NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Eagle Nest Lake: Hunter Ervin caught three rainbow trout using nightcrawlers on Nov. 8. “First time fishing at Eagle Nest — it did not disappoint,” Hunter said. “I got my biggest trout! Then I caught another two trout just as big at 19 inches!”

Hopewell Lake: Tony Sandoval caught a 21-inch rainbow trout using PowerBait while fishing with his grandpa on Nov. 11.

Lake Maloya: Maryanne Montoya caught a 21-inch, 5.2-pound rainbow trout using Pink Lemonade PowerBait on Oct. 31.

Pecos River: Jimmy and Joaquin Lopez caught a 26-inch trout using White Glitter PowerBait on Nov. 11.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Wednesday morning was 5.38 cubic feet per second (cfs). The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using a small black midge fly.

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for rainbow trout was good when using nightcrawlers.For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

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

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was very good when using Pink Lemonade PowerBait.

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

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Wednesday morning was 52.2 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using White Glitter PowerBait.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 36.3 cfs. The most recent report was received Nov. 6. At that time, fishing for brown trout was slow to fair when using Panther Martin spinners.

Red River City Ponds: The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using beadhead nymphs and homemade dough bait.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 716 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for brown trout was slow when using flies, spinners and worms.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Wednesday morning was 11.3 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 19.2 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Wednesday morning was 11 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: The most recent report was received Nov. 6. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair when using Green PowerBait.

Ute Lake: Fishing for walleye, crappie, catfish and white bass was slow to fair when using 4-inch Gulp minnows.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Cabresto Lake, Clayton Lake, Charette Lakes, Conchas Lake, Cowles Ponds, Coyote Creek, Eagle Rock Lake, Gallinas River, Harris Pond, Lake Alice, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Morphy Lake, Red River Hatchery, Rio Costilla, Shuree Ponds, Springer Lake, Storrie Lake and Stubblefield Lake.

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Cochiti Lake: Cristian Pena caught a northern pike using a spinner on a medium rod with a 15-pound braid line on Nov. 9.

Cochiti Lake: Owen Middagh caught a crappie using a silver-and-black spinner on Nov. 2.

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 Wednesday morning was 390 cfs.

Bluewater Lake: The most recent report was received Nov. 6. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using chicken liver near the dam. Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information.

Canjilon Lakes: The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was very good with nightcrawlers. Fishing for trout at the middle lake was slow when using a Joe’s fly.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing for northern pike was slow to fair when using spinners. Fishing for crappie was slow to fair when using silver-and-black spinners.

El Vado Lake: The lake is open to boating and angling with a primitive boat ramp available at the Dam Day Use Area, as well as the main (concrete) boat ramp and courtesy dock at El Vado Lake State Park. For more information, visit El Vado Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-588-7247.

Fenton Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using Orange, Pink and Garlic PowerBait.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Wednesday morning was 14.8 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was slow when using worms and salmon eggs. 

Navajo Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for northern pike was good when using crankbaits. Snagging for kokanee was slow to fair.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Wednesday morning was 105 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Wednesday morning was 45.1 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using dry flies with nymph trailers above El Vado Lake. 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: Streamflow at Albuquerque Wednesday morning was 561 cfs.

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Wednesday morning was 596 cfs. The most recent report was received Nov. 6. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was very good when using size-24 grey-and-black Big Mac flies on a 6x tippet in the quality waters.

Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: The most recent report was received Nov. 6. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait and pink worms. 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.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout was very good when using homemade dough bait.

Trout Lakes: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using green Pistol Pete flies.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Albuquerque Area Drains, Brazos River, Grants Riverwalk Pond, Heron Lake, Jackson Lake, Laguna del Campo, Lagunitas Lakes, Lake Farmington, Liam Knight Pond, McGaffey Lake, Rio Cebolla, Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1), San Gregorio Lake, Tiger Park Reservoir and Trout Lakes.

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Escondida Lake: Giovanni caught a bass using a curly tail jig on Nov. 10.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing conditions have been adversely affected in the aftermath of the Trout Fire.

Elephant Butte Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using carp and shad cut bait. Fishing for crappie was good when using white grubs.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for bass was slow when using curly tail jigs.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 63.9 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was slow to fair when using nightcrawler jigs.

Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 35.6 cfs.

Glenwood Pond: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using gold Joe’s Flies and worms under a bobber.

Quemado Lake: The lake is currently closed due to an algal bloom. It will reopen when the New Mexico Environment Department advises that the lake is safe for public use. For more information, visit the Gila National Forest website.

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

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Bill Evans Lake, Caballo Lake, Lake Roberts, Percha Dam, Rancho Grande Ponds, Snow Lake, Trees Lake and Young Pond.

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Alto Lake: Gavin Finch caught a few largemouth bass using a jackhammer chatterbait on Nov. 5.

Bonito Lake: Brian Powers caught five trout using worms on a high-low rig, and three more on a multi-colored Kastmaster on Nov. 10. He kept five fish and released three.

Bonito Lake: Brian Powers caught six rainbow trout and two brook trout, keeping five fish measuring between 12-13½ inches, on Nov. 7. He caught four fish using a multi-colored Kastmaster and four more using worms.

Bonito Lake: Hector Horta caught and released 10 trout using PowerBait on Nov. 6.

Chaparral Park Lake: Randy Lee Davis and his friend caught a catfish using corn on Nov. 5. “We have caught other catfish, but this is by far the biggest,” he said.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was slow to fair when using jackhammer chatterbaits. 

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

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Wednesday morning was 1.57 cfs.

Blue Hole Park Pond: The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair using Whopper Ploppers.

Bonito Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using multi-colored Kastmasters, worms and PowerBait, and slow when using Super Duper lures. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

Brantley Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good when using plastic crawdads.

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using corn.

Eunice Lake: The most recent report was received Nov. 6. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was very good when using black and blue chatterbaits and soft plastic crawfish.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was very good when using green leeches and red or purple squirmy worms.Grindstone Reservoir is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildlife impact closures, please see the Grindstone Reservoir Webpage before planning a visit.

Oasis Park Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was good when using worms.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Wednesday morning was 10.2 cfs.

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 35.8 cfs. Fishing conditions will be adversely affected for an extended period of time due to recent flooding in the area.

Santa Rosa Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good when using crankbait.

Sumner Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for flathead catfish was good when using ¼-ounce jigs with curly tail grubs.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Bataan Lake, Bosque Redondo Lake, Bottomless Lakes, Brantley Lake, Carlsbad Municipal Lake, Corona Pond, Dennis Chavez Pond, Estancia Park Lake, Green Meadow Lake, Greene Acres Lake, Harry McAdams Park Pond, Jal Lake, Lake Van, Ned Houk Ponds, Perch Lake, Rio Bonito, Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond, Spring River Pond and Timberon Ponds.

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

Walleye Spawning

Walleye might not be the first species that comes to mind when you think about fishing in New Mexico, but they’re out there! Check out this video from the Department’s YouTube channel showing the spawning process at Conchas and Santa Rosa lakes that allows these fish to thrive.