A Fisherman’s Paradise

Anglers will find numerous opportunities for fishing at Elephant Butte Lake, Caballo LakePercha Dam, and the Rio Grande.

Elephant Butte Lake, the largest body of water in New Mexico, is known for record-breaking bass, walleye, catfish, crappie, white and black bass, and stripers. In June 2007, Field & Stream Magazine named Elephant Butte Lake as one of their 150 Best Fishing Spots Near You.

Caballo Lake is also good for boat fishing, yielding bass, crappie, catfish, and walleye, while Percha Dam and the Rio Grande (which runs north-to-south through the center of the county) offer excellent shore fishing.

fishing enthusiast holding up a small mouth bass at Elephant Butte lake

Fishing licenses must be renewed annually on April 1, and cost $35 per year. Fishing licenses are no longer available locally; they must be purchased online.

Fishing tournaments happen throughout the year. Annual tournaments include the Kayak Fishing Tournament and the Father’s Day weekend Junior Open.

An ongoing tournament series is also available with the Elephant Butte Bass Anglers, a club made up mainly of locals and residents of the region. If fishing competitively with a group of nice guys sounds fun to you, contact Mike Kmatz: mnckmatz@windstream.net or 575-740-2261.

Where to Fish: see the legends on the Caballo Lake MapPercha Dam Map, and Elephant Butte Lake Map for fishing spots recommended by NM State Parks (as well as park entrances, marina and boat dock locations, picnic facilities, and more)…

shore fishing at Elephant Butte Lake

Fishing Reports / What’s Biting

Butte General Store & Marine Fishing Reports
New Mexico Fish and Game Department’s statistics on local fishing

Marinas / Boat Rentals

Captain D’s JetSkis

Hot Springs Landing,

JetSki rentals in season at Elephant Butte Lake.

Dam Site Marina

55 Damsite Road Truth or Consequences, NM,

Kayaks, standup paddle boards, aqualodges, and boat slips.

Float from the Boat

3401 East Third Avenue,

Rent inner tubes and other inflatables right on the bank of the Rio Grande.

Marina del Sur

State park main entrance,

Boat slips are available at Marina del Sur, as are rentals of pontoon boats, pontoon ski boats, and slide boats (3 hour minimum).

Rio Grande River Trips

board the bus at Rotary Park,

Rent inner tubes and inflatable kayaks – transportation provided, life-jacket included, $20 per person.

Fishing Supplies

Baqueras Grocery

13716 N. Highway 187,

Baqueras Grocery is a one-stop shop in Arrey New Mexico. If you’re traveling on Highway 187 between Hatch and Truth or Consequences, stop in!

Lil Abners

14422 Highway 187,

If you see a boat sticking out of a building, that’s Li’l Abners. The store stocks groceries and snacks, ice, fishing supplies including some live bait, and more.

Pat’s

1006 Highway 195,

One-stop shop in Elephant Butte for groceries, water accessories, and fuel.

Zia Kayak Outfitters

310 Rock Canyon Road,

Kayak, paddleboard and other watercraft sales, plus fishing supplies.

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