Fishing Report For Elephant Butte Lake, NM

Current Report: Good

Currently the lake level is low, making launching difficult and requiring cautious boat operation for safety.

Enjoying the tremendous cover of rocks and brush throughout Elephant Butte Lake, bass are growing big. Reports from recent bass tournaments indicate the winners are catching bass that average 15" long. And, there are some trophies swimming these waters.

FALL. Now that late Fall taking over, bass are moving out of shallow coves and shallow bays, following schools of baitfish back into deeper feet of water. Currently jerkbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, slow-rolled spinnerbaits, artificial worms, spoons and jigs are catching most of the bass. Later in Fall, as deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons, jigs and drop shots are often good choices.

WINTER. Winter will isolate largemouth around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. When lake levels are normal, they can be found from 20 to 40 feet deep, around main-lake channel edges, rock piles, stump fields and brush piles. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations are key to getting bites. On warmer days, especially during late afternoons, bass may move shallower to feed.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 6 to 15 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 8 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 6 to 18 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms, jigs, worms, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they will be caught in 3 to 12 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 12 to 30 feet deep. Some of the best reports seem to be from anglers fishing around brush piles, deep channel edges and submerged trees.

Current Report: Very Good

FALL. In early Fall, stripers had returned to shallower water. They are now following schools of bait, which are hanging out in deeper water. Look for shallow water nearby deeper river channels, and fish them thoroughly. Most any lure that resembles shad will catch striped bass at this time of year. Late Fall, when the lake rises again, will find most of the stripers in 30 to 40 feet of water.

WINTER. In Winter, when the water levels are higher, stripers again hang out in deeper water and feed close to the bottom, often as deep as 80 feet. Warm, sunny afternoons occasionally draw stripers shallower, to around 20 or 30 feet deep as they feed on roaming schools of threadfin shad and gizzard shad. The main lake basin, along deep channels is holding schools of stripers, especially in the section of lake around the dam. Locate schools of bait, then look for stripers close by. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice stripers are caught while drift fishing with live bait or cut bait. Spoons, blade baits, and heavy hair jigs are also effective this time of year. Due to the stripers slower metabolism this time of year, anglers are triggering more strikes by working baits more slowly.

SPRING. Water temperatures are return to the mid 60's, and that's ideal for the stripers to spawn. Thanks to the inflow from the Rio Grande River, stripers can have a reasonable spawn. And, the spawn cycle is good for anglers who fish the inflowing water. In Spring, work the upper end of the lake, and the backs of coves, where there is inflowing water. If they spawn, this is where they will lay eggs in the moving water. Once the Spring spawning is over, the schools of stripers move to open water of the main lake, continually moving as they follow baitfish. They also move into transition zones on the main lake, in 10 to 35 feet of water, feeding on baitfish which are moving toward the shallows. Expect to locate them on mid-depth ledges, flats or points. The lake record is well over 50 pounds, and many anglers believe there are bigger ones to be caught.

SUMMER. Summer months are the ideal time to chase striped bass here. Early in the season, these stripers hang out in deeper water during the heat of the day, 15 to 30 feet deep (when lake levels are at normal pool). Much of the time they are holding over deeper, open water. In Summer, especially early mornings, when stripers herd shad to the surface, there is an excellent topwater bite. Being successful at fishing for stripers in Summer is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and sonar electronics, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice stripers are being caught while trolling or drift fishing. Spoons, blade baits, crankbaits, live bait and cut bait are all effective here.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

FALL. Now late Fall finds white bass following baitfish moving back out of shallow coves and bays, into deeper water. Spoons, jigs, underspins and small spinnerbaits are catching good numbers of whites. Later, once the shallows cool considerably from chilly Fall temperatures, schools of white bass, along with baitfish, move even deeper. They will relate to most any structure, which includes drops, humps, timber, and creek channels.

WINTER. Winter for white bass is a continuation of Fall patterns, except slightly deeper, around 20 to 60 feet (when lake levels are at normal pool). They are being caught on the same lures, but most are caught using a slower retrieve. They often concentrate in the main lake basin, around drop offs, points and humps. Good reports come from anglers fishing around humps in deep water and drop-offs along main-lake channel edges.

SPRING. The Spring run, when white bass move into the river sections of the lake, inflowing creeks, or along windy points where they stay for several weeks. to spawn. This makes it easier to locate schools in 3 to 25 feet of water. Small swimbaits and small crankbaits all work well for white bass. White bass start their spawn run once the water temperature reaches the mid 50's. Early Spring is a prime time to fill the livewells with some fat white bass. Spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, small crankbaits, small jerkbaits, and most any lure that resembles baitfish, will catch these feeding whites. As the water temperatures continues warming, they move out of spawning areas, into slightly deeper water. Look for them following schools baitfish in 20 to 25 feet deep. Also, watch for feeding frenzies when they chase schools of bait to the surface, and the fishing can be spectacular.

SUMMER. Summer finds white bass congregating in the main lake area, following and feeding on baitfish. They tend to stay in 15 to 50 feet of water, moving up and down the water column with the baitfish. They are being caught on slow-rolled spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, spoons, blade baits and small crankbaits, depending on the depth of the baitfish. Middle of the lake channel edges, points and deeper flats hold both bait and white bass in the warmest months.