Chimney Lake in Cibola County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Cibola County, New Mexico, this is Chimney Lake. The setting is open valley. At roughly 6 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Supplies mean a trip to Black Rock, 36 miles off. Beyond it, Zuni Pueblo at 37 miles and Milan at 46 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Chimney Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name bluehead sucker, green sunfish, muskellunge and Rio Grande sucker. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Chimney Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 68°F, with January the cold end at about 29°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Chimney Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Public mapping marks it as seasonal water rather than permanent. 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. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Mantequilla Lake sits 1.4 miles off and takes the overflow. For Chimney Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.