Fishing in the Pecos River & Southeast
Explore fishing in the Pecos River & Southeast of New Mexico. Pecos River, Santa Rosa Lake, Brantley Lake, Lake Carlsbad
The middle Pecos River flows through the rolling plains of eastern New Mexico offering good catfish and bass fishing below the Santa Rosa Lake dam.
1. Pecos River (Middle)
Pecos River, San Miguel/Guadalupe countiesThe middle Pecos River flows through the rolling plains of eastern New Mexico offering good catfish and bass fishing below the Santa Rosa Lake dam.
2. Santa Rosa Lake (Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, White Bass, Wiper)
Santa Rosa Lake, Guadalupe CountySanta Rosa Lake is a 4,100-acre reservoir on the Pecos River offering excellent walleye and wiper fishing with a state park.
- Walleye · Limit: 5 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- White bass & hybrid striped bass · Limit: 25 per day
3. Brantley Lake (Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Channel Catfish, White Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish)
Brantley Lake, Eddy CountyBrantley Lake is a 4,600-acre reservoir on the Pecos River offering excellent bass and crappie fishing.
- Walleye · Limit: 5 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- White bass & hybrid striped bass · Limit: 25 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
4. Lake Carlsbad (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Walleye, Redear Sunfish)
Lake Carlsbad, Eddy CountyLake Carlsbad is a 230-acre lake in Carlsbad offering good warmwater fishing with a city park.
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
- Walleye · Limit: 5 per day
5. Avalon Lake (Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Bluegill, White Bass)
Avalon Lake, Eddy CountyAvalon Lake is a 500-acre reservoir on the Pecos River offering good bass and walleye fishing.
- Walleye · Limit: 5 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
- White bass & hybrid striped bass · Limit: 25 per day
6. McMillan Lake (Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Bluegill)
McMillan Lake, Eddy CountyMcMillan Lake is an old reservoir on the Pecos River offering good warmwater fishing.
- Walleye · Limit: 5 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
7. Brantley Bridge Access (Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Crappie)
Brantley Bridge, Eddy CountyBrantley Bridge Access offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
Boat Launch: Brantley Bridge Access →
8. Pecos River WMA Ponds (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Bluegill)
Pecos River WMA, Eddy CountyPecos River WMA Ponds offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
Boat Launch: Pecos River WMA Ponds →
9. Carlsbad Municipal Ponds (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Bluegill)
Carlsbad, Eddy CountyCarlsbad Municipal Ponds offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
10. Artesia Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Bluegill)
Artesia, Eddy CountyArtesia Lake offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
11. Ft. Sumner Lake (Walleye, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Crappie)
Ft. Sumner, De Baca CountyFt. Sumner Lake offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Walleye · Limit: 5 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
Boat Launch: Ft. Sumner Lake →
12. Bosque Redondo Lake (Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill)
Bosque Redondo, De Baca CountyBosque Redondo Lake offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
Boat Launch: Bosque Redondo Lake →
13. Alamogordo Lake (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish)
Alamogordo, Otero CountyAlamogordo Lake offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
14. Holloman Lake (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Bluegill)
Holloman AFB, Otero CountyHolloman Lake offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
15. Lake Van (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Bluegill)
Cloudcroft, Otero CountyLake Van offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
16. Cloudcroft Lakes (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Cloudcroft, Otero CountyCloudcroft Lakes offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
Boat Launch: Cloudcroft Lakes →
17. Sitting Bull Falls Creek (Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Sitting Bull Falls, Eddy CountySitting Bull Falls Creek offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
Boat Launch: Sitting Bull Falls Creek →
18. Rio Ruidoso (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Ruidoso, Lincoln CountyRio Ruidoso offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
19. Rio Bonito (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Ruidoso, Lincoln CountyRio Bonito offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
20. Grindstone Reservoir (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye)
Ruidoso, Lincoln CountyGrindstone Reservoir offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Walleye · Limit: 5 per day
Boat Launch: Grindstone Reservoir →
21. Mescalero Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Mescalero, Otero CountyMescalero Lake offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
22. Silver Springs Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Silver Springs, Lincoln CountySilver Springs Lake offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
Boat Launch: Silver Springs Lake →
23. Tinnie Lake (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass)
Tinnie, Lincoln CountyTinnie Lake offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
24. Baca Campground Ponds (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Baca Campground, Lincoln CountyBaca Campground Ponds offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
Boat Launch: Baca Campground Ponds →
25. Lonesome Lake (Lincoln Co.)
Lonesome Lake, Lincoln CountyLonesome Lake (Lincoln Co.) offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
26. Perk Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Perk Lake, Lincoln CountyPerk Lake offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
27. Upper Tularosa Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Tularosa Creek, Otero CountyUpper Tularosa Creek offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
Boat Launch: Upper Tularosa Creek →
28. Rio Felix (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Rio Felix, Otero CountyRio Felix offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
29. Saco Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Saco Lake, Otero CountySaco Lake offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
30. Nogal Lake (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish)
Nogal, Lincoln CountyNogal Lake offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
31. Three Rivers Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Three Rivers, Otero CountyThree Rivers Lake offers good fishing in the Pecos River and southeastern New Mexico region.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
Boat Launch: Three Rivers Lake →
32. Bluewater Lake (Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie)
Bluewater Lake, New MexicoPopular fishing lake in the Pecos River & Southeast region of New Mexico.
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
33. Caballo Lake (Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie)
Caballo Lake, New MexicoPopular fishing lake in the Pecos River & Southeast region of New Mexico.
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
34. Heron Lake (Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie)
Heron Lake, New MexicoPopular fishing lake in the Pecos River & Southeast region of New Mexico.
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
35. Morphy Lake (Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie)
Morphy Lake, New MexicoPopular fishing lake in the Pecos River & Southeast region of New Mexico.
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
36. Navajo Lake (Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie)
Navajo Lake, New MexicoPopular fishing lake in the Pecos River & Southeast region of New Mexico.
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
Boat Launch: Navajo State Park Boat Ramp →
37. Santa Cruz Lake (Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie)
Santa Cruz Lake, New MexicoPopular fishing lake in the Pecos River & Southeast region of New Mexico.
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
38. Stinking Lake (Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie)
Stinking Lake, New MexicoPopular fishing lake in the Pecos River & Southeast region of New Mexico.
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
Fishing Tips for the Pecos River & Southeast
- 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 Pecos River & Southeast 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
- Eastern Plains & Lakes
- Northern Mountains & Rio Grande
- Southwestern NM & Gila
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