Williams Lake Fishing near Arroyo Seco, New Mexico

• Overview

  New Mexico holds Williams Lake, in Taos County. It stands 11,040 feet above sea level. It covers about 6 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It sits higher than most water we list in New Mexico. Nearest town is Arroyo Seco, 8.2 miles off. For a city, Albuquerque is 122 miles off. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Williams Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Taos County include cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, white sucker and brown trout. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Williams Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 53°F and January near 18°F on the long-run figures. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid May. Ice clears near mid May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Williams Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. 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. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Horseshoe Lake, 1.4 miles out. The position on Williams Lake is worth confirming on the day.