Weekly fishing report

The following reports came in late, but we thought they were definitely worth mentioning.

Elephant Butte Lake: Miguel Castillo of Las Cruces caught and released a 17.5-inch largemouth bass using a Rapala crankbait Oct. 25.

Pecos River: Andres Martinez of Las Vegas caught a 30-inch catfish using grub worms Oct. 14.

Rio Grande: Andrew Yates of Taos caught a 30-inch northern pike using a large streamer Oct. 23. Matthew Martinez of Magdalena caught a 20-inch brown trout using a blue Panther Martin spinner Oct. 16.

If you have a catch of the week story or just want to tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing experience, send it to us at funfishingnm@gmail.com. We may include your story in our next report.

For catches of the week, include name, age, hometown, date, location, type of fish, length, and weight if possible, and bait, lure or fly used.

Northeast Fishing Report

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

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

Cimarron River: Stream flow near Cimarron Monday morning was 10.5 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair using nymph flies.

Clayton Lake: Closed until March 2021.

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

Costilla Creek: The Department has implemented the final phase of a project to expand Rio Grande cutthroat trout in 120 miles of the Costilla watershed in northern New Mexico. The final phase involved removal of fish within a designated area (Rio Costilla from Costilla Dam downstream to the Valle Vidal Boundary including all tributaries and Comanche Creek from the road culvert crossing on FR 1950 downstream to its confluence with Rio Costilla and all tributaries) with a tentative restocking of Rio Grande cutthroat in spring 2022. Places to fish nearby include Costilla Creek below the fish barrier, Upper Comanche Creek, Shuree Ponds, Middle Ponil Creek, Upper Powderhouse Creek, Little Costilla Creek, Vidal Creek and McCrystal Creek. The Department anticipates completion of this final phase in the fall of 2021. Please check the Department website for additional information on the project and to identify alternative angling opportunities in the interim.

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

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using salmon peach PowerBait, Woolly Bugger flies and spinners tipped with PowerBait.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was slow using PowerBait and salmon eggs. Fishing for trout was fair to good using spinners.

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

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

Hopewell Lake: Fishing for trout was good using chartreuse PowerBait and Pistol Pete’s spinners.

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

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was good using elk hair caddis flies, silver spinners and PowerBait.

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

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

Monastery Lake: Closed due to Covid-19 health concerns. Check the Open Gate webpage for future updates.

Morphy Lake: Closed for a renovation project on the dam and no firm opening date has been set.

Pecos River: Stream flow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 21.9 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using red Fire Ball salmon eggs and worms. Fishing for catfish was fair at Villanueva State Park using grub worms.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery Monday morning was 38.7 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using small nymph flies, Woolly Buggers, salmon eggs and worms.

Rio Grande: Stream flow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 225 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using silver Panther Martin spinners, double nymph fly rigs in slow moving pools and mayfly dry dropper setups in the riffles.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow Monday morning near Valdez was 27.8 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Mora: Stream flow Monday morning was 5.86 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco Monday morning was 6.02 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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 white bass and walleye was fair to good vertical jigging slabs, live minnows and blade baits in 25 to 30-feet of water. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temperature was in the mid-50s and the main lake was clear.

Southwest Fishing Report

Alumni Pond: Fishing for trout was good using marshmallows and white PowerBait.

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

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

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

Elephant Butte Lake: An angler caught and released a 17.5-inch largemouth bass using a Rapala crankbait Oct. 25.

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

Gila River: Stream flow Monday morning was 47.7 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Glenwood Pond: Fishing for trout was fair to good using crystal flash nymph flies and salmon eggs.

Lake Roberts: Fishing for catfish was good using beef liver and worms. Fishing for trout was good using pink and orange PowerBait.

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

Quemado Lake: Anglers reported fishing for trout was slow.

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

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 0.52 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Trees Lake: Fishing for trout was good using grey colored nymph flies, marshmallows and PowerBait. Fishing for catfish was fair using chicken liver and worms.

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

Tips and Tricks

Marcelo Taimen Richert, age 9, was born in Taos and currently lives in Arroyo Hondo.

Marcelo started fishing at age three, but he did not really take a strong interest until this past spring and summer. His developing passion for fishing might be attributed to some great days spent at Eagle Nest Lake ice fishing last winter. Right now, he is very interested in catching pike because he says they look “toothy and dangerous.” He caught a 32-inch 10-pound pike this past summer using 4-pound test line while fishing for perch.

Trout have always caught Marcelo’s attention and, after completing the New Mexico Trout Challenge, he wanted to share his story and tips with fellow anglers.

“One day last spring when we were driving home my Dad told me about the New Mexico Trout Challenge. I was more curious about it every day and asked him more and more questions. We decided to give it a try. Soon after we got started, I was catching everything from 9-inch 5-ounce brook trout to 19-inch 3-pound cutbows! Here are some tips I find helpful fishing for trout.”

1. Go fishing from dawn to dusk if possible. If not, then a few hours in the morning or in the evening is best.

2. Try using lots of different lures, baits and/or flies until you find what the fish are biting. Some of my favorite lures and baits that I recommend using are spinners, nightcrawlers and dry and nymph flies.

3. Fish in riffles, pools and behind big rocks.

4. Exploring is lots of fun. Enjoy the adventure aside from just fishing. Lately I have seen an otter rolling in the sand and sliding down some grass on its belly into the river, bighorn sheep and lots of birds.

I was fortunate enough to complete the Trout Challenge. Good luck on your next cast!

If you love the great outdoors and fishing for trout like Marcelo does, then give the New Mexico Trout Challenge a try!