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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
14-acre lake near Tres Piedras. The lake tops out around 20 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Hopewell Lake maps at 14 acres behind 0.9 miles of shoreline. With a 1.8 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 57% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. Tip to tip the water measures near 0.3 mi. It sits in Rio Arriba County. Trout Lakes sits 11 mi southwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
Early season rainbow trout use the shallows, holding in 5 to 20 ft. Even in summer they hold at 5 to 20 ft; winter keeps them in 4 to 20 ft. Put Inlet first on the milk run — an inflow / creek mouth near 6 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inlet (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inlet (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 4 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring brook trout on Hopewell Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 3 to 20 ft. The chart's best answer is Inlet — inflow / creek mouth, 6 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Inlet (6 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inlet (6 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Inlet (6 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 20 ft | dawn | Inlet (6 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Spring puts cutthroat trout in skinny water — 3 to 15 ft is the zone. Warm water sends them out to 6 to 20 ft; cold water stacks them in 5 to 20 ft. Inlet is the standout, an inflow / creek mouth at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring cutthroat trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Inlet (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (9 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 5 to 20 ft | dawn | Break off the point (9 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
The chart marks 5 structure features on Hopewell Lake; the deepest is Deep basin at about 17 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 Hopewell Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Mexico fishing regulations →
Hopewell Lake is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target rainbow trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout on Hopewell Lake.
Inlet is the top-rated area: an inflow / creek mouth in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by 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 Hopewell 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.
Trout Lakes 11 mi · Canjilon Lakes 12 mi · Heron Reservoir 25 mi · El Vado Reservoir 29 mi · Rio Chama (below El Vado) 29 mi · Red River (Questa) 34 mi · Rio Grande (Taos) 34 mi · Rio Chama (Abiquiu Tailwater) 34 mi · Abiquiu Lake 34 mi · Eagle Rock Lake 37 mi · Rio Grande (Pilar / Orilla Verde) 38 mi · Cabresto Lake 41 mi
See how Hopewell Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in New Mexico · best brook trout lakes in New Mexico · best cutthroat trout 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. 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.