Chino Dry Lake Fishing in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico

• Overview

  Set in Rio Arriba County, Chino Dry Lake is a New Mexico water. The setting is pine and birch on every side. Surface area runs to about 8 acres — small enough to read in one session. Chama lies 25 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Pueblo, 123 miles away. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Chino Dry Lake

  This water is saline; the fishing interest, where it exists, sits in the feeder streams rather than the basin itself. For long stretches it is a dry bed rather than a lake, filling only after exceptional rain. Check the nearby waters on this page for the realistic fishing options in the area. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shape of Chino Dry Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 62°F; the cold one sits at 18°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That is the shape of the year on Chino Dry Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records show it does not hold water year-round. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Laguna Larga is 3.7 miles off. Rules at Chino Dry Lake are worth checking on the day.