Fishing Caballo Lake

AKA: Caballo Lake State Park

Popular Fish Species
Caballo Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
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Boat Launch Ramps
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Caballo Lake, NM

Popular Fish Species Caballo Lake, NM

Caballo Lake Popular Fish - Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Caballo Lake offers good fishing for largemouth bass. Lately, fishing here for bass has been improving. Some big bass roam Caballo Lake, thanks to excellent fisheries management by the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, as well as the availability of extensive cover for both baitfish and bass. When the bite is good, bass typically move shallow and are quite aggressive. If you find them shallow and they are not tempted to bite, slow down and use smaller, lighter baits. Fishing for largemouth bass is good virtually any time they are shallow - in spring, mornings in summer, and during warm Fall afternoons. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, big worms, jigs and spoons are three good weapons. In winter, spend your time fishing Caballo Lake on deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time. Smallmouth bass also reside here in good numbers.

Caballo Lake Popular Fish - Striped Bass

Striped Bass Fishing

Due in part to their large size, striped bass are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides here at Caballo Lake. They are plentiful, run in schools and many of them grow to bragging size. In Spring and Fall work the upper end of the lake where water is flowing into the lake. Look for deeper water in the river channel, as a holding place for stripers. In Summer and Winter, stripers hang out in deeper water during the day and feed close to the bottom, 50 feet or deeper. Morning often draws the stripers to the much shallower water, look for them around the 20-foot range as they feed on shallow-running schools of bait. The lake is filled with plenty of baitfish and sunfish to to keep the fishery thriving. Being successful at fishing for stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers which are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Live bait is very effective here, and stripers can be caught year round.

White Bass Fishing

After several very successful spawn years, white bass are flourishing in Caballo Lake and anglers should expect some great fishing this year. White bass are aggressive, hard-fighting and just plain fun to catch. When fishing for white bass, the average fish is typically in the one- to two-pound range. These schooling fish tend to roam around the lake looking for ideal water conditions and baitfish. Look for them to generally be in 15 to 35 feet of water, whether they are hovering around the bottom or swimming in open water. Fish finders are the best way to locate big schools of white bass. In spring, once the water temperature rises into the mid sixties, they move shallow into the backs of coves and creek channels to spawn. At this time anglers can fish from shore and often do quite well. Use lures that imitate baitfish, including crankbaits, jerkbaits, jigs and spoons.

Caballo Lake Fishing Video

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.

Plenty of bank fishing is available at Caballo Lake is a 11,400-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, at the town of Caballo. Plenty of the over 24 miles of shoreline is accessible. Anglers tend to focus on bass, crappie, catfish, and walleye. The lake also has trout, sunfish, northern pike and hybrid stripers. There's no marina or rental boats, so bring a canoe, kayak or fishing boat and enjoy the views and great fishing.

Fishing report for Caballo Lake

Primary fish species residing in Caballo Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Caballo Lake Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: NO
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: NEARBY (10 miles)
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: NO

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Caballo Lake State Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Palimino Road, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.

East Side Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southeast section of the lake, at the east end of the dam, off County Road B040, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.