Location Spotlight

Albuquerque; Shady Lakes

Shady Lakes began in 1962 as a family owned business by Jim Phillips, wife Joanne and their five children. Originally a bait farm, the Phillips merged the smaller ponds into two larger ones that ring either side of the property, in the process removing the existing fish and bringing in the water lilly, Rainbow Trout, Blue Gill, Bass and Carp that can be found now. 

After buying either a catch and release or trout day licence and getting your armband you can choose from the warm water fish in the two largest ponds and the larger trout from the second pond or the smaller catch and keep trout for .65 an inch, the latter can get expensive as these trout will hit anything. As an aside, this is an excellent opportunity to try and catch an albino Rainbow, with the challenge of not dragging out every other fish first. 

The deepest water at about 6-8 feet can be found off this small walkway, but do yourself a favor and flip some weightless worms to either side before walking onto it. The best times of year to visit are in the spring brfore the grasses and algae start to come in when you can use cranks, spinners and rigged worms without getting snarled every cast. Fall also offers some nice setups where after the grass, milfoil and rocksnot dies off the fish gather under the remaining lilly pads competeing for food, this is my favorite time to fish Shady Lakes as those fish come out of the water for frogs and topwaters along the lilly raft edges. In summer flip and pitch to the openings in and around the lillies with plastics using as little weight as possible.

Also on property are a small aqua shop for the water plants and several planted terraces of plants for the edge of your home pond or fountain if thats what you're into.

Ruidoso

  Bonito Lake; This is the largest body of water in Ruidoso and the most heavily pressured, this is somewhat remedied by the frequent stocking by the state resulting in quite a bit of Put and Take. However some 8lb fish have been pulled out using lesser seen offerings.The fishing season on Bonito Lake runs from April 1 to November 30. The lake opens daily from 5 am until 10 pm.  No watercraft or swimming allowed. The lake is about 5 miles north of Ruidoso off of Highway 37 the turnoff is well marked on the highway as it turns towards Nogal.

  Bonito Creek: This creek feeds Bonito Lake from the mountain terrain, and then runs from Bonito Lake dam on to Fort Stanton and Hondo. Rainbow and Brook Trout can be found in the upper part of Bonito Creek.

 Carrizo Creek: This creek runs from the Mescalero Lake dam on the reservation, flowing into the Rio Ruidoso near the Chamber of Commerce building. The creek is not stocked but contains native Brown Trout, Carrizo Creek is Ruidoso’s hatchery and nursery for this speices. If you are fishing this tributary, please treat this watershed as a Special Trout Water; single barbless hook, catch and release.

  Eagle Creek: Springs and mountain runoff feed this creek, which follows Highway 532 down the road to the ski area. The tributary is not stocked, but contains a few Brook and Rainbow Trout.

 Grindstone Reservoir: The lake is a village water reservoir that is open to fishing on a year round basis. Summer fishing hours are from sunrise until 10 PM. Non-motorized boating is allowed from April 1 to Oct 31, a permit is required and is available from the Ruidoso Parks and Recreation office. The lake is stocked frequently on a year round basis. No overnight camping is allowed.

 Ruidoso River: Rio Ruidoso runs through Upper Canyon, before continuing to flow through town on to Hondo. It is stocked year round, Rainbow and Brown trout are found throughout.

 Tularosa Creek: Beginning at the boundary of the Mescalero reservation, Tularosa Creek flows for several miles off the mountain. The New Mexico Game & Fish stocks this watershed periodically. It is open year round.

     Mescalero Reservation Fishing Waters
  Mescalero Lake: Located at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort, this lake is stocked with Rainbows. Daily fishing permits may be purchased at the hotel front desk. Boat docks are open from Aril through September. Fishing hours are from sunrise to sunset and watercraft rentals can be had at Mescalero for varying prices www.mescaleroapache.com/area/mescalero_lake

  Eagle Lakes: Located about three and a half miles off Highway 48 up ski run road. The lakes are open from late May through September. Daily fishing permits must be purchased at the Lake area entrance office. Call 575-336-4668 for information.

  Rio Ruidoso: The upper portion of the Rio Ruidoso River is located on the Mescalero reservation at the top of Main Road in the Upper Canyon. This area of the River is open from May through September and is stocked with Rainbow Trout.

  Silver Lake: Located off state Highway 244 in the southern part of the Mescalero reservation. This lake is open May through September. Daily fishing permits are required and available at the Silver Lake office. This lake is stocked with Trout. Private Fishing Waters Seeping Springs Trout Lake: This is a spring Trout pond located just four miles east of Ruidoso Downs racetrack. A fishing license is not required. It is open March through September for family oriented camping and fishing. Call 575-378-4216 for information.
 
Ranch Sosegado Trout Pond: This private trout pond is set in lovely location with a natural backdrop of surrounding mountains. It is open every weekend and weekdays by appointment. Call 575-671-4580. It is located 24 miles west or Ruidoso just off Highway 70 in Bent NM.

The best success for the trout in this area include PowerBait, Corn, Salmon eggs, small spinners and Pistol Pete's and microcranks imitating minnows as well as natural worms on the bobber or slipsinker.