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Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
4,000-acre reservoir near Carlsbad. The lake tops out around 53 ft. The depth chart comes from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Technical Service Center bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Shoreline on the chart totals 28.9 miles — one island included. A development index of 4.8 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Roughly 43% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. End to end it runs roughly 4.6 mi, about 2.9 mi across. You'll find it in Eddy County. For a second option, Conoco Lake (Loco Lagoon) lies 40 mi northeast.
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 20 ft before dropping to 15 to 35 ft for winter. Fall largemouth bass concentrate at Survey-surface depth transition, a good-rated point around 7 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Survey-surface relief break 4 (11 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Survey-surface depth transition (7 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Survey-surface relief break 7 (21 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Early season walleye use the shallows, holding in 4 to 15 ft. Expect a summer slide to 15 to 35 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 40 ft. Put Survey-surface local shoal 2 first on the milk run — a gravel shoal near 10 ft that grades good for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | Survey-surface local shoal 2 (10 ft) | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 15 to 35 ft | dusk & dawn | Survey-surface relief break 7 (21 ft) | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 12 to 40 ft | dusk & night | Survey-surface relief break 7 (21 ft) | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | dusk & dawn | Survey-surface relief break 7 (21 ft) | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 25 ft before dropping to 20 to 40 ft for winter. Fall channel catfish concentrate at Survey-surface relief break 4, a good-rated drop-off around 11 ft. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | open water | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | Survey-surface relief break 4 (11 ft) | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | open water |
When the water first warms, white bass slide up into 2 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Survey-surface depth transition: a point around 7 ft that scores good in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Survey-surface local shoal 2 (10 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Survey-surface depth transition (7 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 6 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Survey-surface depth transition (7 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 15 to 40 ft | midday | open water | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
Spring puts crappie in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 10 to 25 ft; cold water stacks them in 15 to 35 ft. Survey-surface relief break 4 is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 11 ft, rated good for summer crappie. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | open water | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Survey-surface relief break 4 (11 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Survey-surface relief break 4 (11 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | open water | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: bluegill in 1 to 6 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 4 to 15 ft before dropping to 10 to 25 ft for winter. The spot to know is Survey-surface relief break 4, a drop-off in about 11 ft of water that rates good for bluegill in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | open water | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Survey-surface relief break 4 (11 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | open water | Tiny spoon |
Brantley Lake carries 10 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Survey-surface relief break, about 21 ft down.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New Mexico waters are set by the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish — and special regulations can apply to Brantley Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Mexico fishing regulations →
Brantley Lake is about 53 ft (16 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Technical Service Center bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target largemouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, white bass, crappie, bluegill on Brantley Lake.
Survey-surface depth transition is the top-rated area: a point in about 7 ft of water that rates good for largemouth bass in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Brantley Lake is regulated by the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish. Check the official New Mexico regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Conoco Lake (Loco Lagoon) 40 mi · Lake Van 43 mi · Lea Lake 52 mi · Eunice Lake 67 mi · Green Meadow Lake 72 mi · Jal Lake 77 mi · Rio Ruidoso 91 mi · Grindstone Reservoir 92 mi · Alto Lake 94 mi · Bonito Lake 99 mi · Balmorhea Lake 118 mi, TX · Oasis State Park Lake 131 mi
See how Brantley Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in New Mexico · best walleye lakes in New Mexico · best white bass lakes in New Mexico · best crappie lakes in New Mexico
Browse all New Mexico fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Depth data: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Technical Service Center, Brantley Reservoir 2013 Bathymetric Survey. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.