From Alpine Trout to Tiger Muskie, Discover New Mexico’s Best Fishing Holes

Quick Take

• One lake on this list harbors a predator so prized that keeping a single fish requires it to hit a specific size most anglers never see. Tiger muskie rules →
• New Mexico has a stretch of river where the rules change completely mid-stream, and fishing the wrong section the wrong way can ruin your trip. San Juan fishing zones →
• Record-breaking bass lurk in one specific lake here, but most visiting anglers target the wrong species entirely. Record bass at Elephant Butte →
• The highest-elevation spot on this list comes with a warning from park officials that most anglers shrug off, a warning they tend to regret only after arriving unprepared. Alpine lake warnings →

New Mexico is home to over 1,200 lakes and 108,000 miles of rivers. Anglers can try their luck at catching all sorts of warm water species. You’ll find catfish, white bass, walleye, and bluegill, plus large and smallmouth bass. The year-round fishing season makes New Mexico a great place to visit any time of year. However, where will you have the best experience? Keep reading to discover some of the best fishing spots in New Mexico.

1. Eagle Nest Lake

Eagle Nest Lake in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico is a 2,400-acre alpine fishery inside Eagle Nest Lake State Park. The lake is known for rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout, as well as kokanee salmon, which are all routinely stocked. Anglers also target northern pike and yellow perch. Both boat and shoreline fishing are popular. Eagle Nest Lake is also a favorite destination for ice fishing, typically beginning in January. Camping and other recreational activities are available. The park elevation is approximately 8,200 feet, so park officials warn visitors to be prepared for high elevation conditions.

2. Cimarron River

The stretch of the Cimarron River in northern New Mexico is a favorite tailwater fishery that flows from Eagle Nest Lake through Cimarron Canyon State Park. The river is popular with fly fishers, and it is known for high numbers of wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout. The park also offers camping facilities and other outdoor activities such as hunting, picnicking, birding, and hiking. If it is your first time fishing the area, the park has a list of fishing guides to help ensure you have a good experience.

3. San Juan River

World-class trout fly fishing is found in the Quality Waters of the San Juan River beginning around 3.75 miles below Navajo Lake Dam. “Quality Waters” is a 3.5-mile section where there are large numbers of rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout. The upper 3.5 to 4.25 miles below Navajo Dam is catch-and-release only, but the General Waters farther downstream allow standard bait and are subject to state bag limits.

4. Elephant Butte Lake

Elephant Butte Lake State Park is New Mexico’s largest state park. Plus, With 36,000 acres of water and more than 200 miles of shoreline, Elephant Butte Lake is also New Mexico’s largest body of water. The park has a boat ramp, a dock, and a marina that can accommodate many different types of watercraft, from houseboats to kayaks. Elephant Butte is well-known for its record-breaking bass. Anglers target white, black, and striped bass, as well as catfish, walleye, and crappie. The state park has many amenities, as well as a wide variety of other outdoor activities.

5. The Rio Grande

The northern New Mexico stretch of the Rio Grande is a popular area for wild brown trout, rainbow trout, Rio Grande cutthroat trout, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. Some of the best access spots are centered around the Rio Grande Gorge near Taos and Questa, the John Dunn Bridge near Cerro and Questa, and the Orilla Verde Recreation Area, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Be sure to check current rules for bag limits, catch-and-release boundaries, and special trout water designations on the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish website.

6. Bluewater Lake

Bluewater Lake is a 1,500-acre reservoir located around 25 miles west of Grants. The lake is famous for tiger muskie fishing, channel catfish, smallmouth bass, and stocked rainbow trout. Bluewater Lake State Park has a boat dock and a ramp, and motorized and non-motorized boats are permitted. For anglers fishing for tiger muskie, catch-and-release is encouraged. Fishers can only keep one fish per day, and it must be at least 40 inches long.

7. Rio Chama (Chama River)

The Rio Chama is a major tributary of the Rio Grande. Located in northern New Mexico, the Rio Chama is known as a premier trout fishery. Anglers target wild brown trout, stocked and holdover rainbow trout, and native cutthroats. Some of the prime locations on the river include the area below El Vado Dam, the area below Abiquiu Dam, and the headwaters north of Chama near the Colorado border. Make sure to check current rules on the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish website, as there may be special catch-and-release or bait restrictions that apply to specific segments of the river.