El Caso Lake in Catron County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In New Mexico, El Caso Lake falls inside Catron County. It sits in rolling hill country. It covers about 20 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Springerville is the closest town at 46 miles. The big place round here is Albuquerque, 126 miles distant. Within a short drive: White Rock Lake 0.9 miles off, Quemado Lake some 3.2 miles off, Gabaldon Lake 6.3 miles off, Dry Lake some 13 miles off and Sweazea Lake 17 miles off. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on El Caso Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists goldfish, rainbow trout and longfin dace. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish in this exact water on the day. On El Caso Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 27°F and July at about 63°F, the water has a wide range to work through. In milder years the surface never sets. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Time your trip to El Caso Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Mapped as intermittent, it fills after rain and shrinks between. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. White Rock Lake at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for El Caso Lake.