Largemouth Bass

Habitat Distribution

• The species thrives in the state's major reservoirs.
• In New Mexico's high-altitude environment (most lakes are nearly a mile high).

Key Locations

• Elephant Butte (considered the premier bass lake), Ute Lake, Conchas Lake, Navajo Lake, Santa Rosa Lake, Cochiti Lake, Caballo Lake, and Bill Evans Lake.
• At Elephant Butte: north end near the marina, the cliffs descending into water, McCrae Canyon's aquatic vegetation, and The Jungles area.
• Conchas Lake's flooded juniper areas, Canadian Arm's gravel bar points, and submerged islands 10-15 feet deep.
• At Navajo Lake: rocky points in La Jara Canyon, Francis Canyon, and the Pine Arm.
• Ute Lake's small canyons, rocky points with boulders, Ute Creek entry areas, and north side dam gravel flats that drop into deep water.

Specific Spots

• They prefer shallow areas with structure like submerged logs, brush, vegetation beds, rocky points, and drop-offs where they ambush prey.
• During post-spawn target less than 10 feet deep.
• Use small plastic worms or grubs off rocky or brushy lake points for deep summer bass.
• Deep coves and rocky points are productive areas.