Brantley Lake: Thayne Bowen, age 8, of Roswell caught his personal best 2-pound 15-ounce largemouth bass using a black and yellow jerkbait Jan. 18.

Chama River: Jude Vojtech, age 18, of Rio Rancho caught a 19-inch brown trout using a brown trout pattern spinner below El Vado Lake Jan. 22.

Eagle Nest Lake: Aundrea Rascon, age 14, of Taos caught a 23-inch rainbow trout using a silver Kastmaster Jan. 20. Jan. 16.

Quemado Lake: Richard Chavez caught a 20-inch rainbow trout using Fire Corn Jan. 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.

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

Charette Lakes: Closed for the season.

Cimarron River: Stream flow near Cimarron Monday morning was not measured due to ice. In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Clayton Lake: Closed until March 2021.

Conchas Lake: Conchas Lake State Park has closed access to all boat ramps due to dropping water levels. Fishing for crappie was fair using 2-inch plastic crawfish lures.

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 the 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 reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Eagle Nest Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake was open to ice fishing, but ATV traffic and Six Mile Day Use Area closed due to unsafe ice conditions. Fishing for trout was good using jigs tipped with worms and Kastmaster spoons. Fishing for perch was good using small ice fishing jigs tipped with wax worms and earthworms.

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 reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Ice was reported at 11-inches thick. The lake is open for ice fishing.

Lake Maloya: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Ice was reported at 14-inches thick. Ice fishing for trout was good using PowerBait and dough bait.

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

Maxwell Lake 13: Closed for the season.

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 is set.

Pecos River: Stream flow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery Monday morning was 32.8 cfs. Fishing for trout near the hatchery was fair using tungsten beadhead nymphs and midge flies.

Rio Grande: Stream flow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 370 cfs. Fishing for trout was good on warm days using bead head nymphs, midges and small Griffith’s gnat dry flies for rising fish.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow Monday morning near Valdez was not measured due to ice.

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

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

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

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

Springer Lake: Anglers reported that the lake was iced over.

Storrie Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

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

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. Fishing for white bass and walleye was fair in 40 to 50-feet of water using vertical jigs with vibrating blades and Gulp Minnows.

Abiquiu Lake: The boat ramp is open. Anglers did report that there was a lot of ice on the lake.

Animas River: Water flow below Aztec Monday morning was 182 cfs.

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 reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. It 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 102 cfs and 40 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was good using brown trout pattern spinners. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was fair using Trout Magnet lures, beadhead nymph flies and orange zebra midge flies.

Cochiti Lake: Visitors to the lake will need to make a reservation by purchasing a ticket at least 24 hours in advance through www.recreation.gov. Tickets and reservations are NOT sold at the lake. Anglers reported that the lake was iced over.

El Vado Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. El Vado Lake is open for Ice Fishing at the Dam Day Use Area. Ice was reported at 11-inches thick. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair using spinners (jigging).

Fenton Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fenton Lake State Park opened to ice fishing. Fishing for trout was fair to good using Velveeta cheese and pink jigs.

Heron Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. ​Heron Lake is open for ice fishing. Ice was reported at 6.5 to 9-inches thick. Fishing for rainbow trout was fair using rainbow trout spinners tipped with fireballs or worms (jigging).

Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 19.8 cfs.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.

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

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

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.

Rio Grande: Fishing for walleye near Albuquerque was fair using jerkbaits around rocky shoreline. Fishing for catfish was fair using worms.

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

San Juan River: Stream flow Monday morning was 382 cfs. In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was very good using streamers, size 24 black foam wing emergers, size 20 black zebra midges, size 22 crystal midges, red annelids and Baetis fly patterns.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Closed due to COVID-19 health concerns. Check the Department’s Alerts page for future updates.

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

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

Alumni Pond: Fishing for trout was slow.

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

Bill Evans Lake: Anglers reported fishing for all species was slow.

Caballo Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Elephant Butte Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for white bass and walleye was slow. Fishing for catfish was fair.

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

Gila River: Stream flow Monday morning was 57.3 cfs.

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

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

Percha Dam: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was slow to fair using Fire Corn and salmon eggs.

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

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 0.25 cfs.

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

Trees Lake: Fishing for trout was good using PowerBait, salmon eggs, worms and spinners.

Young Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week

Alto Lake: We had no fishing reports from anglers this week. Anglers reported the lake was limited to residents and to check openings before you go.

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

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga Monday morning was 4.58 cfs.

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

Bonito Lake: Closed until further notice by the city of Alamogordo due to fire damage. It appears now that the lake will be out of commission until 2022.

Bosque Redondo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bottomless Lakes: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Brantley Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for bass was fair using black/yellow jerkbaits.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for trout was good using corn and PowerBait.

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing for trout was very good using dough bait, earthworms and PowerBait.

Corona Pond: Anglers reported that the lake was frozen.

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

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing for trout was very good using light green garlic PowerBait.

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

Grindstone Reservoir: We had no fishing reports from anglers this week. Anglers reported the lake was limited to residents and to check openings before you go.

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

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

Oasis Park Lake In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for trout was fair using PowerBait.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 16.3 cfs.

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

Ruidoso River: Stream flow Monday morning at Hollywood was 3.87 cfs.

Santa Rosa Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for walleye was fair using jigs with curly tail grubs.

Sumner Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Kevin often shares his fishing reports and more times than not, he catches his limit of trout. This week he shares his deadly setup.

1. He recommends using a 10-foot leader with a slip sinker behind it.
2. He prefers a 6-pound test line.
3. He says to use one #10 hook. He prefers Eagle Claw salmon egg hooks.
4. The color of PowerBait the fish prefer can change from one day to the next, but Kevin has had consistent success using light green garlic PowerBait with this setup.