Navajo Lake, NM

About Navajo Lake

Navajo Lake is a large high-desert reservoir straddling the New Mexico and Colorado state line in the northwestern corner of New Mexico, formed by Navajo Dam on the San Juan River. Set in the dramatic red-rock and pinon-juniper country near the Four Corners, it stretches for miles up several long, fingered arms fed by the San Juan, Los Pinos, and Piedra rivers. With deep, clear, cool water and a maximum depth well over 300 feet near the dam, it fishes like a true coldwater and coolwater fishery rather than a typical warm Southwestern impoundment.

Anglers know Navajo for an unusually diverse menu of gamefish: it is one of New Mexico's premier kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass waters, holds lake trout, northern pike, rainbow and brown trout, plus largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and channel catfish. Just below the dam, the tailwater stretch of the San Juan River is a world-renowned trophy trout fishery in its own right, which means a trip here can pair big-water reservoir fishing with one of the country's best fly-fishing rivers.

Fish Species

Navajo Lake's strength is its variety. The standout species anglers travel for are:

• Smallmouth bass — the headline warmwater (coolwater) fish here, thriving on the lake's rocky points, bluffs, and submerged structure. Navajo has a reputation for both numbers and quality smallmouth.
• Kokanee salmon — landlocked sockeye that feed on plankton in open water; a popular trolling and (in season) snagging/dipping target prized for the table.
• Lake trout (mackinaw) — deep, cold-water predators that hold near the dam and main-lake basin, offering a true big-fish opportunity.
• Northern pike — toothy ambush predators found in the weedier, shallower backs of coves and arms.
• Trout — stocked and holdover rainbow and brown trout in the lake, plus the legendary wild trout of the San Juan tailwater just below the dam.

Rounding out the fishery are largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and other panfish, and channel catfish, giving families and casual anglers plenty to catch alongside the trophy targets.

Best Seasons & Times

Spring: As the water warms into the 50s and 60s, smallmouth and largemouth move shallow to feed and eventually spawn around rocky points and gravel flats — often the best window of the year for numbers and big bass. Trout fishing near the surface and in the upper arms is strong while the water is still cool, and pike become active in the backs of warming coves.

Summer: The thermocline sets up and fish stratify by temperature. Bass relate to deeper structure and feed best early and late in the day; midday anglers go deeper or fish low light. Kokanee and lake trout retreat to cool, deep water and are best reached by trollers running downriggers or leadcore. Early morning and evening are clearly the most productive times in the heat.

Fall: Cooling water triggers another strong bite. Smallmouth feed aggressively to fatten up, and kokanee stage and color up as they move toward spawning tributaries — a favorite season for kokanee anglers. Cooler surface temps pull trout shallower again.

Winter: Fishing slows but persists; trout and lake trout remain catchable in the colder months, and the San Juan tailwater below the dam fishes year-round thanks to stable, cold dam releases. Dress for sharp high-desert cold and check conditions before heading out.

Techniques & Baits

Match your approach to the target species:

• Smallmouth bass: Fish rock — points, bluff walls, rip-rap, and submerged boulders. Tube jigs, Ned rigs, drop-shots, small swimbaits, and crankbaits in crawdad and shad patterns all produce. Work them shallow in spring and fall, deeper in summer.
• Kokanee salmon: Troll slowly with downriggers or leadcore to reach their depth, running small dodgers/flashers ahead of pink or orange hoochies, spinners, or tipped hooks. Tip baits with white shoepeg corn (where legal) for added scent and appeal.
• Lake trout: Go deep with heavy jigging spoons and tubes near the dam and main basin, or troll deep-running lures and large minnow imitations along bottom contours.
• Northern pike: Throw large spoons, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and jerkbaits around weedy cove backs and flats; use a wire or heavy fluorocarbon leader to beat their teeth.
• Trout (lake): Still-fish with PowerBait or worms near shore, troll spoons and spinners, or cast small spoons and inline spinners during low-light periods.
• San Juan tailwater trout: This is fly-fishing water — small midges, San Juan worms, annelids, and tiny mayfly nymphs on fine tippet, fished dead-drift. It is technical, catch-and-release-focused water with special rules.

Access & Launches

Navajo Lake is managed largely as a state park, with developed facilities concentrated on the New Mexico side near the dam and additional access on the upper arms reaching into Colorado. Anglers will generally find public boat ramps, marina services, campgrounds, and shoreline access within the park, though available facilities and water access can shift with the reservoir's fluctuating water level, so it is wise to confirm current conditions before launching. The dam area is the gateway to the celebrated San Juan River tailwater immediately downstream, where bank and wade access is well established for fly anglers. Because the lake is big, deep, and open to wind, a seaworthy boat greatly expands your options for kokanee, lake trout, and offshore bass, while bank and small-craft anglers can still do well in the coves and along accessible shorelines. Day-use and camping fees typically apply at the state park, so plan accordingly.

Regulations & Licenses

A valid New Mexico fishing license is required to fish Navajo Lake and the San Juan River, and anglers should be aware that the lake spans the New Mexico–Colorado state line — fishing the Colorado portion can require a Colorado license, so know which state's water you are on. Bag, possession, and size limits vary by species (smallmouth bass, kokanee salmon, lake trout, pike, and trout are managed differently), and special rules apply on the San Juan tailwater, including designated quality and catch-and-release water with gear restrictions. Kokanee snagging seasons, when offered, are tightly regulated by date and area. Regulations change from year to year, so always check the current New Mexico Department of Game and Fish rules (and Colorado's, if applicable) for license requirements, slot and bag limits, special-water restrictions, and any seasonal closures before you fish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fish is Navajo Lake best known for?
Navajo Lake is best known for its quality smallmouth bass and its kokanee salmon, along with lake trout and northern pike. Just below the dam, the San Juan River tailwater is a world-class trophy trout fishery, so the area offers both big-reservoir fishing and elite fly fishing in one trip.

When is the best time to fish Navajo Lake?
Spring and fall are the prime seasons. Spring brings smallmouth and largemouth bass shallow to feed and spawn, while fall produces strong bass feeding and staging kokanee. In summer, fish deep and concentrate on early-morning and evening low-light periods. The San Juan tailwater fishes well year-round.

Do I need a special license for the San Juan River below the dam?
You need a valid New Mexico fishing license. The San Juan tailwater also has special-regulation water, including quality and catch-and-release sections with gear restrictions, so review the current New Mexico Game and Fish rules for that stretch before fishing. Note the lake itself crosses into Colorado, which may require a Colorado license.

How do you catch kokanee salmon at Navajo Lake?
Kokanee are caught by trolling slowly in open water with downriggers or leadcore line to reach their depth, running a small dodger or flasher ahead of pink or orange hoochies, spinners, or tipped hooks. Tipping with white shoepeg corn adds scent. In summer they hold deep and cold; in fall they stage near spawning tributaries.