NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Fishing for walleye was fair when jigging in 30-40 feet of water using vibrating blade baits last week at Ute Lake.

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 not measured due to ice. Fishing for trout was fair when using bead-head nymph flies with flash, salmon eggs and worms.

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: The lake surface is closed due to unsafe ice conditions. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

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

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: The lake surface is closed due to unsafe ice conditions.

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was good when using Pistol Pete spinner flies and size 12-20 flies. 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: The lake is closed due to unsafe ice conditions. 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 not measured due to ice.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 41 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was good when using Rapala lures, prince nymph flies and yellow Panther Martin spinners near the hatchery.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 382 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using rainbow trout-pattern Streamer flies, bright-colored Streamer flies and white Streamer flies. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using green, size-6 Panther Martin spinners.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 7 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Closed for the season.

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 jigging in 30-40 feet  of water off main lake points using vibrating blade baits. The main lake water surface temperature was in the low 50 F range and the water was clear.

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Tingley Beach: Zayden Baca of Albuquerque (above, left) caught and released 17 rainbow trout using marshmallows and spinners on Dec. 16. Isaiah Jaramillo, age 8, of Albuquerque (above, center and right) caught several rainbow trout, including two measuring 14 and 15 inches, using Rooster Tail spinners on Dec. 10.

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 198 cfs.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing for trout was good when using worms and small lures. Fishing for bass was fair when using worms and small lures. Fishing for carp was fair when using corn and worm combined.

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

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

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

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

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: The lake surface is closed due to unsafe ice conditions. For updated lake conditions and potential closure information,  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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Monday morning was 16 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using bead-head nymph flies.

Laguna del Campo: Closed until March 1.

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

Lake Farmington: Fishing for trout was fair when using Gulp Perch swimbaits.

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

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

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 56 cfs. 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 catfish was fair when using Joel-O Shotz fish bait.

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 324 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using egg-pattern 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: Fishing for trout was good when using wax worms with a Carolina Rig.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Rooster Tail spinners, marshmallows and olive Woolly Bugger flies. Fishing for bass was fair when using Streamer flies.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Fishing for trout was good when using silver-and-green Rooster Tail spinners at Trees Lake last week.

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 when using Flicker Shad with anise scent and black-and-red Woolly Bugger flies.

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

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using cut carp bait and gizzard shad.

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

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

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Monday morning was 57 cfs.

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

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.

Young Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using spinners and Orange Garlic PowerBait.

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Fishing for trout was good when using size-14, bead-head, black Woolly Bugger flies last week at Grindstone Reservoir.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

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 size-14, bead-head, black Woolly Bugger flies.

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 fair 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 16 cfs.

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

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

Tips, Tricks and Stories – Taking a Break!

By Joe Valdez

On Dec. 9, Steve Coffey of Albuquerque ventured out into the woods of Game Management Unit 15 near Quemado in pursuit of an elk. He had drawn an elk tag and was eager to try his skills in the field.

After a few days of rising in the dark and being in the woods, Steve decided he would renew his energy levels by taking a break and dropping a fishing line in the nearby Quemado Lake.

Having brought his fishing gear, he made the trip one evening to do just that: relax and power up and formulate a new hunting plan.

As his line hit the water and he gathered his thoughts, his pole bent and the fight was on. He reeled in a nice 15-inch rainbow trout weighing in at about two pounds. He caught it using Orange PowerBait. The trout provided a nice meal and change of diet.

Steve Coffey with a rainbow trout he caught at Quemado Lake and ate during a December elk hunt.

Steve managed to catch three rainbows in total, but, most importantly, he walked away with a renewed attitude and refreshed in his continued pursuit of elk.

So, next time you are on a hunt and there are areas to fish within your hunting unit, take a break and drop a line.

The benefits may result in a happier attitude for your hunt!  Have fun fishing New Mexico!

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!