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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing adventure, or your catch of the week. Just visit https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/weekly-report/ and use the iFish form at the bottom of this page. Submissions received by 5 p.m. Monday will be considered for inclusion in that week's fishing report. For catches of the week include: your 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 displayed here as received. Photos containing sensitive material may be altered or excluded at the Department's discretion.

This fishing report, provided by the Department of Game and Fish, 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.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST STOCKING REPORT

The weekly stocking report is posted each Friday, so it can include the latest stocking details right up to the weekend.

2025-26 Fishing Rules and Information Booklet Cover

The 2025-26 license year is underway!

License sales for the 2025-26 license year have begun. Licenses from the 2024-2025 license year are no longer valid. The 2025-26 Fishing Rules and Information Booklet (RIB) is available online in both English and Spanish, and will soon be available in print at Department offices and vendors statewide.

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.

Consult local government websites for information regarding specific city and town fishing access.

NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Eagle Nest Lake: Val Armijo of Albuquerque caught five rainbow trout, with the largest measuring 24 inches, in a span of three hours using Salmon Peach PowerBait on April 10. Ryan Flores of Belen (not pictured) caught a 19-inch rainbow trout using Garlic PowerBait on April 11.

Morphy Lake: Chantel Davis caught five trout using Salmon Peach Glitter PowerBait on April 10. “I went up for the afternoon and caught five fish, including this monster,” she said.

Pecos River: Ariana Coriz, age 8, caught a brook trout and a rainbow trout, and Christian Coriz, age 11, caught three rainbow trout using worms and salmon eggs on April 13. “Had a blast and can’t wait until next weekend,” they said. Mark Martinez of Santa Fe (not pictured) caught a 22-inch rainbow trout using a worm on April 8. Krista Black of Santa Fe (not pictured) caught her first fish, a 12-inch rainbow trout, using worms on April 7.

Rio Grande: James Gurule caught two smallmouth bass at the Taos Junction Bridge using a Panther Martin double blade on April 10.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Donald Kirkmond Mackie (not pictured) caught 10 trout using a dry Caddis fly on April 4. “This is the first time in 20 years of fishing on this lake that I caught trout on a dry fly,” he said.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

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

Charette Lakes: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using crawlers and salmon eggs.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Wednesday morning was 20.1 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was slow when using PowerBait.

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

Costilla Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Cowles Ponds: Fishing for trout was slow.

Coyote Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for rainbow trout was very good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait and Garlic PowerBait. For updated lake conditions and potential hazards, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait.

Gallinas River: National Forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Call the Santa Fe National Forest office at 505-438-5300 for the latest closure information.

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

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

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

Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Maxwell Lake 13: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Monastery Lake: Fishing for trout was slow when using White and 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: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Salmon Peach Glitter PowerBait and slow to fair when using Pautzke Fire Balls.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Wednesday morning was 170 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using worms.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 55.7 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was very good when using Garlic Chartreuse PowerBait Marshmallows.

Red River Hatchery: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 286 cfs. Fishing for smallmouth bass at the Taos Junction Bridge was good when using Panther Martin double blades.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Wednesday morning was 15.6 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 89 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Wednesday morning was 96.9 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was very good when using dry Caddis flies.

Shuree Ponds: The ponds are closed until July 1.

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 good when using shad lures.

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Bluewater Lake: Martin Vargas (top left) caught a trout using Garlic PowerBait on April 3. “Went with some buddies and on my first cast, the trout hit it right at the top of the water – pure luck,” he said. “It gave an amazing fight. I got my whole limit wrapped up in one fish. Great day!” Irene Owensby (top right) caught four trout using a red Rooster Tail on April 10. “I hooked a 22-inch rainbow and three smaller ones,” she said. “I watched the eagles catch fish, also. Take your kids fishing – great lake.” Ralph Joseph Rael (above) caught a tiger muskie and several trout using Yellow PowerBait from the shore on April 5.

Cochiti Lake: Zayden Baca (above left) caught a northern pike using a shad-colorred crankbait on April 11. Austin Abeyta (above right) caught his first northern pike using a white fluke lure on April 10. James (not pictured) caught a smallmouth bass using a soft plastic single-tail grub on April 6.

Fenton Lake: Richard Edmonds (above left) caught and released well over 30 trout using a Zebra Midge and Hare’s Ears on April 12. Nick and Maqinzy Smith (above right) caught seven trout using salmon eggs and Pink PowerBait with glitter on April 13. “Fishing was dead Saturday evening,” Nick said. “Sunday morning, we got bites nearly every cast! It was a great daddy-daughter trip!” Michael Beaty (not pictured) caught and released 45 trout using PowerBait on April 12. Norbert Hoch (not pictured) caught four trout using worms on April 7. Marvin Wafer (not pictured) caught 10 trout using mop flies and olive streamers on April 10.

San Juan River: Paul Stanislawski (above) caught between 25-30 brown trout using Black Midge flies in the quality waters on April 6. Michael Jackson (not pictured) caught 11 rainbow trout in the bait section using spinners and salmon eggs on April 8. “Fishing was very good in the mid-morning, but slower in the late afternoon. Fish were biting at bait, but not always setting hooks. Fish were rising and feeding on the surface in the mid-to-late afternoon.”

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: Contact the Abiquiu Lake Main Office at 505-685-4371 for updated lake conditions and closure information. Fishing for rainbow trout was slow to fair when using bubble gum steelhead worms.

Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec Wednesday morning was 766 cfs.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using citrus shad crankbaits.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Garlic PowerBait and red Rooster Tails. Fishing for tiger muskie was good when using Yellow PowerBait. Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information.

Brazos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Cochiti Lake: Fishing for northern pike was slow to fair when using shad-colored crankbaits and white fluke lures. Fishing for smallmouth bass was slow to fair when using soft plastic single-tail grubs.

El Vado Lake: The day use area remains closed due to the dam construction project, with low water levels rendering motorboat operation impossible and angling opportunities all but nonexistent. For more information, visit El Vado Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-588-7247.

Fenton Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait, worms, Zebra Midges, Hare’s Ear flies, mop flies and olive streamers. Visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-829-3630 for updates.

Grants Riverwalk Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Wednesday morning was 52.6 cfs. Fishing for brown trout on the East Fork was slow when using flies.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season. Reopens May 1.

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 trout was slow when using White PowerBait.

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

Navajo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. The dam is closed to vehicle traffic until May.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Wednesday morning was 494 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Wednesday morning was 279 cfs. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was fair to good when using Siberian Nymph 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: Streamflow at Albuquerque Wednesday morning was 367 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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 Wednesday morning was 462 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was good when using spinners and salmon eggs in the bait section. Fishing for brown trout was good in the quality waters when using Black Midge flies.

Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: Fishing for trout was very good when using Purple PowerBait. 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 fair to good when using PowerBait.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Bill Evans Lake: Sarah Jaurequi caught five largemouth bass, as well as this rainbow trout, using PowerBait on April 11.

Elephant Butte Lake: Jim McDonald (top left) caught 15 white bass while trolling using #400 and #500 Buck Perry Spoon Plugs on a 5-foot break line on April 12. “The white bass were very active and hitting the bottom-bumping lures at trolling speeds of 4.5 mph,” he said. Brandon Huff (top right) caught a largemouth bass using a jig-head minnow on April 11. Roy Pack (above) caught 17 white bass using a Rapala Shad Rap on April 10. “It was clear and warm,” he said. “It was my first day out since the warm-up. I caught all these fish in less than an hour of trolling.”

Escondida Lake: Jay Lam, age 3, caught his first fish at the Escondida Fishing Derby using PowerBait on April 5. He won first place in his age group and caught the largest fish of the entire derby, winning a new bike.

Lake Roberts: Arabela caught seven rainbow trout while trolling a Rooster Tail on April 7.

Rancho Grande Ponds: After a morning of turkey hunting and filling his first turkey tag, Austyn Riley, age 12, of Laguna Pueblo caught his limit of rainbow trout using PowerBait.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Alumni Pond: Closed for repairs until further notice.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using PowerBait.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass and rainbow trout was very good when using PowerBait.

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

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when trolling and using #400 and #500 Buck Perry Spoon Plugs and Rapala Shad Rap lures. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good when using jig-head minnows.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using PowerBait.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 39.2 cfs. Fishing for trout was very good when using Parachute Adams flies.

Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 42.8 cfs. Fishing for Gila trout in Whitewater Creek was slow to fair when using flies.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was good when trolling Rooster Tails.

Percha Dam: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using Garlic PowerBait.

Rancho Grande Ponds: Fishing for rainbow trout was good when using PowerBait.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 1.85 cfs.

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

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

Young Pond: Fishing for bluegill was good when using Neon Green Glitter PowerBait.

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Brantley Lake: Stephen Bailey caught 30 white bass using small crankbaits on April 12. “White bass were very active, in large schools running up creeks and the river feeding heavy on shad,” he said.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Anthony Jimenez (above) caught two largemouth bass using a crankbait on April 12.

Grindstone Reservoir: Joel Valdez (not pictured) caught 12 trout using a Panther Martin and a Trout Magnet on April 9. “It was a catch-and-release trip to try out different techniques and lures,” he said. “I fished from 5:30 p.m. to about 7 p.m. I started with a black-and-yellow Panther Martin and caught five fish. Then, I switched to a Trout Magnet as the sun was setting, with a lot of success.”

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good when using jackhammer chatter baits.

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 Wednesday morning was 3.59 cfs.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing for trout was slow when using PowerBait and lures.

Bonito Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

Bosque Redondo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bottomless Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week. State Road 409 is closed from Bottomless Lakes Visitor Center to Skidmarks Trail, between mile markers 8-13. Access to Bottomless Lakes is open via the upper road of State Road 409.

Brantley Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when using small crankbaits.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good when using crankbaits.

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.

Estancia Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Eunice Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using PowerBait.

Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Grindstone Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when using Panther Martins and Trout Magnets. 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: Fishing for trout was slow when using spinners.

Ned Houk Ponds: Fishing for channel catfish was slow to fair when using hot dogs with Kool-Aid and nightcrawlers.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing for trout and catfish was slow when using corn.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Wednesday morning was 77.4 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 on Wednesday morning was 4.4 cfs.

Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing for smallmouth bass was slow when using soft, plastic finesse worms and Ned rigs.

Spring River Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Sumner Lake: Anglers had success catching walleye and bass.

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

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

Wipers Keep Growing at Caballo Lake

In 2022, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish stocked 43,000 hybrid striped bass, known as wipers, into Caballo Lake in southern New Mexico for the first time. These wipers, a hybrid between striped bass and white bass, were stocked in order to provide a new sportfishing opportunity for anglers.

Department warm-water fisheries technician Josh Grant holds a wiper during a walleye survey at Caballo Lake. (NMDGF photo by Eric Arce)

Three years later, these fish are thriving. During the recent walleye spawn, Department biologists observed that the wipers stocked in 2022 have since grown to between 18-20 inches in length and 3.1-4.3 pounds in weight. By this fall, the wipers in Caballo Lake could be as large as 22-24 inches and 5-7.5 pounds.

Edward Enriquez, warm-water fisheries biologist for the Department, said the wipers were found near the dam and on the west shores of the lake near cobble shorelines. Anglers can catch wipers with lures resembling gizzard or threadfin shad, as well as crankbaits, soft plastic swimbaits, jerkbaits and large in-line spinners.

Department warm-water fisheries biologist Edward Enriquez (above) holds a wiper and a largemouth bass.

Department cold-water fisheries biologist Taylor Booth (left) holds a wiper during a recent walleye survey at Caballo Lake.

Remember to let us know how your fishing trip goes! Share your tips, tricks, and stories with your fellow anglers by filling out the iFish form at https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/weekly-report/ and let’s help the next generation of anglers find success. If you would like to submit a story for Tips, Tricks and Stories, please email Communications Director Darren Vaughan at Darren.Vaughan@dgf.nm.gov.