Fishing at Zia Reservoir, Sandoval County, New Mexico

• Overview

  Zia Reservoir lies in Sandoval County, in New Mexico. The country here is open dry country. At about 28 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. On size it sits at the modest end of our Sandoval County list. Nearest town is Jemez Pueblo, 6.2 miles off. For a city, Albuquerque is 31 miles off. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Zia Reservoir

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Fish documented in Sandoval County include white sucker, cutthroat trout, brown trout, Rio Grande sucker and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Zia Reservoir light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 34°F to 76°F. Spring and autumn are the strongest, but nothing is truly closed. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan around that when you fish Zia Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Jemez Canyon Reservoir is 14 miles off. Where Zia Reservoir is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.