Article by Kevin Canfield
Most people think of New Mexico as the land of turquoise trails, vibrant art, and incredible Mexican food. And yes, we’re proudly part of the United States (so please, stop charging us international shipping!). New Mexico is a hidden gem tucked between Arizona and Texas, often overlooked but absolutely one of the best stops on old Route 66. Picturesque wide-open roads, charming towns that look straight out of a classic Western, and a rich tapestry of traditions. From our cozy Christmas lights (farolitos) to the unmistakable scent of chiles roasting in the autumn air (you can smell it for miles) New Mexico is a place like no other!
Rocky MTN Tenkara calls Rio Rancho, New Mexico, home. A cozy little spot just a stone’s throw from Albuquerque. You know, like in the old cartoon when Bugs Bunny would pop out of a hole and say, “I must have taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque.” Well, if he’d taken a right turn instead, he might have ended up in one of the hidden gems only locals know about. And as a born-and-raised Burqueño, I’m about to let you in on one of these secret spots, a tenkara angler’s paradise.
Think winding, open streams where the fish are practically waiting for you, with little to no pressure from other anglers and the abundant use of dry flies. It’s the kind of place where the fishing feels like it’s straight out of a daydream. Welcome to the Valles Caldera!
The Valles Caldera is a massive volcanic caldera located in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico, close to Los Alamos. About 1.25 million years ago, a super volcano erupted, creating this huge, roughly 13-mile-wide depression. Today, the Valles Caldera is a National Preserve, known for its unique landscape of expansive grasslands, lush forests, and stunning mountain peaks. The Valles Caldera was acquired from Dunigan’s in 2000 for the easy-going price tag of $101 Million dollars. This gave a change to the Caldera from ranching to conservation.
The Rangers at the Valles Caldera really know how to show off their volcanic backyard! They’ve got an incredible lineup of activities for visitors, from stargazing under the wide-open skies to nature hikes and even a “paint-your-surroundings” class led by pros. That’s when Rocky MTN Tenkara got the call to jump in on a brand-new adventure. We took a group of 15 eager participants out to the Caldera’s pristine rivers, where they got a hands-on intro to the art of Tenkara fishing, immersed in the beauty of the wild New Mexican landscape!
I will be the first to say that this was not our idea, and we were very lucky and fortunate that somehow the universe lined up and we got a wonderful chance to help with this different and progressive program. The program started with one class that was centered on going out with rangers and volunteers to the San Antonio River to catch fish the simplest way possible.
The day started with ranger-led education from the wonderful crew at the Valles Caldera that took the time to research tenkara’s history and how it differs from Western-style fly fishing. The next twenty minutes had some guy (myself) explain what tenkara rods do, how they are made and used, and instructions on how to set up a tenkara rod. Then BOOM straight to the river.
This is where I started to get nervous, palms sweaty, knees are weak, arms are heavy, there’s vomit on his sweater already, Mom’s spaghetti (add Eminem lyrics here).
As two of my family members, two rangers, and a few Trout Unlimited volunteers started to string up fifteen tenkara rods, I looked back and realized, I will be teaching five people that have never done this before. Five people that will get snagged in less than three minutes of fishing. Five people that will more than likely ask me why they are not getting any bites, and five people that might get frustrated and quit early.
Guess what? None of that happened.
People truly enjoy tenkara fishing because of one thing: simplicity.
They can teach themselves through trial and error and there is less equipment to blame when something goes wrong. The simple part about tenkara isn’t what we think as novices or professionals. It’s having only two things to worry about. Where the fly is going and if I am having fun. Both are easy to focus on in our tiny brains, and at some point, you let go. You let go and you let go and you let go. Fishing should have a connection, a connection of greater purpose with your surroundings.
The Valles Caldera did just that for most of our participants, a connection with an unknowing purpose. This purpose was to bring people out to the Caldera for one reason, to appreciate what is available to them when conservation gets a chance for change.
Kevin Canfield is a New Mexico-based tenkara angler and part of the Rocky MTN Tenkara team. He considers himself 2nd on the ladder and first to get fired.
This article originally appeared in the 2025 print issue of Tenkara Angler magazine.
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Indeed, a fine, fine part of the world (I had the good fortune to make annual treks for about six years to Ojo Caliente, just an hour or so up the road from Valles Caldera – too bad tenkara wasn’t yet in my ken! Maybe time to get back.)