NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Eagle Rock Lake: Cristiáno Salazar of Albuquerque caught three trout using worms on Nov. 21.

Rio Grande: Michael Polka of Las Cruces caught and released a 22-inch brown trout using a grey streamer fly in the Rio Grande Gorge on Nov. 22.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

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

Charette Lakes: Closed until March 1.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 20 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Clayton Lake: Closed until March 1.

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

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

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 trout was good when using nymph flies. 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 worms.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Lake Maloya: The ADA dock is open to anglers, with priority given to mobility-impaired persons.

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

Maxwell Lake 13: Closed until March 1.

Monastery Lake: Monastery Lake is part of the Department’s Open Gate Program. Please visit our website for more information about this property.

Morphy Lake: Closed until March 1.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Monday morning was 25 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using small beadhead flies.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 32 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using small beadhead flies and salmon eggs.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 207cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using grey streamer flies, black Woolly Bugger flies and white Streamer flies.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Monday morning was 16 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 19 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 8 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: The lake is open from 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday-Monday.

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

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

Storrie Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using worms.

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

Ute Lake: Fishing for walleye and white bass was fair when using white Slab Spoons, vibrating blade baits and jigging spoons in 30-40 feet of water off main lake points. Fishing for all other species was slow. The main lake water surface temperature was in the low 50 F range and the water was stained.

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Albuquerque Area Drains: Ian Carl of Albuquerque caught a 10-inch rainbow trout using a silver spinner near Alameda on Nov. 18.

Cochiti Lake: Wayne Garcia of Albuquerque caught and released a 37-inch, 12-pound pike using a white rubber swimbait on Nov. 23.

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: The boat ramp will be closed periodically until April as part of dam maintenance efforts. Contact the Abiquiu Lake Main Office at 505-685-4371 for updated lake conditions and closure information,

Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec Monday morning was 218 cfs.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing for trout was good when using silver Panther Martin spinners.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using PowerBait. Fishing for tiger muskie was slow.

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

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

Cochiti Lake: Fishing for bass was slow to fair when using lipless crankbaits. Fishing for pike was fair when using white swimbaits.

El Vado Lake: Closed due to dam construction project. For more information, visit El Vado Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-588-7247.

Fenton Lake: For updated lake conditions and potential closure information, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-829-3630.

Grants Riverwalk Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Heron Lake: Fishing for all species was slow.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Monday morning was 11 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Stone Fly nymph and pheasant tail nymph flies.

Laguna del Campo: Closed until March 1.

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

Lake Farmington: Fishing for bass was fair when using Strike King Rage Tail plastic lures.

Liam Knight Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

McGaffey Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using PowerBait and Panther Martin spinner flies.

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

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Monday morning was 100 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Monday morning was 76 cfs. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was slow to fair when using bright colored 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 only two trout.

Rio Grande: Fishing for white bass was fair when using small white jigs near Corrales.

Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1): Fishing for trout was good when using wax worms.

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

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Monday morning was 329 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was fair to good when using black Streamer flies, midge emerger-pattern flies and Griffiths Gnat dry flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was fair to good when using worms.

Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using white PowerBait and Rooster Tail spinners.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Escondida Lake: James Martinez of Belen caught a 17-inch, 2-pound largemouth bass using a crankbait on Nov. 25.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Alumni Pond: Closed for repairs until further notice.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Pistol Pete spinner flies and Joe’s Flies.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Flicker Shad with anise scent and black and red Woolly Bugger flies.

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

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using cut carp bait.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using Salmon Peach and Lemon Twist PowerBait. Fishing for bass was fair when using crankbaits.

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

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Monday morning was 85cfs.

Glenwood Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using Yellow Corn PowerBait.

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Corn PowerBait with trout attractant. Fishing for catfish was fair when using Salmon Peach PowerBait.

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

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Garlic PowerBait.

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

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Monday morning was 0 cfs.

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

Trees Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using silver-and-green Rooster Tail spinners. Fishing for catfish was fair when using beef liver, chicken liver, live worms and Velveeta cheese. Fishing for bass was slow.

Young Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using Rooster Tail spinners, small spoons and cheese bait.

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Grindstone Reservoir: Frank Rittel and Brian Rittel of El Paso, Texas, caught their limits of trout using corn and Orange PowerBait on Nov. 18.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using spinners and flies.

Bataan Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Peach PowerBait.

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

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 9 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. The lake is full but needs time for aquatic habitat to develop in order to sustain a healthy fish population. The city hopes to reopen the lake for recreational purposes in June 2024.

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 all species was slow.

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.

Dennis Chavez Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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 corn and Orange PowerBait.

Harry McAdams Park Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Lake Van: Fishing for trout was good when using worms and PowerBait.

Ned Houk Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 25 cfs.

Perch Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using PowerBait mixed with sausage meat.

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

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood Monday morning was 4 cfs.

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

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut bait.

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

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

Tips, Tricks and Stories – Fishing the Edge of the Ice

With ice quickly taking over many of New Mexico’s lakes, today we talk technique for fishing the transition from open water to ice.

When lakes begin to freeze over the shallow water typically freezes first. This allows for one last opportunity to fish from the bank where the shallow water transitions to deeper water forming an ice edge. The fish, especially trout, stay active during the cold temperatures and can be found patrolling the ice edge in search of food. There are three techniques (streamer flies, hard lure and bait) that I have had success using during the lake freezing transition period.

• When using a Streamer fly on the ice edge, try to present your fly parallel to the ice edge. Try twitching, stripping, allowing the fly to sink, and various combinations of speed retrieves to find what presentation the fish are most encouraged to strike.

Black Streamer fly with red and crystal flash accents.

• When using a hard lure, I like to use a slow presentation so the fish does not have to exert a lot of energy chasing my lure. They might not want to work that hard. Cooler temperatures mean less energy for fish. This is a great time to use a suspending jerkbait or a slow-sinking jerkbait/crankbait.

The Rapala X-Rap is a proven successful suspending jerkbait that will allow you to fish the ice edge with a slow retrieve and fish-enticing action.

Rapala Countdown lures sink at the rate of 1 foot per second and are an excellent choice of lure for fishing the ice edge. This lure has caught many trout for the author at Santa Cruz Reservoir.

• When fishing the ice edge using bait, the fish could be just a foot or two below the water surface or all the way down near the lake bottom. It is important to try identifying where in the water column the fish are feeding. Try fishing different depths until you notice a pattern. For example, you might notice you are catching more fish near the lake bottom. You would then focus your efforts fishing near the bottom and trying various baits as you hone what depth/bait combination is working best. Some of my favorite “edge-of-ice” baits are wax worms, Trout Magnets, salmon eggs, PowerBait and small locally caught earthworms.

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!