Jal Lake
Fishing and stocking
Stocked January to June in 2026, heaviest in February: channel catfish and rainbow trout, 6 plants in all.
New Mexico · see it on the national map
The year here
stocked last 7 days announced ahead · tap a tick for details
What swims here
Rainbow trout
Channel catfish
Stocking record 2026
Agency feed checked yesterday.
| Date | Species | Size | Fish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 13 | Rainbow trout | catchable | 398 | completed |
| Feb 10 | Rainbow trout | catchable | 401 | completed |
| Feb 23 | Rainbow trout | catchable | 401 | completed |
| Apr 23 | Channel catfish | catchable | 141 | completed |
| May 21 | Channel catfish | catchable | 133 | completed |
| Jun 30 | Channel catfish | catchable | 133 | completed |
When to fish Jal Lake
| Major periods (~2 h) | Minor periods (~1 h) | |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 9:33-11:33 am and 9:56-11:56 pm | 3:51-4:51 am and 4:07-5:07 pm |
| Tomorrow | 10:19 am-12:19 pm and 10:43 pm-12:43 am | 4:53-5:53 am and 4:37-5:37 pm |
Moon: waxing gibbous, 93% lit. These are solunar periods, the traditional feeding-time theory: majors around the moon's transit overhead and underfoot, minors around moonrise and moonset. Theory, not a measurement. Times are Mountain Time (MDT).
What the record actually says
- Last stocked Jun 30
Computed this evening, Oct 23 · New Mexico fishing forecast
Gear for this water
It has been a while since the trucks came. The holdovers have spread out and wised up; downsize and fish natural.
For the trout (rainbow trout stocked 3 times here in 2026, stillwater)
| Casting spoons | 1/8 to 1/4 oz in fluorescent or metallic; count down until you find the depth |
| Small crankbaits | trout-pattern cranks trolled or slow-retrieved off points |
| Slip bobber and jig | 1/32 oz marabou jig or waxworm suspended at cruising depth |
For the catfish (channel catfish stocked 3 times here in 2026, stillwater)
| Medium-heavy rod | 7 ft medium-heavy, 15 to 20 lb line, sturdy reel |
| Circle hooks on a slip-sinker rig | 2/0 to 5/0 circles on a Carolina rig; let them load up |
| Cut bait and prepared baits | fresh cut shad or chicken liver; scent is everything |
Suggestions follow from what the state actually stocks here and what kind of water it is, nothing else. No sponsored placements.
Nearby stocked waters
The closest waters with stocking pages of their own, straight-line miles from this one.
| Water | Distance | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Eunice Lake | 25 mi | Jun 30 |
| Green Meadow Lake | 45 mi | Jun 30 |
| Harry Mcadams Park Pond | 46 mi | Jul 9 |
| Black River | 54 mi | Mar 16 |
| Chaparral Park Lake | 59 mi | Jun 30 |
Follow New Mexico stocking: RSS / Calendar (iCal) / Print the schedule