Hey all,

 

my names Corey, new to the forum and I'm planning a trip down to New Mexico late march early April and had been trying to do some research online about decent largemouth fisheries in the area.  I'm currently in Colorado, have my first year on my boat under my belt and was trying to find something that was not too far away but warmer then it will most likely be here!  I've done some research on ute, chonchas and elephant butte but I'm finding limited information on those fisheries except that elephant butte used to be a good largemouth fishery.  I saw they stocked it in 2015 I'm not sure if the lake had gotten better since then or if the reports I was reading were wrong?   maybe there is a better lake yall can recommend?

 

I appreciate any help!

Tight  lines everybody!

 

 

 

No can help with fishing down there, but I can welcome

you to the forum . There should be a few folks here that

have some experience in NM lakes who will hopefully chime

in soon. Good luck.

E.b. Is my home lake. Nmg&f has been doing some stockings the past couple years. The largemouth fishing is getting better and the smallmouth fishing is decent. Personally caught a 4.5 lb smallie last summer. 

 

March sh can be hit or miss given the strong  cold fronts that time of year really warm prefrontal days fallowed by a decent warm day with a little wind the 2-5 days of 35 mph+, then bluebird and cold. Can be really tough if you can’t pick the better days to be out. April can be lights out if we have gotten out of the wind pattern and have more stable weather. Feel free to pm me if you want more info.

Thanks darren! And thanks for the info SW! Sounds like colorado to me haha! Im pretty flexible with when i can take off so i should have my pick of days and taking a shot at good weather! Thatnks for the offer i will probably take you up on that!

Your welcome man, also another lake I would throw on my radar is Brantley. Water warms much sooner there and the past 3-4 years they have been catching good bass there. Only thing is you can’t keep them. That lake is on the east side of the state between artesia and Carlsbad. 

thanks for the tip! I don't keep bass anyways because they aren't all over the state here in Colorado! (not gonna take from the small portion I get if you will!) ! was not planning to take any out of the local waters down there either so I will have to look that lake up as well!

No worries the no keep is from game and fish due to high pesticides in the fish. But I have heard it’s gotten really good lake filled back up about 3 years ago and has really turned on. The Butte is coming back slowly and we have caught some nice fish in our club. As for the northern lakes not much info on them for you, I might be fishing one later this year though

@corbass101 I'm from Denver and learned to bass fish there. Have you ever tried Rocky Mountain Arsenal or Lowell Ponds? Good memories from those old stomping grounds. 

 

If you don't mind white bass, throw some white bomber crankbaits around the islands at Elephant Butte! It's a consistent pattern down there. The walleye fishing below the Butte is amazing and extremely underrated.