Fishing Report

Caballo Lake: Michael Contreras Sr. of Los Lunas caught a 23-inch, 5-pound catfish using chicken April 19.

Cochiti Lake: Ever Barraza of Bernalillo caught a 14-inch white bass using a silver and blue Kastmaster lure April 24.

Eagle Nest Lake: Tony Ea of Albuquerque caught a 27-inch rainbow trout using PowerBait April 23. Jeremiah Alderete, age 8, of Albuquerque caught a 23-inch rainbow trout using salmon peach PowerBait April 22. Kate Smith, age 11, of Santa Fe caught and released a 5-pound rainbow trout using corn April 15. Sierra Cordova, age 6, of Arroyo Seco caught a 23.5-inch rainbow trout using corn April 14. Max Tousley, age 8, and Kalib Dorrell, age 8, of Eagle Nest caught a 23 and 24-inch rainbow trout using red worms April 12.

Elephant Butte Lake: Sherlyn Ortiz, age 7, and Ali Ortiz, age 10, of El Paso, Texas, caught a 10-pound blue catfish using cut gizzard shad April 24.

Sumner Lake: Chevy Wyatt, age 14, of Roswell caught a 14-inch catfish using a jig April 23.

Tingley Beach: Joel Lopez, age 9, of Albuquerque caught a 13-inch, 3-pound largemouth bass using a purple beadhead Woolly Bugger fly April 18.

Ute Lake: Evan Shields of Clovis caught a 17-inch bass using cut shad for bait April 17.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 36.3 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using various PowerBaits and spoons. Fishing for walleye was fair when using curly tail grubs. Fishing for bass was fair when using crankbaits.

Conchas Lake: Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was fair to good when using shallow diving jerkbaits. Fishing for walleye was fair when using crankbaits and curly tail grubs. Fishing for white bass was good when using Bomber and Rat-L-Trap crankbaits.

Costilla Creek: The Department is implementing 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 involves 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 2023. 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: Coyote Creek State Park is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information, visit the park’s webpage.

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for rainbow trout was fair to good when using salmon peach PowerBait, corn and red worms. Fishing for pike was fair when using rainbow trout pattern crankbaits.

Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

Lake Alice: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using corn.

Lake Maloya: Fishing for was good when using Gulp Worms and pink and brass Kastmaster lures.

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 olive black Pistol Pete spinner flies.

Morphy Lake: Morphy Lake State Park is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information, visit the park’s webpage.

Pecos River: Streamflow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 172 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using beadhead pheasant tail nymph flies, worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs.

Red River: Streamflow below the hatchery Monday morning was 74.9 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using San Juan worms and large heavy nymph flies. The water levels were high and the river was muddy.

Rio Grande: Streamflow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 577 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using San Juan worms and large heavy nymph flies. The water levels were high and the river was muddy.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow Monday morning near Valdez was 27.7 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow Monday morning near Tererro was 69.1 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 70.9 cfs

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

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 walleye was fair when using live minnows and swimbaits. Fishing for white bass was fair when trolling medium diving crankbaits and cut shad bait in the Canadian arm of the lake. Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass was fair when using spinnerbaits, medium diving crankbaits and swimbaits. Fishing for crappie was good when using live minnows, Road Runner lures and spinners in Ute Creek. The main lake water surface temperature was in the low 60-degrees Fahrenheit and the water clarity was stained.

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

Animas River: Waterflow below Aztec Monday morning was 552 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using black spinners.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was good when using Whopper Ploppers, large spinners and swimbaits.

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 1,200 cfs and 1,480 cfs, respectively. 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 white bass was fair when using silver and blue Kastmaster lures. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good when using crankbaits and jigs. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut bait and nightcrawler worms.

El Vado Lake: El Vado Lake can be accessed at Hargroves Day Use Area off SR 322 as well as the Main Park Area off SR 112. The Rio Chama can be accessed at the North El Vado Day Use Area on SR 95, 10 miles west of Hwy 84. Lake levels are steady but expected to drop as crews work on the El Vado Dam. The Dam Day Use Area is closed due to the ongoing construction. SR 112 over the dam will experience periodic closures. Check with the State Park before you go by calling (575) 588-7247.

Fenton Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Griffiths Gnat flies, beadhead nymph flies, worms and salmon eggs. Please remember, only two cutthroat trout are allowed to be harvested per day within the regular five-fish limit.

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

Jemez Waters: Streamflow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 81.1 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using worms.

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: Fishing for pike was fair to good when using streamer flies, jerkbaits and crankbaits. Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using trout pattern lures. Fishing for smallmouth bass was slow to fair when using crankbaits and skirt jigs.

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

Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1): Fishing for trout was good when using green and black Rooster Tail spinners.

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

San Juan River: Streamflow Monday morning was 297 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using black zebra midge flies and Griffiths Gnat flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was fair to good when using PowerBait.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using gold beadhead nymph flies, black and orange leech pattern flies, pheasant tail nymph flies and salmon eggs.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout was fair when using garlic PowerBait and worms. Fishing for bass was fair when using Woolly Bugger flies.

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

Alumni Pond: Fishing for trout was slow when using PowerBait. Fishing for largemouth bass was slow when using streamer flies. Fishing for catfish was slow when using worms.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon eggs and gold and black spinners.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good when using soft plastic crawdad pattern baits.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for white bass was fair when using crankbaits. Fishing for catfish was fair when using chicken. Fishing for carp was good when using worms and dough bait.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using cut gizzard shad bait. Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was fair to good when using chartreuse crankbaits, jigs and plastic crawdads. Fishing for white bass was good when using white Bombers, jointed Rapalas and Rat-L-Trap lures. Fishing for crappie was good when using small jigs and live minnows. Fishing for walleye was slow when using curly tail grubs.

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

Gila River: Streamflow Monday morning was 51.2 cfs. Fishing for trout on Whitewater Creek was fair to good when using gold and black Panther Martin spinners.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using PowerBait and worms.

Percha Dam: Anglers reported low water levels and poor fishing.

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 0.02 cfs. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using garlic dough bait.

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

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

Young Pond: Fishing for trout was slow when using garlic PowerBait.

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon eggs and 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.

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 14.2 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 later this year.

Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using yellow and red spinnerbaits.

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

Brantley Lake: Fishing for bass was good when using red flake plastic worms and crawdad imitation lures.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using chartreuse PowerBait.

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 bass was fair to good when using 3-inch plastic worms.

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

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

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

Kids Pond at Santa Rosa Fish Hatchery: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.

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

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

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 81.2 cfs. Fishing for catfish was fair when using worms. Fishing for trout was good when using bright green PowerBait.

Perch Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using yellow and orange PowerBait.

Ruidoso River: Streamflow Monday morning at Hollywood was 5.03 cfs.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair when using live minnows. Fishing for bass was fair when using live minnows.

Sumner Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using jigs and worms.

Timberon Ponds: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using pink PowerBait.

When you time the crappie fishing just right, it can be a fast and furious day of catching fish. Not only are they great fun to catch, but they also provide some of the finest table fare. When cooked their meat is white, firm and flaky with a mild flavor. This makes them a very easy fish to prepare. All you really need to cook them is salt, pepper and butter.

David DiBartolomeo has been having a ton of success catching crappie this spring at Elephant Butte Lake and he shares some tips his fellow anglers can use on their next fishing adventure.

• When the water temperature reaches 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the crappie look for a place to spawn. They can be found in the back of coves in 10 feet of water around submerged trees, vegetation and other structures.
• Fish in 10 feet of water using live minnows, 1/8-ounce crappie jigs, small chartreuse curly tail grubs or Kastmaster lures.
• When using live minnows, keep your minnow suspended in the water column.

When using jigs, curly tail grubs and Kastmaster lures, cast them toward structures and slowly retrieve or jig your lure back to you.

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!