Becenti Lake

Becenti Lake is a reservoir in McKinley County, New Mexico, and covers about 7.4 acres, reaches about 6.3 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 26 acre-feet.

Before changing spots on Becenti Lake, one weed edge or deeper pocket can hold much of the day’s activity. With little deep water in Becenti Lake, weeds, wind, and water color can matter more than depth alone.

Fish and Baits

Fish listed for Becenti Lake include Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Green Sunfish, and Largemouth Bass.

While looking for bluegill on Becenti Lake, use a small jig, worm, or tiny plastic around green weeds and protected pockets.

For the first largemouth bass pass, fish a soft plastic, jig, or spinnerbait around weeds and protected cover.

One direct channel catfish tactic on Becenti Lake is to fish cut bait or a nightcrawler on the bottom along a channel edge or warm flat.

How to Read the Water

Try wind as a clue; a light push can carry food toward a bank, but hard wind may muddy it, so look for a clean edge beside a point or protected pocket.

Season by Season

When working Becenti Lake, spring runoff can add color and pull fish toward fresh water; green weeds and the first drop become stronger summer targets; in fall, follow bait toward points and shallow flats, while winter rewards a slower search.

A Simple Tackle Plan

A useful start on Becenti Lake is simple: a medium spinning rod, 8-pound line, a small box of jigs, a few crankbaits, and a simple bottom rig cover most situations; change depth or speed before changing every piece of tackle.

The early check on Becenti Lake should stay simple: record the wind, water color, productive depth, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce.