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2023-24 Fishing Licenses are no longer valid.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

Lake Maloya: Robert Salazar Jr., age 16, of Las Vegas caught his limit of rainbow trout using orange PowerBait Marshmallows and salmon eggs on Sept. 13.

Pecos River: Norman Martinez of Rio Rancho caught and released a 24-inch, 5-pound rainbow trout using a brown-trout-pattern Rapala lure on Sept. 15.

Red River: Bryce Timmons, age 9, of Bosque Farms caught a 21-inch, 4-pound, 15-ounce rainbow trout on Sept. 10.

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 Perdigon 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: 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: 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 streamer flies and Pistol Pete spinner 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Monday morning was 60 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Rapala lures.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 56 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: Work to replace the water line to the hatchery pond has been completed and stocking will resume as scheduled.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 203 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 29 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 25 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 12 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 to fair when using crankbaits and swimbaits. Fishing for white bass was fair when using jigging spoons, jig heads tipped with Gulp minnows, swimbaits and topwater lures. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair when using topwater lures in the backs of coves. Fishing for crappie was slow. Fishing for catfish was fair when using chicken liver. The main lake’s water surface temperature was in the mid 70 F range, and the water was clear.  

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Navajo Lake: Rckn Rudy of Benson, Arizona, caught a 33-inch pike using a crawdad-pattern, deep-diving Bomber lure on Aug. 29.

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using clown-pattern crankbaits and using 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 124 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 9 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 to good when using deep-diving crawdad-pattern Bomber lures and chartreuse crankbaits. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using Mepps spinners.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Monday morning was 697 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 Monday morning was 780 cfs. The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled a decrease in the release from Navajo Dam from 800 cfs to 700 cfs for Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 4 a.m. 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 good when using Kastmaster lures.

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 slow to fair when using nightcrawler worms. Fishing for bass was fair when using top water lures and spoons.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Fishing for bluegill was good when using worms at Bear Canyon Lake last week.

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 all species was slow.

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 when using chicken liver.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Monday morning was 32 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 walleye was fair when using green Wally Diver lures at Santa Rosa Lake last week. (Photo courtesy New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department)

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: 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: Fishing for catfish was good when using hot dogs.

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 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 when using Texas-rigged Robo Worms.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 95 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 5 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: 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 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

Free Fly-Fishing Seminar

Have you ever considered learning how to fly fish? Well, here is your chance to get an excellent introduction for free from some of the experts in the industry!

The San Juan Fly Fishing Federation will present a free fly-fishing seminar Sept. 28, from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Cottonwood Campground Day Use Area, located along the San Juan River 4 miles below Navajo Dam. The seminar will feature a variety of practical fly-fishing topics, including knot-

tying, rigging up, aquatic life, choosing flies, fishing regulations, fish handling, casting, river reading and etiquette.

Each vehicle will require a New Mexico State Parks Day Pass. This pass will be issued free of charge for seminar participants while the seminar is in progress. Bring a chair for your comfort, as well as paper and a pen to take notes. Above all, enjoy yourself!

Fishing equipment is not required and free refreshments will be provided. If you are interested in attending, contact Jon at 505-860-0224 by Sept. 25, so organizers can have an accurate idea of how many participants to prepare for.

Dave Gerg and Paul Quintana sharing how to choose flies.

Larry Hastings showing off a variety of equipment used in fly fishing.

Dick Gerding demonstrating fly casting.

TJ Jimerson showing the variety of aquatic life that trout feed on.

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!