Rainbow Trout Stocked · 64 plants · last September 21, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk Last stocked September 21, 2026 · avg 10.7 in · 64 plants
Best: dawn, dusk
Rainbow Trout species guideAlto Lake fishing
Alto Lake fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, and Cutthroat Trout on a reservoir. It is stocked about 10 times a year since 2019, most often in February and May. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Largemouth Bass and dusk and night for Channel Catfish.
- Last stocked
- October 5, 2026
- · Rainbow Trout
- Plants on record
- 82
- Since 2019
- Species recorded
- 4
- Average size
- 12 in
- Elevation
- 7,270.3 ft
Fish at Alto Lake
Rainbow Trout Stocked · 64 plants · last September 21, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk 
Channel Catfish Stocked · 15 plants · last June 30, 2026 Best: dusk, night 
Cutthroat Trout Stocked · 1 plant · last October 6, 2020 Last stocked October 6, 2020 · avg 10.9 in · 1 plant
Cutthroat Trout species guide
Largemouth Bass Stocked · 1 plant · last October 5, 2020 Best: dawn, dusk How Alto Lake is stocked
Grindstone Reservoir (4.5 mi) was stocked more recently. Grindstone Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Channel Catfish.
Fish stocked in 2019
999
Fish stocked in 2020
10,889
Fish stocked in 2021
13,505
Fish stocked in 2022
4,993
Fish stocked in 2023
5,801
Fish stocked in 2024
999
Fish stocked in 2025
16,519
Fish stocked in 2026
9,333
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 5, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 10.3 in | report |
| September 21, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 10 in | report |
| June 30, 2026 | Channel Catfish | 199 | 18 in | report |
| June 8, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 10 in | report |
| June 1, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 10 in | report |
| May 21, 2026 | Channel Catfish | 133 | 18 in | report |
| May 12, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 10.2 in | report |
| April 27, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 10.1 in | report |
| April 21, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 10.4 in | report |
| March 9, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 10.3 in | report |
| February 26, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 10.1 in | report |
| January 14, 2026 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 10 in | report |
| December 22, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 10.3 in | report |
| December 9, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 996 | 10.9 in | report |
| November 24, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 10.5 in | report |
| November 18, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 10 in | report |
| October 21, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 998 | 10.2 in | report |
| October 6, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 10 in | report |
| September 23, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 10.3 in | report |
| September 3, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 10 in | report |
| August 28, 2025 | Channel Catfish | 133 | 18 in | report |
| July 31, 2025 | Channel Catfish | 125 | 18 in | report |
| June 26, 2025 | Channel Catfish | 133 | 18 in | report |
| June 9, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 10.8 in | report |
| May 30, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 10 in | report |
| May 22, 2025 | Channel Catfish | 133 | 18 in | report |
| May 1, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 10.3 in | report |
| April 22, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 10.5 in | report |
| April 7, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 10.9 in | report |
| March 25, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 10.6 in | report |
| March 12, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 10.3 in | report |
| February 26, 2025 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 10.5 in | report |
| June 11, 2024 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 10.4 in | report |
| May 9, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 799 | 10.2 in | report |
| April 25, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 201 | 15 in | report |
| April 25, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 801 | 10.1 in | report |
| March 22, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 10.5 in | report |
| March 8, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 10.2 in | report |
| February 21, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 11 in | report |
| February 6, 2023 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 10.6 in | report |
| December 6, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 998 | 10 in | report |
| November 29, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 998 | 9.4 in | report |
| November 7, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 10.4 in | report |
| October 26, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 10.8 in | report |
| January 11, 2022 | Rainbow Trout | 998 | 11.3 in | report |
| December 22, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 750 | 11.4 in | report |
| December 13, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 751 | 10.7 in | report |
| November 8, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 750 | 10.5 in | report |
| October 20, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 752 | 11.4 in | report |
| October 5, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 750 | 11.3 in | report |
| September 21, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 11.1 in | report |
| September 2, 2021 | Channel Catfish | 85 | 18 in | report |
| July 29, 2021 | Channel Catfish | 91 | 18 in | report |
| July 1, 2021 | Channel Catfish | 96 | 18 in | report |
| May 27, 2021 | Channel Catfish | 92 | 18 in | report |
| May 25, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 10.3 in | report |
| May 11, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 10.7 in | report |
| May 6, 2021 | Channel Catfish | 92 | 18 in | report |
| April 26, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 11 in | report |
| April 13, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 11.1 in | report |
| March 17, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 11.6 in | report |
| March 10, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 11.3 in | report |
| February 22, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 11.5 in | report |
| February 3, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 10.8 in | report |
| January 12, 2021 | Rainbow Trout | 301 | 10.8 in | report |
| December 3, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 612 | 10.7 in | report |
| November 19, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 300 | 11 in | report |
| November 9, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 302 | 10.8 in | report |
| October 20, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 10.7 in | report |
| October 6, 2020 | Cutthroat Trout | 1,040 | 10.9 in | report |
| October 5, 2020 | Largemouth Bass | 846 | 6.2 in | report |
| September 22, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 10.8 in | report |
| September 10, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 1,361 | 11.1 in | report |
| September 3, 2020 | Channel Catfish | 102 | 18 in | report |
| July 30, 2020 | Channel Catfish | 129 | 18 in | report |
| July 2, 2020 | Channel Catfish | 96 | 18 in | report |
| June 4, 2020 | Channel Catfish | 102 | 18 in | report |
| June 2, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 1,000 | 10.7 in | report |
| March 10, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 11.1 in | report |
| February 18, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 1,001 | 10.1 in | report |
| February 10, 2020 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 11.1 in | report |
| December 31, 2019 | Rainbow Trout | 999 | 11.1 in | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- reservoir
- Nearest town
- Ruidoso, NM
- Facilities
- restrooms
Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish before you go.
About Alto Lake
During holiday weekends, shoreline fishing can be busy at Alto Lake. (ruidosoparksandrec.com, accessed September 30, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Nearest lakes
Common questions
What fish are at Alto Lake?
Fishing Alto Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 64 of 81 plants on record, ahead of Channel Catfish and 2 more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked September 21, 2026, averaging 10.7 in. Channel Catfish was last stocked June 30, 2026, averaging 18 in. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked October 6, 2020, averaging 10.9 in. Largemouth Bass was last stocked October 5, 2020, averaging 6.2 in.
When is Alto Lake stocked?
Last stocked October 5, 2026. It is stocked about 10 times a year since 2019, most often in February and May.
How big are the fish stocked at Alto Lake?
Stocked fish average 12 in. Rainbow Trout average 10.7 in. Channel Catfish average 18 in. Cutthroat Trout average 10.9 in. Largemouth Bass average 6.2 in.
How do you get on Alto Lake?
The nearest town is Ruidoso, NM. Facilities include restrooms.
Which lakes near Alto Lake were stocked more recently?
Grindstone Reservoir (4.5 mi) was stocked more recently. Grindstone Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Channel Catfish.