Bluewater Lake is a high-country reservoir in west-central New Mexico with a unique claim to fame: it’s the state’s premier tiger muskie water. Set at 7,400 feet in a red-rock canyon near Grants, ringed by a state park and the Zuni Mountains, it offers a rare trophy-muskie and trout fishery in a scenic, uncrowded setting.
This guide covers Bluewater Lake: the tiger muskie and trout fishing, the state park, and access. It’s part of our growing New Mexico Lakes Database.
Bluewater Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~1,200-2,400 acres (level varies), at about 7,400 ft on Bluewater Creek
- Location: Cibola County, west-central New Mexico (near Grants & Prewitt)
- Top fish: tiger muskie (catch-and-release), rainbow & cutthroat trout
New Mexico’s tiger muskie lake
Bluewater is the only place in New Mexico to catch tiger muskie – the toothy, hard-fighting hybrid of muskellunge and northern pike. They were stocked to control an overpopulation of suckers, and in the process created a one-of-a-kind trophy fishery. Tiger muskie here are strictly catch-and-release below a large minimum length, so anglers chase them for the thrill rather than the table – and the biggest fish are genuinely impressive.
Fishing Bluewater Lake
Beyond the muskie, Bluewater is a solid trout lake, stocked with rainbow and cutthroat trout in its cold, high-elevation water. A New Mexico fishing license is required, and special tiger-muskie regulations apply – know the minimum length and catch-and-release rules before you go. The lake fishes well from boats and the bank, and winter brings ice fishing for trout (and the occasional muskie through the ice).
The state park and setting
Bluewater Lake State Park wraps the reservoir in a striking landscape of red sandstone bluffs and piñon-juniper at the foot of the Zuni Mountains, with campgrounds, boat ramps, a visitor center and trails. Boating, paddling, camping and fishing are the draws, in a quiet, scenic setting off the beaten path. As a high-desert reservoir, the lake level fluctuates – check conditions before launching.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Bluewater Lake is southwest of Prewitt off I-40 and NM-412 in west-central New Mexico, about 30 minutes west of Grants. El Malpais and El Morro national monuments, the Zuni Mountains and historic Route 66 are nearby.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a New Mexico license is required.
- Tiger muskie rules: catch-and-release with a large minimum length – know the regulations.
- High & fluctuating: at 7,400 ft it’s cool; the level varies, so check before launching.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you catch tiger muskie in New Mexico?
Bluewater Lake is the state’s premier (and essentially only) tiger muskie fishery – a catch-and-release trophy fishery near Grants.
What fish are in Bluewater Lake?
Tiger muskie (catch-and-release) plus stocked rainbow and cutthroat trout.
Where is Bluewater Lake?
In Cibola County, west-central New Mexico, southwest of Prewitt off I-40, about 30 minutes west of Grants.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in New Mexico, or head back to the New Mexico Lakes Database.
Explore more New Mexico lakes: the largest lakes in New Mexico and the deepest lakes in New Mexico.
