Vest Lake Fishing in Chaves County, New Mexico

• Overview

  Chaves County, New Mexico, is where Vest Lake sits. It lies 4,432 feet above sea level. You are 44 miles from Portales. Dexter is 48 miles away, with Roswell at 49 miles. Close by you also have: Middle Lake the better part of 8.9 miles, Lane Salt Lake (14 miles), North Lake the better part of 22 miles, Middle Lake (23 miles) and House Lake the better part of 23 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Vest Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shape of Vest Lake decides where the fish sit. A boat opens water the bank never reaches, but is not needed.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 77°F and January reads 37°F. Winter is the comfortable season here rather than the difficult one. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Plan around that when you fish Vest Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records show it does not hold water year-round. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Middle Lake is 8.9 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Vest Lake.