Fishing Report

Alto Lake: Eric Hickman of El Paso, Texas caught an 18.5-inch golden rainbow trout using rainbow PowerBait Aug. 28.

Bluewater Lake: Andres and Jayden Baca of Albuquerque caught and released a 41-inch and a 37-inch tiger muskie using a red Rapala and a red Dare Devil spoon Aug. 21. Corey Alden of Albuquerque caught a 22-inch catfish using chicken gizzard tipped with liver Aug. 21.

Canjilon Lakes: Robert and Eddie Rios of Pojoaque each caught 20-inch rainbow trout using olive Woolly Bugger flies Aug. 28. Rick McCall of Santa Fe caught a 21-inch rainbow trout using Berkley pink worms Aug. 26. George Martinez of Santa Fe caught an 18-inch rainbow trout using Berkley pink worms Aug. 26.

Chaparral Park Lake: Nick Keele of Hobbs caught a 15-inch albino catfish using a green Rooster Tail spinner Aug. 23.

Eagle Nest Lake: Steven Brashear, age 15, of Springer caught a 22-inch rainbow trout using a gold Kastmaster Aug. 28. Cadence Mondragon, age 5, of Española caught two 20-inch rainbow trout using rainbow PowerBait Aug. 28. James Rowe of Española caught a 24-inch rainbow trout using PowerBait Aug. 22. Shiloh Bohman of Albuquerque caught a 22.25-inch kokanee salmon using a small yellow jig head with a pumpkin chartreuse curly tail trailer Aug. 21.

Elephant Butte Lake: Dylan Bailey, age 13, of El Paso, Texas caught and released a 6-pound, 7-ounce largemouth bass fishing near Rattlesnake Island using a 4-inch swim bait Aug. 29. Grady Le Ivins, age 12, of Deming caught two white bass simultaneously using a firetiger popper lure Aug. 29.

Fenton Lake: Vicente and Cielo DeVargas, ages 9 and 6, each caught 10-inch rainbow trout using garlic PowerBait Aug. 27. Claire Swinhoe of Los Alamos caught a 19-inch, 3.2-pound rainbow trout using PowerBait Aug. 26.

Grindstone Reservoir: Dennis Echavia of Ruidoso caught a 36-inch, 15-pound catfish using a hotdog Aug. 28.

Monastery Lake: Jerome Jara of Santa Fe caught a 17.75-inch rainbow trout using a nightcrawler worm Aug. 28.

Morphy Lake: Ayden and Jarryd Ortiz, ages 4 and 7, of Bernal caught a 17-inch rainbow trout using salmon egg PowerBait Aug. 29.

Pecos River: Ramona Emerson of Tohatchi caught a 21-inch rainbow trout using a worm Aug. 26.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Nolan Kersting, age 19 months, of Albuquerque caught his first trout, a 16-inch rainbow trout using salmon eggs Aug. 29. Landon Bourassa, age 7, of Albuquerque caught a 17-inch and 19-inch rainbow trout using salmon peach PowerBait Aug. 21.

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 when using green PowerBait.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 30.0 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was good when using beadhead nymph flies.

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

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 when using shad-colored crankbaits.

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: 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 fair to good when using gold Kastmasters, silver Mepps spinners, rainbow PowerBait and salmon peach PowerBait. Fishing for pike was good when using white and black Rapala lures and silver Mepps spinners.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using rainbow and pink PowerBait.

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

Hopewell Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using olive Pistol Pete spinner flies.

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

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was good when using Pistol Pete spinner flies, orange PowerBait Mice Tails, white garlic PowerBait and black and gold Panther Martin spinners.

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 fair to good when using nightcrawler worms and green garlic PowerBait.

Morphy Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon egg PowerBait and streamer flies.

Pecos River: Streamflow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 74.4 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using nightcrawler worms, grasshopper flies and beadhead nymph flies.

Red River: Streamflow below the hatchery Monday morning was 47.6 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon eggs and beadhead nymph flies.

Rio Grande: Streamflow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 234 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using Prince Nymph flies and black Rooster Tail spinners.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow Monday morning near Valdez was 19.1 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using grasshopper flies.

Rio Mora: Streamflow Monday morning near Tererro was 23.0 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 12.0 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using small dry flies and beadhead nymph flies.

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

Shuree Ponds: Fishing for trout was good when using Parachute Adams dry flies.

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

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

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

Ute Lake: Fishing for white bass was slow when trolling. Fishing for walleye was fair when using crankbaits that dive 15 to 20 feet deep. Fishing for bass was slow to fair when using drop shot rigs and mojo rigs in 15 to 20 feet of water. Fishing for catfish was slow to fair 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 clear.

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut bait, nightcrawler worms and shrimp.

Animas River: Waterflow below Aztec Monday morning was 61.8 cfs.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was good when using red Rapala lures, red Dare Devil spoons and gold spoons. Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken gizzards tipped with liver.

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

Canjilon Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using Berkley pink worms and olive Woolly Bugger flies.

Chama River: Monday morning flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 96.7 cfs and 122 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was fair to good when using nightcrawlers and nymph flies. Please remember, from the river-crossing bridge on U.S. Highway 84 at Abiquiu upstream 7 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 walleye was fair to good when using dark-colored deep-diving crankbaits.

El Vado Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using PowerBait at the North El Vado Day Use Area off State Road 95. Fishing for smallmouth bass, perch and trout was fair to good near the Dam Day Use Area.

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

Heron Lake: Willow, Sierra Vista and La Laja boat launches are closed. The primitive boat launch is open. Shoreline fishing is available between Sierra Vista and the spillway or in Rincon. Fishing for trout was slow. The Quality Waters of the Rio Chama can be accessed at the Rio Chama Trailhead. The stairs are closed so use the road to the spillway. Non-quality waters can be accessed at the North El Vado Day Use Area located on State Road 95, 13 miles west of U.S. Highway 84.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 5.99 cfs. Fishing the Rio Cebolla for trout was good when using beadhead nymph flies.

Laguna del Campo: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Lake Farmington: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using plastic crawdad and worm lures.

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 1/2-ounce jigs and 5-inch green pumpkin Senkos. Fishing for pike was good when using chigger craw trailer baits on the north end of the lake. Fishing for kokanee salmon was good when using firetiger spinners, pink squid and orange spinners tipped with corn.

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

San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

San Juan River: Streamflow Monday morning was 780 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using white mouse pattern flies, leech pattern flies and size 24 midge emerger flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good when using PowerBait and Panther Martin spinners.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon eggs and salmon peach PowerBait.

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

Trout Lakes: Fishing for trout was slow.

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

Bear Canyon Lake: The water level is extremely low and will remain low through October for dam repairs.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was slow to fair when using brown poppers.

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

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when using topwater lures, Whopper Ploppers and white Berkley Gulp plastic minnows. Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using swimbaits. Fishing for walleye was slow when using bottom bouncers with nightcrawler harness rigs. Fishing for crappie was fair when using small white and green grubs. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut carp and shad.

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

Gila River: Streamflow Monday morning was 181 cfs. Fishing for catfish was good when using cut bait.

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

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

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

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was slow.

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

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 0.0 cfs.

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

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

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

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using rainbow PowerBait.

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

Berrendo Creek: Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using Texas-rigged white paddle tail swimbaits and white creature baits.

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 3.34 cfs. Fishing for catfish was fair when using cut carp bait.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

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

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using shrimp and green Rooster Tail spinners.

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

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

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was fair when using dark Rooster Tail spinners.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using red hotdogs and shrimp.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using nightcrawler worms and garlic PowerBait. Fishing for catfish was good when using nightcrawler worms and hotdogs.

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

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

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

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 89.9 cfs. Fishing for white bass was good when using live shiners south of Malaga. Fishing for catfish was good when using cut carp bait south of Malaga.

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

Ruidoso River: Streamflow Monday morning at Hollywood was 28.9 cfs.

Santa Rosa Lake: The boat ramp has opened as water levels have increased due to recent rains. Santa Rosa Lake State Park is currently operating as a no-wake lake. Fishing for walleye was fair when using live minnows. Fishing for bass was fair when using crankbaits.

Sumner Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver and salmon eggs.

By Dennis Echavia of Ruidoso

Trout are common in Grindstone Reservoir, and I often see visitors and locals catching them using a variety of natural and artificial baits. On this day, I was using nightcrawler worms. I had caught a decent-sized rainbow trout early in the day. Then, the next fish I caught was a channel catfish. I didn’t know that there were catfish in the reservoir.

After that surprise catch, I decided to experiment with using hotdogs as bait since I have seen a lot of folks online using them for catfish. Admittedly, I was not very optimistic. A short time after switching to hotdog bait, my rod bent over and I thought I had snagged a turtle. The rod was really bending and what was on the end of my line was fighting differently than I am used to. After about four minutes, I realized that it was not a turtle – instead, it was a monster catfish!

I was able to fight and land this big fish using light tackle. I got lucky because the fish was barely hooked in the upper lip. The catfish measured about 3 feet long and weighed about 15 pounds.

Now, I am a believer that catfish can live in clear water mountain lakes and that they do love hotdogs.

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!