Carlsbad Municipal Lake fishing

Carlsbad Municipal Lake fishing has Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, and Channel Catfish on the stocking report. It is stocked about 5.1 times a year since 2019, most often in November and December. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Largemouth Bass and dusk and night for Channel Catfish.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
January 8, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
41
Since 2019
Species recorded
3
Average size
10.3 in
Elevation
3,108.2 ft

Fish at Carlsbad Municipal Lake

3 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 37 plants · last January 8, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked January 8, 2026 · avg 10.6 in · 37 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Channel Catfish Stocked · 2 plants · last April 24, 2025 Best: dusk, night

Last stocked April 24, 2025 · avg 14.6 in · 2 plants

Best: dusk, night

Channel Catfish species guide
Largemouth Bass Stocked · 2 plants · last July 9, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked July 9, 2025 · avg 0.9 in · 2 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Largemouth Bass species guide

How Carlsbad Municipal Lake is stocked

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

Black River (16.3 mi), Lake Van (54 mi), Bottomless Lakes (62.2 mi), Eunice Lake (62.4 mi), and Jal Lake (64.1 mi) were stocked more recently. Black River is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Lake Van is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Channel Catfish, Bottomless Lakes is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Eunice Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, and Largemouth Bass, and Jal Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Channel Catfish.

Fish stocked in 2019

1,499

Fish stocked in 2020

75,028

Fish stocked in 2021

11,923

Fish stocked in 2022

5,834

Fish stocked in 2023

4,312

Fish stocked in 2024

6,376

Fish stocked in 2025

19,039

Fish stocked in 2026

1,499

Stocking history

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
January 8, 2026Rainbow Trout1,00010 inreport
January 6, 2026Rainbow Trout49910 inreport
December 15, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50010.2 inreport
December 1, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50010.4 inreport
November 20, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50010.6 inreport
October 28, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50110.2 inreport
July 9, 2025Largemouth Bass5,2321.6 inreport
April 24, 2025Channel Catfish30318 inreport
March 20, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50110.4 inreport
March 6, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50110.3 inreport
February 12, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50010.2 inreport
January 28, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50110.5 inreport
January 15, 2025Rainbow Trout75010.6 inreport
January 14, 2025Rainbow Trout75010.6 inreport
December 30, 2024Rainbow Trout1,50110 inreport
December 17, 2024Rainbow Trout1,12410.3 inreport
December 3, 2024Rainbow Trout1,12610.1 inreport
November 22, 2024Rainbow Trout1,12510.9 inreport
November 6, 2024Rainbow Trout1,50011.3 inreport
March 14, 2023Rainbow Trout1,31110.9 inreport
February 27, 2023Rainbow Trout1,50110.3 inreport
February 13, 2023Rainbow Trout1,50010 inreport
November 28, 2022Rainbow Trout1,33411.9 inreport
November 21, 2022Rainbow Trout1,5009.4 inreport
November 10, 2022Rainbow Trout1,5019.7 inreport
January 10, 2022Rainbow Trout1,49911 inreport
December 21, 2021Rainbow Trout1,12411 inreport
December 9, 2021Rainbow Trout1,12511.4 inreport
November 18, 2021Rainbow Trout1,12511.1 inreport
November 4, 2021Rainbow Trout1,12410 inreport
March 16, 2021Rainbow Trout1,50010.5 inreport
March 3, 2021Rainbow Trout1,32411.6 inreport
February 10, 2021Rainbow Trout1,60011.6 inreport
January 25, 2021Rainbow Trout1,50010.8 inreport
January 11, 2021Rainbow Trout1,50110.8 inreport
December 4, 2020Rainbow Trout1,50010.7 inreport
November 24, 2020Rainbow Trout1,49910.9 inreport
November 3, 2020Rainbow Trout1,49911 inreport
October 15, 2020Channel Catfish4,70011.2 inreport
June 5, 2020Largemouth Bass65,8300.2 inreport
December 31, 2019Rainbow Trout1,49910.4 inreport

Access and facts

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Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish before you go.

Nearest lakes

Black River 16.3 mi last stocked March 16, 2026 Lake Van 54 mi last stocked July 9, 2026 Bottomless Lakes 62.2 mi last stocked March 16, 2026 Eunice Lake 62.4 mi last stocked June 30, 2026 Jal Lake 64.1 mi last stocked June 30, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Carlsbad Municipal Lake?

Fishing Carlsbad Municipal Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 37 of 41 plants on record, ahead of Channel Catfish and one more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked January 8, 2026, averaging 10.6 in. Channel Catfish was last stocked April 24, 2025, averaging 14.6 in. Largemouth Bass was last stocked July 9, 2025, averaging 0.9 in.

When is Carlsbad Municipal Lake stocked?

Last stocked January 8, 2026. It is stocked about 5.1 times a year since 2019, most often in November and December.

How big are the fish stocked at Carlsbad Municipal Lake?

Stocked fish average 10.3 in. Rainbow Trout average 10.6 in. Channel Catfish average 14.6 in. Largemouth Bass average 0.9 in.

Which lakes near Carlsbad Municipal Lake were stocked more recently?

Black River (16.3 mi), Lake Van (54 mi), Bottomless Lakes (62.2 mi), Eunice Lake (62.4 mi), and Jal Lake (64.1 mi) were stocked more recently. Black River is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Lake Van is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Channel Catfish, Bottomless Lakes is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Eunice Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, and Largemouth Bass, and Jal Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Channel Catfish.