Red Lake in Eddy County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Red Lake is one of the Eddy County waters in New Mexico. Open plain runs right down to the water. The water covers around 276 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Few waters listed in Eddy County are bigger. Artesia at 13 miles is the nearest place to stop. Atoka follows at 14 miles, then Hagerman at 20 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Red Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. At Red Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes. The far bank looks better because you cannot see the snags.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 80°F, the coldest about 40°F. The year never really closes; it just gets uncomfortable in summer. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. It holds true on Red Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Henderson Lake, 3.7 miles away. Nothing here settles the position at Red Lake for certain.