New Mexico Fishing Guides

Freshwater Fishing In New Mexico

If you think New Mexico is just desert, think again. The landscape is rich and varied, ranging from tree-covered mountains in the north to rugged mesas to desert. The state also has numerous lakes, streams, and rivers, including the Rio Grande, the San Juan, the Gila, the Canadian, and the Pecos.

Angling is a favored pastime for residents and visitors to the state. The bass fishing and trout fishing are great here, but other species are abundant, too. Coho salmon can be caught in El Vado Lake, and kokanee can be landed in Navajo Lake. Several lakes and reservoirs also hold walleye. Crappie, catfish, and a variety of bream can be caught in several lakes, reservoirs, and rivers.

New Mexico trout rivers and streams Five species of trout can be caught in New Mexico, including rainbows, browns, brookies, cutthroat, and lake trout. Some of the lakes and reservoirs hold trout, along with the following rivers and streams:

Rio Ruidoso – Trout are stocked periodically throughout the year here. It’s a good place to catch browns and rainbows.

Bonito Creek – The upper portions of Bonito provide excellent fishing for brookies and rainbows.

Hondo River – The lower section of the Hondo is stocked regularly with rainbow trout.

Red River – The red River below Questa has some large rainbows.

Fishing Guides in New Mexico

Bass Fishing In New Mexico

Bass are the most popular sport fish in the state, and you’ll find good numbers of both largemouth and smallmouth. The state record largemouth weighed in at 15 pounds, 13 ounces. Striped bass are also a favorite quarry, and the record fish in New Mexico was a 54 ½ -pound whopper. Below are some of the best bass lakes in the state:

Elephant Butte Reservoir – This huge reservoir is located in the south-central part of the state and covers 36,558 acres. It offers some of the best bass fishing in New Mexico for largemouths, smallmouths, and monster striped bass. The reservoir is actually more like two lakes than it is a single body of water. Included are shallow flats, rocks, flooded timber, submerged brush, coves, and deep areas with clear water. To fish this lake efficiently, you’ll need a bass fishing guide who’s familiar with the reservoir.

Conchas Lake – This lake is in northeastern New Mexico and covers 9,600 acres. This clear, beautiful lake has a diverse underwater landscape, with rocks, canyons, and sandbars. The lake provides great fishing for smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and walleye. A marina is onshore, and bass fishing guides are available.

Navajo Lake – This 15,000-acre lake is located in the northern section of the state. The water is clear, and in some places reaches a depth of almost 400 feet. It offers great bass fishing. In fact, the state record smallie, at 6 pounds 14 ounces, was caught here, and a healthy population of largemouth bass exists, too. Several marinas, bait shops, and professional bass fishing guides can be found.

Ute Lake – This lake is in east-central New Mexico and covers 8,200 acres. This lake is open for year round fishing, 24 hours a day. It’s a great place to land a largemouth, a smallmouth, or a white bass. There are several boat ramps on the lake, and fishing guides are available.

Sumner Lake – In east-central New Mexico lies 4,500-acre Sumner Lake.