Lakes in New Mexico (Las Cruces, Roswell: safe, bill, cars)

[TKO]

Originally Posted by AndyJ

Hey, thanks BrianH, just missed your post. I've been on plenty of what I expected to be productive fishing trips, and got skunked. Conversely, I've been on trips that I didn't feel too great about, and ended up catching plenty. Either way, I think one of the best things is just getting outside and getting to know a new place.

Agree on both points for sure! The only really good fishing trips just happen. You have to have ones that aren't so successful in order to have the ones that are. They're way worth it to me!

If you're meaning Conchas though, I've never been up there. The northeast part of the state is really the only part I haven't spent too much time in. Just visited the helium mine once for work. I need to make that road trip, I want to see the grasslands. Maybe when gas comes down a little?

[AndyJ]

Ah, completely my fault TKO, I meant Clayton Lake. Actually, I have wanted to get down to either Elephant Butte or Caballo for awhile now, although I fished them when I was much younger. Just too darn many places in NM that I need to get to/revisit.

[BrianH]

I was talking Clayton too, Conchas never sprung to mind. One track mind eh hehe

[TKO]

Soo many C's so little time. In my best Emily Litella voice - "Never Mind".

[Aliciac]

I realize this is an old topic, but I'd love to hear more about Bluewater Lake. My husband went as a kid and we are thinking about going there this summer-2009. He's been swimming in lots of lakes here, me only going to Conchas. Is swimming allowed? Anyone done it lately?

[Melchior6]

Originally Posted by zvercetti

Out of curiousity, I may be in ABQ for business for about a year and I would like to know if there are any lakes, maybe ones you can swim in.

There is lake Cochiti about 25 minutes North of Albuquerque, a nice scenic little area. There is an area sectioned off for swimming.

[red46]

Originally Posted by zvercetti

Out of curiousity, I may be in ABQ for business for about a year and I would like to know if there are any lakes, maybe ones you can swim in.

Cochiti lake north of Albuquerque is clean, ample water (not like the shrinking Elephant Butte) with areas you can swim. However, be prepared for a lack of trees. Most lakes in NM are practically barren land surrounding.

In the Jemez Mountains, there are 2 lakes (one you have to hike a mile to) but neither is suitable for swimming.

Conchas lake is the leisure lake. You can swim at Elephant Butte but I personally don't like the place. You also have a Blue Water lake west of Alb.

Most of the lakes in NM, with the exception of Conchas, is colder water than most anywhere else in the U.S.

The best swimming I've ever had was in the river near Farmington.

[Buzz123]

I always thought this was very strange, but when I was about 14 I knew a guy in my home town back east that moved to Albuquerque, so I was always proud that I wasn't one of those ignorant people who didn't know New Mexico was a state, even though I don't think I could have found it on a map until I drove through it to get to Las Vegas. Well anyway, my friend drowned in a New Mexico lake while fishing.

Then fast forward about 20 years, and I had another friend I met in Las Vegas who was from Albuquerque. so when he got married he moved back home. Sadly, he too drowned, along with his father, while fishing. I believe both friends drowned in the same lake, either Elephant Butte, or Blue Water.

[PINAYPIE]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

I always thought this was very strange, but when I was about 14 I knew a guy in my home town back east that moved to Albuquerque, so I was always proud that I wasn't one of those ignorant people who didn't know New Mexico was a state, even though I don't think I could have found it on a map until I drove through it to get to Las Vegas. Well anyway, my friend drowned in a New Mexico lake while fishing.

Then fast forward about 20 years, and I had another friend I met in Las Vegas who was from Albuquerque. so when he got married he moved back home. Sadly, he too drowned, along with his father, while fishing. I believe both friends drowned in the same lake, either Elephant Butte, or Blue Water.

WOW. That IS very strange!

[Champ le monstre du lac]

I'm just curious to know where people like to go for water recreation in New Mexico. What do you all think of the lakes in the state? I'm curious about...

Elephant Butte
Navajo Lake
Lakes around Santa Rosa and the blue hole
Soda Dam

and anywhere else worth mentioning...