WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing adventure, or your catch of the week. Just visit the Department's Weekly Fishing & Stocking Report website and use the iFish form at the bottom of the 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 2025-2026 license year is ongoing!

Licenses for the 2025-2026 license year remain valid until March 31, 2026. The 2025-2026 Fishing Rules and Information Booklet (RIB) is available online in both English and Spanish, and in print at Department offices and vendors statewide. The 2026-2027 Rules and Information Booklet, which takes effect April 1, will soon be available.

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 years. 

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 on available fish species, facilities, accessibility, boat ramps and general regulations.

Check out the webpage to plan your trip now!

NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Ralph Lopez caught five trout using a Kastmaster on March 9. 

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Wednesday morning was 4.26 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Eagle Nest Lake: The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was fair to good when using Rainbow PowerBait from the bank. The lake is now open for boating, though the courtesy docks have not been installed. The lake surface may have a thin layer of ice early in the morning that burns off by midday. Avoid the boat ramp when there is snow and ice on it. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

Eagle Rock Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 26. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair when using PowerBait.

Lake Alice: For more information, visit Sugarite Canyon State Park’s webpage or call 575-445-5607.

Lake Maloya: The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using floating PowerBait. For more information, visit Sugarite Canyon State Park’s webpage or call 575-445-5607.

Monastery Lake: The lake is closed due to unsafe ice conditions. Monastery 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 March 5. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Wednesday morning was 38.9 cfs. The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair when using worms.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 37.5 cfs.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 583 cfs. The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fly-fishing for rainbow trout was slow when using midges, blue wing olives and dry flies.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Wednesday morning was 9.16 cfs. 

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 10.7 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Wednesday morning was 13.9 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Kastmasters.

Storrie Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using floating bait.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Cabresto Lake, Clayton Lake, Charette Lakes, Conchas Lake, Cowles Ponds, Coyote Creek, Gallinas River, Harris Pond, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Red River City Ponds, Red River Hatchery, Rio Costilla, Shuree Ponds, Springer Lake, Stubblefield Lake and Ute Lake. 

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Bluewater Lake: OraNell Mirabal caught five trout using homemade bait on March 7. “It was an amazing experience,” she said. “I’ve never caught a fish this big before.”

Fenton Lake: Liam Garcia, age 3, caught a trout using PowerBait on March 4. “He cast out his PowerBait and watched his line start to dance,” his submission said. “Before he knew it, he was holding up his trout with the biggest smile — already counting down to the next fishing adventure.”

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 19. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was good when trolling Shad Rap Deep Runners from a boat. Contact the Abiquiu Lake Main Office at 505-685-4371 for updated lake conditions and closure information.

Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec Wednesday morning was 303 cfs.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using homemade bait. Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information.

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 fair to good when using PowerBait. For more information, visit Fenton Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-829-3630.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Wednesday morning was 29.5 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was slow to fair when using red worms.

Liam Knight Pond: The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow when using worms. Fishing for rainbow trout was good when using green jigs.

Navajo Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 26. At that time, fishing for brown trout was good when using 3-inch paddle tail swimbaits. Fishing for crappie was good when using crappie jigs. Fishing for northern pike was good, and anglers noted they are feeding on “everything.”

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Wednesday morning was 90.4 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Wednesday morning was 51.1 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 518 cfs.

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Wednesday morning was 305 cfs. The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fly-fishing for rainbow trout was fair to good in the bait section, and slow when using bead-head Woolly Buggers in the quality waters. Fishing for brown trout was slow when using rabbit strip swing flies in the quality waters.

Seven Springs Kids’ Pond:  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: The most recent report was received Feb. 26. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using pink-and-silver and blue-and-silver ¼-ounce Joe’s Flies Super Strikers.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Albuquerque Area Drains, Brazos River, Canjilon Lakes, Cochiti Lake, Heron Lake, Jackson Lake, Laguna del Campo, Lagunitas Lakes, Lake Farmington, McGaffey Lake, Rio Cebolla, Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1), San Gregorio Lake, Tiger Park Reservoir and Trout Lakes. 

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Escondida Lake: Carlos caught three trout and his father caught five using PowerBait and garlic-scented marshmallows on March 6.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing conditions have been adversely affected in the aftermath of the Trout Fire.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait and garlic cheese.

Elephant Butte Lake: The South Monticello boat ramp is currently closed and access to Rattlesnake Island is currently restricted due to low water levels. The closures will be lifted when water levels rise and conditions allow.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and garlic-scented marshmallows.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 81.5 cfs.

Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 73.1 cfs.

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait, cheese and red eggs.

Quemado Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 26. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using Orange PowerBait.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0.1 cfs.

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

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Bonito Lake: Brian Powers caught three trout using a multicolored Kastmaster on March 7. “I had a lot of bites on my lure but had about four or five fish pop off the hook,” he said. “They weren’t attacking the lure as aggressively as they typically do.”

Bonito Lake: Charles Martinez caught and released 10 trout using PowerBait Yellow Power Eggs on March 2. “Great weather,” he said. “The breeze helped get the line really far to the other side of the lake, where there must have been a hole where the big fish were gathered.”

Chaparral Park Lake: Brenden Maynard and his father, Chris, caught and released 25 bass ranging in length from 6-15 inches using swimbaits on March 8.

Lake Van: Keven Woody took his kids on their first fishing trip on March 1, and they combined to catch 13 catfish using PowerBait.

Santa Rosa Lake: Anthony Knoll caught a 3½-pund largemouth bass and a 3.6-pound smallmouth bass within 10 yards of each other using the same chartreuse-colored shallow square-bill crankbait on March 1.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait Rainbow Nuggets and Green Trout Nuggets, and fair to good when using Kastmasters, worms and Rainbow Twist PowerBait.

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

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Wednesday morning was 4.16 cfs.

Bonito Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and salmon eggs. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

Corona Pond: The most recent report was received Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using cut bait.

Eunice Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 19. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was good when using rooster tails.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and salmon eggs. Grindstone Reservoir is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildfire impact closures, please see the Grindstone Reservoir Webpage before planning a visit.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Wednesday morning was 111 cfs. 

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 25.7 cfs. Fishing conditions will be adversely affected for an extended period of time due to recent flooding in the area.

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

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

Memories of springtime fishing trips

By Darren Vaughan

This time of year always brings back memories of my youth.

It was the time of year my hometown awakened from its winter slumber, as the surest sign of spring was when the license plates turned green thanks to the influx of tourists from Colorado.

The school year was nearing its end, and the anticipation of warm summer nights cruising between our hometown’s whopping five stoplights with a carload of friends, with an occasional stop for sodas and ice cream, weighed heavy.

There was the smell of freshly mowed grass as we took to the baseball, softball and soccer fields around town, glad to enjoy a bit of sunshine after a bitterly cold past several months.

But there’s one memory that sticks out as the most vivid of them all.

When I was in middle school roughly 30 years ago, our guidance counselor allowed us to form “groups” with our friends that would meet for an hour once a week in his office. These groups would plan excursions, some extravagant and others more modest, and it was up to us to make those trips a reality. As seventh-graders, we decided we wanted to go on an overnight camping and fishing trip at the local reservoir once the weather warmed up.

The morning of the trip, we all loaded into our counselor’s pickup truck and headed over to the local supermarket to load up on supplies and get our fishing licenses. We picked up the essentials — mostly consisting of junk food and sodas, also known as the key elements of a healthy (?) junior-high boy’s diet — and made the trek toward our destination. It was a whopping 10 miles or so away and in the next county, so you knew it was an adventure.

It was just one night, but one we still talk about when we get together to this day. Lessons learned included taking extra care when casting near a poplar tree, unless you wanted your line snagged on a high branch; never turning your back on a group of fellow 12- and 13-year-olds, unless you wanted to take an unexpected swim; how to fillet and grill trout; and numerous campfire stories and jokes.

I don’t remember how many fish we caught that afternoon, evening or the following morning. I do remember it wasn’t many, as our counselor was thankful that he had a steak ready to hit the grill. I also remember one of my friends unsuccessfully trying to catch something in the pitch-blackness of 2 a.m. while the rest of us pondered how funny it would be if we relocated his tent from the lakeside to the lake itself.

But three decades later, I remember that camping and fishing trip as though it were yesterday. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with my friends, laughing at each other’s jokes and at each other’s expense, building camaraderie and, yes, reeling in a fish or two are memories that will never fade.

It certainly beat our trip to a local restaurant for breakfast the next year.  

Let us know how your fishing trip goes! Share your tips and tricks with your fellow anglers by filling out the iFish form, and let’s help the next generation of anglers find success.

Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community!