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Fishing Report For Navajo Lake

AKA: Navajo Reservoir

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By Rick Seaman

January 17, 2025

Fishing Report Navajo Lake, NM

Popular Fish Species Navajo Lake, NM


Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout

Panther Martin Trout Lure

In addition to an on-going stocking program, the San Juan River (an excellent trout fishery) also feeds into the lake bringing trout reportedly averaging 17" in length. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish recommends you review the trout regulations before fishing here. Fishing reports indicate fly fishing to be very popular for avid anglers. Novice anglers are catching trout on prepared baits, salmon eggs, worms and small spinners.


Northern Pike

Northern Pike

Rapala X-Rap Deep

Locals report catching big northerns on topwater, especially during the first hour of daylight, then again in the last hour. Other times, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and diving lures like the Rapala X-Rap Deep, in bright colors are working well. Areas with concentrations of bluegill are a magnet for these aggressive, attacking predators.


Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

Rebel Pop-R
Livingston Lures EBS Jigging Spoon

Smallmouth bass are being caught early and late in the day from Spring to Fall, in shallow water. Main-lake rocky shorelines are a good place to start using topwater lures like the Pop R. Local anglers report smallies moving off-shore as the sun rises on the water during these seasons, and also throughout Winter. Jigging spoons, drop-shot worms and jigs tend to temp smallmouth in deep water. I like to work these deeper haunts very slowly, as the bass are somewhat sluggish.


Navajo Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, rainbow trout, brown trout, bluegill, kokanee salmon and northern pike at Navajo Lake in New Mexico.

Navajo Lake Reports

A paradise for fishing, Navajo Lake is a 15,000-acre lake on the northern border of the state. It is the second largest lake in the state with over 150 miles of shoreline. The lake offers both warm-water and cold-water fish species, especially rainbow trout, northern pike and smallmouth bass. Recent reports indicate good fishing for all three..

Primary fish species residing in Navajo Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Channel Catfish Black Crappie White Crappie Rainbow Trout Brown Trout Bluegill Kokanee Salmon Northern Pike

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

Click here for fishing boat rentals available at this lake.

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Click here for boat ramps available at this lake.

Marinas

Click here for marinas available at this lake.

Fishing Guides On Navajo Lake

Resolution Guide Service - trout, bass, pike

Fishing License

Click here for a New Mexico Fishing License.

Navajo Lake, NM Map - Fishing & Access


Rick Seaman

Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired bass tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".


Navajo Lake, New Mexico

Contact Information

Navajo Lake
Navajo Lake State Park
36 Road 4110
Navajo Dam, NM 87419
505 632-2278

 

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