New Mexico Wildlife magazine Conserving New Mexico's Wildlife for Future Generations
Headed west to Phoenix or San Diego? Or north to Denver? East to Amarillo? South to El Paso? Long car rides often call for a pit stop, and what better way to relax after a few hours in the car than to go fishing.
The following fishing spots are not too far off New Mexico’s Interstate highways where both adults and kids can escape the car and try some fishing. Some of these spots, such as Cowles, offer fishing ponds just for kids.
I-25 corridor
Water: Storrie Lake
Species: rainbow trout, crappie, channel catfish
Location: 4 miles north of Las Vegas, NM on NM Highway 518
Water: Pecos Canyon (Pecos River and Cowles Pond)
Location: 5-20 miles north of I-25 on Highway 63 starting at Village of Pecos upstream to Village of Cowles
Species: rainbow trout, wild brown trout
Kids’ pond onsite
Water: Tingley Beach
Species: rainbow trout (Nov to March), channel catfish (May to Sept), largemouth bass, bluegill
Location: Tingley Dr just south of the Albuquerque BioPark
Kids’ pond onsite
Water: Escondida Lake
Species: rainbow trout (Nov to March), channel catfish (May to Sept)
Location: About 4 miles north of Socorro, east of I-25, NM408, then on Pueblitos Road
I-40 corridor
Water: Bluewater Reservoir
Species: tiger muskie, rainbow trout
Location: I-40 Prewitt, N.M. exit between Grants and Gallup
Water: Blue Hole Park Lake and Perch Lake
Species: rainbow trout, channel catfish
Location: Santa Rosa, N.M. Blue Hole Park Pond located on La Pradina Ave, Perch Lake about 1.5 miles south of Santa Rosa on NM91.
Water: Grants Riverwalk Pond
Species: rainbow trout, catfish (in summer months)
Location: Off Route 66 in Grants next to the Mining Museum
