Lake Van fishing

Lake Van fishing has Rainbow Trout and Channel Catfish on the stocking report. It is stocked about 7.9 times a year since 2019, most often in March and December. 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
July 9, 2026
· Channel Catfish
Plants on record
63
Since 2019
Species recorded
2
Average size
13.3 in
Elevation
3,424.9 ft

Fish at Lake Van

2 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 40 plants · last March 12, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked March 12, 2026 · avg 10.6 in · 40 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Channel Catfish Stocked · 23 plants · last July 9, 2026 Best: dusk, night

Last stocked July 9, 2026 · avg 18 in · 23 plants

Best: dusk, night

Channel Catfish species guide

How Lake Van is stocked

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

Hondo River (LOWER) (21 mi) was stocked more recently. Hondo River (LOWER) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Fish stocked in 2019

1,499

Fish stocked in 2020

9,141

Fish stocked in 2021

13,758

Fish stocked in 2022

2,834

Fish stocked in 2023

4,791

Fish stocked in 2024

7,539

Fish stocked in 2025

15,567

Fish stocked in 2026

10,328

Stocking history

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
July 9, 2026Channel Catfish17418 inreport
June 30, 2026Channel Catfish31518 inreport
May 21, 2026Channel Catfish36018 inreport
April 23, 2026Channel Catfish48018 inreport
March 12, 2026Rainbow Trout1,50010.3 inreport
March 2, 2026Rainbow Trout1,50010.1 inreport
February 19, 2026Rainbow Trout1,49910.2 inreport
February 2, 2026Rainbow Trout1,50110.2 inreport
January 21, 2026Rainbow Trout1,50010 inreport
January 6, 2026Rainbow Trout1,49910 inreport
December 15, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50010.2 inreport
December 1, 2025Rainbow Trout1,49910.5 inreport
November 20, 2025Rainbow Trout1,49910.7 inreport
October 28, 2025Rainbow Trout1,49910 inreport
August 28, 2025Channel Catfish31618 inreport
August 8, 2025Channel Catfish15018 inreport
July 31, 2025Channel Catfish31618 inreport
June 26, 2025Channel Catfish31618 inreport
May 21, 2025Channel Catfish42018 inreport
April 24, 2025Channel Catfish55118 inreport
March 26, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50110.5 inreport
March 6, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50110.3 inreport
February 12, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50010.2 inreport
January 28, 2025Rainbow Trout1,49910.5 inreport
January 14, 2025Rainbow Trout1,50010.6 inreport
December 30, 2024Rainbow Trout1,50110 inreport
December 17, 2024Rainbow Trout1,12410.3 inreport
December 3, 2024Rainbow Trout1,12610.1 inreport
November 19, 2024Rainbow Trout1,12612.3 inreport
November 6, 2024Rainbow Trout1,69211.5 inreport
August 29, 2024Channel Catfish33018 inreport
August 1, 2024Channel Catfish32418 inreport
July 2, 2024Channel Catfish31618 inreport
April 27, 2023Channel Catfish48018 inreport
March 14, 2023Rainbow Trout1,31110.9 inreport
March 9, 2023Rainbow Trout1,50010.5 inreport
February 13, 2023Rainbow Trout1,50010 inreport
November 28, 2022Rainbow Trout1,33411.9 inreport
January 10, 2022Rainbow Trout1,50011 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
September 2, 2021Channel Catfish39018 inreport
July 29, 2021Channel Catfish40518 inreport
July 1, 2021Channel Catfish40518 inreport
May 27, 2021Channel Catfish40518 inreport
May 6, 2021Channel Catfish40518 inreport
March 16, 2021Rainbow Trout1,42311 inreport
March 3, 2021Rainbow Trout1,32511.4 inreport
February 10, 2021Rainbow Trout1,50111.6 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 Trout1,50011.1 inreport
September 3, 2020Channel Catfish40518 inreport
July 30, 2020Channel Catfish44418 inreport
July 2, 2020Channel Catfish39618 inreport
June 4, 2020Channel Catfish39618 inreport
March 2, 2020Rainbow Trout1,50110.3 inreport
February 17, 2020Rainbow Trout1,50010.2 inreport
February 5, 2020Rainbow Trout1,49910.5 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

Bottomless Lakes 8.6 mi last stocked March 16, 2026 Bataan Lake 15.1 mi last stocked June 30, 2026 Berrendo Creek 16.2 mi last stocked June 30, 2026 Greene Acres Lake 16.8 mi last stocked June 30, 2026 Hondo River (LOWER) 21 mi last stocked July 23, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Lake Van?

Fishing Lake Van usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 40 of 63 plants on record, ahead of Channel Catfish. Rainbow Trout was last stocked March 12, 2026, averaging 10.6 in. Channel Catfish was last stocked July 9, 2026, averaging 18 in.

When is Lake Van stocked?

Last stocked July 9, 2026. It is stocked about 7.9 times a year since 2019, most often in March and December.

How big are the fish stocked at Lake Van?

Stocked fish average 13.3 in. Rainbow Trout average 10.6 in. Channel Catfish average 18 in.

Which lakes near Lake Van were stocked more recently?

Hondo River (LOWER) (21 mi) was stocked more recently. Hondo River (LOWER) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.