Clayton Lake fishing

Clayton Lake fishing has Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Walleye on the stocking report. It is stocked about 4.7 times a year since 2020, most often in April and September. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and Largemouth Bass, dusk and night for Channel Catfish, and dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye.

Clayton Lake
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Last stocked
April 28, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
33
Since 2020
Species recorded
4
Average size
10.1 in
Elevation
5,157.3 ft

Fish at Clayton Lake

4 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 26 plants · last April 28, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked April 28, 2026 · avg 11.5 in · 26 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Largemouth Bass Stocked · 4 plants · last September 30, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked September 30, 2025 · avg 5.7 in · 4 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Largemouth Bass species guide
Walleye Stocked · 2 plants · last April 15, 2025 Best: dawn, dusk, night

Last stocked April 15, 2025 · avg 0.3 in · 2 plants

Best: dawn, dusk, night

Walleye species guide
Channel Catfish Stocked · 1 plant · last October 15, 2020 Best: dusk, night

Last stocked October 15, 2020 · avg 11.2 in · 1 plant

Best: dusk, night

Channel Catfish species guide

How Clayton Lake is stocked

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

No plants recorded in 2022.

Fish stocked in 2020

17,683

Fish stocked in 2021

66,392

Fish stocked in 2023

5,551

Fish stocked in 2024

16,800

Fish stocked in 2025

72,507

Fish stocked in 2026

8,002

Stocking history

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
April 28, 2026Rainbow Trout40013.3 inreport
April 28, 2026Rainbow Trout3,60110.1 inreport
February 18, 2026Rainbow Trout4,00110.1 inreport
September 30, 2025Rainbow Trout4,00110.3 inreport
September 30, 2025Largemouth Bass7,9985.2 inreport
September 23, 2025Rainbow Trout3,99810.3 inreport
June 2, 2025Rainbow Trout4,00110.3 inreport
May 7, 2025Rainbow Trout40016.5 inreport
May 5, 2025Rainbow Trout3,60110.1 inreport
April 15, 2025Walleye40,5060.3 inreport
March 31, 2025Rainbow Trout40015.4 inreport
March 31, 2025Rainbow Trout3,60110 inreport
February 20, 2025Rainbow Trout4,00110.2 inreport
October 3, 2024Rainbow Trout4,79910 inreport
September 26, 2024Largemouth Bass8,0015.7 inreport
September 24, 2024Rainbow Trout4,00010.2 inreport
May 2, 2023Rainbow Trout40017.5 inreport
May 2, 2023Rainbow Trout2,15010.5 inreport
March 1, 2023Rainbow Trout3,00110 inreport
October 20, 2021Largemouth Bass4,4255.8 inreport
September 29, 2021Rainbow Trout2,99910.4 inreport
September 23, 2021Rainbow Trout2,99810.8 inreport
May 4, 2021Rainbow Trout25016.5 inreport
May 4, 2021Rainbow Trout3,6049.8 inreport
April 28, 2021Walleye44,1160.3 inreport
April 5, 2021Rainbow Trout40014.3 inreport
April 5, 2021Rainbow Trout3,59911.7 inreport
March 3, 2021Rainbow Trout4,0019.4 inreport
October 15, 2020Channel Catfish2,20011.2 inreport
September 30, 2020Largemouth Bass3,4996.1 inreport
September 21, 2020Rainbow Trout3,98510.6 inreport
September 14, 2020Rainbow Trout3,99810.6 inreport
February 17, 2020Rainbow Trout4,00110.1 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.

About Clayton Lake

Photo of Clayton Lake
Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo of Clayton Lake
Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo of Clayton Lake
Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0

Nearest lakes

Lake Alice (Sugarite Canyon) 65.5 mi last stocked September 30, 2026 Lake Maloya 65.8 mi last stocked September 30, 2026 Cimarron River (West of Cimarron) 68.9 mi last stocked July 15, 2026 Springer Lake 76 mi last stocked October 8, 2020 Mora (Pecos River Drainage) 84.4 mi last stocked May 20, 2025

Public land at Clayton Lake

Clayton Lake is 0.1 miles outside the edge of Clayton Lake State Park.

Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.

Common questions

What fish are at Clayton Lake?

Fishing Clayton Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 26 of 33 plants on record, ahead of Largemouth Bass and 2 more. Rainbow Trout was last stocked April 28, 2026, averaging 11.5 in. Largemouth Bass was last stocked September 30, 2025, averaging 5.7 in. Walleye was last stocked April 15, 2025, averaging 0.3 in. Channel Catfish was last stocked October 15, 2020, averaging 11.2 in.

When is Clayton Lake stocked?

Last stocked April 28, 2026. It is stocked about 4.7 times a year since 2020, most often in April and September. No plants recorded in 2022.

How big are the fish stocked at Clayton Lake?

Stocked fish average 10.1 in. Rainbow Trout average 11.5 in. Largemouth Bass average 5.7 in. Walleye average 0.3 in. Channel Catfish average 11.2 in.

Which lakes near Clayton Lake were stocked more recently?

Lake Alice (Sugarite Canyon) (65.5 mi), Lake Maloya (65.8 mi), and Cimarron River (West of Cimarron) (68.9 mi) were stocked more recently. Lake Alice (Sugarite Canyon) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Lake Maloya is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, and Cimarron River (West of Cimarron) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.