Fishing Report

By NM Game and Fish

Catches of the week

Grindstone Reservoir: Benjamin Armendariz of El Paso, Texas caught a 17-inch, 2-pound rainbow trout using PowerBait Feb. 7. Tingley Beach: Filiberto and Charlotte Snow Martinez, ages 7 and 4, of Albuquerque caught their limits of rainbow trout out of the youth pond using garlic PowerBait Feb. 9. 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 atfunfishingnm@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.

Northeast Fishing Report

Cabresto Lake: Ice fishing for brook trout was good when using small glow tungsten ice jigs with glow plastics. The roads were snow-packed and slippery.

Charette Lakes: Closed for the season. The lake will reopen in March.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Clayton Lake: Closed for the season. The lake will reopen in March.

Conchas Lake: Winter season hours – open for day-use access only Thursday-Sunday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For updated lake conditions visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at (575) 868-2270.

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 this spring. 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. 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: Ice fishing for trout was slow to fair when using PowerBait, tungsten ice jigs, Swedish Pimple lures tipped with worm and pink Trout Magnet lures. Ice fishing for perch was fair when using tungsten ice jigs, Swedish Pimple lures tipped with worm, PowerBait and Trout Magnet lures. For updated lake conditions visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at (575) 377-1594.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using pink PowerBait and small jigs tipped with worm.

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

Hopewell Lake: Anglers reported the lake was frozen and the entrance gates are locked until spring. Ice fishing for trout was very good when using orange PowerBait and nightcrawler worms.

Lake Alice: Temporarily closed due to recent weather conditions and ice forming on the lake. State Park officials have deemed the lake unsafe at this time. For updated lake conditions visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at (575) 445-5607.

Lake Maloya: Open for ice fishing at your own risk. Ice can be inconsistent, so please use caution when venturing out onto the ice. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using chartreuse PowerBait, wax worms and corn. For updated lake conditions visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at (575) 445-5607.

Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Maxwell Lake 13: Closed for the season. The lake will reopen in March.

Monastery Lake: The lake has been closed to fishing due to unsafe ice conditions. It will reopen when there are sufficient open areas of water available to allow fishing from the bank.

Morphy Lake: Closed for the season. The lake will reopen in March.

Pecos River: Streamflow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was not measured due to ice. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using black and yellow Panther Martin spinners near Villanueva.

Red River: Streamflow below the hatchery Monday morning was not measured due to ice. Fishing for trout was fair when using zebra midge flies and RS2 flies.

Rio Grande: Streamflow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 405 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was good when using copper spoons.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow Monday morning near Valdez was not measured due to ice.

Rio Mora: Streamflow Monday morning near Tererro was not measured due to ice.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

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

Shuree Ponds: Closed for the season. The ponds will reopen in July.

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 all species was slow.

Northwest Fishing Report

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

Animas River: Waterflow below Aztec Monday morning was 198 cfs.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and homemade dough bait.

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

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

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

Chama River: Monday-morning flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 97.3 cfs and 58.3 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was fair to good when using nightcrawler worms and PowerBait. 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 7 miles to the base of Abiquiu Dam is special trout waters with a bag limit of two trout only.

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

El Vado Lake: Closed to ice fishing due to thin ice covering the lake.

Fenton Lake: There was no fishing due to thin ice covering the lake. Please remember, only two cutthroat trout are allowed to be harvested per day within the regular five-fish limit.

Heron Lake: Open to ice fishing, anglers are advised to use caution due to inconsistent ice conditions. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using ice fishing jigs, spoons and salmon eggs.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 17.6 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and salmon eggs.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season. The lake will reopen in May.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

San Juan River: Streamflow Monday morning was 338 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was fair to good when using bunny leech flies, leech pattern flies and black midge pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was fair to good when using nightcrawler worms.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week. Parking is limited and 4-wheel drive vehicles are recommended due to snow.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using garlic PowerBait and chartreuse PowerBait.

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

Southwest Fishing Report

Alumni Pond: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using cheese PowerBait, nymph-scented PowerBait and corn PowerBait.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon peach PowerBait and salmon eggs.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using pink PowerBait, Rapala lures, streamer flies and brown and green Roboworms.

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

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut gizzard shad bait and live bait. Fishing for white bass was slow to fair when using live bait. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair when using suspending crankbait lures.

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

Gila River: Streamflow Monday morning was 57.3 cfs.

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

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

Percha Dam: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using yellow and orange PowerBait.

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

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

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 0.17 cfs.

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

Trees Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using pink and chartreuse garlic PowerBait.

Young Pond: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using size 22 Woolly Worm flies, Velveeta cheese and lime green PowerBait.

Southeast Fishing Report

Alto Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Bataan Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Berrendo Creek: Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property. Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 3.77 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon peach PowerBait near Higby Hole. 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 later this year. Bosque Redondo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Bottomless Lakes: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using yellow PowerBait. 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: We had no reports from anglers this week. Eunice Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Green Meadow Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon peach PowerBait. Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon peach PowerBait. Jal Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using floating PowerBait. Lake Van: Fishing for trout was good when using yellow PowerBait and homemade dough bait. Oasis Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 10.2 cfs. Perch Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Kastmaster lures and peach PowerBait. Ruidoso River: Streamflow Monday morning at Hollywood was 3.28 cfs. Santa Rosa Lake: The lake is open to boating, but due to low lake levels, Santa Rosa Lake State Park will operate as a no-wake lake until conditions improve. Fishing for all species was slow. Sumner Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

Berrendo Creek: Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property.

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 13.0 cfs. Fishing for trout was very good when using salmon peach PowerBait near Higby Hole.

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 later this year.

Bosque Redondo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bottomless Lakes: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using yellow PowerBait.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon peach PowerBait.

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

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair when using salmon peach PowerBait.

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

Lake Van: Fishing for trout was good when using yellow PowerBait and homemade dough bait.

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

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 15.5 cfs.

Perch Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Kastmaster lures and peach PowerBait.

Ruidoso River: Streamflow Monday morning at Hollywood was 4.54 cfs.

Santa Rosa Lake: The lake is open to boating, but due to low lake levels, Santa Rosa Lake State Park will operate as a no-wake lake until conditions improve. Fishing for all species was slow.

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

Tips and Tricks – Happy Valentine’s Day Angling Couples

Fishing is a great activity to share with those closest to you. Whether you catch a lunker or just have a relaxing time on the water, fishing is always more enjoyable when you’re in good company. In honor of Valentine’s Day, we asked our readers to submit photos with their favorite fishing partners. Hopefully, these pictures will inspire you to take someone special with you on your next fishing trip!

Let us know how your fishing trip goes! Share your tips and tricks with your fellow anglers by emailing us at funfishingnm@gmail.com and let’s help the next generation of anglers find success.

Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community!