Fishing in the Eastern Plains & Lakes
Explore fishing in the Eastern Plains & Lakes of New Mexico. Ute Lake, Conchas Lake, Clayton Lake, Lake Alice, Costilla
Ute Lake is a 9,700-acre reservoir on the Canadian River near Tucumcari, one of New Mexico's top walleye and wiper fishing destinations with a state park.
1. Ute Lake (Eastern)
Ute Lake, Quay CountyUte Lake is a 9,700-acre reservoir on the Canadian River, one of New Mexico's top walleye and wiper fishing destinations with a state park.
2. Conchas Lake (Eastern)
Conchas Lake, San Miguel CountyConchas Lake is a 9,600-acre reservoir offering excellent walleye and bass fishing with a state park and marina on the Canadian River.
Boat Launch: Conchas Lake State Park →
3. Clayton Lake (Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout)
Clayton Lake, Union CountyClayton Lake is a 170-acre lake offering good walleye and catfish fishing with a state park and campground.
- ⚠ This water: Trophy Bass Water; Open to fishing from noon March 1–noon Oct.
- Walleye · Limit: 5 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
4. Lake Alice (Clayton)
Lake Alice, Union CountyLake Alice offers good trout and warmwater fishing in a 20-acre lake.
5. Costilla Reservoir (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee)
Costilla Reservoir, Taos CountyCostilla Reservoir on the eastern edge of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains offers excellent trout and kokanee fishing.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
- Trout (brown, brook, rainbow, Gila) & kokanee salmon · Limit: 5 per day / 10 possession (max 2 lake trout and/or 2 cutthroat in limit)
Boat Launch: Costilla Reservoir →
6. Springer Lake (Walleye, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill)
Springer Lake, Colfax CountySpringer Lake is a 500-acre irrigation reservoir offering good walleye and catfish fishing.
- Walleye · Limit: 5 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
7. Maxwell Lakes (3)
Maxwell Lakes, Colfax CountyThe Maxwell Lakes offer good community fishing in the Maxwell area of Colfax County.
8. Raton Lake (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie)
Raton Lake, Colfax CountyRaton Lake offers good trout and warmwater fishing.
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
9. Luna Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Luna Lake, Catron CountyLuna Lake offers good high-elevation trout fishing on the Mogollon Rim of western Catron County.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
10. Socorro County Lakes (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish)
Socorro CountySmall lakes throughout Socorro County offer good trout and bass fishing in the Plains of San Augustin.
Boat Launch: Socorro County Lakes →
11. Quemado Lake (eastern)
Quemado Lake, Catron CountyQuemado Lake is a popular trout lake on the high plains of western Catron County.
12. Blue Hole (Santa Rosa)
Blue Hole, Guadalupe CountyThe Blue Hole is a unique 80-foot-deep artesian spring in Santa Rosa offering crystal-clear trout fishing and scuba diving.
13. Lake Sumner (Walleye, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, White Bass)
Lake Sumner, De Baca CountyLake Sumner is a 1,400-acre reservoir offering good walleye and catfish fishing with a state park.
- Walleye · Limit: 5 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- White bass & hybrid striped bass · Limit: 25 per day
14. Villanueva Lake (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass)
Villanueva Lake, San Miguel CountyVillanueva Lake offers good fishing in the Villanueva State Park on the Pecos River.
Boat Launch: Villanueva Lake →
15. Lake Arthur (Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Bluegill)
Lake Arthur, Chaves CountyLake Arthur is a small irrigation lake offering good warmwater fishing.
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
16. Bitter Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Bluegill)
Bitter Lake, Chaves CountyBitter Lake in the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers good fishing in a unique aquatic habitat.
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
17. Bottomless Lakes (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill)
Bottomless Lakes, Chaves CountyBottomless Lakes State Park features a series of deep sinkhole lakes offering unique fishing opportunities.
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
Boat Launch: Bottomless Lakes State Park →
18. Lea Lake (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Bluegill)
Lea Lake, Chaves CountyLea Lake in Bottomless Lakes State Park offers good fishing with a swimming beach and campground.
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
Boat Launch: Bottomless Lakes State Park →
19. Dexer Lake (Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill)
Dexter Lake, Chaves CountyDexter Lake offers good community fishing.
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
20. Hagerman Lake (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass)
Hagerman Lake, Chaves CountyHagerman Lake offers good fishing in the Roswell area of eastern New Mexico.
21. Tyler Lake (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass)
Tyler Lake, Chaves CountyTyler Lake offers good fishing in the Pecos River valley.
Boat Launch: Alameda Bridge West →
22. Green Lake (Chaves Co.)
Green Lake, Chaves CountyGreen Lake offers good fishing in the Roswell area.
23. Park Lake (Roswell)
Park Lake, Chaves CountyPark Lake in Roswell offers good community fishing in a city park setting.
24. Grindstone Lake (Ruidoso)
Grindstone Lake, Lincoln CountyGrindstone Lake is a 200-acre reservoir in Ruidoso offering excellent trout and bass fishing with a golf course and picnic areas.
Boat Launch: Alto Lake and Recreation Area →
25. Eagle Creek (Ruidoso)
Eagle Creek, Lincoln CountyEagle Creek offers good trout fishing in the Ruidoso area of the Lincoln National Forest.
Boat Launch: Alto Lake and Recreation Area →
26. Bonito Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Bonito Lake, Lincoln CountyBonito Lake is a 130-acre lake in the Lincoln National Forest offering excellent trout fishing.
- ⚠ This water: Open to fishing during daylight hours 30 minutes before sunrise to
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
Boat Launch: Alto Lake and Recreation Area →
27. Little Bonito Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Little Bonito Lake, Lincoln CountyLittle Bonito Lake offers good trout fishing in the Lincoln National Forest.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
Boat Launch: Little Bonito Lake →
28. Cienega Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Cienega Lake, Lincoln CountyCienega Lake offers good trout fishing in the Capitan Mountains of Lincoln County.
29. Capitan Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Capitan Lake, Lincoln CountyCapitan Lake offers good trout fishing in the Capitan Mountains hometown.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
30. Alto Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Crappie)
Alto Lake, Lincoln CountyAlto Lake in the Alto area of Ruidoso offers good fishing in a mountain setting.
- ⚠ This water: Shore fishing hours: 5 a.m.–11 p.m.; Boat hours: Sunrise to sundown;
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
Boat Launch: Alto Lake and Recreation Area →
31. Mescalero Lake (eastern)
Mescalero Lake, Otero CountyMescalero Lake on the Mescalero Apache Reservation offers good fishing for tribal members and guests.
Boat Launch: Alto Lake and Recreation Area →
32. Tularosa Creek (eastern)
Tularosa Creek, Otero CountyTularosa Creek offers good trout fishing in the Sacramento Mountains.
33. Sunspot Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Sunspot Lake, Otero CountySunspot Lake offers good high-elevation trout fishing in the Sacramento Mountains.
34. Sleeping Lady Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Sleeping Lady Lake, Otero CountySleeping Lady Lake offers good trout fishing in the Sacramento Mountains.
Boat Launch: Sleeping Lady Lake →
35. Karr Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Karr Lake, Otero CountyKarr Lake offers good trout fishing in the Lincoln National Forest.
36. Saddle Lake (Sunspot)
Saddle Lake, Otero CountySaddle Lake offers good high-elevation trout fishing.
37. Wills Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Wills Lake, Otero CountyWills Lake offers good trout fishing in the Sacramento Mountains of the Lincoln National Forest.
38. Cox Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Cox Lake, Otero CountyCox Lake offers good high-elevation trout fishing in the Lincoln National Forest.
39. Machine Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Machine Lake, Otero CountyMachine Lake offers good trout fishing at 9,000 feet in the Sacramento Mountains.
40. Rio Peñasco (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Rio Peñasco, Otero CountyRio Peñasco offers good trout fishing in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
Fishing Tips for the Eastern Plains & Lakes
- Get a licence — All anglers need a valid state fishing licence — check your state's wildlife agency site.
- Check the weather & water conditions — always check forecasts and wind before heading out, especially on big water.
- Know the regulations — size and catch limits vary by water body in New Mexico; check the local regulations first.
- Best times — early morning and late evening are prime. Many Eastern Plains & Lakes waters fish best in spring and fall.
- Use the right gear — match your rod, line, and tackle to the species you're chasing and the water you're fishing.
More Regions in New Mexico
- Central NM & Albuquerque
- Northern Mountains & Rio Grande
- Pecos River & Southeast
- Southwestern NM & Gila
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