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

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2023-24 Fishing Licenses are no longer valid.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!

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

Fishing for walleye was fair when using 3-inch, white tube baits at Conchas Lake. (Photo courtesy New Mexico State Parks)

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 16 cubic feet per second (cfs).

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

Conchas Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair when using 3-inch, white tube baits.

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: Fishing for trout was good when using Chartreuse PowerBait. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using large rainbow-trout-pattern 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 good when using Yellow Garlic PowerBait and Yellow and Pink PowerBait Worms.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was good when using Orange PowerBait Marshmallows and salmon eggs. 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 86 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using Mop Flies.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 53 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Red PowerBait near the town of Red River.

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 684 cfs.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Monday morning was 13 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 42 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 28 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 16-April 31. Ice fishing is not allowed.

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 and white bass was fair when vertical jigging using vibrating blade baits in 25-35 feet of water. The main lake’s water-surface temperature was in the mid 50 F range and the water was stained. 

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

San Juan River: Dyllon Drake of Aztec caught a 28-inch brown trout using a Pig Sticker fly on Nov. 12.

Tingley Beach: Joseph Regulus of Los Lunas caught a 22-inch rainbow trout using a white Trout Magnet lure on Nov. 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 361 cfs.

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

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

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Monday morning was 24 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

McGaffey Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait and orange-and-chrome Kastmaster lures.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for kokanee salmon using snagging hooks was slow. The dam is closed to vehicle traffic until May 2025.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Monday morning was 103 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Tuesday morning was 59 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: 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 343 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using Pig Sticker flies and small dry flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was fair to good when using PowerBait and Red Annelid 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 good when using white Trout Magnet lures.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Trees Lake: Gabriel Grajeda and Scarlett Claudio caught eight rainbow trout using PowerBait on Nov. 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 trout was good when using gold-and-red Kastmaster lures.

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

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was fair to good when using Kastmaster lures. Fishing for walleye was slow to fair when using white crankbaits and jigs tipped with worms. Fishing for catfish was good when using cut bait and marinated garlic shrimp.

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

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

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Monday morning was 64 cfs.

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: 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. 

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Oasis Park Lake: Julia Cacy caught three catfish and four trout using corn and worms on Nov. 17. “Cold morning, but with enough determination, I caught three catfish and four trout, which was definitely worth standing out in the cold, windy morning,” she said.

Timberon Ponds: Ben Luttrell and Gerry Allen of Las Cruces caught their limits of trout using Orange PowerBait Trout Nuggets on Nov. 11.

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 15 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: 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Grindstone Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Rooster Tail spinners, Salmon Peach PowerBait, chartreuse Pautzke Balls O’ Fire and mini marshmallows. 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 and catfish was slow to fair when using corn and worms.

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 Monday morning was 16 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

Smoked Trout

Brooke and Stephen Cochran of Santa Fe spent Oct. 26, fishing at Morphy Lake, where they caught two beautiful rainbow trout before the lake closed for the season. Brooke used a spinning rod rigged with an 1/8-oz Kastmaster spoon, while Stephen worked a fly rod with a brown Parachute Adams. After a successful morning, they decided to take their catch home to smoke and turn it into a delicious hors d’oeuvre.

Smoking Trout is Worth the Work

Ingredients:

• Fresh trout, cleaned (head, entrails and scales removed; skin left intact)
• 4 cups water
• ¼ cup kosher salt
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• Wood chips (applewood or other mild varieties) 

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Trout:
   Start by thoroughly cleaning the trout. Remove the head, entrails, and scales, but leave the skin intact to hold the fillets together during smoking. Rinse the fish well and pat dry with paper towels.
2. Brine the Fish:
   Mix the water, kosher salt and brown sugar in a large bowl, stirring until the salt and sugar are fully dissolved. Submerge the trout in the brine and refrigerate for two hours to enhance flavor and moisture. After brining, rinse the fish again under cold water to remove excess salt and pat dry.
3. Form the Pellicle:
   Place the fish on a wire rack and let it air-dry for 1-2 hours in a cool, well-ventilated area (or in the refrigerator). This step forms a thin, slightly sticky layer called a pellicle, which helps the smoke adhere to the fish during cooking.
4. Prepare the Smoker:
   Set up your smoker with applewood chips or another mild wood of your choice. Preheat it to a steady temperature of 180°F.
5. Smoke the Trout:
   Place the trout in the smoker, ensuring there’s enough space around each fish for even smoke circulation. Smoke for approximately two hours, or until the internal temperature of the trout reaches 145°F and the flesh flakes easily with a fork.
6. Cool and Serve:
   Once smoked, let the fish cool slightly. It can be served warm or refrigerated for later use in recipes like spreads, salads or hors d'oeuvres.

Enjoy the rich, smoky flavor of your freshly prepared trout!

Recipe for Smoked Trout Hors d’Oeuvres

Once smoked, allow the trout to cool before being transformed into a flavorful snack. Combine the following ingredients for the spread:

• ½ cup cream cheese, softened
• ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Salt and pepper, to taste

After mixing, spread the creamy mixture onto your favorite crackers. Top each with a generous portion of flaked smoked trout and garnish with additional chives, dill and sliced cherry tomato. For an added kick, add a few pieces of pickled peppers.

This straightforward process turned their fresh catch into an elegant hors d’oeuvre, perfect for sharing with friends or enjoying together as a well-earned treat. 

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!