Fishing Report

Bluewater Lake: Zach Tapia of Edgewood caught a 36-inch tiger muskie using a Whopper Plopper lure Aug. 23.

Bosque Redondo Lake: Darlene Gamino of Rio Rancho caught an 11-inch albino catfish using hot dogs Aug. 22.

Cochiti Lake: Darrell Cypress Smith, age 14, of Church Rock caught a 5-pound catfish using beef liver Aug. 20.

Eagle Nest Lake: Anthony Lucero of Isleta Pueblo caught a 25-inch rainbow trout using a Super Duper lure Aug. 27. Mary Rosenquist of San Angelo, Texas, caught a 24.5-inch rainbow trout fishing from her kayak using a lure Aug. 26. Christian A. Mussett of Littleton, Colorado, caught a 23.5-inch rainbow trout using nightcrawler worms Aug. 21.

Elephant Butte Lake: Allen Musgrove of Los Lunas caught a 6-pound drum using a crankbait Aug. 22.

Fenton Lake: Phil Martinez of Albuquerque caught a 20.25-inch rainbow trout using a wax worm Aug. 27. Tim Tucker of Santa Fe caught an 18-inch rainbow trout using worms Aug. 26.

Grindstone Reservoir: Charlie White of Alto caught a 42-inch catfish using a worm Aug. 13 and a 17-inch rainbow trout using a worm Aug. 28.

Hopewell Lake: Sean Baldonado of Española caught a 22-inch rainbow trout using salmon peach PowerBait Aug. 28.

Red River Hatchery: Santos Arellano and Caleb Martinez of Española caught a limit of rainbow trout using salmon eggs and Woolly Bugger flies Aug. 21.

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 corn and salmon peach PowerBait.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morningwas 33.1 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was good using caddis dry flies, hopper dry flies and salmon eggs.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver and red wiggler worms. Fishing for trout was fair when using PowerBait.

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

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). Tentative stocking of Rio Grande cutthroat trout is set for spring 2023. National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 for the latest closure information.

Cowles Ponds: National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access.Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300 for the latest closure information.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for rainbow trout was good when using Pistol Pete spinner flies and night crawler worms.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using pink PowerBait.

Gallinas River: National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access.Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300 for the latest closure information.

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

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

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was very good when using salmon eggs, yellow Pistol Pete spinner flies, orange PowerBait, marshmallows, worms and Joe’s Flies.

Los Pinos River: National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access.Visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 for the latest closure information.

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

Monastery Lake: The lake will remain closed until further notice. For more information, visit the Open Gate webpage.

Morphy Lake: State park closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit Morphy Lake State Park’s webpage or call (575) 387-2328 for the latest closure information.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Monday morning was 198 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait. National forest and state park closures have been in place restricting fishing access to much of the Pecos River. Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300 for the latest forest closure information. Visit Pecos Canyon State Park’s webpage or call (505) 670-8196 for the latest park closure information.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery Monday morning was 99.6 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using salmon eggs and Woolly Bugger flies at the fish hatchery.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 459 cfs.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Monday morning was 55.9 cfs. National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Carson National Forest webpageor call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 for the latest closure information.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 109 cfs. National forest and state park closures have been in place restricting fishing access to the Rio Mora. Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300 for the latest forest closure information. Visit Pecos Canyon State Park’s webpage or call (505) 670-8196 for the latest park closure information.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Penasco Monday morning was 70.6 cfs. National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 for the latest closure information.

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

Shuree Ponds: Fishing for trout was good when using garlic PowerBait, Slim Jim lures and white Woolly Buggers with silver or gold reflective strands.

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 slow. Fishing for white bass was fair to good when using vertical jigging spoons and blade baits for suspended fish in 20-30 feet of water. Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was good when using, soft plastic baits, drop shot rigs in 8-16 feet of water and topwater lures in the back of coves. Fishing for crappie was slow. Fishing for catfish was good when using punch bait and cut bait. The main lake water surface temperature was in the low 80 F range, and the water clarity was clear.

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good when using live worms.

Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec Monday morning was 491 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using dry flies.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was fair to good when using Whopper Plopper lures and homemade streamer flies.

Brazos River: Fishing for trout was good when using hopper dry flies and black and gold Panther Martin spinners.

Canjilon Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using Pistol Pete spinner flies and orange PowerBait. National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 for the latest closure information.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using twin tail chartreuse curly tail grubs. Fishing for catfish was good when using beef liver.

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 can be accessed at the North El Vado Day Use Area on State Road 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 El Vado Lake State Park’s webpage or call (575) 588-7247.

Fenton Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using nymph flies, wax worms and earthworms.

Grants Riverwalk Pond: The pond has dried up due to pump failure. The city is planning to repair the pumps but is taking this opportunity to dredge the pond. They expect the pond to be offline for at least two to three months. Fish stockings will be discontinued until all work is done.

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

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Monday morning was 58.2 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms. National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300 for the latest closure information.

Laguna del Campo: Fishing for trout was fair when using worms and orange PowerBait.

Lagunitas Lakes: National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access.Visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 for the latest closure information.

Lake Farmington: Fishing for bass was fair when using plastic worms.

McGaffey Lake: Stocking efforts have been suspended due to extremely low water levels and unstable ground conditions. Lake conditions will be monitored and stocking will resume once conditions improve.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass was fair to good when using Buck Perry spoonplugs, plastic worms, Ned rigs and 3/8-ounce black and blue Strike King football jigs with a black and blue Rage Menace trailer in 5-20 feet of water. Fishing for pike was fair to good when trolling using Buck Perry spoonplugs. Fishing for kokanee salmon was slow to fair when using pink and orange spinners tipped with corn.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake and below Abiquiu Lake Monday morning was 237 cfs and 251 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.

Rio Grande: Fishing for catfish near Albuquerque was fair to good when using shrimp.

Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1): We had no reports from anglers this week.

San Gregorio Lake: National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access.Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300 for the latest closure information.

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Monday morning was 515 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using small dry flies, size 24 black midge pattern flies and chocolate foam wing emerger flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was fair to good when using peach glitter PowerBait and earthworms.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using chartreuse PowerBait and peach PowerBait.

Tiger Park Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using hot dogs. Fishing for bluegill was fair when using salmon eggs.

Trout Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using pink PowerBait, corn and salmon eggs.National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 for the latest closure information.

Alumni Pond: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using small crankbaits with an orange and brown back and orange and brown plastic worms. Fishing for catfish was fair when using green worms and live grubs.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for all species was slow.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using nightcrawler worms.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for crappie was fair when using live white grubs. Fishing for bass was slow to fair when using crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was good when using small red, deep-diving crankbaits. Fishing for white bass was fair when using small crankbaits. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut bait.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using live minnows and cut carp bait. Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was fair to good when using topwater flies, Whopper Plopper lures and white minnow buzz baits. Fishing for white bass was good when using white crankbaits and Sassy Shad. Fishing for crappie was fair when using Sassy Shad and live minnows. Fishing for walleye was slow. Fishing for drum was fair when using crankbaits.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using shrimp and nightcrawler worms.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Monday morning was 660 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 catfish was good when using chicken liver, hot dogs and live worms.

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using pink PowerBait.

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

Rio Grande: Fishing for catfish was good when using carp cut bait, chicken liver, hot dogs and nightcrawler worms between Leesburg Dam and Percha Dam, and also near Garfield.

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

Trees Lake: Fishing for bass was good when using 3-inch plastic worms. Fishing for catfish was good when using nightcrawler worms.

Young Pond: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using nightcrawler worms and hot dogs.

Alto Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using live worms.

Bataan Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using shrimp, worms and chicken liver.

Berrendo Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week. Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property.

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 6.2 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.

Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using hot dogs. Fishing for bluegill was good when using nightcrawler worms.

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

Brantley Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when using small jigs. Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawler worms.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using worms.

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

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

Eunice Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using lipless crankbaits.

Green Meadow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using shrimp marinated in Pautzke Catfish Nectar.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using garlic nightcrawler worms. Fishing for catfish was good when using worms.

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

Lake Van: Fishing for catfish was good when using cut carp bait.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawler worms.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 95.5 cfs.

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

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

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood Monday morning was 14.2 cfs.

Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Sumner Lake: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using nightcrawler worms.

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

By Suzanna Huertaz

My daughter, Gabriela, has been interested in catching a fish since she started walking at Tingley Beach with her grandpa. With the temperature getting cooler Gabriela, her grandpa and I (mom) planned a trip to Fenton Lake. Gabriela kept saying she wanted to “catch a fish, so I can lick it!”

We got to the lake and unpacked, and Gabriela and her grandpa set up her Moana-themed fishing rod with PowerBait. Gabriela said she wanted to catch a big fish and was excited and talking loud as can be. She was even calling to the fish to get their attention. She and grandpa cast her line into the lake and Gabriela immediately wanted to reel it in, thinking there was a fish on the line. We let her know that she must be patient and wait, so she got her water and her snack and sat down to watch her fishing rod.

When we noticed that Gabriela’s rod was getting a bite, grandpa and Gabriela jumped up, and grandpa gave her the rod so she could start reeling in the line. As the fish got closer to the bank, she needed some help and grandpa helped her bring in the fish. While reeling it in, I was watching and taking pictures!

Gabriela was focused and determined on reeling in her fish; quiet as can be. As soon as the fish came out of the water, she got a huge smile on her face! She held her rod with the fish on the ground and said “I did it! I got him!”, and she jumped and danced around. She held her fish with both hands and said the fish was “squishy” (thankfully, she did not lick the fish!). She had no fear touching the fish.

She helped grandpa put the fish on the stringer and quickly said, “let’s catch another one.” We ended our fishing trip with her catching two fish! After getting home, Gabriela and her dad cleaned and cooked the fish.

I really think that being able to be out in nature and go fishing will teach her patience. She has not stopped talking about going fishing again since we’ve come home. I think this will help her to enjoy the outdoors and help her know that it’s okay to sometimes get a little dirty and just enjoy the moment she’s in. Her dad and I believe we got a lifelong angler!

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 by find success.

Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community!