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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing adventure, or your catch of the week. Visit: https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/weekly-report/ and use the iFish form at the bottom of this page. 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.

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.

NOTE: There will be fewer reports available during the cooler seasons when fishing slows. The Department will make every effort to provide as much information as possible during the winter months.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST STOCKING REPORT

Get your Fishing License now!

A 2024-25 Fishing License is required and is valid through March 31, 2025. 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!

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.

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

NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Eric Moreno and family — Jaz Dominguez, Joshua Hults and Bill Byers — caught their limits of trout including an 18-inch rainbow trout using PowerBait on Dec. 14. (Photo courtesy New Mexico Tourism Department)

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

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

Charette Lakes: Closed for the season. Reopens March 1.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Clayton Lake: Closed for the season. Reopens March 1.

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

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

Cowles Ponds: Fishing for trout was slow.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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 have begun ice fishing at the lake.

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

Lake Maloya: We had no reports from anglers this week. The ADA dock is open to anglers with priority given to mobility-impaired persons.

Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Maxwell Lake 13: Closed for the season. Reopens March 1.

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

Morphy Lake: Closed for the season. Reopens March 1.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Monday morning was 52 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was slow.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 38 cfs.

Red River Hatchery: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 543 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using black-and-gold spinners and streamer flies.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 115 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. through April 30. Ice fishing is not allowed. Fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait and when trolling using crawfish-pattern crankbaits.

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

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Cochiti Lake: George Torres of Stanley caught and released a 36-inch, 9.88-pound pike using cut bait on Dec. 8.

Rio Chama: Thomas Studer caught a 13-inch rainbow trout using a Woolly Bugger fly below Abiquiu Lake on Dec. 7.

San Juan River: Bill Wedelich caught 12 trout using bead-head nymph flies on Dec. 3.

Tingley Beach: Laz caught and released a 20-inch rainbow trout using a white egg-pattern lure on Dec. 12.

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: 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 268 cfs.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Garlic White PowerBait Eggs.

Brazos River: Fishing for trout was good when using worms.

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

Cochiti Lake: Fishing for pike was fair to good when using cut bait. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut bait.

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: Fenton Lake is now completely covered in dangerously thin ice. Going onto the ice for any reason is strictly prohibited. Visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-829-3630 for updates.

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

Heron Lake: Fishing for kokanee salmon using snagging hooks was very slow.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Monday morning was 14 cfs.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season. Reopens May 1.

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

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

Liam Knight Pond: Fishing for trout was fair when using Orange PowerBait and green flies.

McGaffey Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when using White Garlic PowerBait Eggs.

Navajo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. The dam is closed to vehicle traffic until May 2025.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Monday morning was 100 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Tuesday morning was 76 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Woolly Bugger flies below Abiquiu Lake. 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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 Monday morning was 329 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using bead-head nymph flies.

Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: If you catch a native Rio Grande chub in the Kid's Pond, 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 trout was slow to fair when using white egg-pattern flies.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Quemado Lake: Joe Valdez and his fishing buddy, Steve Coffey (pictured), of Albuquerque, caught five trout using Garlic PowerBait on Dec. 10.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Alumni Pond: Closed for repairs until further notice.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and spinners.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for bass was fair when using Strike King Wire Spinners. Fishing for trout was slow when using Green PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms.

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

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using worms and cut bait.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using salmon eggs and PowerBait.

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

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Monday morning was 64 cfs. Fishing for catfish was fair when using crawdads.

Gila Waters: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and spinners.

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

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Rainbow PowerBait and Garlic PowerBait.

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

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Tuesday morning was 1 cfs.

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

Trees Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.

Young Pond: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using small rainbow-pattern spoons.

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Bonito Lake: Gary Denton caught 17 trout, including a 15-inch brook trout, using flies on Dec. 7.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 7cfs.

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

Bonito Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when using flies. The lake reopened to fishing only on Aug. 30. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake. 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: Fishing for trout was good when using earthworms.

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

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

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

Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Grindstone Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait. Grindstone Lake is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildfire 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 trout was good when using homemade dough bait.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 10 cfs.

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 on Monday morning was 5 cfs. The area has been experiencing heavy flooding due to recent fires and heavy rain.

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

Santa Rosa Lake: The boat ramp is open.

Spring River Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Timberon Ponds: Fishing for trout was good when using Orange PowerBait Trout Nuggets.

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

2025 Eagle Nest Lake Annual Ice Fishing Tournament

The annual ice-fishing tournament at Eagle Nest Lake State Park will take place the last Saturday in January. The tournament features prizes for the top trout/salmon, perch and pike caught. See below for more details, or visit the Friends of Eagle Nest Lake website. You can also email FriendsENCCParks@gmail.com or call the Eagle Nest Lake State Park office at 575-377-1594.

Good luck and have fun!

Let us know how your fishing trip goes! Share your tips and tricks with your fellow anglers by filling out the iFish form at https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/weekly-report and let’s help the next generation of anglers find success.

Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community!