Lake Katherine Fishing in San Miguel County, New Mexico

• Overview

  San Miguel County, New Mexico, is where Lake Katherine sits. It lies 11,732 feet above sea level. It covers about 11 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is high ground by New Mexico standards. Nambe is the closest place, 14 miles off. Then Santa Fe, 15 miles, and Pojoaque, 16 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lake Katherine

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in San Miguel County include cutthroat trout, white sucker, brown trout, green sunfish and rainbow trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Work Lake Katherine in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 58°F on average, January about 24°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. On average, late April opens the water and late November closes it again. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Lake Katherine that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Spirit Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Lake Katherine before loading the car.