Weekly fishing report

Bear Canyon Lake: Johnny Flores of Las Cruces caught his limit of rainbow trout using nightcrawlers Nov. 23.

Chama River: Lynda Trujillo of Santa Fe caught a 17-inch rainbow trout below Abiquiu Lake using green PowerBait Dec. 5. Melvin Serrano of El Guache caught a 23-inch brown trout below Abiquiu Lake using a Panther Martin spinner Dec. 4.

Conchas Lake: Bryan Novotny of Rio Rancho caught a 5-pound 6-ounce, 20-inch largemouth bass using a Lucky Craft suspending jerk bait in 15-feet of water Dec. 6.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Joseph Carabajal of Albuquerque caught a 22-inch rainbow trout using green and yellow swirl PowerBait Dec. 6.

Tingley Beach: Lidia Abeyta of Albuquerque caught a 14.5-inch rainbow trout using salmon eggs Dec. 7.

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.

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

Charette Lakes: Closed for the season.

Cimarron River: Stream flow cfs near Cimarron Monday morning was not measured due to ice. In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Anglers reported icing over with limited open water to fish.

Clayton Lake: Closed until March 2021.

Conchas Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good using suspended jerk bait lures. The water temperature was mid-40s F.

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 the 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 the 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: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only.

Eagle Nest Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only. The lake is closed to boating, ice-fishing and shore fishing due to recent weather conditions that have led to unsafe lake surface conditions.

Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

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

Lake Alice: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only. The lake is closed to fishing due to recent weather conditions that have led to unsafe lake surface conditions. The lake is currently closed to all watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, inflatables and all types of motorboats.

Lake Maloya: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Bank fishing open water for trout was reported as good.

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

Maxwell Lake 13: Closed for the season.

Monastery Lake: Closed due to COVID 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 cfs near the town of Pecos Monday morning was not measured due to ice. Fishing for trout was fair to good using salmon eggs and worms.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery Monday morning was 30.6 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good using bead-head nymph flies and salmon eggs.

Rio Grande: Stream flow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 365 cfs. Fishing for trout was using nymph flies fished deep.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow Monday morning near Valdez cfs was not measured due to ice. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Mora: Stream flow Monday morning cfs was not measured due to ice.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow cfs near Penasco Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good using green and yellow swirl PowerBait.

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

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

Storrie Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only.

Stubblefield Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only.

Ute Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only.

Abiquiu Lake: The boat ramp is closed. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Animas River: Water flow below Aztec Monday morning was not measured. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Albuquerque Area Drains: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bluewater Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only. The lake is closed to boating and ice-fishing due to recent weather conditions that have led to unsafe lake surface conditions. The lake is currently closed to all watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, inflatables and all types of motorboats.

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

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

Chama River: Monday morning flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 105 cfs and 50.1 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was fair to good using nightcrawlers and Panther Martin spinners. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was good using Panther Martin spinners, green PowerBait and small bead head nymph flies.

Cochiti Lake: Closed until further notice.

El Vado Lake:  In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 2, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only. El Vado Lake State Park, except for the Dam Day Use Area, is closed for the season.

Fenton Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only. The lake is closed to boating and ice-fishing due to recent weather conditions that have led to unsafe lake surface conditions. The lake is currently closed to all watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, inflatables and all types of motorboats.

Heron Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only. The lake can be accessed at Ridge Rock or La Laja. Salmon Snagging season continues through Dec. 31. Fishing for trout was good using marshmallow bait. All boat ramps are closed due to low water. The Quality Waters of the Rio Chama can be accessed at the Rio Chama Trailhead. The stairs are closed but access to the river can be gained by using the road.

Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 15.0 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.

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

Lake Farmington: Fishing for trout was good using white PowerBait.

Manzano Lake: Closed until further notice.

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

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

San Gregorio Lake: Anglers reported that the lake is frozen.

San Juan River: Stream flow Monday morning was 367 cfs. In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Fishing for trout was good using streamers, bunny leeches, red annelids and black midge flies.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Closed due to COVID health concerns. Check the Department’s Alerts page for future updates.

Tingley Beach: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only.

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

Alumni Pond: Currently closed per the Public Health Order.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for trout was good using nightcrawlers.

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

Caballo Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only.

Elephant Butte Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only.

Escondida Lake: Currently closed per the Public Health Order.

Gila River: Stream flow Monday morning was 48.9 cfs. Fishing for catfish was good using cut bait.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was good using nymph flies and small gold spoons.

Percha Dam: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only.

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

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

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was .92 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 green, orange and rainbow PowerBait and garlic shrimp.

Young Pond: Closed by the City of Las Cruces due to COVID health concerns.

With ice quickly taking over many of New Mexico’s lakes, here is one technique for fishing the transition from open water to ice.

When lakes begin to freeze over, the last place to freeze is often around the lake’s shore. This allows for one last opportunity to fish from the bank without using ice fishing gear that will be needed as the temperatures drop further. The fish, especially trout, stay active during the cold temperatures and can be found patrolling the ice edge searching for food. I have had success using two techniques (hard lure and bait) during the transition period.

1. When using a hard lure, I like to use a slow presentation so that the fish does not have to exert a lot of energy chasing my lure. They might not want to work that hard. This is a great time to use a suspending jerk bait or a slow sinking jerk bait or crankbait.

Rapala X-Rap is a highly successful suspending jerk bait that will allow you to fish the ice edge with a slow retrieve and fish enticing action.

Rapala Countdown lures sink at the rate of 1-foot per second and are an excellent choice of lure for fishing the ice edge. This lure has caught many trout for me at Santa Cruz Reservoir.

2. When fishing the ice edge using bait, the fish could be just a foot or two below the water surface or down near the lake bottom. It is important to try identifying where in the water column the feeding fish are. It is important to try fishing at different depths until you notice a pattern. For example, you might notice you are catching more fish near the lake bottom. You would then focus your efforts fishing near the bottom and trying various baits as you hone what depth and bait combination is working best. Some of my favorite “edge of ice” baits are wax worms, Trout Magnets, salmon eggs, PowerBait and small locally caught earthworms.

Good luck and lets us know how your next fishing trip goes!

Email: funfishingnm@gmail.com