also reflects a strong regional and conservation-minded character, with backgrounds that include fisheries science, Trout Unlimited, Indigenous planning, and deep New Mexico roots.
We also like how strongly Artful Angler is connected to the landscapes and waters of this region. Their rivers page reads less like a simple list of destinations and more like an invitation to explore New Mexico’s remarkable range of trout water, from the rugged Rio Grande gorge to the Rio Chama and beyond. That local knowledge matters. So does the understanding that a day on the water here can be about much more than numbers—it can be about scenery, learning, challenge, and a deeper appreciation for the places that make fly fishing in New Mexico so special.
That same sense of care shows up in the way people talk about fishing with them. Testimonials on their site consistently mention patient instruction, strong teaching ability, local knowledge, and the feeling that a guided day with Artful Angler is about the whole experience, not just the catch. Anglers mention learning new skills, gaining confidence, enjoying the beauty of the day, and coming away with a better understanding of both fishing and the places where they were fishing.
Their blog adds to that picture in a really positive way. Recent posts focus on practical fishing knowledge and river awareness, including mayflies, hatch timing, fish fighting, reading water, and safe catch-and-release practices. That kind of information-sharing reflects the same strengths their guided trips are built on: teaching, observation, and respect for the resource.
Community partnerships like this mean a great deal to our chapter. Businesses like Artful Angler are part of the larger network of people helping keep fly fishing strong in New Mexico. They introduce people to rivers, help anglers build skills and confidence, and contribute to the broader culture of stewardship that healthy fisheries depend on. When partners like Artful Angler support our fundraiser, they help strengthen not just our chapter, but the wider community that cares about these waters and the future of coldwater conservation.
We are thankful to Artful Angler for their generosity and for being part of that effort. Their donated trip will be an exciting opportunity for one lucky auction winner, and we’re proud to recognize them as a partner in this year’s fundraiser. We encourage you to learn more about Artful Angler, explore their trip offerings, and spend some time getting to know the waters they guide by visiting artfulanglersantafe.com.
Thank you, Artful Angler, for supporting our chapter, our waters, and our community.
