Fishing at Laguna Madrid, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico

• Overview

  You will find Laguna Madrid in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. Height above sea level is 9,587 feet. Surface area is around 30 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. By elevation it is in the upper part of our New Mexico listings. Santa Teresa sits 7.8 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Los Alamos is 20 miles and Ohkay Owingeh 27 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Laguna Madrid

  This is salt or soda water, not a conventional fishery: do not expect the usual freshwater species here. For long stretches it is a dry bed rather than a lake, filling only after exceptional rain. Anglers passing through do better on the neighbouring fresh waters listed on this page. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. At Laguna Madrid the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 61°F and January about 23°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about early December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Laguna Madrid.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records show it does not hold water year-round. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Laguna de la Sierra, 0.6 miles away. Check the position on Laguna Madrid before loading the car.