Fishing in Central NM & Albuquerque
Rio Grande, Cochiti Lake, Abiquiu Lake, Jemez Mountains, and the rainbow trout, brown trout, largemouth bass, and walleye fishing of central New Mexico.
1. Rio Grande (Middle) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Walleye)
Rio Grande, Sandoval/Bernalillo/Socorro countiesThe middle Rio Grande from Cochiti Dam downstream through Albuquerque offers an urban fishery with trout in winter and warmwater species in summer, with multiple city park access points.
2. Cochiti Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Channel Catfish)
Cochiti Lake, Sandoval CountyCochiti Lake is a 1,200-acre reservoir on the Rio Grande offering excellent trout and bass fishing with a Corps of Engineers park, campground, and boat ramps.
3. Abiquiu Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Northern Pike, Kokanee)
Abiquiu Lake, Rio Arriba CountyAbiquiu Lake is a 5,200-acre reservoir on the Rio Chama offering excellent trout and bass fishing in the stunning red rock landscape made famous by Georgia O'Keeffe.
4. Jemez River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout)
Jemez River, Sandoval CountyThe Jemez River flows through the scenic Jemez Mountains offering excellent trout fishing with multiple Forest Service access points along Highway 4.
5. Heron Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee, Cutthroat Trout, Northern Pike)
Heron Lake, Rio Arriba CountyHeron Lake is a 900-acre irrigation reservoir offering excellent trout and kokanee fishing with a state park and hiking trails.
6. El Vado Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee, Northern Pike, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass)
El Vado Lake, Rio Arriba CountyEl Vado Lake is a 3,000-acre reservoir on the Rio Chama offering excellent trout and northern pike fishing in a scenic setting.
7. Tingley Beach (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill)
Tingley Beach, Bernalillo CountyTingley Beach is a popular urban fishing destination in Albuquerque along the Rio Grande offering three stocked ponds with a fishing pier and the Rio Grande Nature Center.
8. Rio Rancho Lake (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill)
Rio Rancho Lake, Sandoval CountyRio Rancho Lake offers good community fishing in a 30-acre lake in the Rio Rancho suburban area.
9. Albuquerque Ponds (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass)
Various locations, Bernalillo CountyThe Albuquerque urban fishing ponds at multiple city parks offer stocked rainbow trout in winter and warmwater species in summer.
10. Coronado Lake (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Bluegill)
Coronado Lake, Bernalillo CountyCoronado Lake in the Manzano Mountains offers good trout and bass fishing in a Forest Service campground setting.
11. Manzano Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Manzano Lake, Torrance CountyManzano Lake offers good trout fishing in the Cibola National Forest's Manzano Mountains.
12. McAllister Lake (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish)
McAllister Lake, San Miguel CountyMcAllister Lake offers good trout fishing in the Santa Fe National Forest near Las Vegas, New Mexico.
13. Storrie Lake (Rainbow Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Crappie)
Storrie Lake, San Miguel CountyStorrie Lake is a 1,100-acre reservoir near Las Vegas offering good trout and walleye fishing with a state park.
14. Conchas Lake (Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, White Bass, Wiper)
Conchas Lake, San Miguel CountyConchas Lake is a 9,600-acre reservoir on the Canadian River offering excellent walleye and bass fishing with a state park and full-service marina.
15. Ute Lake (Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, White Bass, Wiper, Striped Bass)
Ute Lake, Quay CountyUte Lake is a 9,700-acre reservoir on the Canadian River near Tucumcari offering excellent walleye and wiper fishing with a state park.
16. Tucumcari Lake (Channel Catfish, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill)
Tucumcari Lake, Quay CountyTucumcari Lake is a 210-acre lake in Tucumcari offering good warmwater fishing with a city park.
17. Sumner Lake (Walleye, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, White Bass)
Sumner Lake, De Baca CountySumner Lake is a 1,400-acre reservoir offering good walleye and catfish fishing with a state park.
18. Santa Fe Diversion Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass)
Santa Fe Diversion Lake, Santa Fe CountySanta Fe Diversion Lake on the Santa Fe River offers good fishing near the state capital.
19. Aspen Ranch Lakes (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Aspen Ranch Lakes, Santa Fe CountyAspen Ranch Lakes offer good private fishing near Santa Fe.
20. Bishop's Lodge Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass)
Bishop's Lodge Lake, Santa Fe CountyBishop's Lodge Lake near Tesuque offers good fishing in a scenic foothills setting.
21. Lake Roberts (Jemez) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Lake Roberts, Sandoval CountyLake Roberts in the Jemez Mountains offers good trout fishing in a Forest Service setting.
22. Redondo Creek (Jemez) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Redondo Creek, Sandoval CountyRedondo Creek offers good trout fishing in the Valles Caldera National Preserve of the Jemez Mountains.
23. Valles Caldera Streams (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Valles Caldera, Sandoval CountyThe Valles Caldera National Preserve offers excellent trout fishing in its pristine mountain streams with a permit system.
24. San Antonio Creek (Jemez) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
San Antonio Creek, Sandoval CountySan Antonio Creek offers good trout fishing in the Jemez Mountains region.
25. East Fork Jemez River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
East Fork Jemez River, Sandoval CountyThe East Fork Jemez River offers excellent trout fishing in the Valles Caldera area with wild Rio Grande cutthroat trout.
26. Rio de las Vacas (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Rio de las Vacas, Sandoval CountyRio de las Vacas offers good trout fishing in the Jemez Mountains near Cuba.
27. Rio Puerco (Jemez) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Rio Puerco, Sandoval CountyThe Rio Puerco in the Jemez Mountains offers good trout fishing in a remote setting.
28. San Pedro Creek (Jemez) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
San Pedro Creek, Sandoval CountySan Pedro Creek offers good trout fishing in the Jemez Mountains.
29. Garcia Park Pond (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Garcia Park Pond, Sandoval CountyGarcia Park Pond offers good family trout fishing in the Jemez Mountains.
30. Jackson Lake (Sandoval Co.) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Jackson Lake, Sandoval CountyJackson Lake offers good trout fishing in the Jemez Mountains.
31. Dome Lake (Sandoval Co.) (Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Dome Lake, Sandoval CountyDome Lake offers good high-elevation trout fishing in the Valles Caldera area.
32. Coyote Creek State Park (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Coyote Creek State Park, Rio Arriba CountyCoyote Creek State Park offers excellent trout fishing in a scenic mountain stream setting with campground.
33. Buttes Lake (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish)
Buttes Lake, Socorro CountyButtes Lake on the Plains of San Agustin offers good trout and bass fishing.
34. Timber Lake (Datti) (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass)
Timber Lake, Socorro CountyTimber Lake offers good fishing in the Datil Mountains of west-central New Mexico.
35. Red Hill Lake (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass)
Red Hill Lake, Catron CountyRed Hill Lake offers good trout and bass fishing in the Catron County mountains.
36. San Olaya Lake (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish)
San Olaya Lake, Socorro CountySan Olaya Lake offers good community fishing near Socorro.
37. Joe Moore Lake (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Bluegill)
Joe Moore Lake, Socorro CountyJoe Moore Lake offers good family fishing near Socorro.
38. Crows Mill Lake (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish)
Crows Mill Lake, Socorro CountyCrows Mill Lake offers good warmwater fishing in the Datil Mountains area.
39. Loon Lake (Socorro Co.) (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Loon Lake, Socorro CountyLoon Lake offers good high-elevation trout fishing in the Magdalena Mountains.
40. Chamisa Lake (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass)
Chamisa Lake, Torrance CountyChamisa Lake offers good community fishing near Estancia in Torrance County.
Fishing Tips for the Central NM & Albuquerque
- Check local regulations before fishing — each water body may have specific rules on limits, seasons, and bait.
- Spring and fall typically offer the best fishing in New Mexico for most species.
- Consider hiring a local guide for the best experience on unfamiliar waters.
- Always carry a valid New Mexico fishing license — available online through the state wildlife agency.
- Practice catch and release for sensitive species to help maintain healthy fish populations.
Get CatchTales
Ready to start bragging? Download the app and hit the water.
Free version available — upgrade to Pro for $8.99/year or $19.99 lifetime (CAD).