Brushfence Lake Fishing near Chama, New Mexico

• Overview

  Brushfence Lake falls in Rio Arriba County, part of New Mexico. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. About 3 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Nearest place of any size is Chama, 8.9 miles away. Dulce follows at 20 miles, then Navajo at 23 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Brushfence Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. County-wide records name white sucker, cutthroat trout, brown trout, yellow perch and Rio Grande sucker. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Treat Brushfence Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 55°F; the cold one sits at 18°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid usually goes in mid May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Break-up sits around mid May on average, with the water closing again about late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan any trip to Brushfence Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Failing this one, try Native Lake, 1 mile away. Rules at Brushfence Lake are worth checking on the day.