Fishing in Southwestern NM & Gila
Explore fishing in the Southwestern NM & Gila of New Mexico. Gila River, Gila Trout Recovery Waters, Bill Evans Lake, La
The Gila River in the Gila National Forest is home to the rare native Gila trout and offers excellent wilderness trout fishing in the rugged Gila Wilderness.
1. Gila River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Gila Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass)
Gila River, Grant/Catron countiesThe Gila River in the Gila National Forest is home to the rare native Gila trout and offers excellent wilderness trout fishing in the rugged Gila Wilderness.
2. Gila Trout Recovery Waters (Gila Trout)
Various streams, Grant/Catron countiesSeveral remote streams in the Gila Wilderness are managed for the recovery of the endangered Gila trout, New Mexico's state fish.
Boat Launch: Gila Trout Recovery Waters →
3. Bill Evans Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout)
Bill Evans Lake, Grant CountyBill Evans Lake is a 120-acre lake offering excellent warmwater fishing with a county park.
- ⚠ This water: Trophy Bass Water; Winter Trout Water; No trotlines; Boats
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
Boat Launch: Bill Evans Lake →
4. Lake Roberts (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Bluegill)
Lake Roberts, Grant CountyLake Roberts is a 250-acre lake in the Gila National Forest offering excellent trout and bass fishing with a Forest Service campground.
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
5. Mountain View Lake (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Bluegill)
Mountain View Lake, Grant CountyMountain View Lake offers good fishing in a mountain setting.
- Crappie · Limit: 20 per day
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
Boat Launch: Mountain View Lake →
6. Bear Mountain Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Bear Mountain Lake, Grant CountyBear Mountain Lake offers good high-elevation trout fishing in the Pinos Altos Mountains.
Boat Launch: Bear Mountain Lake →
7. Lake Bataan (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Lake Bataan, Grant CountyLake Bataan offers good trout fishing in the Gila National Forest.
8. Ft. Bayard Pond (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Bluegill)
Ft. Bayard, Grant CountyFt. Bayard Pond offers good community fishing.
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
Boat Launch: Ft. Bayard Pond →
9. Wall Lake (Catron Co.)
Wall Lake, Catron CountyWall Lake in the Gila National Forest offers excellent trout fishing in a scenic mountain setting.
10. Snow Lake (Catron Co.)
Snow Lake, Catron CountySnow Lake offers good trout fishing in the Gila Wilderness area.
11. Mogollon Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Gila Trout)
Mogollon Creek, Catron CountyMogollon Creek offers excellent wilderness trout fishing in the remote Mogollon Mountains.
12. Whitewater Creek (Catron)
Whitewater Creek, Catron CountyWhitewater Creek offers good trout fishing in the Mogollon Mountains of the Gila National Forest.
Boat Launch: Whitewater Creek →
13. San Francisco River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass)
San Francisco River, Catron/Greenlee countiesThe San Francisco River offers both trout and warmwater fishing in the remote mountains of western New Mexico.
Boat Launch: San Francisco River →
14. Tularosa River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Tularosa River, Catron CountyThe Tularosa River offers good trout fishing in the Gila National Forest.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
15. Saliz Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Gila Trout)
Saliz Creek, Catron CountySaliz Creek offers excellent Gila trout fishing in a remote Gila Wilderness stream.
16. Largo Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Gila Trout)
Largo Creek, Catron CountyLargo Creek offers good wilderness trout fishing in the Gila National Forest.
17. Negrito Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Gila Trout)
Negrito Creek, Catron CountyNegrito Creek offers good trout fishing in the remote Gila Wilderness.
18. Quemado Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee)
Quemado Lake, Catron CountyQuemado Lake is a 100-acre high-desert lake offering good trout and kokanee fishing in western Catron County.
- 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)
19. Apache Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Apache Creek, Catron CountyApache Creek offers good trout fishing in the Apache Creek area of the Gila National Forest.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
20. West Fork Gila River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Gila Trout)
West Fork Gila River, Grant CountyThe West Fork of the Gila River offers excellent wilderness trout fishing in the Gila Wilderness with hike-in access.
21. East Fork Gila River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Gila Trout)
East Fork Gila River, Grant CountyThe East Fork of the Gila River offers excellent remote trout fishing in the Gila Box Riparian Area.
22. Middle Fork Gila River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Gila Trout)
Middle Fork Gila River, Grant/Catron countiesThe Middle Fork Gila River is a National Wild and Scenic River offering outstanding wilderness trout fishing.
23. South Fork Gila River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Gila Trout)
South Fork Gila River, Grant CountyThe South Fork offers good trout fishing in the Gila Wilderness.
Boat Launch: South Fork Gila River →
24. Gilita Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Gila Trout)
Gilita Creek, Catron CountyGilita Creek offers excellent Gila trout fishing in the Gila National Forest.
25. Diamond Creek (Catron Co.)
Diamond Creek, Catron CountyDiamond Creek offers good wilderness trout fishing in the Gila National Forest.
26. Little Creek (Catron Co.)
Little Creek, Catron CountyLittle Creek offers good trout fishing in the Gila National Forest.
27. Sacaton Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Gila Trout)
Sacaton Creek, Catron CountySacaton Creek offers good trout fishing in the remote Gila Wilderness.
28. Spruce Creek (Catron Co.)
Spruce Creek, Catron CountySpruce Creek offers good trout fishing in the Gila National Forest high country.
29. Canyon Creek (Catron Co.)
Canyon Creek, Catron CountyCanyon Creek offers good trout fishing in the Gila National Forest.
30. Rain Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Gila Trout)
Rain Creek, Catron CountyRain Creek offers excellent Gila trout fishing in a remote section of the Gila Wilderness.
31. Iron Creek (Catron Co.)
Iron Creek, Catron CountyIron Creek offers good trout fishing in the Gila National Forest.
32. Buford Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Buford Lake, Catron CountyBuford Lake offers good high-elevation trout fishing in Catron County.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
33. Patterson Lake (Catron)
Patterson Lake, Catron CountyPatterson Lake offers good high-mountain trout fishing in the Gila National Forest.
34. Mesa Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Mesa Lake, Catron CountyMesa Lake offers good trout fishing in the San Francisco Mountains of Catron County.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
Boat Launch: Fenton Lake State Park →
35. Torrey Lake (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Torrey Lake, Catron CountyTorrey Lake offers good wilderness trout fishing in the Gila National Forest.
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
36. Horseshoe Lake (Catron)
Horseshoe Lake, Catron CountyHorseshoe Lake offers good trout fishing in the remote Catron County mountains.
37. Frisco River (San Francisco)
Frisco River, Catron CountyThe Frisco River offers good trout and bass fishing along the Arizona-New Mexico border.
38. Bear Creek (Catron Co.)
Bear Creek, Catron CountyBear Creek offers good wilderness trout fishing in the Gila National Forest.
39. Indian Creek (Catron Co.)
Indian Creek, Catron CountyIndian Creek offers good Gila trout fishing in the remote Gila Wilderness.
40. Collins Lake (Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout)
Collins Lake, New MexicoNamed lake in the Southwestern NM & Gila region of New Mexico.
- Other warmwater (bluegill, sunfish, bullheads, freshwater drum) · Limit: 20 per day
- Cutthroat trout · Limit: 2 per day / 4 possession
Fishing Tips for the Southwestern NM & Gila
- 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 Southwestern NM & Gila 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
- Pecos River & Southeast
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