Fishing Report

Caballo Lake: Louis James of El Paso, Texas, caught an 18-pound catfish using cut shad bait Aug. 27.

Canjilon Lakes: Celeste Edwards-Garcia, age 9, and her grandma Marilyn Garcia of Santa Fe caught an 11.5-inch trout using PowerBait Aug. 14. Andrew Martinez of Santa Fe caught a 21-inch rainbow trout using worms Aug. 13.

Eagle Nest Lake: Dominic Montoya of Las Vegas caught a 22-inch, 4.5-pound rainbow trout using garlic PowerBait Sept. 1.

Fenton Lake: Santiago Lovato, age 3, of Rio Rancho caught two, 12-inch rainbow trout using a Pistol Pete and a Panther Martin spinner Sept. 4.

Grindstone Reservoir: Neil Burleson of Ruidoso caught a 16-inch rainbow trout using a Joe’s Fly Aug. 30.

Red River Hatchery: Saphira Lucero, age 6, of Isleta caught her first fish, a 12-inch rainbow trout, using PowerBait Aug. 28.

San Juan River: Greg Johnson, age 15, of Rio Rancho caught a 23-inch rainbow trout using a green, midge-pattern fly Sept. 3. Ron Sisneros of Albuquerque caught a 30-inch and a 24-inch trout using a white foam wind-emerger fly Aug. 13.

Ute Lake: Eli Meadows, age 6, of Hobbs caught a 2.5-pound smallmouth bass using a Berkley Flicker Shad lure Aug. 27.

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 morning was 37 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was good when using attractor dry flies with a zebra midge dropper fly.

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.

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

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for rainbow trout was good when using garlic PowerBait, Pistol Pete spinner flies and nightcrawler 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: Fishing for trout was fair when using Panther Martin spinners and nymph flies.

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 102 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using worms.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery Monday morning was 83 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using salmon eggs, PowerBait and Woolly Bugger flies at the fish hatchery.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 370 cfs.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Monday morning was 43 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 52 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Penasco Monday morning was 32 cfs.

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

Shuree Ponds: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using caddis dry flies and bead-head, nymph 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 walleye was fair when using vertical jigging spoons and blade baits for suspended fish in 25-30 feet of water. Fishing for white bass was good when using vertical jigging spoons and blade baits for suspended fish in 25-30 feet of water. Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was good when using Berkley Flicker Shad lures, 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 upper 70 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 233 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 worms, Pistol Pete spinner flies and orange PowerBait.

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 Pistol Pete spinner flies and Panther Martin spinners.

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 39 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms.

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

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

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 617 cfs and 92 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Monday morning was 773 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using white foam wing emerger flies, green scud flies, San Juan worm flies and egg pattern 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 rainbow 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.

Alumni Pond: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using perch pattern crankbaits. Fishing for catfish was good when using carp and bluegill cut bait, hot dogs, worms and dead shad.

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 shad-pattern crankbaits. Fishing for white bass was good when using white crankbaits and Sassy Shad. Fishing for crappie was slow to 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 100 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, hotdogs, 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 hot dogs and nightcrawler worms.

Young Pond: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using beef liver, cut bait, minnows and worms.

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 11 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using Joe’s Flies and PowerBait.

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 101 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 6 cfs.

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

Santa Rosa Lake: The boat ramp at Santa Rosa Lake State Park remains closed, but the lake is open to nonmotorized vessels. Fishing pressure is light with no lake activity.

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

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

Cameron Quill of Albuquerque is an avid angler who likes to target big catfish. He says that right now, big catfish are on the move during the night hours. He likes to use 2-inch cubes of cut chicken breast to fish for the “big cats,” and he uses weights to keep his bait on the river bottom.

Cameron’s fishing setup is an Ugly Stik Catfish medium-heavy, 8-foot rod. He uses a Carolina rig with a 2-ounce pyramid weight. Cameron uses 50-pound braid mainline and 40-pound monofilament leader that is about 1.5-feet long on his reel. He also uses an 8/0 Gamakatsu octopus circle hook.

You can practice catch and release to preserve catfish. Want to catch and release fish? Here are a couple tips to make it easy:

• If you do decide to use bait and get a fish hooked deep where the hook cannot be easily removed, just cut the fishing line off at the fish’s mouth and the stomach enzymes will digest the hook.
• To make hooks easy to remove from a fish’s mouth, you can debarb the hook. Here is a video showing how that is done.

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!