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.

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2023-24 Fishing Licenses are no longer valid.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

Hopewell Lake: Francisco J. Melchor of El Paso, Texas, caught a 16-inch rainbow trout using a green leech-pattern fly on Oct. 10.

Red River: Kim Foster of Silver City caught a 23-inch, 4-pound rainbow trout using Red PowerBait near the town of Red River on Oct. 19.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

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

Charette Lakes: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait and spinners.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 61 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was good when using black Woolly Bugger flies.

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

Conchas Lake: Fishing for bass was fair when using shallow-diving crankbaits.

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

Cowles Ponds: Fishing for trout was slow.

Coyote Creek: Fishing for trout was fair when using small dry flies.

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using various PowerBait. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using large rainbow-trout-pattern spinners. Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and Wooly Bugger flies. Fishing for perch was slow when using worms. 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: Fishing for trout was good when using green leech-pattern flies.

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: 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: Fishing for trout was good when using Green PowerBait. 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 fair when using Kastmaster lures and Chartreuse PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Monday morning was 288 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using size-16 Pheasant Warrior Flies and bead-head Caddis Flies.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 93 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 370 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using dry flies, bead-head Caddis Flies, Stone Flies, Squirmy Wormy Flies and yellow Jig Sticker Flies.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Monday morning was 38 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 151 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 108 cfs.

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

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 smallmouth bass was fair to good when using Ned Rigs and topwater lures. The main lake’s water-surface temperature was in the high 60 F range and the water was dirty. 

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Fenton Lake: Clockwise from top left: Olivia Bearunner, age 6, of South Dakota caught her first fish, a 12-inch rainbow trout, using worms on Oct. 14. Lillyanna Butterfield, age 11, of Albuquerque, caught her first fish, an 8-inch rainbow trout, using worms on Oct. 14. Elijah Chavez of Albuquerque caught his first fish, a 12-inch rainbow trout, using worms on Oct. 14. Izaiah Chavez of Albuquerque caught his first fish, a 12-inch rainbow trout, using worms on Oct. 14.

Jemez Waters: Zailey Rehnberg, age 4, of Albuquerque caught and released her very first fish, a 12-inch rainbow trout, out of San Antonio Creek using Garlic PowerBait on Oct. 10.

San Juan River: Patrick Iverson (top) of Santa Fe caught and released a 20-inch rainbow trout using a white bunny leech at the Texas Hole on Oct. 18. Hugo Melchor (bottom) of El Paso, Texas, caught several rainbow trout, ranging in size from 14-18 inches long, using red annelid jigs and foam-wing emerger flies Oct. 10.

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 435 cfs.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was fair when using Rapala lures. Fishing for catfish was fair when using hot dogs.

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

Canjilon Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using garlic-scented, natural-colored PowerBait and worms.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing for pike was good when using white glide baits. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using worms.

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 fair to good when using worms and bead-head nymph flies. 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 for trout was fair when using Garlic PowerBait on San Antonio Creek.

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

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for kokanee salmon was slow when using spinners tipped with corn. Fishing for kokanee salmon using snagging hooks was slow. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using large streamer flies.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Monday morning was 160 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Tuesday morning was 125 cfs. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was fair to good when using size 12-16 bead-head Caddis Flies and size 8-12 Stone 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: 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 Monday morning was 539 cfs. The Bureau of Reclamation scheduled a decrease in the release from Navajo Dam from 550 cfs to 450 cfs for Tuesday at 7 a.m. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was fair to good when using red annelid jigs, black midge-pattern flies and chocolate foam-wing midge-emerger flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was fair to good when using spinners.

Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using worms and a bobber. 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 catfish was fair when using nightcrawler worms and hot dogs.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Fishing for walleye was good when using white crankbaits and jigs tipped with worms last week at Elephant Butte Lake. (Photo courtesy New Mexico State Parks)

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for walleye was slow to fair when using small jigs. Fishing for crappie was good when using small jigs and grubs.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when using white jigs and chrome Kastmaster lures. Fishing for walleye was good when using white crankbaits and jigs tipped with worms. Fishing for bass largemouth bass was fair to good when using topwater lures. Fishing for crappie was fair when using live minnows near the Dam Site Marina. Fishing for catfish was good when using white jigs and cut bait.

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

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

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Monday morning was 47 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 nightcrawler worms and Panther Martin spinners. 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 1 cfs.

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 hot dogs, shrimp and oatmeal dough balls. 

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Fishing for bass was fair when using plastic worms last week at Brantley Lake. (Photo courtesy of 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: 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 16 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 Panther Martin spinners. 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: Fishing for bass was fair when using plastic worms.

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 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 0 cfs.

Perch Lake: Fishing for bass was fair when using plastic worms.

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

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood Monday morning was 3 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: We had no reports from anglers this week. 

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

Catch-and-Release Fishing Tips: How to Ensure a Safe Release for Fish 

Catch-and-release fishing is a rewarding practice that allows anglers to enjoy their passion while helping to maintain healthy fish populations. By following some essential tips, you can minimize the harm to fish and help ensure they survive and thrive after being released. Here are some expert tips from a New Mexico fly fisherman on how to improve your catch-and-release technique.

1. Start With Barbless Hooks
   One of the easiest ways to make catch-and-release fishing safer for fish is to use barbless hooks. A barbless hook allows for easier hook removal, reducing the damage done to the fish. It also decreases the risk of accidentally hooking yourself, a common mishap even for experienced anglers. If your hooks are barbed, simply crimp down the barb with a pair of needle-nose pliers. You may lose the occasional fish by fishing barbless, but the fish you release will have a much better chance of surviving to be caught another day. 
2.  Bring Fish in Quickly 
   

   A prolonged fight with a fish can significantly stress it, depleting its energy levels and making it harder for the fish to recover after release. Studies show that it can take days for a fish to restore its normal energy levels after a prolonged battle. To minimize the stress, bring the fish in as quickly as possible. Here are a few ways to do that:

   • Use the heaviest tippet or line you can reasonably use to reduce the risk of it snapping.
   • Only let the fish run if it truly needs to.
   • Aim to reel in the fish with minimal effort and avoid an extended struggle.

   By minimizing the fight time, you help ensure the fish remains in better condition for release. 
   

3. Use a Fish-Friendly Rubber Net, Wet Your Hands and Minimize Handling
   

   Fish are coated in a protective mucus that helps shield them from harmful microorganisms in the water. When handling fish, especially with dry hands or rough surfaces, you risk rubbing off this protective layer, leaving the fish vulnerable to infection and disease. To prevent this:

   • Always wet your hands before handling the fish. This reduces the risk of removing the mucus coating.
   • Handle the fish as little as possible, and keep it in the water as much as you can. Avoid dragging the fish onto the bank or into your boat.
   • Use a rubber net with a smooth, non-abrasive surface instead of traditional, knotted-nylon nets. Rubber nets are gentler on the fish’s body, reducing the chances of injury during handling.
   These simple precautions will reduce stress on the fish and improve its chances of survival after release. 
4. Keep Fish in the Water
   

   Fish need water to breathe, so it’s essential to limit the time they spend out of the water. Holding a fish in the air for too long can lead to suffocation and further stress. When releasing a fish, try to keep it in the water as much as possible:

   • If you must lift the fish out of the water for a photo or to remove the hook, do so quickly and gently.
   • Return the fish to the water immediately after unhooking, allowing it to swim off under its own power.
   The less time a fish spends out of the water, the more likely it is to recover fully after being released. 

Final Thoughts

Catch-and-release fishing is a great way to enjoy the sport while supporting the conservation of fish populations. By using barbless hooks, bringing fish in quickly, using fish-friendly nets and minimizing handling, you can significantly increase the survival rates of the fish you release. These small adjustments to your fishing technique make a big difference in preserving the health of fish and ensuring that they live to be caught again. Happy fishing! 

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!