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3,082-acre reservoir near Tierra Amarilla. The lake tops out around 140 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The outline encloses 3,081 acres, worked by 29.8 miles of shoreline, broken up by 2 islands. The 3.8 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 14% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. End to end it runs roughly 5.5 mi, about 2 mi across. It sits in Rio Arriba County. If the bite dies, Rio Chama (below El Vado) is 6 mi to the south.
Spring rainbow trout on El Vado Reservoir hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 40 ft. The chart's best answer is Creek inflow — inflow / creek mouth, 11 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (11 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (11 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (13 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (4 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 25 to 60 ft before dropping to 5 to 35 ft for winter. Spring brown trout concentrate at Creek inflow, a prime-rated inflow / creek mouth around 11 ft. Fish it in after dark and early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Creek inflow (11 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Shoreline point (23 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Creek inflow (11 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Creek inflow (11 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Early season kokanee use the shallows, holding in 10 to 30 ft. Expect a summer slide to 30 to 70 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 80 ft. Put Creek inflow first on the milk run — an inflow / creek mouth near 11 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Creek inflow (11 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (130 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Creek inflow (11 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (130 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Structure-wise the chart holds 14 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 130 ft.
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 El Vado Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Mexico fishing regulations →
El Vado Reservoir is about 140 ft (43 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target rainbow trout, brown trout, kokanee on El Vado Reservoir.
Creek inflow is the top-rated area: an inflow / creek mouth in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For rainbow trout, 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 El Vado Reservoir 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.
Rio Chama (below El Vado) 6 mi · Heron Reservoir 6 mi · Trout Lakes 21 mi · Canjilon Lakes 23 mi · Abiquiu Lake 28 mi · Hopewell Lake 29 mi · Rio Chama (Abiquiu Tailwater) 35 mi · Navajo Reservoir 45 mi, NM/CO · Fenton Lake 51 mi · San Juan River 54 mi · Rio Grande (Taos) 58 mi · Rio Grande (Pilar / Orilla Verde) 58 mi
See how El Vado Reservoir stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in New Mexico · best brown trout lakes in New Mexico · best kokanee lakes in New Mexico
More water nearby: Rio Arriba County fishing maps (8 charts). Browse all New Mexico fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.