Jal Lake fishing

Jal Lake fishing has Rainbow Trout and Channel Catfish on the stocking report. It is stocked about 9 times a year since 2020, most often in January and November. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout and dusk and night for Channel Catfish.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
June 30, 2026
· Channel Catfish
Plants on record
63
Since 2020
Species recorded
2
Average size
12.9 in
Elevation
3,065.5 ft

Fish at Jal Lake

2 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 43 plants · last February 23, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked February 23, 2026 · avg 10.6 in · 43 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Channel Catfish Stocked · 20 plants · last June 30, 2026 Best: dusk, night

Last stocked June 30, 2026 · avg 18 in · 20 plants

Best: dusk, night

Channel Catfish species guide

How Jal Lake is stocked

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

Lake Van (100.8 mi) was stocked more recently. Lake Van is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Channel Catfish.

Fish stocked in 2020

3,953

Fish stocked in 2021

4,185

Fish stocked in 2022

1,201

Fish stocked in 2023

1,745

Fish stocked in 2024

1,335

Fish stocked in 2025

4,681

Fish stocked in 2026

2,007

Stocking history

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 30, 2026Channel Catfish13318 inreport
May 21, 2026Channel Catfish13318 inreport
April 23, 2026Channel Catfish14118 inreport
February 23, 2026Rainbow Trout40110.1 inreport
February 10, 2026Rainbow Trout40110.1 inreport
January 28, 2026Rainbow Trout40010.2 inreport
January 13, 2026Rainbow Trout39811.4 inreport
December 30, 2025Rainbow Trout40010.2 inreport
December 9, 2025Rainbow Trout40010.8 inreport
November 24, 2025Rainbow Trout40010.5 inreport
November 5, 2025Rainbow Trout40110.5 inreport
August 28, 2025Channel Catfish13318 inreport
July 31, 2025Channel Catfish12518 inreport
June 26, 2025Channel Catfish15217.1 inreport
May 21, 2025Channel Catfish13318 inreport
April 24, 2025Channel Catfish14118 inreport
March 27, 2025Rainbow Trout40010.8 inreport
March 10, 2025Rainbow Trout39910.3 inreport
February 24, 2025Rainbow Trout39910.3 inreport
February 6, 2025Rainbow Trout40010.3 inreport
January 22, 2025Rainbow Trout39910.4 inreport
January 13, 2025Rainbow Trout39910.4 inreport
December 23, 2024Rainbow Trout30110.1 inreport
November 25, 2024Rainbow Trout24412 inreport
November 14, 2024Rainbow Trout40011 inreport
August 29, 2024Channel Catfish13518 inreport
August 1, 2024Channel Catfish12718 inreport
July 2, 2024Channel Catfish12818 inreport
April 27, 2023Channel Catfish14418 inreport
March 20, 2023Rainbow Trout40010.7 inreport
March 7, 2023Rainbow Trout40010.2 inreport
February 22, 2023Rainbow Trout40110.3 inreport
February 6, 2023Rainbow Trout40010.5 inreport
November 29, 2022Rainbow Trout4019.4 inreport
November 2, 2022Rainbow Trout40110.9 inreport
January 11, 2022Rainbow Trout39911.3 inreport
December 21, 2021Rainbow Trout29911 inreport
December 7, 2021Rainbow Trout41010.2 inreport
November 16, 2021Rainbow Trout3009.9 inreport
November 2, 2021Rainbow Trout30010 inreport
September 2, 2021Channel Catfish8518 inreport
July 29, 2021Channel Catfish9118 inreport
July 1, 2021Channel Catfish9618 inreport
May 27, 2021Channel Catfish9218 inreport
May 6, 2021Channel Catfish9218 inreport
March 15, 2021Rainbow Trout40010.8 inreport
March 2, 2021Rainbow Trout39611.4 inreport
February 10, 2021Rainbow Trout40011.6 inreport
January 28, 2021Rainbow Trout40010.8 inreport
January 19, 2021Rainbow Trout42410.9 inreport
January 5, 2021Rainbow Trout40011.1 inreport
December 14, 2020Rainbow Trout40111.3 inreport
December 2, 2020Rainbow Trout40010.7 inreport
November 18, 2020Rainbow Trout39911 inreport
November 2, 2020Rainbow Trout45210.5 inreport
September 3, 2020Channel Catfish10218 inreport
July 2, 2020Channel Catfish9618 inreport
June 4, 2020Channel Catfish10218 inreport
March 3, 2020Rainbow Trout40010.5 inreport
February 25, 2020Rainbow Trout40010.1 inreport
February 5, 2020Rainbow Trout40010.6 inreport
January 28, 2020Rainbow Trout40110.5 inreport
January 14, 2020Rainbow Trout40010.4 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

Eunice Lake 22.5 mi last stocked June 30, 2026 Green Meadow Lake 44 mi last stocked June 30, 2026 Black River 50.7 mi last stocked March 16, 2026 Carlsbad Municipal Lake 64.1 mi last stocked January 8, 2026 Lake Van 100.8 mi last stocked July 9, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Jal Lake?

Fishing Jal Lake usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 43 of 63 plants on record, ahead of Channel Catfish. Rainbow Trout was last stocked February 23, 2026, averaging 10.6 in. Channel Catfish was last stocked June 30, 2026, averaging 18 in.

When is Jal Lake stocked?

Last stocked June 30, 2026. It is stocked about 9 times a year since 2020, most often in January and November.

How big are the fish stocked at Jal Lake?

Stocked fish average 12.9 in. Rainbow Trout average 10.6 in. Channel Catfish average 18 in.

Which lakes near Jal Lake were stocked more recently?

Lake Van (100.8 mi) was stocked more recently. Lake Van is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Channel Catfish.