It’s a fishing day

Navajo Lake fishing conditions · New Mexico

Tonight 10 pm to tomorrow 1 pmSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 68.

Log a trip here
Right now: 68 for smallmouth bass, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Smallmouth bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 681 am
  2. 68
  3. 68
  4. 684 am
  5. 68
  6. 68
  7. 687 am
  8. 68
  9. 68
  10. 6810 am
  11. 68
  12. 68
  13. 681 pm
  14. 58
  15. 58
  16. 584 pm
  17. 58
  18. 58
  19. 587 pm
  20. 58
  21. 58
  22. 6810 pm
  23. 68
  24. 68Tue
  25. 681 am
  26. 68
  27. 68
  28. 684 am
  29. 68
  30. 68
  31. 687 am
  32. 68
  33. 68
  34. 6810 am
  35. 68
  36. 68
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Smallmouth bass range 55–78°

Wind
5 mph

From the east

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:28 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

2% chance of rain

Air
42°F

NWS hourly forecast

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are New Mexico non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

68MarginalTonight 10 pm to tomorrow 1 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. New Mexico: 5 black bass a day combined, 10 in possession; smallmouth 12" minimum (14" at Conchas and Ute).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New Mexico non-tidal

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee salmon

Oncorhynchus nerka

68MarginalTonight 10 pm to tomorrow 1 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Kokanee salmon bite in 45–59° water, best near 53°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 20–120 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. New Mexico: kokanee count in the 5 trout-and-salmon daily bag (10 in possession). During the Oct 1–Dec 31 snagging season on listed waters the kokanee bag is 12 a day, 24 in possession.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New Mexico non-tidal

Season here: Year-round. More on kokanee salmon

Northern Pike

Northern pike

Esox lucius

68MarginalTonight 10 pm to tomorrow 1 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Northern pike bite in 50–70° water, best near 63°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 4–30 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. New Mexico: 10 northern pike a day, 20 in possession. Eagle Nest Lake alone has no limit, and pike there may not be released.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New Mexico non-tidal

Season here: Year-round. More on northern pike

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

68MarginalTonight 10 pm to tomorrow 1 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. New Mexico: 5 black bass a day combined, 10 in possession; largemouth and spotted bass 14" minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New Mexico non-tidal

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

68MarginalTonight 10 pm to tomorrow 1 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. New Mexico sets bag limits only for game fish. Common carp are a nongame species with no bag or size limit, and dead carp are approved cut bait statewide.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · New Mexico non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.26 inHg

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:28 am
  • Sunset today6:20 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarSunday 11:50 pm–1:50 am
  • Minor solunarToday 7:40 am–8:40 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:10 pm–2:10 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. New Mexico Game & Fish publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: New Mexico Dept. of Game & Fish · trout stocking · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A deep, clear 15,000-acre reservoir on the San Juan above the famous tailwater, straddling the New Mexico–Colorado line. One of the best smallmouth bass lakes in the Southwest, with kokanee salmon, northern pike, largemouth bass, and trout. Navajo Lake State Park provides ramps and shoreline access.

New Mexico 2026–27: 5 black bass a day (smallmouth 12" minimum, largemouth 14"), 10 northern pike, and kokanee in the 5-fish trout bag until the Oct 1–Dec 31 snagging season (12 a day). The trophy tailwater is just below the dam.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

San Juan River below Navajo Dam1 mi · New MexicoBest tonight 10 pm to tomorrow 1 pm
78Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Navajo Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Navajo Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Navajo Lake?

Navajo Lake is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Smallmouth Bass, Kokanee Salmon, Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Navajo Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Navajo Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Navajo Lake have?

Navajo Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. New Mexico 2026–27: 5 black bass a day (smallmouth 12" minimum, largemouth 14"), 10 northern pike, and kokanee in the 5-fish trout bag until the Oct 1–Dec 31 snagging season (12 a day). The trophy tailwater is just below the dam.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Navajo Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Navajo Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Navajo Lake tidal water?

No. Navajo Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.