Question: Is there fishing in Ruidoso?

Answer: Is there fishin' here? Can you say Moby Dick? Heck yes there's fishing here and pretty darn good too! New Mexico is more than desert my friend. Local fisheries include the beautiful Bonito Lake about 17 miles northwest of town, Grindstone Lake, in town, Mescalero lake saddled up right beside the Inn of the Mountain Gods and the Rio Ruidoso which runs through town. If you go to the Mescalero Apache Reservation to fish you can purchase a day pass right at the Inn. For the other spots, check New Mexico Wildlife for all the rules and regulations so you don't end up in the pokey like I did ... well that's another story anyway. Catch a biggun'!

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Question: What type of fish are there in Ruidoso's lakes and rivers. What do they usually hit on anyway? I'm interested in a fishing trip later this month with my son and his friend.

Answer: Well besides my personal siting of a Loch Ness monster kind'a thing ... I was alone and it was gettin' kinda' late ... well thats' a story for another time. Let me answer your question. Trout, trout and more trout, plain and simple. Rainbows everywhere in the lakes and river, native Brown Trout as you get lower in the river towards and through Ruidoso Downs and native Brook Trout as you follow the Ruidoso River out of town to the north and west. Small spinners and flys and salmon eggs and cheese bait will fill your stringer! Have fun with the boys, I still remember my pappy takin' me down to the fishin' hole ... there's not much better.

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