26 public waters in the Southwest New Mexico (Gila) region — 8 lakes/reservoirs and 18 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a New Mexico licence.
See every public fishing venue in New Mexico on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
New Mexico's stretch of the Rio Grande, including the Rio Grande Gorge, supports a thriving wild brown trout fishery alongside stocked rainbow trout. The Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout, New Mexico's state fish, is native to cold headwater streams and tributaries and is supported by NMDGF conservation hatchery programs (e.g., Seven Springs Hatchery).
In Sierra County, New Mexico, Elephant Butte Reservoir is a 7,740-acre lake, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. A southern desert reservoir (Elephant Butte, Caballo, Brantley, Bill Evans, Bataan) — Largemouth Bass, blue and Channel Catfish, Walleye, white and Striped Bass and Crappie in warm, often low water; Elephant Butte is New Mexico's largest lake and its top bass and stripers fishery.
Caballo Reservoir, a 4,105-acre lake in Sierra County, New Mexico, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: A southern desert reservoir (Elephant Butte, Caballo, Brantley, Bill Evans, Bataan) — Largemouth Bass, blue and Channel Catfish, Walleye, white and Striped Bass and Crappie in warm, often low water; Elephant Butte is New Mexico's largest lake and its top bass and stripers fishery.
Caballo Lake, on the Rio Grande about 16 miles south of Truth or Consequences in Sierra County, is a major warmwater fishery -- white bass, largemouth bass and blue catfish are most popular, alongside striped bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, northern pike and stocked rainbow trout.
New Mexico's largest reservoir, Elephant Butte Lake is a popular year-round fishing destination for striped bass, white bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass, white crappie, bluegill, walleye, and channel and blue catfish.
Mims Lake, a 97-acre lake in Sierra County, New-Mexico, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: Reservoirs across the desert Southwest typically hold largemouth bass, striped bass, channel and flathead catfish, black crappie and bluegill, with stocked rainbow trout in cooler waters -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Sierra County, New-Mexico — Engle Lake is a 49-acre lake, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: Reservoirs across the desert Southwest typically hold largemouth bass, striped bass, channel and flathead catfish, black crappie and bluegill, with stocked rainbow trout in cooler waters -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Sierra County, New Mexico — Ralph Edwards Park Pond is a lake, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: A small stocked New Mexico Trout lake (Fenton, Quemado, Lake Roberts, Clayton, Maxwell, Charette, Alto, Grindstone) — put-and-take Rainbow Trout most of the year, several also holding Tiger Muskie stocked for Panfish control.
Doña Ana, Socorro, Taos and 3 more counties in New Mexico — Rio Grande is a 613 km stream, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: The Rio Grande through New Mexico — brown and Rainbow Trout and Northern Pike in the northern gorge and Rio Grande del Norte reach, transitioning to Smallmouth Bass, White Bass and Channel Catfish as it warms south of Cochiti.
Alamosa Creek runs 93 km through Socorro and Sierra Counties, New Mexico, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
Las Animas Creek runs 58 km through Sierra and Grant Counties, New Mexico, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
Main Diamond Creek (41 km) flows through Sierra and Catron Counties, New Mexico, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
Palomas Creek runs 35 km through Sierra County, New Mexico, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
South Fork Palomas Creek runs 34 km through Sierra and Grant Counties, New Mexico, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
In Sierra County, New Mexico, North Fork Palomas Creek is a 32 km river or creek, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
Sierra and Catron Counties, New Mexico — South Diamond Creek is a 27 km stream, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
In Catron and Sierra Counties, New Mexico, Taylor Creek is a 8 km river or creek, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
In Grant and Sierra Counties, New Mexico, East Fork Mimbres River is a 23 km river or creek, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. A Gila-country stream in southwestern New Mexico (the Gila and its forks, the San Francisco, Whitewater Creek) — the last stronghold of the native Gila Trout, alongside stocked rainbows, browns and Smallmouth Bass, in the wildest river country in the state.
Cave Creek (19 km) flows through Sierra County, New Mexico, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
Turkey Run Creek (16 km) flows through Sierra County, New Mexico, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
Hoyt Creek (14 km) flows through Catron and Sierra Counties, New Mexico, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
Catron and Sierra Counties, New Mexico — Whitetail Canyon Creek is a 9 km stream, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
Stiver Canyon Creek runs 7 km through Sierra County, New Mexico, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
In Sierra County, New Mexico, Burnt Canyon Creek is a 5 km river or creek, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
Grant and Sierra Counties, New Mexico — Sheep Creek is a 4 km stream, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
Rio Las Animas (2 km) flows through Sierra County, New Mexico, managed by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. A northern New Mexico Trout stream (the Pecos, the Rio Grande tributaries, the Cimarron, the Jemez system) — wild and stocked rainbow and Brown Trout and native Rio Grande cutthroat in cold Sangre-de-Cristo and Jemez Mountains water, several managed as Special Trout Water (Red / Green / Xmas Chile) with tackle and bag-limit restrictions.
Across its mapped waters, Sierra County holds 17 species on PiscaMaps, including Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Brook Trout and Gila Trout.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the New Mexico map Join PiscaMapsOne New Mexico fishing licence covers every public water in the state, Elephant Butte and the San Juan River included — the resident annual is about $25, the non-resident annual about $56, plus a ~$4 Habitat Management & Access Validation. New Mexico residents 70 and older and anglers under 12 fish free. Buy at wildlife.dgf.nm.gov.