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2023-24 Fishing Licenses are no longer valid.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

Eagle Rock Lake: Debbie and Ronnie Walker of Amarillo, Texas, caught their limit of 16-to-20-inch trout using Yellow Garlic PowerBait and Yellow and Pink PowerBait Worms on Oct. 14. 

Hopewell Lake: Lauren Besetzny of Superior, Colorado, caught a bunch of rainbow trout using Wiggler Worm flies on Oct. 26.

Pecos River: Tyler Vigil of Santa Fe caught and released a 20-inch rainbow trout using a pink Tungsten Egg fly with a barbless hook on Oct. 26.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

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

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

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 39 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was fair to good when using small bead-head nymph 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 Woolly Bugger flies. 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: Fishing for trout was good when using Wiggler Worm flies and 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: The lake is part of the Department’s Open Gate Program. Please visit our website for more information about this property. 

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

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Monday morning was 158 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using pink Tungsten Egg flies, size-16 Pheasant Warrior Flies and bead-head Caddis Flies.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 67 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 276 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 23 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 81 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 40 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 walleye was fair when using jigs in 30 feet of water. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good when using Ned Rigs, wacky-rigged worms, and drop-shot rigs. The main lake’s water-surface temperature was in the high 60 F range and the water was stained. 

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

San Juan River: Richard of Truth or Consequences caught a 24-inch rainbow trout using a size-24, black Krystal Flash midge-pattern fly on Oct. 27. Jim Ruff of Socorro caught a 20-inch rainbow trout using a size-20, Blue-Wing Olive dry fly on Oct. 16.

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 357 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: 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 14 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 and bass was fair to good when using streamer flies.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Monday morning was 100 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Tuesday morning was 61 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 Monday morning was 474 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 good when using Blue-Wing Olive dry flies and size-24, black Krystal Flash midge-pattern 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 trout was good when using PowerBait.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Elephant Butte Lake: Miguel Castillo of Las Cruces caught a 19-inch, 3-pound largemouth bass using a silver Rapala lure on Oct. 20.

Trees Lake: William N., Frank L., Damian G., Alexander L., Adian Lee, Alan G., and Angel L. of Deming caught several trout using PowerBait on Oct. 23.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when using Flicker Shad lures. Fishing for walleye was slow to fair when using white crankbaits and jigs tipped with worms. Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass was fair to good when using plastic worms. Fishing for catfish was good when using cut bait.

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 42 cfs.

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

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

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

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 fair to good when using PowerBait.

Young Pond: Fishing for catfish was fair when using hot dogs, shrimp and oatmeal dough balls. 

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Bonito Lake: Sean Martinez of Clovis caught a 15-inch brook trout using an olive-green Pistol Pete spinner fly on Oct. 23.

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

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 81 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 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

Winter Trout Stocking Begins Across New Mexico: Here’s Where to Fish 

As the colder months approach, New Mexico’s winter trout stocking program is already underway, giving anglers a fresh opportunity to enjoy some quality fishing. In a week packed with activity, various rivers, lakes, and ponds throughout the state have been stocked with thousands of trout, ensuring plentiful fishing for outdoor enthusiasts.

Below is a breakdown of stocking activity from Oct. 19-25, detailing locations, numbers of fish and hatcheries involved. These stockings include waters from popular lakes to smaller creeks and ponds, helping maintain a thriving winter fishing season.

Stocking Locations and Fish Counts

• Bear Canyon Reservoir
  On Oct. 22, 696 trout from Rock Lake Trout Rearing Facility were introduced to Bear Canyon Reservoir. Known for its scenic beauty, Bear Canyon should offer a rewarding experience for trout anglers this winter.
• Bill Evans Lake
  Stocked with 624 trout on Oct. 25 from Rock Lake Trout Rearing Facility, Bill Evans Lake continues to be a favored spot for fishing, with a fresh supply ready for the season.
• Blue Hole Park Pond
  A unique fishing destination, Blue Hole Park Pond received 222 trout on Oct. 21 from Rock Lake Trout Rearing Facility, enhancing its appeal for local anglers.
• Chama River (Below Abiquiu)
  On Oct. 24, Los Ojos Hatchery stocked the Chama River below Abiquiu with 1,029 trout. This stretch of river is a classic choice for anglers and offers promising catches.
• Eagle Nest Lake
  An impressive 7,640 trout from Red River Trout Hatchery were stocked in Eagle Nest Lake on Oct. 24, making it a prime destination this winter for those looking to catch big numbers.
• Eagle Rock Lake
  This smaller lake received 600 trout from Red River Trout Hatchery on Oct. 22. Eagle Rock Lake remains a beautiful, accessible option for a winter fishing trip.
• El Rito Creek (near Santa Rosa)
  Stocked on Oct. 21, this creek received 100 trout from Rock Lake Trout Rearing Facility, providing a quaint and quieter location for winter fishing.
• Estancia Park Lake
  Estancia Park Lake saw a stocking of 110 trout on Oct. 21 from Rock Lake Trout Rearing Facility, giving anglers in the area an intimate fishing spot.
• Fenton Lake
  Red River Trout Hatchery stocked Fenton Lake with 640 trout on Oct. 21, setting up this favorite lake for a great winter season.
• Grindstone Reservoir
  Stocked with 1,500 trout from Rock Lake Trout Rearing Facility on Oct. 22, Grindstone Reservoir is ready for anglers looking for a scenic and productive day on the water.
• Lake Maloya
  Lake Maloya, a picturesque spot on the state line, received 695 trout on Oct. 22 from Red River Trout Hatchery.
• Lake Roberts
  Stocked with 696 trout on Oct. 22 by Rock Lake Trout Rearing Facility, Lake Roberts is expected to draw winter anglers with its mix of mountain scenery and abundant fish.
• Red River (Below Questa)
  On Oct. 21, 842 trout were added from Red River Trout Hatchery, enhancing this river section’s fishing prospects.
• Rio Grande (Gorge Above Pilar)
  Stocked with 300 trout from Red River Trout Hatchery on Oct. 25, this gorge section offers an excellent winter angling destination with dramatic views.
• Rio Grande (Pilar to Cochiti Lake)
  With 2,401 trout stocked on Oct. 25 by Red River Trout Hatchery, this segment of the Rio Grande will be teeming with fresh opportunities.
• Rock Lake Hatchery Kid’s Pond (near Rock Lake)
  Stocked with 40 trout on Oct. 21, this pond is a smaller location perfect for young anglers and beginners.
• San Juan River (Quality Waters)
  The renowned San Juan River received a significant boost with 25,034 trout stocked from Red River Trout Hatchery on Oct. 22, ensuring its reputation as a premier fishing destination.
• Santa Cruz Reservoir
  Santa Cruz Reservoir received two stockings this week, with 3,150 trout on Oct. 22 and an additional 1,650 trout on Oct. 24, both from Los Ojos Hatchery.
• Timberon Ponds
  This unique fishing spot received 501 trout from Rock Lake Trout Rearing Facility on Oct. 22, adding to its winter offerings.
• Trees Lake
  Trees Lake was stocked with 624 trout on Oct. 25 by Rock Lake Trout Rearing Facility, enhancing this serene lake for local anglers.

Wrapping Up

With a grand total of 49,093 rainbow trout and 21,395 Rio Grande cutthroat trout recently stocked across New Mexico’s waterways, this winter season aims to offer some of the best fishing opportunities. The state’s hatcheries, including Rock Lake Trout Rearing Facility, Red River Trout Hatchery and Los Ojos Hatchery, have worked diligently to prepare these locations for anglers of all experience levels. Whether you’re looking for a quiet creek or a bustling lake, these waters are primed for a memorable fishing experience this winter. So, grab your gear and make the most of the trout stocking season across New Mexico! 

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!