Fishing Report

Bluewater Lake: Olson Begay of Tse Bonito caught and released a 38.5-inch tiger muskie using a Savage Gear swimbait Sept. 25. Dominic Valencia of Albuquerque caught a 42-inch tiger muskie using a hotdog Sept. 16.

Cochiti Lake: Carson Bullard, age 9, of Rio Rancho caught a 3.5-pound smallmouth bass using a white and silver crankbait Sept. 26. Molly Bullard, age 7, of Rio Rancho caught a 19-inch walleye using a white and silver crankbait Sept. 26.

Eagle Rock Lake: Ashtyn Jett McMullin, age 6, of Arroyo Hondo caught her first trout using pink PowerBait Sept. 18.

Elephant Butte Lake: Malachi James Cruz, age 11, of Roswell caught and released a 3-pound striper using a white curly tail jig Sept. 26. Julian Trujillo of Albuquerque caught an 18-inch, 5-pound largemouth bass using a minnow Sept. 25. Brandon Marshall of Las Cruces caught a 17-inch smallmouth bass trolling a jointed Rapala lure Sept. 25. Brian Turnbull of Alamogordo caught and released a 15-inch striper using a white crankbait Sept. 24. Brian Rittel of El Paso, Texas caught eight crappie using green grubs near the Dam Site Marina Sept. 16.

Fenton Lake: Richard Candelaria of Albuquerque caught his limit of rainbow trout, measuring 18 to 21 inches, using a variety of flies Sept. 25.

Laguna del Campo: Jessa Gomez, age 3, of La Puebla caught two 20-inch rainbow trout using orange PowerBait Sept. 23.

Lake Farmington: Daniel Sanchez of Los Lunas caught a 16.5-inch smallmouth bass using a worm Sept. 26.

Navajo Lake: Diane Barnes of Farmington caught an 18-inch smallmouth bass using a green with red flake Senko worm Sept. 17.

Pecos River: Daniel Salaz of Albuquerque caught a 25-inch, 5.4-pound rainbow trout using PowerBait Sept. 21.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Katelyn, Kaydence and Karleigh Romero, ages 9 and 10, of Cochiti Pueblo caught their limits of rainbow trout, including a 20-incher, using Klinkhamer flies, Slumpbuster flies and Pistol Pete spinner flies Sept. 26.

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 fair to good when using homemade dough bait and PowerBait.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 40.1 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and spinners.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Quill Gordon dry flies, nightcrawler worms and PowerBait. Fishing for walleye was good when using silver spoons. 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 bass was fair to good when using shad pattern 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: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using chartreuse PowerBait.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for trout was slow when using PowerBait. Fishing for kokanee salmon was fair using red Dardevle spoons. Fishing for pike was good when using small crankbaits trolling.

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

Gallinas River: Fishing for trout was good when using nightcrawler worms.

Hopewell Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using black Pistol Pete spinner flies and grey bunny leech flies.

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

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

Los Pinos River: Fishing for trout was good when using small beadhead nymph flies.

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

Monastery Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait.

Morphy Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using silver spinners, Pistol Pete spinner flies and PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 34.2 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using red annelid flies and pheasant tail nymph flies.

Red River: Streamflow below the hatchery Monday morning was 35.1 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using brown Pistol Pete spinner flies, small streamer flies and tungsten nymph flies.

Rio Grande: Streamflow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 216 cfs. Fishing for trout was very good when using streamer flies and dry fly with dropper nymph fly setups.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow Monday morning near Valdez was 11.8 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using attractor dry flies.

Rio Mora: Streamflow Monday morning near Tererro was 10.0 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 6.67 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using dry flies. Anglers reported that the water level is very low and the water is clear.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using worms and PowerBait.

Shuree Ponds: Fishing for trout was good when using zebra midge pattern flies.

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 using slab spoons and Wally Diver lures. Fishing for crappie was good when using cricket and bug pattern flies. Fishing for bass was fair when using drop shot or Ned rigs in 15 to 20 feet of water on main lake points. Fishing for catfish was fair. Fishing for bluegill was good when using bug pattern flies. The water surface temperature was in the mid 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the main lake color was clear.

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawler worms and shrimp. Fishing for carp was fair when using corn.

Animas River: Waterflow below Aztec Monday morning was 29.4 cfs.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was good when using chartreuse lipless crankbait lures, swimbaits, hotdogs and silver spoons.

Brazos River: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using beadhead nymph flies.

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

Chama River: Monday morning flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 104 cfs and 117 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was good when using nightcrawler worms. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was fair to good when using beadhead 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 walleye, pike and bass was good when using white and silver crankbaits near the dam.

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 flies. 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 4.04 cfs. Fishing for trout was good on the Valles Caldera when using grasshopper dry fly patterns. Fishing for trout was good on the East Fork when using gold spinners and beadhead nymph flies.

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

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

Lake Farmington: Fishing for bass was good when using nightcrawler worms and Senko worms.

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 fair to good when using crankbait lures and green with red flake Senko worms. Fishing for pike was good when using crankbait lures. Fishing for kokanee salmon was good when using Fire Tiger 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 796 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using olive, brown and grey midge pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good when using Rapala lures, peach PowerBait and nightcrawler worms.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using Klinkhamer flies, Slumpbuster flies and Pistol Pete spinner flies.

Tingley Beach: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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 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, white slab spoons and chartreuse slab spoons. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was fair to good when using live minnows and joined Rapala lures. Fishing for striped bass was fair to good when using white crankbaits and white curly tail jigs. Fishing for crappie was good when using small green grubs at Dam Site Marina. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using dough bait, cut carp, beef liver and shad.

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

Gila River: Streamflow Monday morning was 52.4 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 slow to fair using PowerBait and Pistol Pete spinner flies.

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 0.21 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.

This year, there have been some really nice-sized kokanee salmon caught at Eagle Nest Lake and large numbers of kokanee salmon caught at Navajo Lake. At Navajo Lake, we have noticed the salmon preparing to spawn. They are congregating near the dam and turning a bright red color. Judging by the number of fish showing up, it is looking like the salmon snagging season is going to be excellent!

Special Kokanee Salmon Snagging Season

Kokanee are land-locked sockeye salmon. Although not native to the Southwest, kokanee thrive in some of New Mexico’s deeper and colder plankton-producing lakes. In late fall, large schools of four-year-old kokanee gather to spawn and die.

A popular method for catching kokanee is snagging, the intentional taking of fish by hooking the body rather than the mouth. Kokanee are the only fish that may be legally snagged, and only during the Special Kokanee Snagging Season. If another species is caught by snagging, it must be immediately returned to the water.

Each autumn, the Department collects millions of kokanee eggs and milt to fertilize eggs and hatch fry. The young fry are used to stock Heron Lake, Navajo Lake, El Vado Lake and Eagle Nest Lake. The success of these collection operations is essential to maintain vibrant and healthy fisheries for anglers to enjoy. As a result, Heron Lake, Willow Creek and designated no-wake areas at Navajo Lake are closed Oct. 1–Nov. 12, and no kokanee salmon may be in possession while fishing during these closures at Heron Lake and Willow Creek.

It is worth noting that in recent years Abiquiu Reservoir has become too warm to support a Kokanee fishery and anglers are unlikely to encounter them there.

Snagging Season Dates by Location

Oct. 1–Dec. 31: Open at Abiquiu Lake, Rio Chama (El Vado Lake to west boundary of Rio Chama Wildlife and Fishing Area), Navajo Lake (excluding buoyed no-wake areas and shoreline within the no-wake areas at the Pine River Boat Ramp and Simms Boat Ramp), Pine River, El Vado Lake and Eagle Nest Lake.

Oct. 1–Nov. 11: Closed at Heron Lake and Willow Creek (buoyed no-wake areas).

Nov. 12–Dec. 31: Open at Heron Lake and Willow Creek (buoyed no-wake areas).

Bag Limit (during Special Kokanee Salmon Snagging Season): Kokanee salmon – 12 per day, 24 in possession.

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.

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