Peterson Reservoir Fishing near Las Vegas, New Mexico

• Overview

  San Miguel County in New Mexico is where Peterson Reservoir sits. The ground around here is open valley. At roughly 12 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The closest town, Las Vegas, is 4.9 miles away. Pecos is 23 miles and Santa Fe 37 miles. Within a short run: Bradner Reservoir out at 0.4 miles, Storrie Lake about 2.6 miles, Lake Isabel out at 11 miles, Phoenix Lake about 19 miles and Lost Lake out at 19 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Peterson Reservoir

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. County-wide records name cutthroat trout, white sucker and brown trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. The shape of Peterson Reservoir decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 31°F at the bottom of winter. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Peterson Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Bradner Reservoir, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. What applies at Peterson Reservoir may have changed since it was mapped.