Fishing at Hidden Lake, Taos County, New Mexico

• Overview

  Hidden Lake is set in Taos County, New Mexico. This is pine and birch country. A splashy cast here empties the swim; a quiet one owns it. Our Taos County list holds plenty of bigger water. Nearest town is Chimayo, 17 miles off. Further out sit La Puebla (20 miles) and Nambe (21 miles). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Taos County include cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, white sucker and brown trout. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. At Hidden Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 54°F; by January the average is down near 20°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early May. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. At Hidden Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is San Leonardo Lakes, 0.8 miles out. Signs at Hidden Lake carry more weight than any list.