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Editor's Note: Anglers have taken to our new iFish form like a fish to water (sorry for the pun)! In fact, your response has gone far beyond anything we could have imagined. We're continually impressed by the quantity and quality of the photos you send us every week. However, while we'd love to be able to run every photo we receive, technical limitations keep us from being able to do so effectively.

That doesn't mean your submissions are being ignored, though. Far from it, in fact. The Department has started a Weekly Wall of Fame, where every photo that we receive will be published. You'll be able to find the link to each week's Wall of Fame, as well as the Weekly Fishing and Stocking Report and the iFish form, on the Department's website. You can also view this week's Wall of Fame by clicking here. Feel free to share the link with your friends and family – because what fishing trip would be complete without a little bragging?

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 Licenses from the 2024-2025 license year are no longer valid.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 CATCH OF THE WEEK

Storrie Lake: Emilee Romero caught four fish, including these two 20-inch rainbow trout, trolling Panther Martin spinners behind a boat on July 11.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Charette Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using silver and gold spinners, gold-and-black Panther Martin spinners and Rainbow PowerBait.

Cimarron River: Water levels are extremely low. Streamflow near Cimarron Wednesday morning was 3.33 cubic feet per second (cfs).

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

Conchas Lake: The most recent report was received July 10. At that time, fishing for white bass was slow to fair when using jerkbaits. Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using purple crankbaits.

Cowles Ponds: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using Peach PowerBait.

Coyote Creek: The most recent report was received June 26. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using Panther Martin spinners.

Eagle Nest Lake: The most recent report was received July 10. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was fair to good when using Yellow PowerBait. For updated lake conditions and potential hazards, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

Gallinas River: The river was recently stocked for the first time since the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.

Hopewell Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when using golf Panther Martin spinners and PowerBait Mouse Tails.

Los Pinos River: The most recent report was received June 26. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was fair to good when using spinners.

Monastery Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Cheese PowerBait. The lake is part of the Department’s Open Gate Program. Please visit our website for more information about this property.

Morphy Lake: The most recent report was received June 26. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Wednesday morning was 61.8 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon eggs.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 41.2 cfs.

Red River City Ponds: Fishing for trout was good when using Pink PowerBait.

Red River Hatchery: The most recent report was received July 10. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was good when using PowerBait Honey Worms.

Rio Fernando: The most recent report was received July 10. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon eggs.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 247 cfs. The most recent report was received June 26. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was fair to good when using Glitter Green Garlic PowerBait and red Rooster Tail spinners.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Wednesday morning was 14.9 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow when using flies.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 19.2 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Wednesday morning was 18.1 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: The most recent report was received June 26. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using Olive Pistol Petes.

Storrie Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Panther Martin spinners.

Ute Lake: Fishing for walleye was good when using minnows.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Cabresto Lake, Costilla Creek, Eagle Rock Lake, Lake Alice, Lake Maloya, Maxwell Lake 13, Shuree Ponds, Springer Lake and Stubblefield Lake.

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Bluewater Lake: Jason Jackson caught two catfish using hot dogs on July 12.

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: The most recent report was received June 19. At that time, fishing for walleye, bass and crappie was good when using chartreuse curly-tail grubs on white jig heads, small white rubber worms and white-and-chartreuse rubber worms. Contact the Abiquiu Lake Main Office at 505-685-4371 for updated lake conditions and closure information.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing for carp was slow to fair when using yellow foam hoppers. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good when using topwater lures.

Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec Wednesday morning was 201 cfs.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for catfish was very good when using shrimp and slow to fair when using hot dogs. As of July 3, fishing for tiger muskie was good when using spinnerbaits. Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information.

Canjilon Lakes: The most recent report was received July 3. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using chubby Chernobyl dry flies.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing for northern pike was slow to fair when using weedless jigs.

El Vado Lake: The lake is open to boating and angling with a primitive boat ramp available at the Dam Day Use Area, as well as the main (concrete) boat ramp and courtesy dock at El Vado Lake State Park. For more information, visit El Vado Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-588-7247.

Fenton Lake: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using worms, mealworms and PowerBait. Visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-829-3630 for updates.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Wednesday morning was 6.51 cfs. The most recent report was received July 3. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait on the Jemez River.

Navajo Lake: The most recent report was received June 26. At that time, fishing for northern pike was fair to good when using crankbaits.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Wednesday morning was 103 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Wednesday morning was 117 cfs. 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 less than 1 cfs. Fishing for catfish was good when using blood-soaked hot dogs.

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Wednesday morning was 750 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was fair to good when using No. 6 fluorescent green Panther Martin spinners in the bait section.

Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: The most recent report was received July 10. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using worms. 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.

Tingley Beach: The most recent report was received July 10. At that time, fishing for trout was slow when using Texas-rigged Senkos. Fishing for catfish was slow when using shrimp, chicken liver, hot dogs and bluegill.

Trout Lakes: The most recent report was received July 10. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using Original and Garlic PowerBait.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Brazos River, Grants Riverwalk Pond, Heron Lake, Jackson Lake, Laguna del Campo, Lake Farmington, Liam Knight Pond, McGaffey Lake, Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1), San Gregorio Lake and Tiger Park Reservoir.

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Bill Evans Lake: Eric Ockerhausen caught two catfish using Joe’s Flies and a Panther Martin spinner on July 9. “I was trolling spinners behind my kayak and the channel catfish hit them,” he said. “I have read about catfish taking lures, but I had never had it happen to me.”

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Bear Canyon Lake: The lake is currently closed due to the Trout Fire. For more information, visit the official Trout Fire page on InciWeb.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using Joe’s Flies and Panther Martin spinners.

Caballo Lake: The most recent report was received July 10. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using worms and shrimp.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was very good when using white swimbaits.

Escondida Lake: The most recent report was received July 3. At that time, fishing for catfish and bluegill was good when using worms with bobbers.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 17.4 cfs. The most recent report was received July 10. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using Kebari flies.

Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 25.4 cfs.

Glenwood Pond: The most recent report was received July 10. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using spinnerbaits.

Quemado Lake: The most recent report was received June 26. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using worms.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 537 cfs.

Snow Lake: The most recent report was received June 26. At that time, fly fishing for trout was slow. Anglers have reported low water and muddy conditions, as well as road construction that has made access challenging.

Trees Lake: The most recent report was received July 3. At that time, fishing for catfish was very good when using nightcrawlers with a clear bobber.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Lake Roberts, Percha Dam, Rancho Grande Ponds and Young Pond.

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Grindstone Reservoir: Kaia Rivera, age 7, from Laguna caught an 18-inch catfish using chicken liver on July 13. It was a successful day of fishing, as the family caught a total of six catfish and nine trout.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: The most recent report was received July 3. At that time, anglers reported successful fishing for catfish when using live nightcrawlers.

Berrendo Creek: Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property.

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Wednesday morning was 2.24 cfs.

Bonito Lake: The most recent report was received July 10. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using Rainbow PowerBait, PowerBait Worms and gold spinners. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

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

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using cut chicken breasts covered in Kool-Aid.

Estancia Park Lake: Fishing for trout and perch was fair to good and fishing for largemouth bass was slow when using worms.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver and slow to fair when using hot dogs. Grindstone Reservoir is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildlife impact closures, please see the Grindstone Reservoir Webpage before planning a visit.

Lake Van: Fishing for catfish was slow when using worms.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Wednesday morning was 120 cfs.

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 12.4 cfs. Fishing conditions will be adversely affected for an extended period of time due to recent flooding in the area.

Santa Rosa Lake: The most recent report was received June 26. At that time, fishing for walleye was good when using white curly-tailed grubs.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Bataan Lake, Blue Hole Park Pond, Bosque Redondo Lake, Bottomless Lakes, Brantley Lake, Corona Pond, Dennis Chavez Pond, Eunice Lake, Green Meadow Lake, Greene Acres Lake, Harry McAdams Park Pond, Jal Lake, Ned Houk Ponds, Oasis Park Lake, Perch Lake, Rio Bonito, Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond, Spring River Pond, Sumner Lake and Timberon Ponds.

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

From the Archives: Creatures of the Deep

By Colleen Welch

Editor’s Note: We are digging into our archives to bring you some tips and tricks from the past. Today, we’re going back 20 years to the Kid Tracks section of the Summer 2005 edition of New Mexico Wildlife. While this article may be primarily targeted toward a younger audience, there is also valuable information for adult anglers as well. Keep in mind that some information in this article may be outdated and may not necessarily align with today’s rules – please see the 2025-2026 Fishing Rules and Information booklet for current rules and regulations.

Some fishy business is going on deep under the surface ripples of New Mexico’s largest lakes. That’s where you’ll find the state’s biggest aquatic creatures — some as big as watermelons – swimming and eating.

They are creatures of the deep, but they are not giant water monsters like the Loch Ness monster of Scotland. New Mexico’s big aquatic creatures are sport fish that many people, young and old, love to catch on their fishing lines. Some of these fish grow to be larger than our dogs and cats, but they are definitely not scary monsters. New Mexico’s creatures of the deep may have shiny dorsal fins, long whiskers, or be shaped like torpedoes, but instead of being scary, they make for some fun fishing and really yummy eating. How deep will they go? As deep as they can, depending on water temperature, available oxygen and food.

Cold-water giant

Every year, people travel to Heron Lake in northern New Mexico to try to catch lake trout, a cold-water giant that is North America’s largest member of the trout/salmon/char family. Scientists know this family by the name Salmonidae. Lake trout are newcomers to New Mexico. They were brought to Heron Lake in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, anglers might catch a lake trout lurking 60 to 70 feet below the surface.

Lake trout are speckled all over with dull white spots over silvery green bodies. These trout have bodies so big and robust that they are grande by all measures. Lake trout have torpedo-shaped bodies with very strongly forked tails. The biggest lake trout ever caught in New Mexico was 41½ inches long and weighed 31 pounds, 6 ounces. How big is that fish? One gallon of milk weighs about 4 pounds. Eight gallons of milk stacked together would weigh about 32 pounds. Grab a yardstick and some chalk to measure out 41½ inches on your sidewalk.

A different kind of cat

Catfish have one thing in common with our household feline cats: They have “whiskers.” Unlike our earthy family cats, these aquatic cats live in warm water and are very adapted to life in large reservoirs such as Elephant Butte Lake. Catfish, in the Ictaluridae family, are nocturnal scavengers, hunting at night along the bottom, whether the water is murky or crystal clear. These “whiskered” fish feed on anything they might come across, including invertebrates such as insects, small fish and some plants. You could hook a catfish swimming in the shallows or in much deeper water.

Channel and flathead catfish each have eight long, black and fleshy “whiskers” called barbels. Commonly known as “cats,” they have smooth, scaleless skin. Their fins are dark and soft, except for parts of the dorsal and pectoral fins.

New Mexico records for big catfish:

Flathead catfish: 78 pounds, 47 ½ inches long, caught in 1979 at Elephant Butte Reservoir.
Blue catfish: 52 pounds, ¼ ounce; 43½ inches long; caught June 20, 2005 at Elephant Butte Lake.
Channel catfish: 36 pounds, 8 ounces; 38 inches long; caught in 1999 at Stubblefield Lake.

All three catfish are native to New Mexico. Practice your math skills using the milk-jug analogy to get a better idea of the sizes for these prize catfish catches.

Stripes and spines

New Mexico’s biggest bass live in Elephant Butte Lake, where they often are found swimming 30 to 40 feet deep. They are striped bass, and because they grow so big, they are a favorite among anglers since they were brought to New Mexico from the North American Atlantic Coast. Our state-record striped bass was caught in 1992 at Elephant Butte, weighing 54 pounds, 8 ounces and measuring 45 inches long.

Striped bass have two dorsal fins with both spines and rays. Spines are stiff and often controlled by muscles that raise and lower them. Rays are flexible and segmented or in sections. If they prick you, spines and rays can cause skin damage or even an infection. Striped bass are colored olive to blackish blue with silver sides that have seven to eight dark stripes. Their abdomen or belly is whitish.

What if you catch one?

Handling big fish may require some help from the adults that you are fishing with. Here are a few ‘ouch’ tips:

Catfish are slippery because they do not have scales, but they can raise and lower stiff, sharp spines attached to the pectoral and dorsal fins. A jab and poke from one of these spines can be as painful as a bee sting.
Bass need to be held by the lower jaw. Remember that dorsal fins have spines and rays.
Catching a huge lake trout is no easy business. Like most big fish, they have very sharp teeth; so if you get near one, don’t put your fingers near its mouth. Sometimes for kids, it’s great just knowing that they are there.

Fish detectives

Take along a hand lens or magnifying glass when you go fishing. You may enjoy the adventure of looking closer at what you’ve caught. Look at the body of a catfish. How does the smooth skin of a catfish compare to the skin of a bass? What do those long, whiskery barbels look like when magnified? Take a closer look at the pectoral spine of a catfish. How does it compare to the pectoral fins of other fish?

Make some notes in a field journal or draw some sketches of your fish. This will help you remember what you saw long after your fish is cooked and eaten. Your teacher at school may even give you extra credit for your journal notations. You will be on your way to becoming a junior naturalist, plus a really good angler.

Learn more!

Fishing and Fishes, Golden Guide. St. Martin’s Press, NY

Fishes. Michael Filisky, Peterson First Guides, Boston, NY

First Field Guide Fishes. National Audubon Society, Scholastic, NY

Watching Nature – A Beginner’s Field Guide. Monica Russo, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., NY

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 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.