NORTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Eagle Nest Lake is currently closed because of unsafe ice conditions, but will soon open for ice fishing.

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.

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: Ice fishing for trout was very good when using small jigs tipped with wax worms.

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

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: 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 27 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 411 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 not measured due to ice.

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

San Juan River: Jakob Harris, age 16, of Albuquerque caught 27-inch and 22-inch brown trout using a size-22 annelid fly and an Oregon cheese-colored, egg-pattern fly on Dec. 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 176 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 worms 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, 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Monday morning was 14 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 54 cfs. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was 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 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 329 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using size-22 annelid flies and Oregon cheese-colored, egg-pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was very good when using worms and ¼-ounce spinners.

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, Squirmy Wormies 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

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the dedication of Lake Roberts. The lake’s name honors the memory of Austin A. Roberts, a New Mexico Department of Game and Fish conservation officer who was killed in a plane crash while piloting a plane delivering hay to pronghorn near Las Vegas in early 1960. Lake Roberts provides great fishing year-round, including during the winter months.

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 fair when using cut bait.

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

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 93 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

Green Meadow Lake: Brenden Maynard, age 12, of Hobbs caught a 12-inch rainbow trout using a spoon on Dec. 17.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using nymph flies, salmon eggs and worms fished with a bobber.

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

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

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 12 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 bass was good when using light-colored buzz baits.

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: Fishing for trout was good when using spoons.

Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was very good when using Yellow Garlic PowerBait, Green Garlic PowerBait and worms.

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 20 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 3 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 – Take on the New Mexico Trout and Bass Challenges as a New Year’s Resolution!

New Mexico is such an awesome place to fish due to our wide variety of warm-water and cold-water angling opportunities. The NMDGF has made a couple fun challenges for anglers to test their skills in pursuit of some of our beautiful fish species. Being the author of the NMDGF weekly fishing report, I found it to be a natural New Years Resolution that I would accomplish at least one of either the New Mexico Trout Challenge or New Mexico Bass Challenge in 2024.

My first order of business will be to take on the New Mexico Trout Challenge. This challenge requires that the angler catch these five trout species: brown, rainbow, brook, Rio Grande Cutthroat and Gila.

Catching the rainbow and brown “should be” the easiest of the bunch to catch. I’ve caught many and will probably mark these two off my list while fishing the San Juan River and Jemez Mountains. I believe the brook trout can be caught at Cabresto Lake. My dad and I caught quite a few of them up there, but that was many years ago. I think the Rio Grande cutthroat would be fun to take on a fly at the Valles Caldera, and I believe there are a few of them up there to be caught. The Gila trout is going to be tricky because I have little experience in that neck of the woods. I have seen a few caught by anglers using flies, and I will probably use the same approach when it comes time for me to hunt the elusive, native Gila species.

One thing is for sure; it will be fun trying! It would be awesome if some other people wanted to join me and try out this fun New Year’s resolution. We can share our adventures in the NMDGF Weekly Fishing Report.

Here is information on how you can enter the New Mexico Trout and Bass Challenges. It is simple and just a couple minutes with online entry:

New Mexico Trout Challenge

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/fishing/nmtc/

New Mexico Bass Challenge

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/fishing/nmbc/

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!