Best cutthroat trout lakes in New Mexico
12 New Mexico waters hold cutthroat trout. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The native trout of the West, named for the orange slash under its jaw. A shoreline cruiser that hunts drop-offs, inlets and rocky points for baitfish and insects.
- Bluewater Lake — 90 ft max · Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Muskellunge, Cutthroat TroutWhy #1: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Rio Hondo — 8 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Cabresto Lake — 30 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Fenton Lake — 20 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Hopewell Lake — 20 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Lake Katherine — 35 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Lake Alice — 15 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Stewart Lake — 20 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Rio Costilla (Valle Vidal) — 8 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Pecos River (Upper) — 8 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Red River (Questa) — 8 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Coyote Creek — 8 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
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How to use this ranking
The order is a map-planning ranking, not a claim about today's fish population. It favors larger mapped waters and gives survey-backed contours a three-times data-quality boost. Agency population surveys, current regulations, access and recent conditions should make the final decision.
When to fish cutthroat trout in New Mexico
- Spring 3–15 ft — Pre- and post-spawn cutthroat gang up at tributary mouths and cruise gravel shorelines — swing a spinner or fly through the inlet current.
- Summer 10–35 ft — Summer cutthroat hold along the first shoreline drop and off rocky points, sliding deeper as the surface warms — troll or cast the 15-30 ft edge.
- Fall 5–25 ft — Cooling water brings cutthroat back onto rocky points and gravel shoals to feed hard before winter.
- Winter 10–40 ft — Cold-tolerant like all trout — cutthroat hang on the deep shoreline drops and basin edges through the cold months.
Also in New Mexico: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best white bass lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best common carp lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best kokanee lakes
Cutthroat Trout elsewhere: British Columbia · Montana · Wyoming · Washington · Alberta · Utah · Colorado · Idaho · Nevada