Fishing at Nichols Reservoir, Santa Fe County, New Mexico

• Overview

  Set in Santa Fe County, Nichols Reservoir is a New Mexico water. It stands 7,480 feet above sea level. At about 29 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Santa Fe sits 3.4 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Then Agua Fria, 8.5 miles, and Eldorado at Santa Fe, 12 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Nichols Reservoir

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. County-wide records name cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, bluegill, Rio Grande sucker and goldfish. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Nichols Reservoir the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 28°F to 66°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Anyone fishing Nichols Reservoir regularly works to that calendar. Long dry spells drop the level and concentrate them.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. A picnic spot sits half a mile from the bank. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try McClure Reservoir, 2.6 miles away. Confirm before you fish Nichols Reservoir.