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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
5-acre lake near Cebolla. The lake tops out around 12 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Shoreline on the chart totals 0.3 miles. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.2) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. You'll find it in Rio Arriba County. For a second option, Canjilon Lakes lies 4 mi southeast.
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 3 to 12 ft covers summer, 2 to 12 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Inlet, an inflow / creek mouth in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Inlet (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Inlet (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Break off the point (5 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: brook trout in 2 to 12 ft. The depth story barely changes: 4 to 12 ft through summer, 2 to 12 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Inlet, an inflow / creek mouth in the 6 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Inlet (6 ft) | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Inlet (6 ft) | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 2 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | Inlet (6 ft) | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 2 to 12 ft | dawn | Inlet (6 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Count 5 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 10 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 Trout Lakes specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Mexico fishing regulations →
Trout Lakes is about 12 ft (4 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 on Trout Lakes.
Inlet is the top-rated area: an inflow / creek mouth in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
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 Trout Lakes 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.
Canjilon Lakes 4 mi · Hopewell Lake 11 mi · Heron Reservoir 18 mi · Rio Chama (below El Vado) 20 mi · El Vado Reservoir 21 mi · Abiquiu Lake 25 mi · Rio Chama (Abiquiu Tailwater) 27 mi · Rio Grande (Taos) 38 mi · Rio Grande (Pilar / Orilla Verde) 40 mi · Red River (Questa) 42 mi · Eagle Rock Lake 45 mi · Rio Hondo 49 mi
See how Trout Lakes stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in New Mexico · best brook 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.