Bucket List Walleyes: Exploring Ute Lake, New Mexico
Fishing is often about more than just catching fish. It’s about the experience—the adventure of exploring new water, adapting to unique conditions, and chasing new species in unfamiliar environments. For father-son duo Al and Troy Lindner, their latest journey led them to one of Al’s long-time bucket list destinations: Ute Lake in New Mexico. With a backdrop of broken rock walls, expansive flats, and a diverse fishery, this adventure in the high desert revealed just how rich the walleye opportunities are in America’s southwest.
Discovering a Hidden Walleye Gem
As Al explains, he’s driven past Ute Lake for years on trips to and from Texas and Arizona, but never had the chance to stop—until now. Located in eastern New Mexico, Ute Lake is a sprawling reservoir known for its walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish, and white bass populations. For a snowbird returning north after a season of bass fishing on Lake Havasu, this was the perfect place to reconnect with his walleye roots. 
“Walleye fishing in New Mexico—I’ve always wanted to do this,” Al says as he lands a chunky fish without a net. “And Ute Lake, with walleyes like that, smallmouths up to six or seven pounds, and white bass, has always intrigued me.”
Researching New Water: A Modern Approach
Before launching the boat, the pair did their homework. Al points out the importance of digital scouting—resort websites, fishing reports, and YouTube videos all provide a wealth of information. And in this case, that intel paid off. Ute Lake delivered, with fish showing up quickly on classic post-spawn structure.
Many New Mexico impoundments—like Abiquiu, Conchas, Caballo, Elephant Butte, Clayton, and Santa Rosa—support healthy walleye populations thanks to consistent stocking programs. Despite warmer water temperatures, which can lead to faster growth and shorter lifespans, some impressive fish are caught. In fact, the New Mexico state record walleye sits at an impressive 16 pounds, 9 ounces—rivaling records from northern states.
Patterns in Post-Spawn Reservoir Walleyes
With water temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s, Al and Troy focused on a typical early spring pattern: post-spawn walleyes feeding aggressively on expansive shallow flats. These flats often feature scattered rock, brush, or weed cover and are positioned near deeper water or major structural transitions. “Reservoir walleyes love these big flats after they spawn,” Al explains. “Especially where deep water swings in close to shore.”
Using a jigging approach—Al’s preferred technique—they targeted windblown points with broken gravel and subtle depth contours. Some fish were still milking males, but many of the larger females had already spawned and were actively feeding.
Bass Tactics for Walleyes: Point-Hopping Success
Fishing Ute felt a lot like spring bass fishing. The father-son team worked a series of long, flat gravel points—jumping from one to the next in search of active fish. “You hit one point and catch a couple. Then you might go three or four points and not get a bite. Then boom—you’re back into them,” Al says. This point-hopping strategy is crucial when walleyes are scattered and moving in search of food.
Some of the most productive areas were spots where tight contour lines indicated steep breaks adjacent to flats, especially those that funneled bait and fish. These textbook reservoir features are prime real estate for feeding walleyes in the post-spawn window.
Multi-Species Bonus & Western Reservoir Realities
One unique highlight of Ute Lake was the variety of fish encountered. “One cast it’s a white bass, next it’s a smallmouth, then it’s a walleye,” Al notes. This diversity makes for an exciting day on the water and emphasizes the productivity of the habitat. In many western reservoirs, multiple predator species coexist and thrive thanks to expansive forage bases and fertile conditions.
However, fishing in these open reservoirs isn’t without challenges. “One thing you can say about these impoundments—sometimes the wind blows, and the rest of the time it howls,” Al jokes. On windy days, boat control becomes a critical factor. A powerful trolling motor and seaworthy boat are must-haves, especially when working shallow structures or trying to hold position while jigging.
The Joy of Exploring New Waters
For Troy, the idea of walleye fishing in New Mexico was a surprise. “I said, ‘I’m sorry, where is New Mexico?’” he laughs. But after experiencing the action and beauty of Ute Lake, he was sold. “This is a lot of fun… I have not been disappointed.”
From strategic mapping to reading wind-blown points, from understanding seasonal fish behavior to hand-landing big walleyes, this father-son trip was more than just a fishing outing—it was an unforgettable adventure into the heart of an underrated fishery.
Wrapping Up the Ute Lake Experience: Big Smiles, Beautiful Fish, and a Bucket List Fulfilled
As the adventure at Ute Lake came to a close, the tone remained consistent: gratitude, surprise, and the pure joy that comes from fishing in an unexpected paradise. With post-spawn walleyes ranging from 16 to 19 inches, and the occasional bruiser pushing the 6–8 pound mark, this was no fluke outing—it was a confirmation that Ute Lake belongs on any serious walleye angler’s map.
Walleye Fishing… in March?
Perhaps the most surreal part of this experience was the timing. “It’s hard to get my head around fishing walleyes in March,” Al admitted. With the sun high, temps in the 80s, and water in the mid-to-upper 50s, the conditions were more typical of late May or June up north. “Back home, sure, we’ve got river fishing right now, but the guys are bundled up in layers. I’m down here breaking a sweat jigging for walleyes.”
That contrast alone makes New Mexico’s walleye waters—like Ute Lake—an appealing option for winter-weary anglers from the upper Midwest.
Serious Walleye Country, Seriously Well-Stocked
There’s no doubt New Mexico has taken walleye fishing seriously, and the culture is alive and well. As Al noted with a smile, “When the bait shops are selling leeches in New Mexico, you know they’re not for anything else but walleyes.” That bait infrastructure—and consistent stocking efforts—speak volumes about how dedicated the community is to supporting the species.
Popular jigging techniques in these waters include the use of VMC Moon Eye jigs—ideal for aggressive twitching retrieves due to their aspirin-shaped heads and oversized hook gaps—as well as Hot Skirt jigs, which add bulk and color to soft plastics, especially in stained water. Three- to four-inch soft plastics proved highly effective throughout the trip, especially when targeting fish scattered across windblown flats and gravel points.
The Boat Makes the Experience
Another highlight was the performance of their boat setup—essential for navigating Ute’s open, often windy water. “This is the finest fishing boat I’ve ever been in,” Al said. “It’s a fishing machine. They built it around how I fish—great control, rugged build, and total flexibility.”
Whether it was using Minn Kota’s Altera with auto stow/deploy or using the main motor to leapfrog across expansive points, boat control was vital to the success of the outing.
A Lone Boat, a Legendary Lake
Despite visiting during spring break in the Southwest, Ute Lake was quiet—almost eerily so. “I think we’re the only boat out here right now,” Al commented. The solitude added to the experience, reinforcing that this was truly a hidden gem.
The pair continued to catch fish throughout the day—walleyes and smallmouth bass often on the same stretches. “There’s just so many of them in here this size,” Troy said, lifting another thick-bodied walleye from the net. But as the wind began to pick up, they decided to wrap things up. “With this weather kicking up like this, I think it’s time to call it,” Al said. “But I’ll be back. No doubt.”
