Napp

See what's biting near you
All spots

Elephant Butte Lake

Lake fishing  New Mexico · 05:59 - 20:20

Elephant Butte Lake is a lake in New Mexico. The fish here are ranked by weather, water temperature and season, see the likely catch below.

View on Google Maps Directions

Conditions right now

Weather
Clear sky
Water temp (est.)
76°F
Air temp
75°F
Wind
17 mph
Pressure
29.7 inHg ↓ falling
Clouds
0.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dawn 05:14–07:14 Dusk 19:05–21:05

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

Next hours

06:00
75°
07:00
78°
08:00
83°
09:00
89°
10:00
94°
11:00
97°
12:00
99°
13:00
100°
14:00
101°
15:00
102°
16:00
96°
17:00
93°

Likely catch now (10 species)

Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
16%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 24 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details ↗
Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
15%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 24 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details ↗
Common Carp
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
10%
Water near its preferred 24 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
Tap for details ↗
Blue Catfish
Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
10%
Water near its preferred 24 degrees, peak season, falling pressure ahead of weather.
Tap for details ↗
Bluegill
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
9%
Water near its preferred 24 degrees, peak season.
Tap for details ↗
Channel Catfish
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
9%
Water near its preferred 24 degrees, peak season, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details ↗
Flathead Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
9%
Water near its preferred 24 degrees, peak season.
Tap for details ↗
Black Crappie
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
9%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 24 degrees, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details ↗
Striped Bass
Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
8%
Prime feeding window at the dawn, water near its preferred 24 degrees, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details ↗
White Bass
White Bass
Morone chrysops
5%
Water near its preferred 24 degrees, bright sky slows things.
Tap for details ↗

About the fishing here

Elephant Butte Lake is a lake in New Mexico.

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

Smallmouth Bass fishing is usually best around May-Jun, Sep-Oct. The best windows are usually dawn 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.

Tips right now

Technique Start with a soft-plastic jig for smallmouth bass, the most likely catch right now.
Timing This is a prime window for smallmouth bass at dawn. Fish hard now.
Lure Soft-plastic jig for smallmouth bass: Tube jig on rock.
Colour Clear water and good light: try brown, crawfish and natural tones for smallmouth bass.
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

Elephant Butte Lake

Elephant Butte Reservoir is the largest reservoir in the U.S. state of New Mexico, 130 miles (289 km) from El Paso, Texas, and 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Truth or Consequences.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Caballo Lake New Mexico · 21.8 mi away Quemado Lake New Mexico · 97.9 mi away Carnero Lake Arizona · 148.2 mi away

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Elephant Butte Lake?

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

Do you need a fishing license at Elephant Butte 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 Elephant Butte Lake?

Smallmouth Bass fishing is usually best around May-Jun, Sep-Oct. The best windows are usually dawn and dusk.

What is biting at Elephant Butte Lake right now?

Right now Smallmouth Bass is the most likely catch, at about 16%.