Fishing Hidden Lake in Colfax County, New Mexico

• Overview

  Hidden Lake is one of the Colfax County listings for New Mexico. This is pine and birch country. The water covers some 29 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. A shoreline of some 1.0 miles keeps the choices simple. Compared with other New Mexico water on our list, it sits high. The nearest place of any size is Angel Fire, 9.6 miles away. The big place round here is Albuquerque, 116 miles distant. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Colfax County cover cutthroat trout, white sucker, rainbow trout and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The shape of Hidden Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 22°F to 57°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Hidden Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping shows a jetty some half a mile off. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Bear Lake sits 3.9 miles off and takes the overflow. For Hidden Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.