Fishing and Stocking Report

Alto Lake: Quinton Schmelzenbach of Ruidoso caught an 18-inch, 2-pound, 2.7-ounce rainbow trout using a nightcrawler worm Sept. 11. Evelyn Schmelzenbach, age 4, of Ruidoso caught her first fish, a 6-inch largemouth bass, using a nightcrawler worm Sept. 11.

Caballo Lake: Carrolena Serrano, age 6, of Las Cruces caught her first white bass using a Kalin’s 3-inch chartreuse curly tail grub Sept. 11.

Canjilon Lakes: Audrey Cordova of Albuquerque caught a 19-inch rainbow trout using garlic-scented PowerBait Sept. 4.

Conchas Lake: Richard Luna of Albuquerque caught a 7-pound catfish using a 3-inch yellow tube bait in 20 feet of water Sept. 4.

Eagle Nest Lake: Ember Geissler, age 21 months, caught a 22.5-inch, 5-pound, 10-ounce, rainbow trout using a silver Super Duper tipped with rainbow PowerBait Sept. 4. GianCarlo Herrera, age 6, of Nambé caught a 21-inch kokanee salmon using a Christmas tree attractor with a Rapala lure Sept. 4.

Elephant Butte Lake: Antonio Trujillo of Albuquerque caught two largemouth bass approximately 20 inches long and 6 pounds each using Whopper Plopper lures Sept. 5.

Escondida Lake: Frank Coates of Albuquerque caught a 20-inch catfish using a hotdog Sept. 7.

Fenton Lake: Wright Stanton III of El Paso, Texas caught a 21.5-inch, 3.44-pound rainbow trout using salmon peach PowerBait Sept. 11.

Gallinas River: Brothers Jusiah Estrada and Kedan Coca, ages 12 and 7, both of Las Vegas caught and released a 23-inch rainbow trout using a dragon fly pattern dry fly Sept. 6.

Lake Van: Chevy Wyatt, age 13, of Roswell caught a 22-inch catfish using a worm Sept. 4.

Morphy Lake: Alex Archuleta of Peñasco caught a 20-inch rainbow trout using purple nymph PowerBait Sept. 4.

Navajo Lake: Monica Broderick of Durango, Colo. caught a 4-pound, 1-ounce smallmouth bass using a Senko worm Aug. 29.

Rio Grande: Wayne Garcia of Albuquerque caught and released a 39-inch, 32-pound flathead catfish using cut bait north of Elephant Butte Lake Sept. 6.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: David J. Otero, age 6, of Albuquerque caught three 20-inch rainbow trout using worms and green PowerBait Sept. 4.

Tingley Beach: Alexandria Randall, age 3, of Albuquerque caught a 20-inch catfish using a nightcrawler worm on a drop shot rig Sept. 6. Carson Rose, age 6, of Albuquerque caught a 10-pound catfish using antelope liver Sept. 4.

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: Fishing for brook trout was good when using small dry flies.

Charette Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using homemade dough bait and PowerBait.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 29.3 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was fair to good when using beadhead nymph flies, PowerBait and worms.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using PowerBait. Fishing for catfish was fair 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 catfish was fair to good when using yellow tube baits.

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 PowerBait.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using streamer flies. Fishing for kokanee salmon was fair to good when trolling Christmas tree attractors with Rapala lures. Fishing for pike was good when using 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 stimulator dry flies and dragon fly pattern dry flies.

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 fair when using Pistol Pete spinner flies, PowerBait and various dry and nymph flies.

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 Pistol Pete spinner flies.

Morphy Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Pistol Pete spinner flies and purple nymph PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 50.3 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using nightcrawler worms, PowerBait and elk hair caddis dry flies.

Red River: Streamflow below the hatchery Monday morning was 34.0 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using dry fly with dropper nymph fly setups.

Rio Grande: Streamflow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 216 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using tungsten beadhead nymph flies sizes 14-18.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow Monday morning near Valdez was 15.6 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using attractor dry flies during mid-day.

Rio Mora: Streamflow Monday morning near Tererro was 16.3 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 7.72 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using red Copper John nymph flies.

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

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

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

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

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

Ute Lake: Fishing for white bass was slow to fair when using blade baits and slab spoons targeting suspended fish 30 feet deep. Fishing for walleye and crappie was slow. Fishing for bass was fair when using Whopper Ploppers and drop-shotting or Ned-rigging Berkley MaxScent Hit Worms. Fishing for catfish 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 corn, cut bait and shrimp. Fishing for carp was fair when using corn.

Animas River: Waterflow below Aztec Monday morning was 36.3 cfs.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was good when using swimbait lures and gold spoons. Fishing for catfish was good when using stink bait.

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

Canjilon Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using garlic-scented PowerBait and dry flies.

Chama River: Monday-morning flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 102 cfs and 134 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was fair to good when using worms. 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 good when using cut bait and chicken liver on the east side of the lake.

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 good when using peach salmon PowerBait and nightcrawler worms. 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 3.78.

Laguna del Campo: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using pink 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 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 when using worms and shrimp near Albuquerque.

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

San Juan River: Streamflow Monday morning was 788 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using grey foam wing midge emerger pattern flies, black tungsten beadhead leech pattern flies and size 22-24 black midge pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good when using worms, Rapala lures and PowerBait.

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

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

Trout Lakes: Fishing for trout was slow.

Alumni Pond: Fishing for catfish was good when using cut carp bait and hotdogs. Fishing for bluegill was good when using worms.

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

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for all species was slow.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when using 3-inch chartreuse curly tail grubs, live minnows, crankbaits and spinners. Fishing for catfish was good when using nightcrawler worms, chicken liver, shrimp and shad.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when using topwater lures, Whopper Ploppers and long narrow silver spoons. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was fair to good when using topwater lures, swimbaits and joined lures. Fishing for walleye was fair when using 3-inch swimbaits. Fishing for crappie was fair to good when using live minnows. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using dough bait, cut carp, beef liver and shad.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using hotdogs and nightcrawler worms.

Gila River: Streamflow Monday morning was 61.2 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 good when using yellow PowerBait.

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

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 0.0 cfs. Fishing for catfish north of Elephant Butte Lake was good when using cut bait.

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

Trees Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using worms and cut bluegill bait.

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

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using nightcrawler worms. Fishing for bass was good when using nightcrawler worms.

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 14.6 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: 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 to good when using stink bait.

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using shrimp and hotdogs.

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 shrimp, nightcrawler worms and hotdogs.

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

Lake Van: Fishing for catfish was good when using worms.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using a combination of cut bait and worms.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 102 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 17.4 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: The boat ramp has opened as water levels have increased due to recent rains. Due to low lake levels, Santa Rosa Lake State Park will operate as a no-wake lake until conditions improve.

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

This past weekend, I visited my friend’s elk hunting camp in the Jemez Mountains to get a night out under the stars and hopefully hear some bugles. September, during the archery elk hunts, is a really fantastic season to visit New Mexico mountains. The heat this past week in Albuquerque was unseasonably warm and it was somuch nicer under the pine trees at higher elevation.

We left town with only essential camping gear and some antelope meat from a recent harvest that we planned to cook over the campfire. In my opinion, camp food cooked over an open fire is some of the best!

After driving past several small streams, I realized I should have brought just a small bag of fishing gear. A couple of fresh trout to go with the antelope meat would have made for some fine “surf and turf.” So, this week’s Tips and Tricks is the pill jar of essential fishing gear that I put together for my next hunting trip.

Twelve feet of 6-pound test fishing line, assorted sizes of split-shot weights, some No. 8 Eagle Claw bait hooks, a San Juan worm fly, a golden hare’s ear nymph fly and a beadhead golden hare’s ear nymph fly – everything I need fits into a small pill jar that is just a little bigger than a normal ChapStick.

My plan is to tie the fishing line to a stick that resembles the length of fishing rod I’ll need for the stream I’m fishing. I’ll use the bait hooks if I can find worms, bugs or grasshoppers. I’ll use the flies in the absence of any natural bait. I also packed a 1-gallon sturdy Ziploc bag in the event I catch fish and need to keep them separate from other items in my pack.

Give it a try. This bag of fishing gear fits nicely in the bottom of your hunting pack. Even the smallest mountain streams can hold some tasty trout that add a nice variety to your hunting table fare.

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.