Fishing Report

Bluewater Lake: Carlos Bejarano of Albuquerque caught a 36-inch tiger muskie using a size 5 spoon May 17.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: James Gordanier of Carlsbad caught an 18-inch, 4-pound spotted bass using a drop shot Robo worm May 7.

Conchas Lake: Rich Luna of Albuquerque caught his limit of crappie measuring 12 to 14 inches long using 3.5-inch tube jigs in 12 feet of water May 17. Ben Bernabe of Albuquerque caught a 3-pound, 12-ounce largemouth bass using a 3.5-inch blue tube bait May 17.

Gila River: Nicholas Gavaldon, age 17, of Silver City caught a 10-inch flathead catfish using a live minnow May 22.

Lake Maloya: Alfonso Sanchez, age 9, Deja Fanelli, age 10 and Hunter Sanchez, age 4, of Raton caught their limits of trout using green garlic homemade dough bait May 17.

Pecos River: Aiden, Angelo and Alijah Ortiz, ages 4, 8 and 13, of El Pueblo caught seven trout using salmon eggs near the town of El Pueblo May 22. Jerimyah Gordanier, age 9, of Carlsbad caught a 19-inch, 4-pound largemouth bass using a Texas rig soft plastic blue crawdad pattern bait near Carlsbad May 8.

Rio Grande: Debra Brady of Truth or Consequences caught a 21.5-pound blue catfish using live minnows May 20. Andrew D. Coriz of Cochiti Pueblo caught a 4-pound largemouth bass using a shad-colored weighted swimbait May 20.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Jeanette Ward of Albuquerque caught a 16-inch rainbow trout using garlic PowerBait May 15. Janeya Garviso of Albuquerque caught a 14-inch brown trout using yellow PowerBait May 14.

Santa Rosa Lake: Adonais Esquibel Jr. of Rio Rancho caught a 19-inch largemouth bass using a custom-made crankbait May 18.

Storrie Lake: Gerald King of Gallup caught a 29-inch, 10-pound catfish and a 23-inch, 3.5-pound catfish using homemade tuna dough bait May 19.

Tiger Park Reservoir: Holly Bebo, age 10, of Farmington caught a 20-inch rainbow trout using salmon egg scent PowerBait May 17. Korletta Bebo of Farmington caught a 21-inch rainbow trout using salmon egg scent PowerBait May 17.

Ute Lake: Jane Batson of Logan caught and released a 4.5-pound largemouth bass using a minnow May 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: Fishing for trout was good when using garlic PowerBait and salmon peach PowerBait.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 26.2 cubic feet per second (cfs). Cimarron Canyon State Park is closed until further notice due to extreme fire danger. For more information, visit the park’s webpage or call (575) 377-6271.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using chartreuse and salmon peach PowerBait. Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using chartreuse curly tail grubs and crankbaits.

Conchas Lake: Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was good when using 3.5-inch blue tube baits and soft plastic worms. Fishing for walleye was fair when using green curly tail grubs and orange Rat-L-Trap crankbaits. Fishing for white bass was good when using white curly tail grubs and Rat-L-Trap crankbaits. Fishing for crappie was very good when using 3.5-inch tube jigs in 12-feet of water.

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 the 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. All U.S. Forest Service land in the Carson National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure, visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200.

Cowles Ponds: All U.S. Forest Service land in the Santa Fe National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure,visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300.

Coyote Creek: Coyote Creek State Park is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information, visit the park’s webpage or call (575) 387-2328.

Eagle Nest Lake: The lake is closed to boating for water resource firefighting activities. However, fishing from the shore is open. Fishing for rainbow trout was fair to good when using pink PowerBait and salmon eggs. For more information, visit the park’s webpage or call (575) 377-1594.

Eagle Rock Lake: All U.S. Forest Service land in the Carson National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure,visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200.

Gallinas River: All U.S. Forest Service land in the Santa Fe National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure,visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300.

Hopewell Lake: All U.S. Forest Service land in the Carson National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure,visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200.

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

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was good when using green homemade dough bait, lime green PowerBait and rainbow PowerBait.

Los Pinos River: All U.S. Forest Service land in the Santa Fe National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure,visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300.

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

Monastery Lake: The lake is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information,visit the Open Gate webpage.

Morphy Lake: Morphy Lake State Park is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information, visit the park’s webpage or call (575) 387-2328.

Pecos River: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon eggs near the town of Pueblo. All U.S. Forest Service land in the Santa Fe National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns, as is the Pecos Canyon State Park. For more information on the Forest Service closure, visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300. For more information on the Pecos Canyon State Park closure, visit the park’s webpage or call (505) 670-8196.

Red River: Streamflow below the hatchery Monday morning was 97.9 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow when using San Juan worms and large, heavy nymph flies. The water levels were high, and the river was muddy. All U.S. Forest Service land in the Santa Fe National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the closure, visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300.

Rio Grande: Streamflow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 685 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow. Fishing for pike was fair when using chartreuse Panther Martin spinners near Pilar. The water levels were high, and the river was muddy. All U.S. Forest Service land in the Carson and Santa Fe National Forest districts is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure, visit the Carson National Forest or Santa Fe National Forest webpage. You can also call the call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 or the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow Monday morning near Valdez was 60.9 cfs. All U.S. Forest Service land in the Carson National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure, visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200.

Rio Mora: All U.S. Forest Service land in the Santa Fe National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns, as is the Pecos Canyon State Park. For more information on the Forest Service closure, visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300. For more information on the Pecos Canyon State Park closure, visit the park’s webpage or call (505) 670-8196.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 29.0 cfs. All U.S. Forest Service land in the Carson National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure, visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using yellow garlic 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: Storrie Lake State Park is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information, visit the park’s webpage or call (505) 425-7278.

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

Ute Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using bottom bouncers with nightcrawler worm harnesses, dropshot Gulp minnows, Flicker shad lures, crankbaits and Wally Diver lures. Fishing for white bass was fair when trolling Model A Bomber and Bandit crankbaits. Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass was good when using dropshot Berkley flat worms, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and wacky rigged worms in 2 to 10 feet of water. Fishing for crappie was good when using live minnows and jigs in the upper Canadian River arm of the lake. Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawler worms and punch bait. The main lake water surface temperature was in the upper 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 1,200 cfs.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was fair to good when using spoons, small gizzard shad Rapala crankbaits and large swimbaits.

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

Canjilon Lakes: All U.S. Forest Service land in the Carson National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure,visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200.

Chama River: Monday-morning flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 856 cfs and 616 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was fair to good when using Rapala lures. 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. All U.S. Forest Service land in the Carson and Santa Fe National Forest districts is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure, visit the Carson National Forest or Santa Fe National Forest webpages. You can also call the call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 or the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300.

Cochiti Lake: Cochiti Lake Recreation Area is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information, visit the US Army Corps of Engineers website.

El Vado Lake: El Vado Lake can be accessed at Hargroves Day Use Area off State Road 322 and the Main Park area off State Road 112. The Rio Chama River can be accessed at the North El Vado Day Use area on SR 95, 10 miles west of U.S. Highway 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. State Road 112 over the dam will experience periodic closures. For more information, visit the park’s webpage or call (575) 588-7247.

Fenton Lake: Fenton Lake State Park is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information, visit the park’s webpage or call (575) 829-3630.

Heron Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. For more information, visit the park’s webpage or call (575) 588-7470.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow on the Jemez River near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 48.4 cfs. All U.S. Forest Service land in the Santa Fe National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure, visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300.

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

Lagunitas Lakes: All U.S. Forest Service land in the Carson National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure,visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200.

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

McGaffey Lake: Stocking efforts have been suspended due to extremely low water levels and unstable ground conditions. Lake conditions will be monitored and stockings will resume once conditions improve. All U.S. Forest Service land in the Cibola National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure,visit the Cibola National Forest webpage or call the Cibola National Forest office at (505) 346-3900.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for pike was fair when using streamer flies up the San Juan arm of the lake. Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using trout pattern lures. Fishing for smallmouth bass was slow when using crankbaits and skirt jigs.

Rio Grande: Fishing for catfish near Albuquerque was good when using chicken liver and cut bait. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good when using weighted swimbaits.

Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1): Fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait.

San Gregorio Lake: All U.S. Forest Service land in the Santa Fe National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure,visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300.

San Juan River: Streamflow Monday morning was 293 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using leech pattern flies, Baetis and midge pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good when using nightcrawler worms.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: All U.S. Forest Service land in the Santa Fe National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure, visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300.

Tiger Park Reservoir: Fishing for rainbow trout was good when using salmon egg scent PowerBait.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using black spinnerbaits. Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver, nightcrawler worms and shrimp.

Trout Lakes: All U.S. Forest Service land in the Carson National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure,visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200.

Alumni Pond: Fishing for all species was slow.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using dough bait and live worms.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for bass was slow to fair when using 5-inch maroon plastic worms.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for crappie was fair to good when using live minnows and small jigs. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was fair when using live minnows on jig heads.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using live minnows and cut gizzard shad bait. Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was good when using chartreuse crankbaits, jigs and soft plastic lures. Fishing for white bass was good when using Blue Fox spinners and white Bombers. Fishing for crappie was fair to good when using small jigs and live minnows. Fishing for walleye was good when using nightcrawler worms and curly tail grubs.

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

Gila River: Streamflow Monday morning was 26.6 cfs. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using live minnows.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was good when using spinners with gold blades and PowerBait fished deep. Fishing for catfish was good when using blood dough bait and worms.

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

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 684 cfs. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using live minnows.

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

Trees Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and PowerBait. Fishing for catfish was fair when using shrimp. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using maroon plastic worms rigged with a small spinner in front.

Young Pond: Fishing for all species was slow.

Alto Lake: All U.S. Forest Service land in the Lincoln National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure, visit the Lincoln National Forest webpage or call (575) 434-7200.

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

Berrendo Creek: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using Whopper Plopper lures. Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property.

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 6.18 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Brantley Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair when using red crankbaits. Fishing for white bass was good when using red crankbaits.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for bass was good when using drop shot Robo worms.

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 catfish was good when using green worms with bass attractant spray.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut bait.

Grindstone Reservoir: All U.S. Forest Service land in the Lincoln National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure, visit the Lincoln National Forest webpage or call (575) 434-7200.

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

Lake Van: Fishing for catfish was fair when using shrimp.

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

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 98.0 cfs. Fishing for bass was good when using a Texas rig soft plastic blue crawdad pattern bait.

Perch Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using green jigs.

Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.

Ruidoso River: All U.S. Forest Service land in the Lincoln National Forest Service district is currently closed due to wildfire concerns. For more information on the Forest Service closure,visit the Lincoln National Forest webpage or call (575) 434-7200.Streamflow Monday morning at Hollywood was 3.09 cfs.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using Flicker shad lures, live minnows and Ned rigs. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using crankbaits. Fishing for crappie was slow to fair when using live minnows.

Sumner Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using green Senko worms. Fishing for walleye was fair when using nightcrawler worms and green plastic worms. Fishing for catfish was good when using hotdogs and worms.

Timberon Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Many New Mexico water bodies are inhabited by catfish. During the warmer months, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish increases the prevalence of catfish through stocking programs that place catfish into our lakes, ponds and rivers. Check theWeekly Stocking Report to find out what water bodies have recently been stocked.

Here are seven baits that local anglers like to use when fishing for catfish:

• Shrimp
• Nightcrawler worms
• Hotdogs
• Chicken liver
• Cut bait
• Dough bait
• Stink bait

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!