Fishing report

Alto Lake: Tony Marquez of El Paso, Texas caught a 22-inch rainbow trout using orange PowerBait July 18.

Bluewater Lake: Jaelyn Garcia of Silver City caught a 42-inch, 16-pound tiger muskie using a gray shad Rapala lure July 25. Jordan Moore of Silver City caught a 40-inch, 12-pound tiger muskie using a gray shad Rapala lure July 24. Antonio Romero, age 11, of Albuquerque caught a 32-inch tiger muskie using a Whopper Plopper lure July 17.

Charette Lakes: April Garcia of Las Vegas caught a 15.5-inch rainbow trout using salmon peach PowerBait July 25.

Cochiti Lake: Nate Sierra of Albuquerque caught a 33-inch, 10-pound pike using a green pumpkin Senko worm July 15, and a 16-inch smallmouth bass using a Ned Rig July 21.

Conchas Lake: Gregorio and Lynda Bell, ages 6 and 11, of Tijeras caught two 13-inch smallmouth bass using Kastmaster lures July 19.

Cow Creek (up from Pecos River): Samaya Pope, age 9, of Virginia Beach, Virginia caught a 16.5-inch and a 15-inch rainbow trout using salmon eggs July 18.

Elephant Butte Lake: Steve Henke of Bernalillo caught and released two walleye: a 25-inch 6-pound fish, and a 24-inch, 5.5-pound fish using a ¼-ounce chartreuse Roadrunner jig with a 3-inch chartreuse gold flake curly tail grub tipped with a nightcrawler July 24.

Gallinas River: Justin Estrada of Las Vegas caught and released a 23-inch rainbow trout using a grasshopper dry fly July 24.

Green Meadow Lake: Brandi Newland of Hobbs caught an 18-inch largemouth bass using a Big Bite Suicide Shad July 21.

Grindstone Reservoir: Kooper Saiz of Roswell caught a 20-inch golden rainbow trout using PowerBait July 23.

Hopewell Lake: Floyd Trujillo of Ranchos de Taos caught a 17-inch rainbow trout using a mosquito fly July 25.

Monastery Lake: Joseph Madrid of Santa Fe caught a 17-inch rainbow trout using an olive Pistol Pete spinner fly July 21. Matthew Rivera, age 9, of Santa Fe caught two 13-inch trout using Parachute Adam dry flies July 17.

Navajo Lake: Zachary Sotelo-Iturralde of Albuquerque caught a 19-inch, 3.10-pound smallmouth bass using a topwater popper July 20.

Quemado Lake: Heather Dixon of Mesa, Arizona caught and released a 16.5-inch rainbow trout using a floating minnow lure July 21. Brenda Adame of El Paso, Texas caught an 18.5-inch rainbow trout using a worm July 16.

Rio Grande: Seth Hardy of Red River caught and released a 20-inch rainbow trout near the Wild Rivers Recreation Area using a white streamer fly July 22.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Carter Polkovitz, age 4, of Rio Rancho caught a 19.5-inch rainbow trout using worms July 25. Gael Lujan, age 7, of Albuquerque caught his first fish and a total of four trout using garlic PowerBait July 17.

Storrie Lake: Daniel Valdez, age 7, of La Fragua caught an 18-inch catfish using chicken liver July 23.

Tingley Beach: Raymond Begaye of Bread Springs caught a 24-inch, 5.5-pound catfish using a nightcrawler worm July 25.

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 fair to good when using salmon peach PowerBait.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 22.8 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was fair to good when red and yellow Panther Martin spinners and grasshopper dry flies.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using chicken liver.

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 smallmouth bass was fair to good when using Kastmaster lures.

Costilla Creek: Fishing for trout was good when using caddis dry flies. 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: Fishing for trout was good when using elk hair caddis flies and worms.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using orange, Blue Fox spinners. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using orange and yellow Panther Martin spinners and perch swim baits.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Pautzke Fire Bait.

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

Gallinas River: Fishing for trout was good when using dry flies with dropper nymph rigs.

Hopewell Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using mosquito imitation dry flies and Pistol Pete spinner flies.

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

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was good when using dry and nymph flies, Pistol Pete spinner flies and PowerBait.

Los Pinos River: Fishing for trout was slow.

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

Monastery Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using olive Pistol Pete spinner flies and Parachute Adam dry flies.

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

Pecos River: Streamflow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 217 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using worms, caddis flies and yellow and red Panther Martin Spinners. Fishing for trout up Cow Creek was good when using salmon eggs.

Red River: Streamflow below the hatchery Monday morning was 84.5 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using stimulator dry flies with a bead-head Hare’s Ear nymph dropper fly.

Rio Grande: Streamflow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 322 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using white streamer flies, green glitter PowerBait and Rooster Tail spinners.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow Monday morning near Valdez was 31.8 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using attractor dry flies.

Rio Mora: Streamflow Monday morning near Tererro was 107 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 55.7 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using attractor flies and bead-head nymphs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair when using deep diving crankbaits.

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

Springer Lake: Fishing for pike was fair when using spinners and spoons.

Storrie Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver.

Stubblefield Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver.

Ute Lake: Fishing for white bass was fair when using casting spoons and top-water baits. Fishing for walleye was slow to fair when using nightcrawler harness rigs, bottom bouncing in 20 to 25 feet of water. Fishing for bass was slow to fair when using vibrating jigs and swimbaits. Fishing for catfish was good when using punch bait. Fishing for crappie was slow. The water surface temperature was in the upper 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the main lake color was stained.

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

Animas River: Waterflow below Aztec Monday morning was 563 cfs.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was good when using top-water plug lures, Whopper Ploppers, gray shad Rapala lures and swimbaits. Fishing for catfish was fair when using hotdogs.

Brazos River: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using crickets and worms.

Canjilon Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait Power Worms and Pistol Pete spinner flies.

Chama River: Monday-morning flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 99.5 cfs and 149 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was good when using suspending jerkbaits and nightcrawlers. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was fair when using bead-head nymph flies. 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: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using worms, cut bait and chicken liver. Fishing for crappie was fair when using small jigs. Fishing for pike was fair when using green pumpkin Senko worms. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair when using Ned Rigs and crankbaits.

El Vado Lake: Fishing for bass, perch and trout was good when using spinners and PowerBait. El Vado Lake Dam Day Use area is open. The main lake area, boat launch and campground opened April 1. Camping by reservation only.

Fenton Lake: Fishing for trout was slow. Please remember, only two cutthroat trout are allowed to be harvested per day within the regular five-fish limit.

Heron Lake: Fishing from a boat for rainbow trout and kokanee salmon was fair to good when using Panther Martin spinners, Rooster Tail spinners, Kokanee Killers and Rapala lures trolled 20 to 30 feet deep. Fishing from shore for rainbow trout and kokanee salmon was good when using chunky cheese garlic PowerBait, green PowerBait and salmon eggs. Sierra Vista and La Laja boat ramps are both open due to rising water levels.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 21.3 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using Copper John nymph flies and mop flies.

Laguna del Campo: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using rainbow PowerBait.

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

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

McGaffey Lake: Due to extremely low water levels and unstable ground conditions, stocking efforts have been suspended. Lake conditions will be monitored, and stockings will resume once conditions improve.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for bass was good when using Ned Rigs and topwater poppers. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using crankbaits and jerkbaits. Fishing for kokanee salmon was good when using pink and orange spinners tipped with corn.

Rio Grande: Fishing for catfish was good when using worms and chicken liver near Albuquerque.

San Gregorio Lake: Fishing for trout was slow using PowerBait.

San Juan River: Streamflow Monday morning was 485 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using PMD flies, annelid flies, RS2s, leech pattern flies and midge pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good when using worms and spinners.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using worms and garlic PowerBait.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using nightcrawler worms and hotdogs.

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

Alumni Pond: Fishing for catfish was fair when using cut carp, dough bait and live worms.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using white trout worms.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for all species was slow.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using peppered lime green artificial grubs, lizard imitation lures, shallow diving crankbaits and crawdad imitation lures. Fishing for white bass was fair when using live shad and white swimbaits. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut carp bait, beef liver and live shad. Fishing for freshwater drum was good when using live shad.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when using silver minnow top-water lures, live minnows, white swimbaits and chartreuse crankbaits. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good when using lime green artificial crawdad lures and worms. Fishing for walleye was good when using chartreuse Roadrunner jigs tipped with nightcrawler worms, white crankbaits and bottom bouncers with nightcrawler harness rigs. Fishing for crappie was fair to good when using live minnows. Fishing for catfish was good when using beef liver and shad.

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

Gila River: Streamflow Monday morning was 220 cfs.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using white trout worms. Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawlers.

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

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and floating minnow lures.

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

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 1,200 cfs. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut bait. Fishing for catfish near Caballo Lake was fair to good when using raw chicken and worms.

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

Trees Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using Senko worms and shiny spinners. Fishing for catfish was good when using stink bait, nightcrawler worms, beef liver and hotdogs.

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

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using orange PowerBait and sherbet PowerBait. Fishing for bass was fair using minnow imitation lures. Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawlers.

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

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 7.96 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 when using soft green plastic worms.

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

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

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Corona Pond: Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawlers and raw chicken.

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

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using shad swimbaits. Fishing for crappie was fair when using shad swimbaits.

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

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using garlic PowerBait, green PowerBait, Pistol Pete spinner flies and ant imitation flies.

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

Lake Van: Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawlers and stink bait.

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

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 100 cfs.

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

Ruidoso River: Streamflow Monday morning at Hollywood was 6.10 cfs.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing for catfish below the dam was fair to good when using nightcrawlers.

Sumner Lake: Fishing for carp was good when using corn.

Smoking your catch is a great way to store fish in the freezer and adds an incredibly delicious flavor.

For this easy healthy snack, I used some smoked kokanee salmon that I caught at Navajo Lake last year, 2020.

I went out to the garden and picked a fresh homegrown tomato to pair with the smoked salmon. Nothing like homegrown tomatoes, right?

Like many of my fellow New Mexicans, I love my green chile. I took out some roasted green chile that I got from Lemitar last fall.