NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using Berkley Gulp minnows, live minnows, and vibrating blade baits at Ute Lake. (Photo courtesy New Mexico State Parks)

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 not measured due to ice.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week. 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 70.7 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was slow.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 40 cfs.

Red River Hatchery: Work to replace the water line to the hatchery pond has been completed and stocking has resumed. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 610 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using black-and-gold spinners, and streamer flies.

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

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 63.4 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 PowerBait and when trolling using crawfish-pattern crankbaits.

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 was fair to good when using Berkley Gulp minnows, live minnows and vibrating blade baits in 25-30 feet of clear water and as deep as 50 feet in dirtier 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

Jemez Waters: Jan Rosenthal caught four trout, including a 14-incher using a red Zebra Midge. “This was the largest fish I’ve ever caught in the Jemez area! (It was) caught and released,” Rosenthal said. “I was alone so couldn’t get a pic of me holding it. The bottom of my net measures 10 inches and the fish easily overlaps it by 4 inches. Nice healthy rainbow!”

Rio Chama: Ben Taylor of Gilbert, Arizona, caught an 18-inch brown trout using a Kastmaster lure on Dec. 8.

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 261 cfs.

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

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

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: Fishing for kokanee salmon using snagging hooks was very slow.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Monday morning was 19 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 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 99.8 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Tuesday morning was 68.5 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Kastmaster lures. 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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 333 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was fair 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

Glenwood Pond: Zaden Elford (above), age 10, of Deming caught a 14-inch rainbow trout using PowerBait on Dec. 4. Jonell Zamora and Sylvia Bailey caught their limit of trout in three hours using PowerBait.

Quemado Lake: Dennis Lucero of Isleta Pueblo caught his limit of rainbow trout ranging in size from 12-15 inches using Rainbow PowerBait on Dec. 1.

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 catfish was fair when using worms and 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 64 cfs. Fishing for catfish was fair when using crawdads.

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

Glenwood Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using worms and PowerBait.

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

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

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

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: Dina Munoz caught two catfish using nightcrawlers. “We love Oasis State Park,” she said. “We live in Clovis and drive there every weekend to see the campers (and) walk around the lake. We love camping there as well. (We) really just went to mess around and see what we could catch.” (Photo courtesy New Mexico Tourism Department)

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 7.57 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: Fishing for trout was good when using earthworms.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week. 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 9.87 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 on Monday morning was 6.99 cfs. The area has been experiencing heavy flooding due to recent fires and 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

Growing Your Own Bait:A Guide to Worm Farming and Its Benefits

Pictures and tips courtesy of Cory from SYMbio Agriculture LLC

Worms and nightcrawlers are unsung heroes of our ecosystem, contributing to healthier soil, flourishing plants and even a better fishing experience. These incredible creatures are easy to care for, endlessly beneficial and can be raised in the comfort of your home. Whether you’re looking to create rich fertilizer for your garden or ensure a steady supply of fishing bait, worms are an invaluable resource.

Vermicomposting: Turning Waste into Gold

Worms play a critical role in vermicomposting, a process where earthworms convert organic waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer. This “worm poop,” also known as vermicompost, is a game-changer for gardeners. Packed with plant-friendly nutrients, vermicompost promotes healthier, happier plants; leading to vibrant flowers, robust fruits and thriving vegetables. Your garden will thank you, and so will the environment, as vermicomposting reduces organic waste in landfills.

The Dual Benefit of Worm Farming

In addition to providing natural fertilizer, worm farming offers an endless supply of fishing bait. Worms are prolific breeders, with each worm egg or sac containing multiple baby worms. This means a self-sustaining supply of bait, saving you trips to the store and money. Red worms excel at composting, while European nightcrawlers are stronger, hardier, and ideal for fishing due to their durability and underwater breathing ability. A mixed colony ensures a balance of composting efficiency and fishing utility.

How to Start Worm Farming 

1. Choose the right container: a plastic storage tote with air holes drilled in top works well.
2. Prepare the bedding: use coco coir bricks or shredded newspaper (black ink only). Ensure the bedding is moist, but not soggy, with a damp sponge consistency.
3. Maintain optimal conditions: keep the worms in a dark, cool place with temperatures between 40 F and 70 F. To cool them in summer, place ice packs on top of the bedding.
4. Feed properly: provide kitchen scraps like fruit and vegetable peelings. Avoid dairy, citrus, bread, sugary items, banana peels and broccoli to prevent odor issues.

The Joy of Worm Farming

Worm farming is a sustainable, cost-effective hobby with countless benefits. It reduces waste, enhances gardens and ensures you’re never short on bait. So, save money, help the environment and grow your own worms.