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2023-24 Fishing Licenses are no longer valid.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!

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.

• 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

Monastery Lake: Davin Valencia and Kristy Valencia, age 2, of San Felipe Pueblo caught their limits of trout using Green PowerBait on Sept. 7.

Rio Grande: Seth Hardy of Red River caught and released a 17-inch brown trout using a white streamer fly near Questa on Sept. 8.

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 21 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and bead-head flies.

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

Conchas Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair when using salmon eggs and curly-tail grubs.

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

Cowles Ponds: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon eggs.

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: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Pistol Pete spinner flies fished with a bobber and Panther Martin spinners.

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 garlic-scented, natural-colored PowerBait and worms.

Lake Alice: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using worms and PowerBait. Fishing for perch was slow to fair when using worms.

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and PowerBait. Fishing for perch was fair to good when using worms. 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 80 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Mepps spinners.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 48 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Mayfly dry flies and small nymph flies near the town of Red River.

Red River Hatchery: The hatchery pond is currently closed in order to replace the water supply line. The maintenance project is expected to be completed this month with water flows to the pond resuming shortly after.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 220 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using white streamer flies and worms near Questa.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Monday morning was 20 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 34 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 13 cfs.

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

Shuree Ponds: Fishing for trout was fair when using dry fly Hoppers with a nymph dropper fly. Fishing the Red Chile sections of streams for trout was good 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 slow. Fishing for white bass was good when using jigging spoons in 20-40 feet of water. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair when using topwater lures in the back of coves. Fishing for crappie was slow. Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver and nightcrawler worms. The main lake’s water surface temperature was in the mid-70 F range, and the water was clear. 

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Brazos River: Daniel Marcum of Rio Rancho caught an 18-inch rainbow trout using a size-16 Parachute Adams dry fly on Sept. 1.

Canjilon Lakes: Matt Cordova and Yvonne Gallegos caught and released their limits of rainbow trout, including a 16-inch rainbow trout caught by Yvonne, using garlic-scented, natural-colored PowerBait at the middle pond Sept. 1.

Navajo Lake: Hopper Shannon of Hatch caught several smallmouth bass using a Mepps spinner and a pike using a green crankbait on Sept. 8.

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using clown-pattern crankbaits 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 201 cfs.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using Rapala Countdown lures. Fishing for tiger muskie was fair when using water dogs.

Brazos River: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using size-16 Parachute Adams dry flies.

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

Cochiti Lake: Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair when using Firetiger-pattern crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was slow to fair when using rainbow trout-pattern crankbaits. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using Firetiger-pattern crankbaits, white Flicker Shad lures, white Rapala X-Rap lures and chartreuse spinners with gold Colorado blades.

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 salmon eggs, PowerBait and Kastmaster lures. 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. Fishing for trout on the Rio Cebolla near Fenton Lake was fair when using attractor dry flies. Fishing streams on the Valles Caldera for trout was fair to good when using Hopper flies.

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.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for kokanee salmon was slow when using spinners tipped with corn. Fishing for pike was fair when using chartreuse crankbaits. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using Mepps spinners.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Monday morning was 97 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Tuesday morning was 143 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using San Juan worms, white Sparkle Minnow flies, emerger flies and egg-pattern flies near Chama. 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 590 cfs. The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled an increase in the release from Navajo Dam from 600 cfs to 800 cfs for Sept. 10, at 4 a.m. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using size-22, zebra midge-pattern flies and chocolate midge-emerger flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good when using nightcrawler worms and size-18, black Zebra Midge flies.

Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week. Rio Grande chub are native fish to the Jemez River drainage and can be found in the Seven Springs Kids’ Ponds. 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 catfish was fair when using dough bait. Fishing for bass was fair when using topwater lures and spoons.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Bear Canyon Lake: William Schroeder of Las Cruces caught a 27-inch catfish using bluegill on Aug. 31.

Elephant Butte Lake: Jameson Jones (top left), age 7, caught her first fish, a white bass, using a slab spoon on Sept. 8. Elila Valles (top right), age 6, of Silver City caught her biggest white bass using a white slab spoon on Sept. 8. Remi Valles (bottom right), age 3, of Silver City caught multiple white bass using a chrome Kastmaster lure on Sept. 8. Emberly Valles (bottom left), age 5, of Silver City caught multiple white bass using a chrome Kastmaster lure on Sept. 9. 

Gila Waters: Elena Trodden of Belen caught a Gila trout using an Elk-Hair Caddis fly near the Catwalk on Sept. 1.

Quemado Lake: William Fallis of Rio Rancho caught an 18-inch rainbow trout using Orange PowerBait on Aug. 31.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for bass was good when using crankbaits, drop-shot rigs and red-and-white Bomber lures. Fishing for white bass was good when using white slab spoons and chrome Kastmaster lures. Fishing for walleye was good when using Wally Diver lures, chartreuse grubs and silver spinners. Fishing for striped bass was fair when using white slab spoons and silver Kastmaster lures. Fishing for crappie was very good when using live minnows near the Dam Site Marina. Fishing for catfish was good when using live minnows and shrimp.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using catfish dough bait.

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

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Monday morning was 38 cfs.

Gila Waters: Fishing for Gila trout was fair to good when using Elk-Hair Caddis flies near the Catwalk.

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: Fishing for trout was fair when using Orange PowerBait.

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

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Tuesday morning was 919 cfs. Fishing for catfish was good when using shad near Hatch.

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 to good when using stink bait, shrimp and worms.

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Fishing for trout was fair when using Panther Martin spinners at Bonito Lake, which reopened to anglers on Aug. 30.

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 5 cfs.

Blue Hole Park Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bonito Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using Panther Martin spinners. The lake reopened to fishing only on Aug. 30. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake. All City of Alamogordo properties along the Rio Bonito and around Bonito Lake remain closed for any recreational activities at this time. Visit https://www.nmfireinfo.com for the latest information.

Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using hotdogs.

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

Brantley Lake: Fishing for bass was fair when using Whopper Plopper lures.

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: Anglers reported poor fishing conditions due to large amounts of algae.

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 wildfire 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 Texas-rigged Robo Worms.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 96 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 catfish was good when using worms and hot dogs. Fishing for bass was fair when using hot dogs.

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

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood Monday morning was 12 cfs. 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 walleye was fair when using green Wally Diver lures. The boat ramp will remain closed until the lake returns to a safe level from monsoon rain and runoff after the recent water release. The lake remains open to non-motorized vessels.

Spring River Pond: Fishing for catfish was fair to 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

Big Game Hunting with a Little Surf and Turf

It’s been a long wait, but now September deer and elk hunts have officially begun! When packing your gear in preparation for your hunt, don’t forget about fishing completely. You might want to bring just a little bit of fishing gear too.

Many of the deer and elk hunts across New Mexico take place in our high mountain ranges and expansive forests. There are often small creeks and streams within these areas. Many of these small-water ecosystems provide home to an abundance of small trout. These small homegrown trout live on a natural diet of primarily insects and worms. That healthy diet, in conjunction with living in clean, naturally cooler water year-round, can produce a delicious meat for cooking on a campfire. These small trout also provide a great nutrient source for replenishing spent energy from a long day hunting. After a morning’s hunt when the deer and elk have reclused to their midday bedding areas, it’s not a bad idea to dip a hook in a stream with the potential for sprucing up the evening meal.

If you are camping close to the road and have plenty of storage space, it is probably easy enough to pack a fishing pole and tackle box. But if you are packing light and space is limited, here is an easy pill-jar size “do it all” fishing pack to bring with you.

Twelve feet of 6-pound test fishing line, split-shot weights in assorted sizes, No. 8 Eagle Claw bait hooks, a San Juan Worm fly, a golden Hare’s Ear nymph fly and a bead-head golden Hare’s Ear nymph fly.

Everything fits into a small pill jar.

Tie the fishing line to a stick that resembles the length of a fishing rod. If you can find grasshoppers or worms, use the bait hooks. In the absence of any natural bait, or just to make the fishing experience more unique, tie one of the flies to the end of your line. Also pack a 1-gallon, sturdy Ziploc bag in the event you catch fish and need to keep them separate from other items in your pack. Back at camp, it is nice to have some aluminum foil for wrapping the cleaned fish for cooking on the fire. This bag of fishing gear fits nicely in the bottom of your hunting pack.

If you do a little fishing while on your hunt, please let us know about it! Best of luck to all those hunting the coming seasons. 

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!