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Best rainbow trout lakes in New Mexico

64 New Mexico waters hold rainbow trout, 3 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. 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 classic stocked cold-water trout. Depth is everything: rainbows follow the temperature layer they like.

1. Navajo Reservoir — 333 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
2. Heron Reservoir — 222 ft max · survey depth data · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Common CarpWhy #2: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
3. El Vado Reservoir — 140 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, KokaneeWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
4. Abiquiu Lake — 117 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
5. Bluewater Lake — 90 ft max · Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Muskellunge, Cutthroat TroutWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
6. Eagle Nest Lake — 90 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
7. San Juan River — 10 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
8. Rio Grande (Taos) — 10 ft max · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
9. Jemez River — 8 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
10. Storrie Lake — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
11. Ramah Lake — 20 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
12. Maxwell Lake 13 — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
13. Lake Maloya — 40 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
14. Charette Lakes — 30 ft max · Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
15. Clayton Lake — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
16. McAllister Lake — 12 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
17. Rio Hondo — 8 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
18. Snow Lake — 30 ft max · Rainbow TroutWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
19. Lake Roberts — 35 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
20. Santa Cruz Lake — 55 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
21. Bill Evans Lake — 40 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
22. Rio Grande (Pilar / Orilla Verde) — 12 ft max · Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
23. Grindstone Reservoir — 45 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
24. Cabresto Lake — 30 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
25. Fenton Lake — 20 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat TroutWhy #25: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached

…plus 39 more New Mexico waters holding rainbow trout.

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When to fish rainbow trout in New Mexico

• Spring 5–20 ft — Post-ice-out trout roam shallow; fish inflows and windblown shorelines.
• Summer 8–30 ft — Rainbows hold near cold inflows, current seams and the thermocline — find the cool water and you've found the fish.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fall feeding on rock shoals, current and channel edges as water cools.
• Winter 8–40 ft — Trout are comfortable in cold water — one of the best winter targets; streams and tailwaters fish shallow, deep lakes hold on basin edges.

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 yellow perch lakes · best common carp lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best kokanee lakes · best cutthroat trout lakes

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