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.
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 Licenses from the 2024-2025 license year are no longer valid.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.
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: Larry Tafoya of Rio Rancho snagged eight kokanee salmon in a span of four hours on Nov. 4. “Fish are in great shape and fight hard,” Larry said.
Red River: Jacob Archuleta caught a brown trout using a Panther Martin spinner on Oct. 26 below the Red River Hatchery. “It put up an incredible fight, even leaping out of the water — and that’s when I realized just how big it was,” Jacob said. “An absolute beauty of a brown trout!”
Santa Cruz Reservoir: Ukiah, age 10, and Metolius Logsdon, age 7, reeled in four trout using Green PowerBait after hiking in on Nov. 3.
Ute Lake: Donald Vang and his wife caught a total of nine walleye, along with 20 white bass, one bluegill and five channel catfish using 4-inch Gulp minnows on 3/8-ounce jig heads and 2½-inch blade baits on Nov. 1.
NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT
Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Wednesday morning was 12.9 cubic feet per second (cfs). The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using a small black midge fly.
Eagle Nest Lake: Snagging for kokanee salmon was very good. Fishing for rainbow trout was slow when using flies and spoons from a boat. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.
Hopewell Lake: Fishing for trout was slow when using lures and very good when using PowerBait and worms while bottom fishing.
Lake Maloya: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using Pink Lemonade PowerBait.
Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Wednesday morning was 56.2 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait.
Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 42.4 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was slow to fair when using Panther Martin spinners.
Red River City Ponds: The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using beadhead nymphs and homemade dough bait.
Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 764 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for brown trout was slow when using flies, spinners and worms.
Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Wednesday morning was 13.6 cfs.
Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 24.8 cfs.
Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Wednesday morning was 12.1 cfs.
Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using Green PowerBait.
Shuree Ponds: The most recent report was received on Oct. 16. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using grasshopper-pattern and blowtorch flies.
Ute Lake: Fishing for walleye, white bass, bluegill and channel catfish was good when using 4-inch Gulp minnows on 3/8-ounce jig heads and 2½-inch blade baits.
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, Eagle Rock Lake, Gallinas River, Harris Pond, Lake Alice, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Morphy Lake, Red River Hatchery, Rio Costilla, Springer Lake, Storrie Lake and Stubblefield Lake.
NORTHWEST
NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK
Bluewater Lake: Jeremy Pitts caught an 11-pound catfish using chicken livers near the dam around 1 p.m. on Nov. 1. “We got a few bites, but this was the keeper,” Jeremy said.
Cochiti Lake: Timothy Vojtech and Dave Flores caught a northern pike using a minnow on a 5-foot fishing pole and 8-pound test line on Oct. 29. “We caught about eight other white bass before this monster and were not expecting this beast,” Timothy said.
San Juan River: Fay Evans-Martin caught and released 20 rainbow trout using size-24 grey-and-black Big Mac flies on a 6x tippet while drifting on Oct. 23 in the quality waters. “They fought hard with numerous head shakes for five minutes or so before netting,” Fay said. “Probably my best day of fishing ever on the San Juan over about 20 years.”
Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: Uriah “Rage” Lucero (middle) and his friends, all of Isleta Pueblo, each caught their limits of trout using PowerBait and pink worms on Nov. 1 in celebration of Uriah’s birthday. The fish ranged in length from 11 to 14 inches, and Uriah was very excited to make fish tacos for his birthday.
NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT
Abiquiu Lake: Contact the Abiquiu Lake Main Office at 505-685-4371for updated lake conditions and closure information.
Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec Wednesday morning was 467 cfs.
Bluewater Lake: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using chicken liver near the dam.Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information.
Canjilon Lakes: The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was very good with nightcrawlers. Fishing for trout at the middle lake was slow when using a Joe's fly.
Cochiti Lake: Fishing for northern pike was very good when using minnows.
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: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using Orange, Pink and Garlic PowerBait.
Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Wednesday morning was 18.4 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was slow when using worms and salmon eggs.
Navajo Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for northern pike was good when using crankbaits. Snagging for kokanee was slow to fair.
Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Wednesday morning was 105 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Wednesday morning was 61.1 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 16. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using flies below Abiquiu Lake. 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 404 cfs.
San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Wednesday morning was 362 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was very good when using size-24 grey-and-black Big Mac flies on a 6x tippet in the quality waters.
Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: Fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait and pink 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.
Trout Lakes:The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using green Pistol Pete flies.
We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Albuquerque Area Drains, Brazos River, Grants Riverwalk Pond, Heron Lake, Jackson Lake, Laguna del Campo, Lagunitas Lakes, Lake Farmington, Liam Knight Pond, McGaffey Lake, Rio Cebolla, Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1), San Gregorio Lake, Tiger Park Reservoir, Tingley Beach and Trout Lakes.
SOUTHWEST
SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK
The main ramp at Elephant Butte Lake State Park is currently open, with boating conditions classified as fair. A week ago, fishing for crappie was good when using white grubs, while fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using carp and shad cut bait. (Photo courtesy New Mexico State Parks)
SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT
Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing conditions have been adversely affected in the aftermath of the Trout Fire.
Elephant Butte Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using carp and shad cut bait. Fishing for crappie was good when using white grubs.
Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 57.3 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was slow to fair when using nightcrawler jigs.
Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 34.1 cfs.
Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0 cfs.
We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Bill Evans Lake, Caballo Lake, Escondida Lake, Glenwood Pond, Lake Roberts, Percha Dam, Quemado Lake, Rancho Grande Ponds, Snow Lake, Trees Lake and Young Pond.
SOUTHEAST
SOUTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK
Eunice Lake: Robert Perez caught several 4- and 5-pound largemouth bass using black and blue chatterbaits and soft plastic crawfish on Oct. 31, fishing in the dark after work.
SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT
Alto Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using worms.
Berrendo Creek: Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property.
Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Wednesday morning was 4.37 cfs.
Blue Hole Park Pond: The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair using Whopper Ploppers.
Bonito Lake:Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.
Brantley Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good when using plastic crawdads.
Eunice Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was very good when using black and blue chatterbaits and soft plastic crawfish.
Grindstone Reservoir: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using orange-and-black Mepps spinners and worms. Grindstone Reservoir is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildlife impact closures, please see the Grindstone Reservoir Webpage before planning a visit.
Oasis Park Lake:The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was good when using worms.
Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Wednesday morning was 0.25 cfs.
Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 33.1 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 Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good when using crankbait.
Sumner Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for flathead catfish was good when using ¼-ounce jigs with curly tail grubs.
We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Bataan Lake, Bosque Redondo Lake, Bottomless Lakes, Brantley Lake, Carlsbad Municipal Lake, Chaparral Park Lake, Corona Pond, Dennis Chavez Pond, Estancia Park Lake, Green Meadow Lake, Greene Acres Lake, Harry McAdams Park Pond, Jal Lake, Lake Van, Ned Houk Ponds, Perch Lake, Rio Bonito, Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond, Spring River Pond and Timberon Ponds.
TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES
An Introduction to Bass Fishing
Have you always wanted to take up bass fishing, but don’t know how or where to start? Do you want to test yourself and complete the New Mexico Bass Challenge? This short video with Department R-3 Program Manager John Martsh has some tips that can help you have a successful fishing trip!
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.
New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, 1 Wildlife Way, Santa Fe, NM 87507
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