I have a buddy who recently moved to Carlsbad, NM, and I am going to visit him at some point. I am curious if there is any decent bass fishing around Carlsbad? If no bass, what type of fishing is most productive in this area? Thanks!

Not much in this part of the world. There is a lake outside Carlsbad, but a couple years ago it was contaminated with DDT when they sprayed the salt cedars on the river. It is catch-and-release only as any fish caught is not safe for human consumption. I've been told the fishing is poor at best, but haven't been there personally in three or four years.

Check out the link under "Fishing the Southeast". The lake's name is Brantley.

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/publications/documents/rib/2009/09FishRIB.pdf

not too much water in that part of nm.. but here is what I am aware of.

Brantley Lake State Park
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/ParksPages/Brantley.htm

Bottomless Lakes
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/bottomless.htm

Elephant Butte (great striper fishing here-- Also just stocked last year with LMB fingerlings)
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/elephant.htm

Caballo
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/caballo.htm

Santa Rosa State Park

http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/santarosa.htm

The best fishing in NM is not really from lakes tell him to pick up a fly rod or tie on some really light line and find a river or a stream and find the trout. These are really plentiful.

NM is a Beautiful place to live.

Have some family that lives there and fishing is not what we would call fishing. There is the river that runs through town and it is possible to catch some carp or maybe a very small bass. Lake Brantley used to be a good lake in the past but no more. New Mexico does a very poor job with water levels and if they drained the lake for farming that is OK. If you want to fish in that area you will have to settle. Good luck.

Pretty much what everyone else said is very true. The only good fishing I found was to take a loaf of White bread and a small treble hook and toss it into the river. You will get your rod bent for sure, just won't be a bass doing it. Have to be north of the water park.