This fishing report, provided by the Department of Game and Fish in cooperation with Dustin Berg of www.gounlimited.org (“supporting disabled anglers”), has been generated from the best information available from area officers and anglers. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing adventure, or your catch of the week. Send it to us at funfishingnm@gmail.com. We may include your story in our next report. For catches of the week include: name, age, hometown, date, location, type of fish, length and weight if possible, and bait, lure or fly used. Fish weights and measurements are provided by the angler and printed here as received. Photos containing sensitive material may be altered or excluded at the Department's discretion.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST STOCKING REPORT

The 2024-25 license year is here. Get your new Fishing License now!

2023-24 Fishing Licenses are no longer valid. A 2024-25 Fishing License is now required since the new license year began on April 1. The 2024-25 Fishing Rules and Information Booklet (RIB) is available online and in print in English and Spanish.

Check the Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner!

The Department's Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner was created using data from past Weekly Fishing Reports to develop graphs depicting fishing conditions for several species and waterbodies throughout the year. Each graph represents the average fishing conditions for each week of the year over the four-year period. 

The Department has also developed an interactive Fishing Waters Map with a wealth of information on fishing locations in New Mexico. It displays hundreds of fishing access points with information of fish species available, facilities, accessibility, boat ramps and general regulations.

Check out the webpage to plan your trip now!

Take the Bass and Trout Challenges!

To promote fishing opportunities in New Mexico and encourage anglers to branch out and discover new fishing waters and species, anglers can participate in the New Mexico Bass Challenge, the New Mexico Trout Challenge and the Master Angler Challenge. Who knows, you could catch a New Mexico Record Fish.

Catch all the challenge species that are found throughout New Mexico or a New Mexico State Record Fish and receive a certificate and challenge coin for your accomplishment!

Land Management Agency Links

The Department reminds anglers to “know before you go” and to contact land management agencies regarding additional regulations or restrictions on specific properties of interest prior to heading afield.

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
• New Mexico State Lands
• New Mexico State Parks 
• New Mexico Open Gate Properties 
• New Mexico Wildlife Management Areas
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Consult local government websites for information regarding specific city and town fishing access. 

NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Clayton Lake: Jordan Fluffy caught a 10.3-pound largemouth bass using a lure Aug. 18.

Conchas Lake: Cierra Kalb of Lafayette, Louisiana, caught a 15-inch, 2-pound walleye using salmon eggs on Aug. 24.

Rio Grande: Rob Vigil of Española caught a 21-inch, 2.5-pound rainbow trout using worms near Pilar on Aug. 23.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Cabresto Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Charette Lakes: Fishing for trout was fair when using spinners.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 46 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and Caddis flies.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good using lures.

Conchas Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair when using salmon eggs and curly-tail grubs.

Costilla Creek: Fishing for trout was good when using Mayfly flies.

Cowles Ponds: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon eggs.

Coyote Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using various PowerBait. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using large spinners. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Panther Martin spinners.

Gallinas River: National Forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at 505-438-5300 for the latest closure information.

Hopewell Lake: Anglers reported poor fishing conditions due to large amounts of algae.

Lake Alice: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using worms and PowerBait. Fishing for perch was slow to fair when using worms.

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and PowerBait. Fishing for perch was fair to good when using worms. The ADA dock is open to anglers with priority given to mobility-impaired persons.

Los Pinos River: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Mayfly Nymph flies, Prince Nymph flies and Hare’s Ear flies.

Maxwell Lake 13: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Monastery Lake: The lake is part of the Department’s Open Gate Program. Please visit our website for more information about this property. 

Morphy Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Monday morning was 91 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using black, bead-head nymph flies and worms.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 69 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Mayfly dry flies and small nymph flies near the town of Red River.

Red River Hatchery: The hatchery pond is currently closed in order to replace the water supply line. The maintenance project is expected to be completed in September with water flows to the pond resuming shortly after.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 271 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using worms.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Monday morning was 19 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 43 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 16 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Shuree Ponds: Fishing for trout was fair when using dry fly Hoppers with a nymph dropper fly. Fishing the Red Chile sections of streams for trout was good when using Elk Hair Caddis flies.

Springer Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Storrie Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Stubblefield Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Ute Lake: Fishing for walleye was slow. Fishing for white bass was slow to fair when trolling using crankbaits. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair when using live minnows. Fishing for crappie was slow. Fishing for catfish was fair when using chicken liver. The main lake’s water surface temperature was in the high 70 F range, and the water was clear. 

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Bluewater Lake: James Martinez of Gallup caught a 16-inch rainbow trout using a Rapala Countdown lure on Aug. 17. 

San Juan River: Chris Griego of Albuquerque caught a 20-inch brown trout using a size-18, black zebra midge fly on Aug. 25.

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair when using jig heads tipped with worms. Contact the Abiquiu Lake Main Office at 505-685-4371 for updated lake conditions and closure information.

Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec Monday morning was 1,020 cfs.

Albuquerque Area Drains: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using Rapala Countdown lures.

Brazos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Canjilon Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using worms and green Pistol Pete spinner flies.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair when using Firetiger-pattern crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was slow to fair when using rainbow trout-pattern crankbaits. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using Firetiger-pattern crankbaits, white Flicker Shad lures, white Rapala X-Rap lures, and chartreuse spinners with gold Colorado blades.

El Vado Lake: Closed due to dam construction project. For more information, visit El Vado Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-588-7247.

Fenton Lake: Fishing for trout was slow. For updated lake conditions and potential closure information, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-829-3630.

Grants Riverwalk Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Heron Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Monday morning was 9 cfs. Fishing for trout on the Rio Cebolla near Fenton Lake was fair when using attractor dry flies. Fishing streams on the Valles Caldera for trout was fair to good when using Hopper flies.

Laguna del Campo: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Lagunitas Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using flies, spinners, worms and PowerBait.

Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Liam Knight Pond: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using worms. Fishing for bass was slow when using worms.

McGaffey Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for kokanee salmon was fair to good when using spinners tipped with corn 70 feet deep. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using chartreuse swimbaits. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using crankbaits and 3-inch Yamamoto Senko Ned worms.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Monday morning was 479 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Tuesday morning was 592 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow and anglers report dirty water conditions. Please remember, from the river-crossing bridge on U.S. Highway 84 at Abiquiu upstream 7 miles to the base of Abiquiu Dam is special trout waters with a bag limit of only two trout.

Rio Grande: Fishing for catfish was good when using shrimp.

Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1): We had no reports from anglers this week.

San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Tuesday morning was 590 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using bead-head, black midge-emerger flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good when using nightcrawler worms and size-18, black Zebra Midge flies.

Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon eggs with glitter. Rio Grande chub are native fish to the Jemez River drainage and can be found in the Seven Springs Kids’ Ponds. If you catch a Rio Grande chub, please do not leave it on the bank; return it to the water where it can survive as part of our native ecosystem.

Tiger Park Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for catfish was fair when using dough bait. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using shad-pattern Whopper Plopper lures.

Trout Lakes: Anglers reported dirty water and poor fishing conditions. 

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Bear Canyon Lake: Zaden Elford, age 9, of Deming caught a 6-inch bluegill using worms on Aug. 24.

Lake Roberts: Dylan Dockery of Las Cruces caught a limit of rainbow trout along with largemouth bass and crappie using Panther Martin spinners and nightcrawler worms on Aug. 23.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Alumni Pond: Closed for repairs until further notice.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for bass was good when using nightcrawler worms and Panther Martin spinners. Fishing for crappie was good when using Panther Martin Spinners. Fishing for bluegill was good when using worms.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for bluegill was good when using worms.

Caballo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for bass was good when using crankbaits, drop-shot rigs and red-and-white Bomber lures. Fishing for white bass was good when using red-and-white Booyah Prank poppers and chartreuse Model-A Bomber crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was good when using Wally Diver lures, chartreuse grubs and silver spinners. Fishing for striped bass was fair when using white slab spoons and silver Kastmaster lures. Fishing for crappie was very good when using live minnows near the Dam Site Marina. Fishing for catfish was good when using live minnows and shrimp.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using catfish dough bait.

Estancia Park Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using chicken liver.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Monday morning was 27 cfs.

Glenwood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was good when using nightcrawler worms and Panther Martin spinner. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using Panther Martin spinners. Fishing for crappie was slow to fair when using Panther Martin spinners.

Percha Dam: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Quemado Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rancho Grande Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Tuesday morning was 919 cfs. Fishing for catfish was good when using shad near Hatch.

Snow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Trees Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Young Pond: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using garlic-scented hot dogs. 

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Oasis Park Lake: Kenzie Rael of Tucumcari caught a 15-inch largemouth bass using a Texas-rigged Robo worm on Aug. 23.

Pecos River: Kelsie Rodriguez of Clovis (above left) caught a 19-pound, 10-ounce catfish using cut bait on Aug. 24. Isaiah Rodriguez of Clovis (above right) caught a 5-pound, 2-ounce catfish and a 4-pound, 8-ounce catfish using cut bait on Aug. 17.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: Alto Lake is closed indefinitely due to extensive damage caused by the South Fork Fire. The wildfire has left significant impacts on the natural environment and infrastructure surrounding the lake, necessitating immediate and prolonged closure for safety and restoration efforts. Please visit https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/ for the most current information.

Bataan Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut bait and worms.

Berrendo Creek: Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property.

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 14 cfs.

Blue Hole Park Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bonito Lake: The lake remains closed due to wildfire impacts. Visit https://www.nmfireinfo.com for the latest information.

Bosque Redondo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bottomless Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Brantley Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Chaparral Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Corona Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Dennis Chavez Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Eunice Lake: Anglers reported poor fishing conditions due to large amounts of algae.

Green Meadow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using cut bait.

Grindstone Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using worms. Grindstone Lake is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildlife impact closures, please see the Grindstone Lake Webpage before planning a visit.

Harry McAdams Park Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Jal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Van: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Ned Houk Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using Texas-rigged Robo worms.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 99 cfs. Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken breasts and cut bait.

Perch Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Bonito: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood Monday morning was 123 cfs. The area has been experiencing heavy flooding because of recent fire activity in conjunction with heavy rains.

Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: The boat ramp will remain closed until the lake returns to a safe level from monsoon rain and runoff after the recent water release. The lake remains open to non-motorized vessels. Fishing for walleye was fair when using green Wally Diver lures.

Spring River Pond: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using shrimp bait.

Sumner Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Timberon Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week. 

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

Summer Bass Fishing with Ned Rigs

By Dustin Berg

It has been hot! Anglers and bass are both seeking shelter from the midday sun this time of year. Bass are seeking out deeper water, often located on main lake points where the water is cooler. They also like rocky overhangs and structures that provide shade and shelter in the deeper water. Little bass might still hang around the shoreline, but bigger bass are typically deeper (aside from the early morning and late evening hours).

¼-ounce Ned Rig with a 3-inch watermelon with red flake plastic worm.

I have found a Ned Rig to be a productive bait to use during this time of year. A Ned Rig is basically a jig head that holds a plastic worm in a more vertical position, as opposed to allowing the plastic worm to lay flat. At Navajo Lake, we have been having good success slowly bouncing a ¼-ounce Ned Rig with a 3-inch Yamamoto Ned Senko worm off rocky ledges about 10–20 feet deep. It seems like the bigger bass are caught the deeper we fish. Productive plastic worm colors vary depending on the time of day, but generally speaking watermelon with red flake and smoke-colored baits have been productive. You might need to adjust the worm color you use based upon the color of the crawdads or baitfish in the body of water you are fishing. Flip over some rocks around the shoreline and see what color the crawdads are. That is a great way to choose a color pattern that matches the food source that the bass are naturally feeding on. You want your plastic bait and the natural feed to match in color as closely as possible.

When planning for a fishing trip with hopes of having the right-colored baits in your tackle box, here are a few good color combinations to bring with you. Typical crawdad colors to have on hand are red, green, chartreuse, blue, blue/green, orange and dark brown. When using swimbaits or baitfish mimicking type plastic lures such as curly-tail grubs, good color combinations include black/white, white, chartreuse and rainbow trout. 

NMDGF Fishing Report Author Dustin Berg and his niece Daisy with a 3-pound smallmouth bass they caught at Navajo Lake using a Ned Rig.

Please let me know if you have any other useful techniques and combinations of baits that help you catch fish when using a Ned Rig.

Let us know how your fishing trip goes! Share your tips and tricks with your fellow anglers by emailing us at funfishingnm@gmail.com and let’s help the next generation of anglers find success.

Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community!