NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Ute Lake: Donald Vang had a successful day catching white bass, walleye and catfish using 3- and 4-inch Gulp minnows and blade baits, with most of the fish caught at a depth of 60 feet, on Jan. 3.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Wednesday morning was not measured due to ice.

Eagle Nest Lake: The lake surface is temporarily closed to boating, ice fishing, walking and all other activities due to recent winter weather conditions that have created unsafe lake surface conditions. The lake is closed to all watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, inflatables and all types of motorboats. Eagle Nest Lake State Park staff will continue to monitor ice conditions for ice fishing. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

Hopewell Lake: The most recent report was received Dec. 18. At that time, ice fishing for trout was very good when using Swedish pimples and tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms.

Lake Maloya: The boat dock and the ADA dock are closed for winter lake conditions. For more information, visit Sugarite Canyon State Park’s webpage or call 575-445-5607.

Monastery Lake: The most recent report was received Dec. 24. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair when using mealworms. The lake is part of the Department’s Open Gate Program. Please visit our website for more information about this property.

Morphy Lake: Morphy Lake State Park is closed for the season until Feb. 28.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Wednesday morning was 42.3 cubic feet per second (cfs). The most recent report was received Dec. 24. At that time, fishingfor trout was slow when using size-16 dry flies. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using muddler flies and live bait.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 35.1 cfs.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 630 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was slow when using flies.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Wednesday morning was 6.01 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 9.09 cfs.

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

Ute Lake: Fishing for white bass, walleye and catfish was very good when using 3- and 4-inch Gulp minnows and blade baits in 60 feet of water.

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, Lake Maloya, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Red River City Ponds, Red River Hatchery, Rio Costilla, Santa Cruz Reservoir, Shuree Ponds, Springer Lake, Storrie Lake and Stubblefield Lake.

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Bluewater Lake: Dwayne Harrison caught a tiger muskie using a Rooster Tail lure on an ultralight rod and 8-pound line on Jan. 3. “I was really fishing for trout,” he said.

San Juan River: Kelly Rice caught several rainbow trout and a couple nice brown trout using flies in the quality waters on Dec. 30.

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: Contact the Abiquiu Lake Main Office at 505-685-4371 for updated lake conditions and closure information.

Albuquerque Area Drains: The most recent report was received Dec. 24. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait.

Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec Wednesday morning was 281 cfs.

Bluewater Lake: Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information. Fishing for tiger muskie was fair to good when using Rooster Tail lures.

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 boat ramp/launch area is closed due to ice accumulations on the lake. It will remain closed until conditions exist for safe ice fishing or the lake has completely thawed. For more information,visit Fenton Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-829-3630.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Wednesday morning was 18.4 cfs.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Wednesday morning was 99.8 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Wednesday morning was 72.4 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: Streamflow at Albuquerque Wednesday morning was 791 cfs.

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Wednesday morning was 284 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout and brown trout was slow to fair when using flies in the quality waters.

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.

Tingley Beach: The most recent report was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was very good when using Garlic PowerBait and pale green Gulp on Carolina rigs with No. 6 hooks.

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

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Gila River: Brian Culligan caught two Gila trout using flies in the west fork on Dec. 16.

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 Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for catfish was good when using chicken. The South Monticello boat ramp is currently closed and access to Rattlesnake Island is currently restricted due to low water levels. The closures will be lifted when water levels rise and conditions allow.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 70.9 cfs. Fishing for Gila trout was slow to fair when using flies in the west fork.

Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 49.9 cfs.

Glenwood Pond: The most recent report was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishingfor trout was good when using PowerBait.

Quemado Lake: The lake has reopened to the public.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0.87 cfs.

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

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Alto Lake: Hunter Ervin caught two trout measuring between 11 and 12 inches using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait on Jan. 4. His mother also caught four trout in a fairly short amount of time. He also traveled to Grindstone Reservoir and caught two more trout.

Alto Lake: Brian Powers caught his limit of trout using worms and PowerBait on Dec. 27.

Berrendo Creek: Valerie Wyatt caught four trout using worms on Jan. 3. “It was a beautiful day for fishing,” she said.

Bonito Lake: Noah Baca caught his first brook trout using worms on Jan. 3.

Bonito Lake: James Gabaldon, of Belen, caught and released 10 brook trout using flies on Jan. 3.

Bonito Lake: Monica Polanco caught a trout using Rainbow PowerBait on Dec. 30.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait and worms.

Berrendo Creek: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using worms. Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property.

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Wednesday morning was 8.9 cfs.

Bonito Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Rainbow PowerBait, worms and flies. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: The most recent report was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was slow when using a variety of baits.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait. 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 Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait.

Lake Van: The most recent report was received Dec. 24. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using Green or Yellow Garlic PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Wednesday morning was 14.7 cfs.

Perch Lake: The most recent report was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair when using Pautzke Fire Balls.

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 4.04 cfs. Fishing conditions will be adversely affected for an extended period of time due to recent flooding in the area.

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

NOTE: There will be fewer reports available during the cooler seasons when fishing slows. The Department will make every effort to provide as much information as possible during the winter months.

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution

By Darren Vaughan

As I mentioned last week, most New Year’s resolutions tend not to last long.

A gym membership can only go so far without the guidance of a personal trainer. The success of a new diet depends on what you have in the refrigerator. Counting steps? Totally fine, until that old knee injury flares up again (ask me how I know).

But, if your New Year’s resolution for 2026 was to fish more this year, the Department can give you all the resources you need to have a great time enjoying New Mexico’s waters. The Department’s Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner page is home to a smorgasbord of historic fishing data that can help you pick the perfect spot, time of year, and species to pursue.

The Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner page contains data for a number of lakes and rivers across the state, as well as an interactive Fishing Waters Map that includes hundreds of fishing access points with information about what species are there, facilities, accessibility, boat ramps and general regulations.

Interested in catching a smallmouth bass? Maybe a trip to Abiquiu Lake in June is in order. Fly fishing for trout? Early fall is a great time to head up to northwestern New Mexico and fish the quality waters on the San Juan River. Is walleye more your speed? Sumner Lake might be the right spot for you in May.

Data can be sorted by individual species. For instance, crappie fishing is at its peak in May, and hot spots include Conchas Lake and Santa Rosa Lake. Fishing for white bass peaks at Brantley Lake in late April and early May, while late May is the best time for white bass at Elephant Butte Lake, and late August is a good time to go to Ute Lake.

Make this the year that you keep your New Year’s resolution! No personal trainer or nutritionist required.

Let us know how your fishing trip goes! Share your tips and tricks with your fellow anglers by filling out the iFish form and let’s help the next generation of anglers find success.

Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community!