Lunas Lake in Catron County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In New Mexico, Lunas Lake falls inside Catron County. This is open dry country country. At 17 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. For a base, Saint Johns sits 33 miles out. Albuquerque sits 129 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Lunas Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. At Lunas Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does. Cast along the margin rather than straight out from it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 71°F, the coldest about 32°F. Some winters cap it and some do not. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Lunas Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out. A grey, mild day is often better than a bright, still one.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records show it does not hold water year-round. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Zuni Salt Lake is 1.2 miles off. Rules at Lunas Lake are worth checking on the day.