Long Lake in San Juan County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  New Mexico holds Long Lake, in San Juan County. The surface lies 8,970 feet up. Roughly 149 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. At about 5.2 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. It is among the larger waters listed here for San Juan County. The nearest place of any size is Navajo, 13 miles away. The big place round here is Albuquerque, 138 miles distant. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker, channel catfish, common carp and largemouth bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The near bank of Long Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 62°F, while January sits near 24°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about early December in an average year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Long Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Red Pond, 2.8 miles out. Signs at Long Lake carry more weight than any list.