Fishing Lower Canjilon Lakes in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico

• Overview

  Lower Canjilon Lakes sits in Rio Arriba County, out in New Mexico. Elevation runs to 9,833 feet. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It sits higher than most water we list in New Mexico. Chama lies 28 miles from the water. Santa Teresa is 33 miles away, with Ohkay Owingeh at 38 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lower Canjilon Lakes

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Rio Arriba County, recorded fish include white sucker, cutthroat trout, brown trout, yellow perch and Rio Grande sucker. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Lower Canjilon Lakes gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 59°F; the cold one sits at 20°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at early December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Plan around that when you fish Lower Canjilon Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Blue Lake sits 1 mile off and takes the overflow. The position on Lower Canjilon Lakes is worth confirming on the day.