Elephant Butte Lake
Elephant Butte Lake is one of the lakes in New Mexico. Anglers here fish mainly for Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass and White Bass.
Best day to fish
The bite over the next days, scored at dusk. Based on the weather forecast, so it is guidance, not guarantees.
Conditions right now
Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.
Best times today
Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.
Feeding times today
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
Likely catch now (10 species)
About the fishing here
Elephant Butte Lake is New Mexico's largest lake, a long reservoir held back by a dam on the Rio Grande in the state's high desert. It's a solid warmwater fishery, with bass and catfish holding in its many rocky coves and flooded river arms. The lake also doubles as the state's busiest boating destination, so weekends bring heavy powerboat traffic. Water levels track the Rio Grande's flow closely and can swing a long way between wet and dry years.
The usual catches here are Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass and Black Crappie.
Bluegill is generally most active 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
Fishing permit
A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:
About this water
Elephant Butte Reservoir or Elephant Butte Lake 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
Common questions
What fish can you catch at Elephant Butte Lake?
Anglers here regularly land Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Black Crappie, Common Carp and Blue Catfish.
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?
For Bluegill, the fishing tends to peak around May-Jul. The best windows are usually dawn, day and dusk.
What is biting at Elephant Butte Lake right now?
Right now Bluegill is the most likely catch, at about 26%.