Rio Grande (Elephant Butte to Caballo) fishing

Rio Grande (Elephant Butte to Caballo) fishing has Rainbow Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 7 times a year since 2020, most often in January and February. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
March 17, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
49
Since 2020
Species recorded
1
Average size
10.1 in
Elevation
4,238.2 ft

Fish at Rio Grande (Elephant Butte to Caballo)

1 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 49 plants · last March 17, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked March 17, 2026 · avg 10.1 in · 49 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide

How Rio Grande (Elephant Butte to Caballo) is stocked

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

Elephant Butte Lake (9.3 mi), Lake Roberts (52.8 mi), Escondida Lake (70.7 mi), and Snow Lake (74.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Lake Roberts is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Escondida Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, and Snow Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Fish stocked in 2020

9,574

Fish stocked in 2021

11,987

Fish stocked in 2022

5,549

Fish stocked in 2023

2,156

Fish stocked in 2024

4,743

Fish stocked in 2025

9,959

Fish stocked in 2026

3,936

Stocking history

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
March 17, 2026Rainbow Trout96810.1 inreport
March 5, 2026Rainbow Trout1,00010 inreport
February 23, 2026Rainbow Trout1,96810 inreport
October 30, 2025Rainbow Trout98810 inreport
October 15, 2025Rainbow Trout84410.5 inreport
March 25, 2025Rainbow Trout20010.7 inreport
March 18, 2025Rainbow Trout78210.1 inreport
March 17, 2025Rainbow Trout80110.1 inreport
March 4, 2025Rainbow Trout95610.1 inreport
February 26, 2025Rainbow Trout90010.3 inreport
February 5, 2025Rainbow Trout90010.3 inreport
January 31, 2025Rainbow Trout1,83210.3 inreport
January 22, 2025Rainbow Trout92410.2 inreport
January 7, 2025Rainbow Trout83210.6 inreport
December 13, 2024Rainbow Trout92410.2 inreport
December 3, 2024Rainbow Trout79110.6 inreport
November 19, 2024Rainbow Trout1,37610.1 inreport
November 13, 2024Rainbow Trout94810.1 inreport
October 16, 2024Rainbow Trout70411.2 inreport
February 28, 2023Rainbow Trout91610.3 inreport
February 21, 2023Rainbow Trout1,24010.1 inreport
December 1, 2022Rainbow Trout2,4489.3 inreport
November 8, 2022Rainbow Trout1,1699.6 inreport
October 28, 2022Rainbow Trout6489.9 inreport
January 12, 2022Rainbow Trout1,28411.8 inreport
December 28, 2021Rainbow Trout72011.1 inreport
November 16, 2021Rainbow Trout1,9209.9 inreport
November 9, 2021Rainbow Trout89810.4 inreport
March 24, 2021Rainbow Trout1669.2 inreport
March 16, 2021Rainbow Trout1,50810.7 inreport
March 11, 2021Rainbow Trout92510 inreport
February 24, 2021Rainbow Trout64910.6 inreport
February 17, 2021Rainbow Trout65710.7 inreport
February 3, 2021Rainbow Trout1,29810.1 inreport
January 27, 2021Rainbow Trout1,2999.4 inreport
January 13, 2021Rainbow Trout6489.9 inreport
January 7, 2021Rainbow Trout1,2999.6 inreport
December 4, 2020Rainbow Trout1,2999.6 inreport
November 18, 2020Rainbow Trout6509.6 inreport
November 13, 2020Rainbow Trout6509.2 inreport
November 3, 2020Rainbow Trout6489.7 inreport
October 27, 2020Rainbow Trout65010 inreport
March 10, 2020Rainbow Trout6509.5 inreport
February 19, 2020Rainbow Trout6509.6 inreport
February 5, 2020Rainbow Trout94010.2 inreport
January 28, 2020Rainbow Trout84010.6 inreport
January 16, 2020Rainbow Trout93610.2 inreport
January 9, 2020Rainbow Trout92010.2 inreport
January 3, 2020Rainbow Trout74110.5 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

Elephant Butte Lake 9.3 mi last stocked June 9, 2026 Bear Canyon Reservoir 46 mi last stocked March 10, 2025 Lake Roberts 52.8 mi last stocked October 1, 2026 Escondida Lake 70.7 mi last stocked June 30, 2026 Snow Lake 74.5 mi last stocked June 11, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Rio Grande (Elephant Butte to Caballo)?

Fishing Rio Grande (Elephant Butte to Caballo) usually means Rainbow Trout. All 49 plants on record are Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked March 17, 2026, averaging 10.1 in.

When is Rio Grande (Elephant Butte to Caballo) stocked?

Last stocked March 17, 2026. It is stocked about 7 times a year since 2020, most often in January and February.

How big are the fish stocked at Rio Grande (Elephant Butte to Caballo)?

Rainbow Trout stocked at Rio Grande (Elephant Butte to Caballo) average 10.1 in.

Which lakes near Rio Grande (Elephant Butte to Caballo) were stocked more recently?

Elephant Butte Lake (9.3 mi), Lake Roberts (52.8 mi), Escondida Lake (70.7 mi), and Snow Lake (74.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Lake Roberts is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Escondida Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, and Snow Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.