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America's Best Fishing Bars

By John Taranto

Oct 18, 2007

Best Bar to Rub Elbows With Ranch Hands and Movie Stars
Sportsman's Inn, Navajo Dam, N.Mex.
505-632-3271
Sidle up to the bar at the Sportsman's Inn and to your left could be a ranch hand or an oil field worker, while to your right could be one of Hollywood's leading men. "Val Kilmer has stopped in here. Also Tom Cruise...and that guy from Dances With Wolves," says owner Bill Eaves. "I think they come in here because they know they can sit back and have a good time and not be harassed by the locals."

It's hard not to feel at home at the Sportsman's Inn on the banks of the San Juan River, with its wood paneling, dim lighting, trout and bass mounts, pool table and jukebox loaded with country ballads. Over the years it's been a tradition to sign a one- or five-dollar bill and tack it to the wall or ceiling. Eaves estimates there are 6,000 bills adorning his bar.

Aside from steak and seafood, the Sportsman's Inn serves a half-pound cheeseburger topped with green chiles and bacon. Specialty drinks include the San Juan Bulldog (Absolut Vanilia and Kahlua) and the Fisherman's Godfather (Jim Beam and Disaronno).

If you're looking for a local guide, the Sportsman has you covered there, too. Bill's son Brad guides from a driftboat and knows the San Juan as well as anyone.

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