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2023-24 Fishing Licenses are no longer valid.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

Eagle Nest Lake: Elijah Lucero, age 6, of Moriarty caught a 12-inch perch using a worm on Aug. 31.

Eagle Rock Lake: Kynlei Cordova and Abigail Fernandez, both age 5 and both of Questa, caught trout using Pistol Pete spinner flies on Aug. 31.

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 9 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and Caddis flies.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good using 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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: 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 108 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using black, bead-head nymph flies and worms.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 53 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 in September with water flows to the pond resuming shortly after.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 276 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using worms.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Monday morning was 15 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 37 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 slow to fair when vertical jigging. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair when using spinner baits and chatter baits. Fishing for crappie was slow. Fishing for catfish was good when using punch bait. The main lake’s water surface temperature was in the high 70 F range, and the water was clear. 

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Bluewater Lake: Zach Rutter of Los Lunas caught a 43-inch tiger muskie using a water dog on Aug. 17. 

Chama River: Chris Ortega of Albuquerque caught a 27-inch rainbow trout and a 24-inch brown trout using a white Sparkle Minnow fly and a buckskin San Juan Worm fly near Chama on Aug. 25.

San Juan River: Fred Anzures of Denver (above left) caught a 32-inch rainbow trout using a size-20, black zebra midge-pattern fly on Aug. 23. Johnny Martinez of Santa Fe (above right) caught and released a 20-inch brown trout using a zebra midge-pattern fly on Aug. 23.

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair when 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 449 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Canjilon Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using worms and green Pistol Pete spinner flies.

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 slow. 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: Fishing for trout was good when using flies, spinners, worms and PowerBait.

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 fair to good when using spinners tipped with corn 70 feet deep. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using chartreuse swimbaits. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using crankbaits and 3-inch Yamamoto Senko Ned worms.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Monday morning was 455 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Tuesday morning was 353 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 583 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using size-20, zebra midge-pattern flies and bead-head, black 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: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon eggs with glitter. 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 to good when using shad-pattern Whopper Plopper lures.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Escondida Lake: Cynthia Gallegos Erven of Los Lunas caught a 14-inch catfish using catfish dough bait on Aug. 25.

Young Pond: Fernando Herrera Jr. (top left) caught an 11.5-pound catfish using shrimp and worms on Aug. 31. David Lukens of Las Cruces (right) caught an 18-inch catfish using stink bait on Aug. 31. Nathanial Medley of Las Cruces (bottom left) caught a 15-inch catfish using stink bait on Aug. 31.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Alumni Pond: Closed for repairs until further notice.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for bass was good when using nightcrawler worms and Panther Martin spinners. Fishing for crappie was good when using Panther Martin spinners. 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 red-and-white Booyah Prank poppers and chartreuse Model-A Bomber crankbaits. 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 55 cfs.

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 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

Greene Acres Lake: Angelica Chavez, age 11, caught a 2-pound catfish using nightcrawler worms on Aug. 30. 

Perch Lake: Jeff Chavez and David Roybal of Santa Rosa caught a 27-inch catfish and a 16-inch bass using hot dogs on Aug. 27.

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 4 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: 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 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 to good when using Texas-rigged Robo Worms.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 99 cfs. Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken breasts and cut bait.

Perch Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using 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 32 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

Catching Big Catfish at Night

Cameron Quill of Albuquerque is an avid angler who likes to target big catfish. He says that right now big catfish are on the move during the night hours. To fish for the “big cats” he likes to use 2-inch cubes of cut chicken breast. He uses weights to keep his bait on the river bottom.

Cameron Quill with a 12.5-pound catfish he caught out of the Rio Grande.

His fishing setup is an Ugly Stik Catfish, medium-heavy, 8-foot rod. He uses a Carolina rig with a 2-ounce pyramid weight. He uses 50-pound braid mainline on his reel and a 40-pound monofilament leader that is about 1.5 feet long. He also uses an 8/0 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook. 

Want to catch and release big catfish? Here are a couple tips to make it easy. If you do decide to use bait and get a fish hooked deep where the hook cannot be easily removed, just cut the fishing line off at the fish’s mouth and the stomach enzymes will digest the hook. 

To make hooks easy to remove from a fish’s mouth, you can debarb the hook. Here is a video on how that is done. 

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!