Rio Bonito Lower fishing

Rio Bonito Lower fishing has Rainbow Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 4.9 times a year since 2020, most often in February and November. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
April 21, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
34
Since 2020
Species recorded
1
Average size
10.6 in
Elevation
5,528.9 ft

Fish at Rio Bonito Lower

1 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 34 plants · last April 21, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked April 21, 2026 · avg 10.6 in · 34 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide

How Rio Bonito Lower is stocked

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

Alto Lake (19.7 mi), Rio Bonito Upper (20.7 mi), Grindstone Reservoir (21.9 mi), and Carrizozo Recreation Lake (32.1 mi) were stocked more recently. Alto Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Rio Bonito Upper is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Grindstone Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, and Carrizozo Recreation Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Fish stocked in 2020

452

Fish stocked in 2021

1,561

Fish stocked in 2022

447

Fish stocked in 2023

568

Fish stocked in 2024

149

Fish stocked in 2025

1,500

Fish stocked in 2026

600

Stocking history

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
April 21, 2026Rainbow Trout15010.4 inreport
February 26, 2026Rainbow Trout14910.1 inreport
February 11, 2026Rainbow Trout15110.1 inreport
January 13, 2026Rainbow Trout15011.3 inreport
December 23, 2025Rainbow Trout4910.2 inreport
December 9, 2025Rainbow Trout24911.1 inreport
November 18, 2025Rainbow Trout30010 inreport
March 26, 2025Rainbow Trout15110.5 inreport
March 11, 2025Rainbow Trout15110.3 inreport
February 26, 2025Rainbow Trout15110.5 inreport
January 28, 2025Rainbow Trout14910.5 inreport
January 6, 2025Rainbow Trout30010.1 inreport
November 13, 2024Rainbow Trout14911 inreport
April 25, 2023Rainbow Trout12010.1 inreport
March 20, 2023Rainbow Trout14910.9 inreport
March 1, 2023Rainbow Trout15010 inreport
February 13, 2023Rainbow Trout14910 inreport
December 5, 2022Rainbow Trout1479 inreport
November 7, 2022Rainbow Trout15010.4 inreport
January 11, 2022Rainbow Trout15011 inreport
December 21, 2021Rainbow Trout22411 inreport
December 6, 2021Rainbow Trout11211.6 inreport
November 15, 2021Rainbow Trout11310.7 inreport
November 1, 2021Rainbow Trout11110.1 inreport
April 27, 2021Rainbow Trout14910.6 inreport
April 12, 2021Rainbow Trout9811.1 inreport
March 17, 2021Rainbow Trout15111.6 inreport
March 10, 2021Rainbow Trout15210.4 inreport
February 24, 2021Rainbow Trout15110.9 inreport
February 2, 2021Rainbow Trout15010.8 inreport
January 12, 2021Rainbow Trout15010.8 inreport
December 3, 2020Rainbow Trout15010.7 inreport
November 19, 2020Rainbow Trout14911 inreport
November 9, 2020Rainbow Trout15310.8 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

Ruidoso River 18.4 mi last stocked June 11, 2024 Alto Lake 19.7 mi last stocked September 21, 2026 Rio Bonito Upper 20.7 mi last stocked May 19, 2026 Grindstone Reservoir 21.9 mi last stocked October 1, 2026 Carrizozo Recreation Lake 32.1 mi last stocked June 30, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Rio Bonito Lower?

Fishing Rio Bonito Lower usually means Rainbow Trout. All 34 plants on record are Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked April 21, 2026, averaging 10.6 in.

When is Rio Bonito Lower stocked?

Last stocked April 21, 2026. It is stocked about 4.9 times a year since 2020, most often in February and November.

How big are the fish stocked at Rio Bonito Lower?

Rainbow Trout stocked at Rio Bonito Lower average 10.6 in.

Which lakes near Rio Bonito Lower were stocked more recently?

Alto Lake (19.7 mi), Rio Bonito Upper (20.7 mi), Grindstone Reservoir (21.9 mi), and Carrizozo Recreation Lake (32.1 mi) were stocked more recently. Alto Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Rio Bonito Upper is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Grindstone Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, and Carrizozo Recreation Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.