Santa Cruz Reservoir fishing

Santa Cruz Reservoir fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout on a reservoir. It is stocked about 6.6 times a year since 2020, most often in March and April. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

AI-generated illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
May 5, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
46
Since 2020
Species recorded
1
Average size
12 in
Elevation
6,454.3 ft

Fish at Santa Cruz Reservoir

1 stocked · 0 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 46 plants · last May 5, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked May 5, 2026 · avg 12 in · 46 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide

How Santa Cruz Reservoir is stocked

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

Rio Grande (Pilar to Cochiti Lake) (17.4 mi), Rio Pueblo (18 mi), Holy Ghost Creek (21.4 mi), Rio Grande (Gorge, above Pilar) (23.3 mi), and Pecos River (Pecos Canyon) (23.6 mi) were stocked more recently. Rio Grande (Pilar to Cochiti Lake) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Rio Pueblo is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Holy Ghost Creek is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Rio Grande (Gorge, above Pilar) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, and Pecos River (Pecos Canyon) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Fish stocked in 2020

9,127

Fish stocked in 2021

24,061

Fish stocked in 2022

2,052

Fish stocked in 2023

13,717

Fish stocked in 2024

16,654

Fish stocked in 2025

24,459

Fish stocked in 2026

14,062

Stocking history

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
May 5, 2026Rainbow Trout3,50310.3 inreport
April 22, 2026Rainbow Trout30015.5 inreport
April 22, 2026Rainbow Trout3,56810.3 inreport
March 16, 2026Rainbow Trout3,66010.1 inreport
March 16, 2026Rainbow Trout30015.4 inreport
March 5, 2026Rainbow Trout1,61012.9 inreport
March 3, 2026Rainbow Trout1,12112.8 inreport
December 3, 2025Rainbow Trout39210.8 inreport
December 3, 2025Rainbow Trout1,77512 inreport
November 21, 2025Rainbow Trout2,58111.9 inreport
September 30, 2025Rainbow Trout1,92613.2 inreport
September 17, 2025Rainbow Trout3,17210 inreport
May 1, 2025Rainbow Trout2,07910.9 inreport
April 23, 2025Rainbow Trout30016.4 inreport
April 23, 2025Rainbow Trout2,69510.4 inreport
April 9, 2025Rainbow Trout1,12810.9 inreport
April 1, 2025Rainbow Trout30015.8 inreport
April 1, 2025Rainbow Trout3,39210.5 inreport
March 6, 2025Rainbow Trout3,90310.2 inreport
March 5, 2025Rainbow Trout81612.7 inreport
October 31, 2024Rainbow Trout4,75610.2 inreport
October 24, 2024Rainbow Trout1,65011.8 inreport
October 22, 2024Rainbow Trout3,15011.8 inreport
October 2, 2024Rainbow Trout3,54711.3 inreport
September 16, 2024Rainbow Trout2,53810.7 inreport
September 16, 2024Rainbow Trout1,01312.2 inreport
May 2, 2023Rainbow Trout2,58510.2 inreport
April 26, 2023Rainbow Trout40014.8 inreport
April 26, 2023Rainbow Trout40014.2 inreport
April 17, 2023Rainbow Trout30014.9 inreport
April 17, 2023Rainbow Trout2,56210 inreport
March 16, 2023Rainbow Trout3,44411.5 inreport
March 2, 2023Rainbow Trout4,02611 inreport
November 21, 2022Rainbow Trout2,05210.5 inreport
October 1, 2021Rainbow Trout2,64011.2 inreport
September 23, 2021Rainbow Trout2,24411 inreport
May 6, 2021Rainbow Trout30017.1 inreport
May 6, 2021Rainbow Trout3,2909.1 inreport
April 15, 2021Rainbow Trout30016 inreport
April 15, 2021Rainbow Trout3,25012.4 inreport
April 1, 2021Rainbow Trout4,01511.9 inreport
March 18, 2021Rainbow Trout3,88511 inreport
March 4, 2021Rainbow Trout4,13710.8 inreport
November 6, 2020Rainbow Trout3,00010 inreport
October 30, 2020Rainbow Trout1,55112 inreport
March 4, 2020Rainbow Trout4,57610.6 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Nearest town
Chimayo, NM
Facilities
restrooms, camping, dock

BLM Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area North Shore: Santa Cruz Lake Rd (CR 98A) dead-ends at the boat ramp and fishing pier. No-wake 5 mph lake; ramp is load/unload only with no parking in the ramp area. ADA sidewalks, vault toilets, picnic tables. Day-use fee at the North Shore pay station.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish before you go.

Nearest lakes

Rio Grande (Pilar to Cochiti Lake) 17.4 mi last stocked May 28, 2026 Rio Pueblo 18 mi last stocked June 11, 2026 Holy Ghost Creek 21.4 mi last stocked September 21, 2026 Rio Grande (Gorge, above Pilar) 23.3 mi last stocked October 2, 2026 Pecos River (Pecos Canyon) 23.6 mi last stocked September 21, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Santa Cruz Reservoir?

Fishing Santa Cruz Reservoir usually means Rainbow Trout. All 46 plants on record are Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked May 5, 2026, averaging 12 in.

When is Santa Cruz Reservoir stocked?

Last stocked May 5, 2026. It is stocked about 6.6 times a year since 2020, most often in March and April.

How big are the fish stocked at Santa Cruz Reservoir?

Rainbow Trout stocked at Santa Cruz Reservoir average 12 in.

How do you get on Santa Cruz Reservoir?

The nearest town is Chimayo, NM. Facilities include restrooms, camping, and dock. BLM Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area North Shore: Santa Cruz Lake Rd (CR 98A) dead-ends at the boat ramp and fishing pier. No-wake 5 mph lake; ramp is load/unload only with no parking in the ramp area. ADA sidewalks, vault toilets, picnic tables. Day-use fee at the North Shore pay station.

Which lakes near Santa Cruz Reservoir were stocked more recently?

Rio Grande (Pilar to Cochiti Lake) (17.4 mi), Rio Pueblo (18 mi), Holy Ghost Creek (21.4 mi), Rio Grande (Gorge, above Pilar) (23.3 mi), and Pecos River (Pecos Canyon) (23.6 mi) were stocked more recently. Rio Grande (Pilar to Cochiti Lake) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Rio Pueblo is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Holy Ghost Creek is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, Rio Grande (Gorge, above Pilar) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout, and Pecos River (Pecos Canyon) is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Sources (1) +