Customer Reviews

Fishing in New Mexico (Coyote Books)

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New Mexico has more opportunities than one would imagine for fishing a desert state. However, one typically needs a little help finding the water. Piper's book covers nearly every possible fishing lake, stream, and river in New Mexico with valuable tips on when and how to fish each body of water. Well-organized into the major river drainages, Piper also provides basic maps for each area. The writing is clear and helpful. The only drawback is that the book is now slightly old and some of the details are out of date (access points have closed, new lakes have appeared, etc.). Perhaps a new edition is in the works. The maps could also be a little better, presently they are somewhat cartoonish. Overall, however, this is the best guide to fishing New Mexico.

Going to a new place and want to get a line wet. Don't have time to contact a local guide or the funds to do so. This guide book lists all waters open to the public for fishing and other outdoor activities. So don't say you can't go fishing until you put a foot forward by owning this book. Fish On!

This was an excellent book when first released in 1989, very informative. It covers all of public fishing areas in the state, as well as the tribal pay fee spots.
It breaks the state into eleven sections, then details the fishing lakes, rivers, ponds and streams in each area. For each lake etc. the author gives solid advice on access, best spots, time of year and time of day, boat and shore fishing info, types of game fish, lure/fly/bait to use and much more invaluable information.
The appendix include warm water and cold water descriptions on game fish available in the state; The 1989 state fishing regulations; for historical interest the 1959 regulations; fisheries management and operations; the politics, funding and statues of the state game and fish department.
The book is definitely in need of an updated edition now some 20 years later, since some of the fishing locations like Eagle Nest have changed hands from private to public, there are changes in roads and highway designations and conditions, and some locations like Santa Clara are now closed to public fishing. There are changes to the tools of fishing since publishing that have made an impact on the sport/hobby in the region such as the hugely popular Pistol Pete lures and Power Bait.
There are several other books available that are specific only to fly fishing the state, or are specific to fishing a region of the state. But this is the only book since 1956 that focuses on the entire spectrum of fishing for the whole state. Taking into consideration the aging of the book, it is still the most complete book on fishing New Mexico you can find.