El Paso area
Rio Grande, canals, ditches:
Public. The scenery isn't great and the
fishing can be slow, but the river and the canals and drainage ditches through the valley contain lots of bass, catfish and carp. A New Mexico or Texas fishing license is required.
Hide-A-Way Lakes:
Private. Catfishing in the small lakes 40 miles southeast of El Paso off Texas 20 near Tornillo for $5 a hook and $5 a vehicle. Information: (915) 764-2555.
Plain View Lakes:
Private. Catfishing in small lakes near Tornillo for $6 a pole and $6 a vehicle. Information: (915) 764-2750.
Rainbow Lake:
Private. Fishing for bass, bluegill and catfish in a small lake behind the Old El Paso cannery in Anthony, Texas. Entry fee is $3 for two people, plus $3 a pole.
Ruidoso area
Bonito Lake:
Public. The most popular trout fishing lake in New Mexico is stocked twice a month with more than 2,000 rainbow trout during fishing season, April 1-Nov. 30.
Alto Lakes:
Public. Two 20-acre lakes are open year-round and are regularly stocked during the summer months with rainbow trout. Eagle Creek feeds the lakes, located about six miles north of Ruidoso. Best baits: salmon eggs, worms, Power Bait and flies. No boats.
Grindstone Lake:
Public. The Ruidoso area's newest lake is stocked with rainbow trout and open year-round. Non-motorized boats are allowed.
Rio Ruidoso:
Public and private. Stocker rainbow trout and an occasional German brown trout can be caught in the stream that flows through Ruidoso. Upstream, the north and south forks are on Mescalero Apache Tribe land, where anglers must pay a $4 daily fee.
Private. This large lake located next to the Inn of the Mountain Gods always is well-stocked with rainbow trout by the Mescalero Apache Tribe. The tribe charges anglers $8 a day.
Silver Lake:
Private. The 6-acre lake about halfway between Ruidoso and Cloudcroft off N.M. 24 is stocked once a week with about 1,000 rainbow trout. The Mescalero Apache Tribe charges $4 to fish there.
Eagle Lakes:
Private. Two small lakes that resemble mountain cattle ponds are always well-stocked with rainbow trout by the Mescalero Apache Tribe, which charges $4 to fish there.
Silver City area
Gila River:
Public. Fish for trout in the forks above the Gila Cliff Dwellings and bass and catfish in lower stretches.
Bill Evans Lake:
Public. The state record largemouth bass was caught from the lake last year. Anglers also catch trout in the winter and lots of panfish during the summer.
Lake Roberts: Public.
Trout and an occasional smallmouth bass can be caught at the scenic lake north of Silver City. Skip it this summer, however, because it's being dredged.
Snow, Wall lakes: Public.
The small lakes in the middle of the Gila National Forest contains trout and are accessible during the summer.
Quemado Lake:
Public. Far from the crowds, the 7,000-foot lake is full of rainbow trout.
Pecos River area
Bitter Lakes: Public.
Limited catfishing and bass fishing at Bitter Lakes National Wildlife Refuge near Roswell.
Bottomless Lakes:
Public. Trout are stocked during the winter at the small lakes east of Roswell.
Lake Van:
Public. The small community lake is stocked with trout during the winter, large catfish during the summer.
Brantley Lake:
Public. The large reservoir on the Pecos River northeast of Carlsbad is full of white bass, black bass, crappie and catfish.
Pecos River:
Public. Anglers can catch white bass, crappie and catfish along the river from Brantley Dam south to the New Mexico-Texas state line.
Red Bluff Lake:
Public. The reservoir on the Pecos River at the Texas-New Mexico state line offers very limited fishing for bass and panfish.
Las Cruces
Burn Lake:
Public. The small lake in east Las Cruces off Interstate 10 is stocked with trout twice a month during the winter. It also contains catfish, bass and panfish.
Young Pond:
Public. The children's pond is stocked with trout during the winter and has a few catfish. It is open only to anglers ages 11 and under. No license needed.
Rio Grande reservoirs
Elephant Butte Reservoir:
Public. The largest reservoir on the Rio Grande is full of white bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie and catfish. It has become famous nationwide for its large striped bass, some as big as 541/2 pounds.
Caballo Lake:
Public. The reservoir on the Rio Grande south of Elephant Butte contains lots of white bass, largemouth bass, crappie and walleye. Anglers also can catch the same species in the river just below the dam.
State Agencys
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
in El Paso: (915) 598-4741
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
(800) 792-1112
OVER 13 LNs Texas Parks and Wildlife Office
in Alpine: (915) 837-2051
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
(915) 827-7911
New Mexico fishing report
(800)-ASK-FISH
New Mexico Department Game and Fish Department
in Roswell: (505) 624-6135
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
in Las Cruces: (505) 522-9796
