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.

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 Licenses from the 2024-2025 license year are no longer valid.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.

• 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

Cimarron River: Jonathan Sturgeon (not pictured) and his group caught and released between 10-20 rainbow trout and brown trout each day on May 5 and 6 below Eagle Nest Lake, using size-14 stone fly emergers and worms.

Cowles Ponds: Jonathan Coy caught and released six brown trout while fly fishing using a salmon egg dropper on May 11.

Eagle Nest Lake: Linda Williams (above left) caught a rainbow trout using nightcrawlers on May 11. “Beautiful snow on the mountains overlooking the lake,” she said. Elvis and Alijah Chavez (above right) combined to catch 10 rainbow trout using Chunky Cheese, Garlic and Salmon Peach PowerBait on May 9. “We really had a good time – first time fishing Eagle Nest Lake, my son and me,” Elvis Chavez said. “We will definitely be going back soon.”

Morphy Lake: Jerry Blount (above left) caught his limit of trout, including two times where he caught two fish at once, using PowerBait on May 9. “Quite a surprise and a thrill,” he said. Aaron James DeHerrera (above right) caught his limit of trout for the first time, using a rainbow Pistol Pete on May 9.

Pecos River: The Coriz family (above left), pictured here arguing over who caught the biggest trout, combined to catch between 25 and 30 trout between the five of them during a pre-Mother’s Day trip using worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs on May 10. Lawrence Gonzales, Aaron Abeyta and Ruben Maestas (above right) caught 33 trout, keeping 15, using red worms on May 10. “The fish kept biting fast and furious,” Gonzales said. “Best fishing trip of the year so far!”

Red River: Alice Gonzales caught five rainbow trout using salmon eggs below the Red River Hatchery on May 9.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Cathleen Moya (above left) and her husband caught five trout using PowerBait on their first fishing trip in a very long time on May 8. “It was a treat to be out fishing and even more so to reel in a catch like this,” she said. Gary Trujillo (above right) caught four trout using PowerBait on May 4. Donald J. Maestas (not pictured) caught five trout using Garlic PowerBait on May 8. “Fishing was fantastic – caught my limit in about 30 minutes,” he said.

Storrie Lake: Bill (not pictured) caught three trout using PowerBait on May 7.

Ute Lake: Dale Brooker caught seven walleye earlier this month.

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 120 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was good when using size-14 stone fly emergers and worms below Eagle Nest Lake.

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

Conchas Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was slow to fair when using crankbaits. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good when using spinnerbaits.

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

Cowles Ponds: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when fly fishing using a salmon egg dropper.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for rainbow trout was fair to good when using night crawlers and Chunky Cheese, Garlic and Salmon Peach 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: Fishing for trout was good when trolling black Pistol Petes with silver spinners.

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 fair to good when using PowerBait dough. 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 very good when using PowerBait and rainbow Pistol Petes.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Wednesday morning was 278 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 133 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was good when using salmon eggs.

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

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 662 cfs. Fishing for brown trout below the John Dunn Bridge was good when using yellow, red-polka-dot Panther Martin spinners. Fishing for brown trout at the Taos Junction Bridge was slow to fair when using nightcrawlers.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Wednesday morning was 41.2 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 166 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using worms on a No. 12 hook.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Wednesday morning was 281 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.

Shuree Ponds: The ponds are closed until July 1.

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

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

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

Albuquerque Area Drains: Daniel and his brother combined to catch seven catfish, with none smaller than 15 inches, using shrimp on May 9 – his brother’s birthday.

Bluewater Lake: Saniko Nunez caught three tiger muskie using Pautzke Fire Balls on May 7.

Cochiti Lake: Larry Bernstein caught a northern pike using a 3-inch soft curly tail grub on May 7. “I thought I snagged again, but I decided to set the hook,” he said. “Once that was done, my line moved, shook and pulled off my reel. This is my personal best.”

Fenton Lake: Leslie (not pictured) caught seven trout in two hours using Orange Glitter PowerBait and worms on May 2.

San Juan River: Jason Morris caught a rainbow trout using a zebra midge in the quality waters on May 9.

Tingley Beach: Andres Villalobos (above left) caught a largemouth bass using a plastic crawfish on a Texas rig on May 7. Josiah Gurule (above right), age 8, caught a 29-inch, 9-pound catfish using shrimp on May 8. “It almost pulled him in the water,” his father said. “Great morning fishing for dad and son!”

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for smallmouth bass was slow to fair when using red crawdad crankbaits. 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 1,370 cfs.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing for catfish was good when using shrimp.

Bluewater Lake:  Fishing for tiger muskie was good when using Pautzke Fire Balls. 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 very good when using 3-inch soft curly 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 good when using PowerBait and worms. 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 59.5 cfs. Fishing for trout on the Rio Cebolla waters was good when using Natural Scent PowerBait and worms. Fishing for brown trout on the East Fork was slow to fair when using dry flies and nymphs.

Laguna del Campo: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using PowerBait.

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

Lake Farmington: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait.

Liam Knight Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Navajo Lake: Fishing for northern pike was slow to fair when slowly working a jerkbait in Francis Canyon. 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 208 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week. 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 869 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 372 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was good when using zebra midges in the quality waters.

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

Tiger Park Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for largemouth bass was slow to fair when using plastic crawfish on Texas rigs. Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using shrimp.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Caballo Lake: Allysha Pacheco caught five catfish, as well as numerous carp, using shad and worms on May 11.

Elephant Butte Lake: Matt caught, photographed and released 12 smallmouth bass and seven largemouth bass using plastic worms on May 7. “Fishing is great right now,” he said.

Gila River: April Garcia (above left) of Albuquerque caught an 11-inch Gila trout using a pheasant tail nymph fly near the Catwalk Recreation Area on May 4. Justin Zanin (above right) of Albuquerque caught several Gila trout using an olive Wooly Bugger fly near the Catwalk Recreation Area on May 3, including this 11½-incher, as he completed the New Mexico Trout Challenge.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Alumni Pond: Closed for repairs until further notice.

Bear Canyon Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bill Evans Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for catfish and carp was very good when using shad and worms.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was very good when using plastic worms.

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

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 27.4 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using pheasant-tail nymph flies and olive Wooly Bugger flies.

Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 35.6 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

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

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait.

Rancho Grande Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 489 cfs.

Snow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. The area, including the boat launch and the trailhead, has been temporarily closed because of the Iron Fire.

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

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

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Bonito Lake: Brian Powers caught three trout using a black-and-yellow Panther Martin spinner on May 3. “Quality over quantity – two of the three trout were 14-15 inches,” he said.

Grindstone Reservoir: Sara and Mike Pasden caught their limits of trout within 30 minutes using Yellow PowerBait on April 29. It was Sara’s first time fishing.

Santa Rosa Lake: L.B. Johnson IV caught two bass using a chartreuse jig on May 11.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when using olive-and-white Marabou Streamer flies.

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 9.57 cfs.

Blue Hole Park Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bonito Lake: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using black-and-yellow Panther Martin spinners. 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.

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

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was slow to fair 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: Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using hard jerkbaits, rubber minnows and micro chatterbaits with small minnow trailers.

Green Meadow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was very good when using Yellow PowerBait. Grindstone Reservoir is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildlife impact closures, please see the Grindstone Reservoir 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Wednesday morning was 51 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 3.22 cfs.

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

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was slow to fair when using chartreuse jigs.

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

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

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

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

White Bass, Striper or Wiper – How Can You Tell?

Sometimes, when you reel in the big one, you can be left wondering, “what did I just catch?” Many fish species look similar, so to the untrained eye, it can be hard to tell what’s on the end of your line.

White bass, striped bass and hybrid striped bass – also known as wipers – are three such species that can be difficult to tell apart from each other. But we here at Game and Fish are here to give you some pointers on how to tell the difference come time to brag to your fishing buddies, or, better yet, submit your catch to the Department's iFish form so everyone can read all about your latest fish story in the Weekly Fishing Report!

White bass weigh considerably less than striped bass and hybrid striped bass, also known as wipers. (NMDGF Photo)

(White bass illustration courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife Department)

First: the white bass. White bass have a single stripe that may extend to the tail, with a deeper body measuring two-thirds of its total length. These fish may weigh up to four pounds – the New Mexico state record is 4 pounds, 13 ounces, set in 1983 at Bill Evans Lake. These fish also have a single distinct tooth patch on their tongue.

(Striped bass illustration courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife Department)

Next up, we have the striped bass. Striped bass have three to four stripes that extend to the tail fin, with a slenderer body that measures one-third of its total length. Despite this slender build, these fish are considerably larger than the white bass, weighing in at up to 55 pounds (New Mexico’s state record is 54 pounds, 8 ounces, caught at Elephant Butte Lake in 1992). Another distinguishing characteristic between a striped bass and a white bass is that the striped bass’ tongue has two tooth patches compared to the white bass’ single patch.

(Hybrid striped bass illustration courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife Department)

As a hybrid species, it should be no surprise that the wiper’s characteristics are a mish-mash of the white bass and the striped bass. Wipers, which were only recently introduced in New Mexico, have broken stripes along their bodies that may extend to the tail, with a deeper body similar to the white bass. Wipers can weigh in at up to 15 pounds, and like the striped bass, they have two tooth patches on their tongue.