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

• Overview

  Lost Lake Reservoir belongs to San Juan County, New Mexico. The water sits 5,709 feet up. Small even by pond standards, it rewards one careful line. On size it sits at the modest end of our San Juan County list. Waterflow lies 9.8 miles from the water. Shiprock is 13 miles away, with Kirtland at 14 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Lost Lake Reservoir

  Our records hold no depth for this water. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across San Juan County, recorded fish include flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker, channel catfish, common carp and largemouth bass. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Lost Lake Reservoir the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 75°F, the coldest about 30°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lost Lake Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Youngs Lake sits 8.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Lost Lake Reservoir is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.