Ruidoso River fishing

Ruidoso River fishing has Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout on the stocking report. It is stocked about 7.3 times a year since 2019, most often in February and August. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
June 11, 2024
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
44
Since 2019
Species recorded
2
Average size
11 in
Elevation
7,147.3 ft

Fish at Ruidoso River

2 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 43 plants · last June 11, 2024 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked June 11, 2024 · avg 11 in · 43 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide

How Ruidoso River is stocked

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

Alto Lake (2 mi), Grindstone Reservoir (4.1 mi), Rio Bonito Upper (5.8 mi), Rio Bonito Lower (18.4 mi), and Carrizozo Recreation Lake (21.7 mi) were stocked more recently. Alto Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout, Grindstone Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout, Rio Bonito Upper is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Rio Bonito Lower is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, and Carrizozo Recreation Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Fish stocked in 2019

501

Fish stocked in 2020

7,110

Fish stocked in 2021

8,698

Fish stocked in 2022

1,498

Fish stocked in 2023

1,901

Fish stocked in 2024

999

Stocking history

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
June 11, 2024Rainbow Trout99910.4 inreport
April 25, 2023Rainbow Trout40110.1 inreport
March 20, 2023Rainbow Trout50010.9 inreport
March 1, 2023Rainbow Trout49910 inreport
February 13, 2023Rainbow Trout50110 inreport
December 5, 2022Rainbow Trout4999 inreport
November 7, 2022Rainbow Trout49910.4 inreport
January 11, 2022Rainbow Trout50011 inreport
December 21, 2021Rainbow Trout37411 inreport
December 6, 2021Rainbow Trout37411.6 inreport
November 15, 2021Rainbow Trout30010.7 inreport
November 1, 2021Rainbow Trout24910.1 inreport
October 5, 2021Rainbow Trout75011.3 inreport
August 23, 2021Rainbow Trout13413.7 inreport
August 23, 2021Rainbow Trout61511 inreport
August 12, 2021Rainbow Trout12013.5 inreport
August 12, 2021Rainbow Trout75011 inreport
July 26, 2021Rainbow Trout74911.4 inreport
July 12, 2021Rainbow Trout5013.1 inreport
July 7, 2021Rainbow Trout75011.2 inreport
June 22, 2021Rainbow Trout16610.4 inreport
June 22, 2021Rainbow Trout7013.1 inreport
May 25, 2021Rainbow Trout74810.6 inreport
May 11, 2021Rainbow Trout49910.7 inreport
April 12, 2021Rainbow Trout50111.1 inreport
March 17, 2021Rainbow Trout25011.6 inreport
March 10, 2021Rainbow Trout25010.4 inreport
February 24, 2021Rainbow Trout50010.9 inreport
February 2, 2021Rainbow Trout25010.8 inreport
January 12, 2021Rainbow Trout24910.8 inreport
December 3, 2020Rainbow Trout25010.7 inreport
November 19, 2020Rainbow Trout24811 inreport
November 9, 2020Rainbow Trout25110.8 inreport
October 5, 2020Cutthroat Trout50011 inreport
August 31, 2020Rainbow Trout1,00110.8 inreport
August 17, 2020Rainbow Trout1,01410.2 inreport
August 4, 2020Rainbow Trout85011.4 inreport
July 21, 2020Rainbow Trout50011.1 inreport
July 9, 2020Rainbow Trout50110.5 inreport
June 16, 2020Rainbow Trout49910.9 inreport
March 10, 2020Rainbow Trout49811.1 inreport
February 18, 2020Rainbow Trout49810.1 inreport
February 10, 2020Rainbow Trout50011.1 inreport
December 31, 2019Rainbow Trout50111.1 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.

Nearest lakes

Alto Lake 2 mi last stocked September 21, 2026 Grindstone Reservoir 4.1 mi last stocked October 1, 2026 Rio Bonito Upper 5.8 mi last stocked May 19, 2026 Rio Bonito Lower 18.4 mi last stocked April 21, 2026 Carrizozo Recreation Lake 21.7 mi last stocked June 30, 2026

Public land at Ruidoso River

Ruidoso River is 0.5 miles outside the edge of Lincoln National Forest.

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

Common questions

What fish are at Ruidoso River?

Fishing Ruidoso River usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 43 of 44 plants on record, ahead of Cutthroat Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked June 11, 2024, averaging 11 in. Cutthroat Trout was last stocked October 5, 2020, averaging 11 in.

When is Ruidoso River stocked?

Last stocked June 11, 2024. It is stocked about 7.3 times a year since 2019, most often in February and August.

How big are the fish stocked at Ruidoso River?

Stocked fish average 11 in. Rainbow Trout average 11 in. Cutthroat Trout average 11 in.

Which lakes near Ruidoso River were stocked more recently?

Alto Lake (2 mi), Grindstone Reservoir (4.1 mi), Rio Bonito Upper (5.8 mi), Rio Bonito Lower (18.4 mi), and Carrizozo Recreation Lake (21.7 mi) were stocked more recently. Alto Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout, Grindstone Reservoir is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout, Rio Bonito Upper is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Rio Bonito Lower is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, and Carrizozo Recreation Lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.