Cerrillos Reservoir near La Cienega: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, this is Cerrillos Reservoir. Elevation runs to 5,902 feet. A splashy cast here empties the swim; a quiet one owns it. It is a small entry by Santa Fe County standards. The closest town, La Cienega, is 7.6 miles distant. Eldorado at Santa Fe follows at 10 miles, then Agua Fria at 14 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Cerrillos Reservoir

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and bluegill. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Take Cerrillos Reservoir a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 74°F; by January the average is down near 32°F. Neither winter nor summer shuts things down for long. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Cerrillos Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Mapped as intermittent, it fills after rain and shrinks between. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Santa Cruz Arroyo at 16 miles is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Cerrillos Reservoir in what we hold.