Guide To The Best Fishing Lakes In New Mexico

Top places to fish for bass, catfish, crappie and more in NM.

Conchas Lake, El Vado, Elephant Butte Reservoir, Heron Lake and Navajo Lake are the most popular places for fishing in New Mexico, offering anglers the chance to pursue a variety of fish species. Eagle Nest Lake is the top ice fishing lake in the state.

Bass Lakes

Abiquiu Reservoir, Brantley Lake, Clayton Lake, Conchas Lake, Elephant Butte Reservoir, Navajo Lake, Santa Rosa Lake and Ute Lake are considered the best options for largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass. More...

Catfish Lakes

Brantley Lake, Conchas Lake, Elephant Butte Lake, Farmington Lake, Navajo Lake, Sumner Lake and Ute Lake are favorite options for channel, blue, white and flathead catfish. More...

Crappie Lakes

Caballo Lake, Conchas Lake, Elephant Butte Reservoir, Navajo Lake and Ute Lake are the most popular for black and white crappie. More...

Sunfish & Panfish Lakes

Caballo Lake, Clayton Lake, Conchas Lake, Cochiti Lake, Elephant Butte Reservoir and Ute Lake are popular spots to fish for bluegill, bream, perch and other sunfish. More...

Walleye Lakes

Abiquiu Reservoir, Caballo Lake, Clayton Lake, Conchas Lake, Santa Rosa Lake and Ute Lake are the top lakes for walleye fishing. More...

Trout Lakes

Abiquiu Reservoir, Eagle Nest Lake, El Vado Lake, Heron Lake and Navajo Lake, Springer Lake, and Stone Lake are the favorite options for rainbow, cutthroat, brook, brown and lake trout. More...

Striped Bass Lakes

Elephant Butte Reservoir and Red Bluff Reservoir are the best options for striped bass and/or hybrid striped bass. More...

Salmon Lakes

Eagle Nest Lake, Heron Lake and Navajo Lake are the most popular for atlantic, chinook, chum, coho, kokanee, pink and sockeye salmon fishing. More...

Visit the New Mexico fishing page for links to information covering a wide variety of fish species and destinations in the state. Visit the New Mexico map to identify your best route to these top fishing locations. Look to our sister site for additional information about boating in NM at many of the most popular destinations in the state.

Best Destinations By State.