Fishing and stocking report

Canjilon Lakes: Marcus Gallegos of Los Lunas caught a 19-inch rainbow trout using orange PowerBait May 20.

Conchas Lake: Zeke Acosta, age 7, of Albuquerque caught his first fish, a 12-inch white bass, using a bright chartreuse and orange spinner May 23.

Corona Pond: Aiden Zook of Corona caught and released a half-pound albino catfish using raw chicken May 27.

Eagle Nest Lake: Makenzie, Oliver and Penelope Fitzgerald, ages 13, 7, and 5, of Amarillo, Texas, caught a 21-inch rainbow trout using salmon peach PowerBait May 21.

Elephant Butte Lake: Alex Flores, age 11, of Las Cruces caught a 3.5-pound walleye using a curly tail jig May 29.

Hopewell Lake: Tom Chobocinski of Ojo Caliente caught a 16-inch rainbow trout using a brown and black Joe’s Fly spinner May 25. Rick McCall of Santa Fe caught a 20-inch rainbow trout using a crankbait May 20.

McGaffey Lake: Ever Barraza Bueno of Bernalillo caught a 15-inch rainbow trout using PowerBait May 30.

Monastery Lake: Egan Kuehne, age 9, of Albuquerque caught a 15.5-inch rainbow using orange PowerBait May 28. Joseph Crespin of Santa Fe caught a 16.5-inch and 15.5-inch rainbow trout using cheese PowerBait May 28.

Morphy Lake: Tim Fresquez of Chacon caught a 24-inch rainbow trout using original scent PowerBait Trout Nuggets May 27. Alejandro and Sammarha Pacheco, ages 9 and 16, of Tecolote caught a 19.5-inch and 20-inch rainbow trout using Pistol Pete spinner flies May 23.

Quemado Lake: Austyn Riley, age 9, of Laguna Pueblo caught a 15-inch rainbow trout using a Pistol Pete spinner fly May 29. Santiago Gonzales, age 6, of Albuquerque caught an 11-inch rainbow trout using a Panther Martin Holographic spinner May 23.

San Juan River: Dyllon Drake of Aztec caught a 25-inch brown trout using a silver and black streamer fly May 27.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Owen Middagh, age 9, of Albuquerque caught a 16 and 19-inch rainbow trout using a Woolly Bugger fly May 30. Jessa Gomez, age 3, of La Puebla caught multiple 18-inch trout using orange and green PowerBait May 30. Mateo Sanchez, age 8, and brother Marcus Sanchez, age 6, of Rio Rancho caught six rainbow trout ranging from 16 to 20 inches using green PowerBait May 30. Maya Heyman, Ariana Heyman and Hunter Keelin, ages 8, 5 and 11, all of Albuquerque caught their limits of trout using garlic-scented PowerBait May 27.

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: Fishing for trout was good when using streamers and dry flies.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was not measured due to an equipment malfunction. Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait, nightcrawlers and spinners at Gravel Pit Lakes.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using various colors of PowerBait.

Conchas Lake: Conchas Lake State Park has closed access to all boat ramps due to dropping water levels. The boat ramps on the south side of the lake managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are open. Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was good when using plastic worms and tubes. Fishing for white bass was good when using bright orange and chartreuse spinners. Fishing for crappie and walleye was good when using minnows, curly tail grubs and jigs. Fishing for catfish was good when using worms.

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 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 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 slow when using salmon peach PowerBait and in-line spinners. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using large Mepps spinners.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using green PowerBait.

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

Gallinas River: Fishing for trout was fair when using worms and spinners.

Hopewell Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using brown and black Joe’s Fly spinners and crankbait lures.

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

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

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 good when using green-garlic PowerBait, cheese PowerBait and orange PowerBait.

Morphy Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Pistol Pete spinner flies and original scent PowerBait Trout Nuggets.

Pecos River: The streamflow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 121 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was good when using worms and beadhead nymph flies.

Red River: Streamflow below the hatchery Monday morning was 130 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow using flies and fair when using worms and spinners.

Rio Grande: Streamflow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 648 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow when using flies and fair when using worms and spinners.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow Monday morning near Valdez was 95.6 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow Monday morning near Terrero was 48.8 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Penasco Monday morning was 53.5 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using green PowerBait and pink PowerBait.

Shuree Ponds: Closed until July 1, 2021.

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 was fair when trolling Model A Bombers and Bandit crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was good when using bottom bouncers with spinners tipped with nightcrawlers, live minnows and trolling crankbaits at 10 to 14 feet deep. Fishing for bass was good when using Ned Rigs and wacky-rigged worms. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut bait and nightcrawlers. Fishing for crappie was good when using live minnows. The water surface temperature was in the upper 60 degrees Fahrenheit and the main lake color was stained.

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair when using curly tail grubs, bottom bouncers, jigs tipped with worms and crankbaits.

Animas River: Waterflow below Aztec Monday morning was 1,600 cfs.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using PowerBait, nightcrawlers, corn and spinners. Fishing for tiger muskie was fair when using Rapala lures and swimbaits. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using chicken liver and hotdogs.

Brazos River: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using nightcrawlers and Panther Martin spinners.

Canjilon Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using orange PowerBait.

Chama River: Monday morning flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 598 cfs and 673 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was fair when using nightcrawlers. Fishing below Abiquiu Lake was fair when using bright beadhead nymphs. Please remember, from the river-crossing bridge on U.S. Highway 84 at Abiquiu upstream seven miles to the base of Abiquiu Dam is special trout waters with a bag limit of two trout only.

Cochiti Lake: Visitors to the lake need to make a reservation by purchasing a ticket at least 24 hours in advance through www.recreation.gov. Tickets and reservations will NOT be sold at the lake. Fishing for bass was good when using Neg Rigs. Fishing for pike was fair when using swimbaits and crankbaits.

El Vado Lake: El Vado Lake Dam Day Use, main lake, boat launch and campground area are open by reservation only.

Fenton Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using earthworms, green garlic PowerBait and nymph flies. Please remember, only two cutthroat trout are allowed to be harvested per day within the regular five-fish limit.

Heron Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait, in-line spinners tipped with Fireballs and worms. Sierra Vista boat launch and the primitive boat launch are both open due to rising water levels. Caution is advised during windy conditions.

Jemez Waters: The streamflow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 14.5 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using small gold spinners, worms and salmon eggs.

Laguna del Campo: Fishing for trout was good when using worms and PowerBait.

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

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

McGaffey Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using PowerBait.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for bass was good when using jerkbaits, Ned Rigs and green watermelon tubes. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using joined Rapala lures and green tubes. Fishing for kokanee salmon was slow to fair when using pink spinners tipped with corn.

Rio Grande: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using hotdogs and chicken liver between Bernalillo and Albuquerque.

San Gregorio Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using midge pattern flies.

San Juan River: Streamflow Monday morning was 333 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using cream egg pattern flies, red annelid flies, white bunny leeches, tan chamois leeches and size 22-24 Root Beer mayfly emerger pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good when using Panther Martin spinners, worms and PowerBait.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using orange and green PowerBait, worms and nymph flies.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for catfish was fair when using hotdogs, cheese bait and stink bait.

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

Alumni Pond: Fishing for all species was slow.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using yellow PowerBait. Fishing for crappie was good when using x-caddis green olive flies. Fishing for catfish was slow using cut carp bait.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was fair when using wacky rigged worms.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was fair when using plastic worms. Fishing for white bass was good when using live minnows, jigs and white crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was very good when using live minnows, bottom bouncers and crankbaits. Fishing for crappie was good when using minnows and small jigs. Fishing for catfish was very good when using shad, chicken liver and nightcrawlers.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when using green Flicker Shad lures, sassy shad and white crankbaits. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair when using dark-colored plastic worms. Fishing for walleye was good when using bluegill pattern swimbaits, white crankbaits and chartreuse curly tail grubs tipped with worm and bottom bouncer worm harness rigs. Fishing for crappie was good when using live minnows and small curly tail jigs. Fishing for catfish was good when using shad, worms and live minnows.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for bass was fair when using worms.

Gila River: Streamflow Monday morning was 21.4 cfs. Fishing for catfish was good when using cut bait.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Quill Gordon dry flies. Fishing for bass was slow to fair when using plastic worms. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using beef liver and live worms.

Percha Dam: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using chicken breast.

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait, Pistol Pete spinner flies and Panther Martin Holographic spinners.

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

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 2,050 cfs. Fishing for catfish north of Elephant Butte Lake was good when using cut bait, nightcrawlers and shad.

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

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

Young Pond: Fishing for trout was slow. Fishing for catfish was fair when using hotdogs.

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using green garlic PowerBait and nightcrawlers. Fishing for bass was fair when using Texas-rigged plastic worms and nightcrawlers.

Bataan Lake: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using worms. Fishing for catfish was fair when using worms and dough bait. Fishing for bass was fair when using plastic jigs. Fishing for bluegill was good when using worms.

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 46.3 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 that the lake will be out of commission until 2022.

Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using green pumpkin soft plastic worms.

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

Brantley Lake: Fishing for crappie was fair to good when using small yellow jigs.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using hotdogs.

Chaparral Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Corona Pond: Fishing for catfish was good when using raw chicken.

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

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using Texas-rigged plastic worms.

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

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using cheese PowerBait and purple PowerBait.

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

Lake Van: Fishing for catfish was good when using red hotdogs.

Oasis Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 74.4 cfs.

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

Ruidoso River: Streamflow Monday morning at Hollywood was 3.09 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using small worms and small spinners.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing for walleye was good when using live minnows. Fishing for bass was fair when using live minnows. Fishing for crappie was fair when using live minnows. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using nightcrawlers, hotdogs and chicken liver.

Sumner Lake: Fishing for walleye and crappie was fair when using chartreuse curly tail jigs and white marabou jigs.

On Friday, May 21, I took the family to the Catwalk National Recreation Trail in the Gila National Forest. The only fishing equipment we had was my son’s 27-inch Dock Demon Kids Fishing Rod, a Rooster Tail spinner, a Panther Martin spinner and a gold and orange deluxe fly.

We fished the calm pools in between hiking the trail. My children and I were lucky enough to catch and release one Gila trout each before completing the hiking trail. The Panther Martin did the trick and we never had to break out the Rooster Tail.

The Gila trout were not very big, but they were hungry! This was a great experience for us all and the start of a new yearly tradition!

Anglers’ Names: Anthony P. Carrillo, 34 (dad); Annabel Garcia, 25; Emilio Carrillo, 7; Aurora Carrillo, 4

Hometown: Las Cruces

Location: Catwalk National Recreation Trail

Type of fish: Gila trout

Size of fish: 6 inches (Aurora), 5.5-inches (both Emilio and Annabel) and 5.8 inches (Anthony)

Weight: About two fish sticks. (Unknown — lol!)

Lure Used: 1/16-ounce gold Panther Martin spinner and orange deluxe fly

Share your tips and tricks with your fellow anglers by emailing us at funfishingnm@gmail.com and let’s help the next generation of anglers find success.

Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community!