New Mexico fishing and stocking report

Alto Lake: Larke Sanchez of La Luz caught a 20.5-inch 4.26-pound golden rainbow trout using yellow PowerBait July 16.

Canjilon Lakes: Manuel Jaramillo of Santa Fe caught and released a 21-inch rainbow trout using a 3-inch PowerBait Power Worm July 13. Rick McCall of Santa Fe caught a 20-inch rainbow trout using PowerBait Power Worms July 12.

Cowles Pond: Ansel Martinez Kavanagh, age 5, of La Cienega caught her first trout on a fly rod, a 12-inch brown trout using an elk hair caddis fly July 12.

Eagle Nest Lake: Aaron Yalch of Los Lunas caught a 20-inch rainbow trout using corn yellow PowerBait July 10.

Eagle Rock Lake: Cason Jaurequi, age 4, of Carlsbad caught a 14-inch rainbow trout using Pautzke Fire Bait July 11.

Elephant Butte Lake: Erica Ybarra of Las Cruces caught a 19-inch walleye using a white crankbait July 18. Yvonne Rios of Las Cruces caught a 20-inch, 4-pound walleye using a chrome crankbait July 18. Felix Hernandez of Dexter caught and released a striper using a white curly tail jig July 17.

Grindstone Reservoir: The Riley family of Laguna Pueblo each caught their limit of trout using green PowerBait and Pistol Pete spinner flies July 17. William Brewer of Tularosa caught a 19-inch 3-pound golden rainbow trout using garlic PowerBait July 16.

Hopewell Lake: Charlie Vigil of Santa Cruz caught an 18-inch rainbow trout using a Pistol Pete spinner fly July 17.

Rio Grande: Kassidy Colvin, age 9, of Clovis caught a 15.5-inch rainbow trout using green glitter PowerBait July 12.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Eden Motos, age 6, of Albuquerque caught her first fish, a 19-inch rainbow trout using garlic PowerBait July 14. Adrian Quintana, age 10, of Rio Rancho caught his limit of trout using PowerBait July 14. c July 11.

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 green PowerBait and silver spoons.

Cimarron River: Stream flow near Cimarron Monday morning was 26.6 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using 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 largemouth and smallmouth bass was fair when using plastic crawdad 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 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 salmon eggs.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using gold Panther Martin spinners tipped with nightcrawlers or PowerBait. 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 fair to good when using mop flies and worms.

Hopewell Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait 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 good when using dry flies with dropper nymph flies.

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

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

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

Pecos River: Stream flow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 153 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using worms, caddis flies and yellow and red Panther Martin Spinners.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery Monday morning was 55.7 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using stimulator dry flies with a beadhead Hare’s Ear nymph dropper fly.

Rio Grande: Stream flow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 338 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using green glitter PowerBait and Rooster Tail spinners.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow Monday morning near Valdez was 26.4 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using attractor dry flies and beadhead nymph flies.

Rio Mora: Stream flow Monday morning near Terrero was 74.8 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Peñasco Monday morning was 30.7 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using salmon eggs.

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

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 trout was fair when using PowerBait. 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 when using Gulp minnows on drop shot. Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawlers and 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: Water flow below Aztec Monday morning was 182 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, large crankbaits, Rapala lures and swim baits. 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 jerk baits and nightcrawlers. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was fair when using beadhead 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 jerk baits. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair using 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.

Fenton Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using mosquito imitation flies. 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 10 to 25-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: Stream flow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 12.9 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 green watermelon tubes with red flakes. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using crankbaits and jerk baits. 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: Stream flow Monday morning was 706 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 salmon eggs, orange glitter PowerBait and garlic PowerBait.

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

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 walleye was fair when using Red Devil spoons and crankbaits. Fishing for catfish was good when using cut bait and nightcrawlers.

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 orange and brown crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using chrome crankbaits, 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 live minnows, cut carp bait and hotdogs.

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

Gila River: Stream flow Monday morning was 68.1 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: 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 987 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 slow to fair when using buzz baits. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using beef liver and hotdogs.

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

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using worms and yellow cheese 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: Stream flow at Malaga Monday morning was 4.16 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 green soft 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 catfish was good when using worms and hotdogs at night.

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: Stream flow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 100 cfs.

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

Ruidoso River: Stream flow Monday morning at Hollywood was 12.8 cfs.

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

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

Every week we get tons of fishing report pictures, and we absolutely love all of them! Unfortunately, we cannot post all of them so here are a few tips to help increase the odds of your pictures being published.

1. Clean your fish. Try to remove any dirt, debris and blood. We want the fish to look as pretty as possible. Often, just a quick dip in the water will make your fish look more appealing.

2. Choose a background that preferably shows the natural setting where you are fishing. Backgrounds that have water, trees, mountains etc. look excellent.

3. Try not to have the sun at your back when you take your picture. When the sun is behind you, much detail is lost to shadows.

4. Smile 😊

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

Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community!