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.

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2023-24 Fishing Licenses are no longer valid.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: Penny Frick and Chuck Estrada of Albuquerque caught their limits of rainbow trout using worms on Oct. 3.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

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

Charette Lakes: Fishing for trout was fair when using spinners.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 25 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Clayton Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good using crankbait lures.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Monday morning was 40 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using size-16 Pheasant Warrior Flies, dry flies, bead-head Caddis Flies, Stone Flies, Squirmy Wormy Flies, yellow Jig Sticker Flies, worms and salmon eggs.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 48 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon eggs.

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 186 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 20 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 14 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 9 cfs.

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

Shuree Ponds: Fishing for trout was fair when using Elk Hair Caddis Flies.

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 bottom-bouncer worm-harness rigs in 40 feet of water. Fishing for white bass was fair when using slab spoons and blade baits vertical jigging in 35-50 feet of water. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair when using soft plastic and topwater lures. Fishing for crappie was slow. Fishing for catfish good when using nightcrawler worms. The main lake’s water-surface temperature was in the low 70 F range, and the water was stained. 

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Abiquiu Lake: Carl Dawson of Rio Rancho caught a 29-inch, 9.3-pound walleye using a black feather-tail silver-blade spinner on Oct. 5.

Bluewater Lake: Joanna Beets of Albuquerque caught a 39-inch tiger muskie using a Rapala lure on Sept. 28.

Cochiti Lake: Eli, age 13, of Albuquerque caught a 28-inch pike using a white glide bait near Tetilla Peak Dock on Sept. 29.

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using black feather tail silver blade spinners and 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 154 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 when using 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 8 cfs.

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: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using worms. Fishing for bass was slow when using worms.

McGaffey Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. The road to the lake will be closed the morning of Oct. 18 due to a planned missile launch near the Fort Wingate Army Depot. Click here for more information.

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. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using Mepps spinners.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Monday morning was 111 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Tuesday morning was 143 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 596 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was fair when using size-22, zebra-midge-pattern flies and chocolate midge-emerger flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was fair to good when using worms and PowerBait.

Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week. 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 CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Caballo Lake: Brandon Hawkins and Gene España of Las Cruces caught four walleye and 20 crappie using crappie jigs and grubs on Sept. 28. 

Elephant Butte Lake: Esteban Hernandez of El Paso, Texas, caught and released a 5-pound flathead catfish using a white jig on Oct. 4.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Alumni Pond: Closed for repairs until further notice.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using bluegill cut bait. Fishing for bluegill was good when using worms.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using worms. Fishing for bluegill was good when using worms.

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 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 24 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: Fishing for walleye was fair when using chartreuse and white jigs with curly-tail grubs.

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using green or black-and-green Rooster Tail spinners. Fishing for tiger muskie was slow to fair when using red Rooster Tail spinners.

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

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Tuesday morning was 0 cfs. Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver and cut bait.

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

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

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

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Sumner Lake: Ray Fresquez Senior of Roswell and his grandson, Porter, caught and released a 35-pound flathead catfish trolling using a homemade, green shad-wrap lead lure on Oct. 5.

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 6 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: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using nightcrawler worms.

Grindstone Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using worms. 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 bass was fair to good when using plastic Creature Baits.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 101 cfs. Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken breasts and cut bait. Fishing for bass was fair when using nightcrawler worms.

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: Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good when using chrome-colored shad-pattern crankbaits. Fishing for catfish was fair when using homemade, green shad-wrap lead lures.

Timberon Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week. 

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

Winterize Your Outboard Boat Engine to Avoid Problems in the Spring

When the temperature gets close to freezing, that is our sign that it is time to put the boat away for the winter. Before we put it away, we must make sure all of the water is out of the engine and that it will be safe to store for several months. These two simple projects can save you a world of headache and costly repairs in the spring. Do these things now so you are fishing next spring and not regretting putting off easy preventative measures.

• Run fuel stabilizer through your engine. Gasoline that sits in your boat engine for an extended period (such as over the winter) can separate. After it separates, it does not burn properly and causes issues with the engine that could lead to it not running at all. The simple fix is to run a recommended dose of fuel stabilizer through your boat engine before putting it away for the winter. Directions for how much stabilizer to use should be on the bottle you purchase.

We use SeaFoam fuel stabilizer in our Mercury outboard boat engine.

• Check the lower unit and change the gear oil. If water has gotten into the lower unit during the summer, this water can freeze during the winter, causing your lower unit to crack. If your lower unit cracks, it can cost thousands of dollars to replace. Avoid this costly time-consuming repair by changing the oil in the lower unit. This project only takes a few minutes. This YouTube video will show you how to do it.

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!