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. Visit: https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/weekly-report/ and use the iFish form at the bottom of this page. You can also 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.

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.

• 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

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Alex Morton from Santa Fe (top) and his friend caught their limits of rainbow trout trolling using crawfish-pattern crankbaits on Dec. 1. Anthony Furneri of Santa Fe (above) caught his limit of rainbow trout using PowerBait on Nov. 16.

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: 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 72 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was slow.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 39 cfs.

Red River Hatchery: Work to replace the water line to the hatchery pond has been completed and stocking has resumed.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 537 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 44 cfs.

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

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 16-April 31. 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: Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using Berkley Gulp minnows, live minnows and vibrating blade baits in 25-30 feet of clear water, and as deep as 50 feet in dirtier water. The main lake’s water-surface temperature was in the low mid 50 F range and the water was stained. 

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Fenton Lake is currently covered in thin ice. It is prohibited to go out onto the ice for any reason. The Lake Fork Road side of the lake and campsites 1-30 are closed throughout the winter. (Photo courtesy New Mexico State Parks)

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 307 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 when using Fire Tiger-pattern spinnerbaits, swimbaits and white paddle-tail jigs.

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 19 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-scented 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 108 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Tuesday morning was 59 cfs. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was fair when using egg-pattern flies and streamer flies. 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 664 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was fair when using egg pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was fair to good when using egg pattern 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 Trout Magnet lures.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Gila River: Tom Zegler of Silver City caught a 36-inch flathead catfish using a crawdad with a fly rod on Nov. 27.

Glenwood Pond: Jeremiah Solis, age 4, of Las Cruces caught a 12-inch rainbow trout using a worm on Dec. 1.

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: Fishing for trout was good when using worms.

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and 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 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 grubs with a spinner blade or Green Garlic PowerBait. 

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Corona Pond: Ricardo Valenzuela caught five trout using earthworms on Nov. 27. “The wind was brutal, but floating a worm under a bobber got me my limit of triploid trout,” he said.

Fishing was good at Oasis Park Lake (above) when using homemade dough bait. (Photo courtesy New Mexico State Parks)

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 7 cfs.

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

Bonito Lake: Fish-stocking operations have resumed. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using olive-green Pistol Pete spinner 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: We had no reports from anglers this week. 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 trout was good when using homemade dough bait.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 15 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 Monday morning was 8 cfs. The area has been experiencing heavy flooding because of recent fires in conjunction with 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

Fishing the Rio Grande with Spinners: Tips from Tom Chrobocinski

The Rio Grande offers an exceptional fishing experience, especially for anglers who enjoy using spinners. According to experienced angler Tom Chrobocinski, success on the river this time of year depends heavily on adapting to ever-changing conditions such as weather, water clarity and wind.

Tom's go-to spinner is a Joe's Fly, a versatile lure that comes in various color combinations. He often starts his day with a Joe's Fly and makes adjustments based on how the fish are reacting. On a sunny day with temperatures in the 40s and some wind, Tom had success using a Joe's Fly with a black feather. He emphasizes that choosing the right spinner is about understanding the conditions and experimenting until you find what works.

Tom's technique for working the spinner is straightforward yet effective. He casts his lure straight out in front, tightens the line, and lets it sink slightly while keeping the rod tip low. Then, he allows the river's current to do the work. By keeping the line taut, the lure naturally moves down and across the river, mimicking prey and enticing strikes.

When fishing the Rio Grande, location is just as important as technique. Tom has found that on bright, sunny, cold days, fish are often positioned near drop-offs along the riverbanks. Interestingly, they tend to favor the near-side bank, making it a prime target for casting. Additionally, sandbars in the river can be hotspots, particularly along their edges, where fish often lie in wait for food carried by the current.

Tom’s advice underscores the importance of observation and adaptation. Whether you're a seasoned angler or a newcomer to the Rio Grande, his approach—selecting the right spinner, working it effectively, and targeting key areas—can help improve your odds of landing fish. Pack your Joe’s Fly, watch the conditions, and let the river guide your success! 

Let us know how your fishing trip goes! Share your tips, tricks, and stories with your fellow anglers by filling out the iFish form at https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/weekly-report/ or 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!