Ensenada Lake Fishing in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico

• Overview

  Ensenada Lake is a Rio Arriba County water, in New Mexico. The ground around here is rolling bush. It is pond-in-a-field scale, with the far bank a short lob away. Most waters listed here for Rio Arriba County are larger. For a base, Chama sits 29 miles out. Questa lies 34 miles off, Arroyo Seco another 35 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Ensenada Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Rio Arriba County include white sucker, cutthroat trout, brown trout and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Ensenada Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 21°F in January to roughly 58°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. The lid tends to go about late April and return around late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Ensenada Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Hopewell Lake, 6.3 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Ensenada Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.