Fishing at Fenton Lake, Sandoval County, New Mexico

• Overview

  You will find Fenton Lake in Sandoval County, New Mexico. The surface lies 7,680 feet up. It measures about 29 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. It is a small entry by Sandoval County standards. Supplies mean a trip to Jemez Pueblo, 19 miles off. Then Santa Teresa, 19 miles, and Los Alamos, 23 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Fenton Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Survey and observation records for Sandoval County include white sucker, cutthroat trout, brown trout and Rio Grande sucker. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Take Fenton Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 61°F at the top of summer and 24°F at the bottom of winter. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly mid December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. On Fenton Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. Fenton Lake State Park runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. San Gregorio Reservoir, 13 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Fenton Lake in particular, ask before you travel.