Elephant Butte Reservoir NM fishing forecast
Elephant Butte Reservoir NM is a freshwater fishing spot in New Mexico, United States. Anglers here target Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, White Bass. The most productive months are typically February, March, April, May, October, November, December.
Today’s verdict
Trending down — 7 points below this spot’s 7-day average
Score confidence ±12 points, from 6 live signals
The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.
Current conditions
Live conditions are temporarily unavailable for this spot (last data Aug 28, 2026). Seasonal and regulation info below is unaffected.
What the score means at Elephant Butte Reservoir NM
Elephant Butte Reservoir NM currently scores 63 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 24.7 °C. 6 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +15.0
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Wind +10.1
- surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
- Barometric pressure +4.4
- falling pressure often triggers feeding
- Thermocline +3.0
- a defined layer stacks fish at one depth
- Moon phase +2.8
- lunar feeding rhythm
- Pre-storm bite +2.4
- the classic feed before heavy weather
What’s biting now
The model expects today: channel-catfish, redear-sunfish, warmouth, spotted-gar, alligator-gar, blue-catfish, flathead-catfish, yellow-bullhead
Bite windows
Best months for Elephant Butte Reservoir NM:
Score history at this spot
8 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-08-10, 72/100
4 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
8 points below the same day last week
About this spot
Lakes have no tide, so target structure, drop-offs, and seasonal thermoclines where fish concentrate by depth and temperature.
Access & shore
Fishable from shore · beach
What you can catch
-
Micropterus salmoides
-
Sander vitreus
-
Ictalurus punctatus
-
Morone chrysops
Best months by species at Elephant Butte Reservoir NM
| Largemouth BassMicropterus salmoides | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WalleyeSander vitreus | ||||||||||||
| Channel CatfishIctalurus punctatus | ||||||||||||
| White BassMorone chrysops |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
| Species | Bag limit | Min size | Open season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel CatfishWarm Water Size and Bag Limits | 15/day, 30 in possession | — | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Fifteen daily across all catfish species except bullheads. TWO EXCEPTIONS THAT MATTER FOR THIS SITE: in the Animas and San Juan rivers in San Juan County there are no bag or possession limits at all, and on the listed Special Summer Catfish Waters the limit drops to 2 per day. | |||
| Largemouth BassWarm Water Size and Bag Limits | 5/day, 10 in possession | min 35.6 cm | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Five fish daily across black bass, with a 14-inch minimum for largemouth and spotted bass (smallmouth is 12 inches on most waters). Trophy Bass Waters — Lake Roberts, Clayton Lake and Bill Evans Lake — are reduced to 2 per day at 14 inches or longer, and spearfishing and bow fishing for largemouth there is prohibited. | |||
| WalleyeWarm Water Size and Bag Limits | 5/day, 10 in possession | — | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Possession limit is twice the daily bag, as it is for every New Mexico warm-water species. | |||
| White BassWarm Water Size and Bag Limits | 25/day, 50 in possession | — | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Twenty-five daily, counted together with hybrid striped bass (wipers). | |||
Licensing:
- freshwater-recreational — residents Resident annual fishing $35.00. Junior annual (12–17) $5.00. Senior annual (65–69) $8.00. Age 70 and older free. One-day $12.00, five-day $30.00., non-residents Non-resident annual fishing $90.00. Junior annual (12–17) $20.00. One-day $12.00, five-day $30.00.
FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. New Mexico layers Special Trout Waters, Trophy Bass Waters and Special Summer Catfish Waters over the statewide limits shown here, and several of them apply to waters on this site. Always check the water-specific pages of the current New Mexico Fishing Rules & Information before you fish.
Check Elephant Butte Reservoir NM before you go
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Nearby spots
Explore 10 more fishing spots within 691 km of Elephant Butte Reservoir NM.
-
Saguaro Lake AZ
San Juan River NM
Lake Powell AZ
Lake Powell Utah
Blue Mesa Reservoir CO
Gunnison River Colorado
Arkansas River CO
Arkansas River Colorado
Lake Havasu AZ
Fryingpan River CO
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at Elephant Butte Reservoir NM?
Anglers at Elephant Butte Reservoir NM target Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish and White Bass.
When is the best time to fish Elephant Butte Reservoir NM?
The most productive months at Elephant Butte Reservoir NM are typically February, March, April, May, October, November, December.
What is the fishing forecast for Elephant Butte Reservoir NM right now?
Elephant Butte Reservoir NM currently scores 63 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Can you fish Elephant Butte Reservoir NM from shore?
Yes — Elephant Butte Reservoir NM is fishable from shore (beach).
Is the thermocline set up at Elephant Butte Reservoir NM right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Largemouth BassHow to Catch WalleyeBest Time of Day to Fish
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.