NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Hugh Howard (above), age 6, caught a 12-inch brown trout using a Panther Martin lure. Trask Dix caught five trout using Pink PowerBait on Nov. 23. “Being so well-stocked, the trout were biting like crazy,” Dix said. “Lots of action for every type of fisherman out there that I saw: on boat or shore, and fly or traditional. Some really fun fishing where you can catch a lot and pick and choose your keepers!”

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

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

Charette Lakes: Closed for the season. Reopens March 1.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 8 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Clayton Lake: Closed for the season. Reopens March 1.

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

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

Cowles Ponds: Fishing for trout was slow.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: 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: Anglers have begun ice fishing at the lake.

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

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was good when using Orange PowerBait Marshmallows and salmon eggs. 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 for the season. Reopens March 1.

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

Morphy Lake: Closed for the season. Reopens March 1.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Monday morning was 74 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using Mop Flies and worms.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 50 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using Wooly Bugger flies.

Red River Hatchery: Work to replace the water line to the hatchery pond has been completed and stocking has resumed.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 572 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using streamer flies.

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

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 30 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Open 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 16-April 31. Ice fishing is not allowed. Fishing for trout was very good when using Pink PowerBait.

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

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 and white bass was fair when vertical jigging using vibrating blade baits in 30-40 feet of water. The main lake’s water-surface temperature was in the mid 50 F range and the water was stained.

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

McGaffey Lake: Dylan Yazzie caught five trout using white, garlic-scented PowerBait Eggs on Nov. 20.

Rio Chama: Mark Mondragon of Rio Chama (above) caught a 23.5-inch brown trout using a streamer fly on Nov. 24.

Rio Grande: Valerie Fresquez caught two carp near Romero Road in Corrales at the inlet using worms on Nov. 25.

Tingley Beach: Alejandro Castaneda (above) caught six trout using a Trout Magnet on Nov. 21.

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: 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 292 cfs.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.

Brazos River: Fishing for trout was good when using worms.

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

Cochiti Lake: Fishing for pike was fair when using Fire Tiger-pattern spinnerbaits, swimbaits and white paddle-tail jigs.

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: Fenton Lake is now completely covered in dangerously thin ice. Going onto the ice for any reason is strictly prohibited. Visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-829-3630 for updates.

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 20 cfs.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season. Reopens May 1.

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

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

Liam Knight Pond: Fishing for trout was fair when using orange PowerBait and green flies.

McGaffey Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when using white, garlic-scented PowerBait Eggs.

Navajo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. The dam is closed to vehicle traffic until May 2025.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Monday morning was 108 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Tuesday morning was 59 cfs. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was fair when using nymph flies and streamer 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 trout was fair to good when using worms near Corrales.

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 950 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was fair to good when using egg pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was fair to good when using egg pattern flies.

Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: If you catch a native Rio Grande chub in the Kid’s Pond, please do not leave it on the bank; return it to the water where it can survive as part of our native ecosystem.

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

Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using white Trout Magnet lures.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Bill Evans Lake: Michael Ortega of Las Cruces caught a 20-inch largemouth bass using a Strike King wire spinner on Nov. 25.

Elephant Butte Lake: Kade Roybal, age 11, of Rio Rancho caught a 16.5-inch smallmouth bass using a worm on Nov. 22.

Young Pond: Gabriel Licano (above left), age 6, and Trinity Licano (above right), age 9, each caught trout using Green Garlic PowerBait on Nov. 25. It was Gabriel’s first fish and Trinity had the first catch.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Alumni Pond: Closed for repairs until further notice.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and spinners.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for bass was fair when using Strike King wire spinners. Fishing for trout was slow when using Green PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms.

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

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for walleye was slow to fair when using jigs tipped with minnows. Fishing for catfish was good when using cut bait.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using salmon eggs and PowerBait.

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

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Monday morning was 59 cfs.

Gila Waters: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and spinners.

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

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

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

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Tuesday morning was 1 cfs.

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

Trees Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.

Young Pond: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using small grubs with a spinner blade or Green Garlic PowerBait.

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Oasis Park Lake: Derek Calderon, age 13, of Portales caught a 14-inch, 3-pound rainbow trout using homemade dough bait on Nov. 19.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: Alto Lake is closed indefinitely due to extensive damage caused by the South Fork Fire. The wildfire has left significant impacts on the natural environment and infrastructure surrounding the lake, necessitating immediate and prolonged closure for safety and restoration efforts. Please visit https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/ for the most current information.

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 7 cfs.

Blue Hole Park Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bonito Lake: Fish-stocking operations have resumed. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using olive-green Pistol Pete spinner flies. The lake reopened to fishing only on Aug. 30. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake. Visit https://www.nmfireinfo.com for the latest information.

Bosque Redondo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

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 Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Rooster Tail spinners, Salmon Peach PowerBait, chartreuse Pautzke Balls O’ Fire and mini marshmallows. Grindstone Lake is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildlife impact closures, please see the Grindstone Lake Webpage before planning a visit.

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

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

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

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

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using homemade dough bait.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 15 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 9 cfs. The area has been experiencing heavy flooding because of recent fires in conjunction with heavy rain.

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

Santa Rosa Lake: The boat ramp is open.

Spring River Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Timberon Ponds: Fishing for trout was good when using Orange PowerBait Trout Nuggets.

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

Scented Spinners

Adding scent to your spinners is a simple, yet highly effective, technique to increase your chances of landing fish. Often, you’ll notice fish following your spinner but not committing to a strike. When this happens, adding a bit of scent can make all the difference by enticing those fish to bite.

For species like trout and kokanee salmon, spinners tipped with scented bait can be a game-changer. Some of the most effective baits to pair with spinners include corn, PowerBait, worms or salmon eggs. Each type of bait has a unique scent and texture that can appeal to fish differently, so it’s a good idea to experiment with a variety to see what works best in your specific conditions.

A proven favorite among anglers is the Mepps spinner tipped with a white PowerBait Power Egg. The Power Egg not only provides a strong scent but also adds a bright visual attractant, making it easier for fish to spot the lure. This combination is particularly effective in clear water, where both sight and smell play a crucial role in triggering strikes.

When adding bait to your spinner, ensure it’s securely attached to the hook and doesn’t interfere with the spinner’s action. The spinner’s rotation and flash are key to attracting fish, so you want the bait to complement, not hinder, this motion. A small piece of bait is usually enough to release a steady scent trail without weighing down the spinner.

Additionally, consider the conditions and fish behavior. Some days, fish might respond better to a subtle scent like salmon eggs, while other days they might prefer the strong odor of PowerBait. Having a variety of bait options allows you to adapt to changing conditions and fish preferences.

Adding scent to your spinners can make the difference between a slow day and a successful one. Sometimes, all it takes is a little extra motivation to turn curious fish into committed biters. So, pack a variety of scented baits and be ready to experiment—your next catch might just be one cast away!