Fishing Report For Caballo Lake, NM

By Rick Seaman

March 16, 2025

Popular Fish Species Reports
Caballo Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
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Fishing Report Caballo Lake, NM

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Caballo Lake, NM

Largemouth Bass

Current Report: Fair To Good
Outlook: Good

Although there are some big bass in Caballo Lake, the majority of bass being caught are just nice keeper fish in the 13" to 16" range. The New Mexico Department of Game & Fish maintains the fishery for multiple fish species, including bass., A wide variety of lures are catching largemouth bass here, but many local anglers report throwing the most standard baits. Worms, jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and vibrating jigs are all catching fish. Bass are being caught from one end of the lake to the other, with rocky points standing out as primary areas.

Walleye

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good

Early in the morning, and from dusk to long after dark are good times to catch walleye at Caballo Lake. Spring and Fall are the best season for catching walleye. In Summer and Winter, they like to school up in deeper water where they slow-cruise around flats and structure nearby deep water. Walleye primarily feed close to the bottom. Jigs and blade baits are working well when they are shallow. Once walleye move to 15' of water or deeper, trolling is the best way to locate the schools. Spoonplugs, deep diving crankbaits, spoons and worm harnesses are catching them. Once you locate a school, a drop-shot rig with minnow-shaped plastics is a good way to work the school.

White Bass

Uncle Buck's Panfish Creatures Curly Tail Minnow Rigged

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good

Caballo Lake has a very healthy population of white bass, which tend to start their spawning run once the water temps get into the mid 50's. This run has started and the place to concentrate is in the north end of the lake, on rocky banks. White bass will congregate here for several weeks. Jigs, swimbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, small crankbaits, small jerkbaits, and most any lure that looks like baitfish are catching plenty of fish. During Summer, Fall and Winter the white bass migrate back to the main lake areas following baitfish. Trolling at a moderate speed, with the same lures, has been working for the warmer and colder months.

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, bluegill, white bass, striped bass and northern pike at Caballo Lake in New Mexico.

Caballo Lake is a 11,400-acre lake with over 24 miles of shoreline, much of which is accessible for bank fishing. Anglers are catching bass, crappie, white bass, catfish, and walleye. The lake also has trout, sunfish, northern pike and hybrid stripers.

Primary fish species to catch

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Click here for boat ramps available at this lake.

Fishing License

Click here for a New Mexico Fishing License.

Map - Fishing & Access

Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".