Cochiti Lake

Lake fishing New Mexico · 06:13 - 20:09

Cochiti Lake is a lake in New Mexico. Anglers here fish mainly for Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass.

View on Google Maps Directions Embed on your site

Good 62% The bite right now

Top bet: Bluegill Active through the day, water near its preferred 26 degrees.

Best day to fish

Tomorrow

75%

93°

Best day

Mon

75%

97°

Tue

75%

93°

Wed

74%

92°

Thu

75%

91°

Fri

74%

94°

The bite over the next days, scored at dusk. Based on the weather forecast, so it is guidance, not guarantees.

Conditions right now

Weather

Clear sky

Water temp (est.)

79°F

Air temp

76°F

Wind

7 mph

Pressure

30.12 inHg ↓ falling

Clouds

0.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Updated 2026-08-01 17:01

Best times today

Dawn 05:28–07:28 Day 07:28–18:54 Dusk 18:54–20:54

Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.

Feeding times today

Waning gibbous 91% lit

Major period 02:19–04:19 Major period 14:19–16:19 Minor period 20:47–22:17 Minor period 08:22–09:52

Solunar times are a traditional guide based on the moon's position, separate from the live ranking above. Local time at the spot.

Next hours

09:00

76°

10:00

80°

11:00

83°

12:00

86°

13:00

89°

14:00

90°

15:00

92°

16:00

78°

17:00

84°

18:00

85°

19:00

85°

20:00

81°

Likely catch now (12 species)

Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

62%

Active through the day, water near its preferred 26 degrees.

Tap for details ↗

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

39%

Water near its preferred 26 degrees, bright sky slows things.

Tap for details ↗

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

37%

Water near its preferred 26 degrees, bright sky slows things.

Tap for details ↗

Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

30%

Slow during the day, water near its preferred 26 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.

Tap for details ↗

Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio

29%

Slow during the day, water near its preferred 26 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.

Tap for details ↗

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

29%

Slow during the day, water near its preferred 26 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.

Tap for details ↗

About the fishing here

Popular catches here include Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, Common Carp and Channel Catfish.

Bluegill fishing is usually best around May-Jul. The best windows are usually dawn, day and dusk.

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Napp ranks the species above from the live weather, water temperature, season and time of day, so the order changes through the day.

Guides for this water

Tips right now

Technique Start with a float bait for bluegill, the most likely catch right now.

Timing This is a prime window for bluegill at the day. Fish hard now.

Lure Float bait for bluegill: Worm under a float.

Colour Clear water and good light: try natural bait, small earth tones for bluegill.

Depth The water temperature suits the fish. Fish actively at normal depths and edges.

Fishing permit

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:

Take Me Fishing

About this water

Cochiti Dam is an earthen fill dam located on the Rio Grande in Sandoval County, New Mexico, approximately 50 miles (80 km) north of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It also impounds the Santa Fe River. By volume of material, it is the 23rd largest dam in the world at 62,849,000 yd3 of material, one of the ten largest such dams in the United States, and the eleventh largest such dam in the world. Cochiti Dam is one of the four United States Army Corps of Engineers projects for flood and sediment control on the Rio Grande system, operating in conjunction with Abiquiu Dam, Galisteo Dam and Jemez Canyon Dam.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Rio Grande New Mexico · 1.8 mi away Galisteo Reservoir New Mexico · 14.8 mi away Jemez River New Mexico · 21.7 mi away Jemez River New Mexico · 21.8 mi away Jemez River New Mexico · 23.2 mi away Jemez River New Mexico · 26.0 mi away Fenton Lake New Mexico · 28.5 mi away Rio Grande New Mexico · 28.6 mi away

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Cochiti Lake?

Popular catches here include Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, Common Carp, Channel Catfish, White Bass and Flathead Catfish.

Do you need a fishing license at Cochiti Lake?

Yes. A state fishing license is required; see the link on this page for the state's rules.

When is the best time to fish Cochiti Lake?

Bluegill fishing is usually best around May-Jul. The best windows are usually dawn, day and dusk.

What is biting at Cochiti Lake right now?

Right now Bluegill is the most likely catch, at about 46%.