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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.

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2023-24 Fishing Licenses are no longer valid.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.

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

NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Clayton Lake: Isabella Lucero, age 17, of Stephenville, Texas, caught a 14-inch rainbow trout using a spinner on July 15.

Conchas Lake: Charlotte Griego of Santa Fe caught a 24-inch, 5.42-pound smallmouth bass using a green Rapala lure on July 19.

Northeast - Latir Lakes - Teresa Lovato 2

Latir Lakes: Teresa Lovato of Roswell caught 26-inch, 8.5-pound and 23-inch, 6.75-pound rainbow trout using elk hair caddis flies and olive hare nymph flies on July 16.

Costilla Creek: Annie Gammon (above left), age 9, of Lazbuddie, Texas, caught a 16-inch rainbow trout and Layla Gammon (above right), age 4, caught a 12-inch rainbow trout using a dry fly hopper with a nymph dropper rig on July 13.

Shuree Ponds: Brooke Gammon, age 7, of Lazbuddie, Texas, caught a 10-inch rainbow trout using a dry fly hopper with a nymph dropper rig on July 14.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Cabresto Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and worms.

Charette Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 36 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was fair to good when using bead-head nymph flies.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using spinners.

Conchas Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using green Rapala lures. Fishing for white bass was fair to good when using Gulp minnows. Fishing for walleye was fair when using Gulp minnows. Fishing for crappie was fair when using Gulp minnows.

Costilla Creek: Fishing for trout was good when using size 22 mayfly flies, orange stimulator flies, yellow stimulator flies and dry fly hoppers with a nymph dropper fly.

Cowles Ponds: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Green Glitter PowerBait, Blue Fox spinners, 4-inch perch-pattern Rapala lures and floating pike minnow lures. Fishing for pike was slow to fair when using 4-inch perch-pattern lures. Fishing for kokanee salmon was slow to fair when using silver Kastmaster lures. 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 when using salmon eggs and PowerBait.

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: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using dry flies and olive-green Pistol Pete spinner flies.

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

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using worms and PowerBait. 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: Fishing for trout was good when using Orange PowerBait Mousetails, Yellow Garlic PowerBait, Green Garlic PowerBait, PowerBait Salmon Egg Balls and spinners.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Monday morning was 108 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using Panther Martin spinners and worms.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 55 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Panther Martin spinners and small nymph flies near the town of Red River.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 301 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using Mepps spinners.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Monday morning was 21 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 62 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 15 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using Prince Nymph flies.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair when using worms and PowerBait.

Shuree Ponds: Fishing for trout was good when using dry fly hoppers with a nymph dropper fly.

Springer Lake: Fishing for pike was fair when using spoons.

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 nightcrawler worm harness rigs and jigging with nightcrawler worms in 25 to 35 feet of water. Fishing for white bass was fair in 25 to 35 feet of water. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good when using Gulp minnows and 4-inch Maxscent Generals in 12 to 18 feet of water. Fishing for crappie was slow. Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver and nightcrawler worms. Fishing for bluegill was good when using worms and small jigs. 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: Alyssa Schaffer of Albuquerque caught a 36-inch tiger muskie using a Whopper Plopper lure on July 21.

San Juan River: Dr. Dave Castillo of Tijeras caught a 28-inch, 14-pound brown trout using a size-22 chocolate midge fly on July 16.

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 382 cfs.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was fair when using Whopper Plopper lures. Fishing for trout was fair when using corn.

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

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

Cochiti Lake: Fishing for white bass was fair to good when pink Roostertail spinners. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using lipless white crankbaits, spoons and rainbow-trout-pattern swimbaits.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week. 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 24 cfs. Fishing streams on the Valles Caldera was fair to good when using hopper flies. Fishing the East Fork was very good when using spinners, Copper John flies, Pheasant-Tail Nymph flies, Prince Nymph flies and Caddis Stimulator dry flies.

Laguna del Campo: Fishing for trout was fair when using blue-and-pink Mepps spinners, various PowerBait and salmon eggs.

Lagunitas Lakes: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using flies, salmon eggs and PowerBait.

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

Liam Knight Pond: Fishing for catfish was fair when using worms and stink bait. Fishing for bluegill was good 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. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using chartreuse swimbaits and cut bait. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using 3-inch watermelon with red flake plastic worms.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Monday morning was 486 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Tuesday morning was 395 cfs. 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 643 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using size 22 chocolate midge pupae flies and large hair jigs.

Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using olive Woolly Bugger flies, rainbow-colored PowerBait and worms. Rio Grande chub are native fish to the Jemez River drainage and can be found in the Seven Springs Kids’ Ponds. Anglers often mistake these fish for an invasive species and leave them on the banks to die. 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 bass was fair to good when using frog-pattern lures.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Elephant Butte Lake: Curtis Winner (above left) of Tome caught a 8.5-pound striper using a silver Kastmaster lure on July 21. Andres DeAnda (above right), age 7, of Los Lunas caught multiple white bass using an umbrella rig on July 6.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Alumni Pond: Closed for repairs until further notice.

Bear Canyon Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using spinnerbaits.

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

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for bass was good when using silver-and-blue Rat-L-Trap lures and white crankbaits. Fishing for white bass was very good when using umbrella rigs, Flicker Shad lures, chrome Kastmaster lures and shad-pattern swimbaits. Fishing for walleye was good when using chartreuse grubs and silver spinners. Fishing for striper was fair when using silver Kastmaster lures. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using live minnows, cut shad bait and cut carp bait.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver.

Estancia Park Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using Whopper Plopper lures and soft-plastic, pink worms.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Monday morning was 83 cfs.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing for catfish was good when using hot dogs and stink bait.

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

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using Kastmaster lures, chartreuse Rooster Tail spinners, PowerBait, Pistol Pete’s spinner flies, crankbaits and Panther Martin spinners.

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

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Tuesday morning was 2,320 cfs. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using worms and chicken liver.

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 fair when using chicken and nightcrawler worms.

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Harry McAdams Pond: The City of Hobbs hosted their annual Hooked on Fishing event July 20, and kids from the community had a great morning of fishing.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: Evacuation orders in the Ruidoso area have been lifted, but please continue to exercise caution.

Bataan Lake: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using chicken liver and dough bait.

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

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 5 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: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using worms.

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

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

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using chicken liver and dough bait.

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using Texas-rigged, green-colored Bandito Plastic Bugs.

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

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: Fishing for catfish was good when using cut bait.

Grindstone Reservoir: Evacuation orders in the Ruidoso area have been lifted, but please continue to exercise caution.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 100 cfs. Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken breasts and hot dogs.

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 Tuesday morning was not reported. 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: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using worms.

Spring River Pond: Fishing for catfish was 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

Check Your Wheelchair at the Bank

By Dustin Berg

We are talking about the sandy bank, rocky bank or muddy bank – the bank of the river and the bank of the lake. That is where the wheelchairs stayed this past weekend when we embarked on an epic drift boat fly-fishing adventure with kids and their family members. This year, GO Unlimited teamed up with the Four Corners Home For Children for the annual San Juan River Youth Fly Fishing Adventure. Each child is teamed up with an excellent volunteer who introduces them to the adventure of exploring the river with a fly rod. This year was especially neat because GO Unlimited brought their team of adaptive specialists to ensure children with disabilities would also get to enjoy the river in its entirety.

We launched from Texas Hole at 6 a.m., gliding effortlessly onto the calm morning waters of the beautiful San Juan River and leaving wheelchairs behind. With the assistance of very knowledgeable guides Chris, Dave and Cody, it was not long before the first rainbow trout of the day was caught. The recipe for catching fish on this day was large hair jigs and small midge-pattern flies.

(Above, from top): Amber and Chris, Dominick and Cody, and Miabella and Dave with a few of the fish they caught.

In addition to catching multiple rainbow and brown trout along the downriver journey, the participants were able to see beavers, bald eagles, geese and a plethora of other wildlife that calls the river home. It was an incredible day, and the world-renowned San Juan River fishing most certainly did not disappoint with several dozen fish landed in total.

Above from top: Amber and Coco (the chihuahua), and Miabella at ET Rock.

While some children floated the San Juan River, other children and their family members were taken out onto Navajo Lake using GO Unlimited's wheelchair-accessible pontoon boat. We boated around on the lake, having fun catching small waves and quite a few smallmouth bass. At midday, we found a nice sandy beach where we could dock, allowing the children to take a cool swim and catch relief from the New Mexico sun. This beach proved to be such a big hit with the children that when the groups floating down the river were done, they, too, met us at the lake and were taken on a boat ride to the beach, where they could enjoy a nice swim.

The day was topped off with a delicious enchilada dinner hosted by our friends, Ken and Cindy, at their lovely riverside house, which they also have been working on tirelessly to make more wheelchair-accessible.

Many thanks to all who dedicate their time and resources to making these freams and opportunities come true!

For more information on GO Unlimited adaptive outdoor recreation please visit:

Website: Global Opportunities Unlimited | Albuquerque, NM Disability Charity (gounlimited.org)

Instagram: Global Opportunities Unlimited (@gounlimitednm)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NMUnlimited

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!