NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Rio Grande: Justin Salazar caught three brown trout using red worms on Jan. 11.

Ute Lake: Robert Trippett caught his personal-best largemouth bass in just 30 minutes of fishing, using a clown-colored jerkbait on Jan. 4.

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.

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 37.8 cubic feet per second (cfs). The most recent report was received Dec. 24. At that time, fishing for 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 34 cfs.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 376 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was very good when using red worms.

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

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 50.1 cfs.

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

Ute Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good when using clown-colored jerkbaits.

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, Hopewell Lake, Lake Alice, 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

Rio Chama: Albert Garcia, age 11, of Tierra Azul, and his father, Ross, combined to catch eight trout on a chilly day using leeches and other flies on Jan. 10 below Abiquiu Lake. “Ice would form on the eyelets of the rod, but that didn’t stop the fish from biting,” they said.

San Juan River: Landon Benavidez, who spent the day on the water with his dad, uncle Dre and cousin Charles, caught three fish, including this rainbow trout, using a San Juan worm in the quality waters on Dec. 28.

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 248 cfs.

Bluewater Lake: Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Cheese PowerBait.

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 are safe for 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 17.1 cfs.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Wednesday morning was 94.4 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Wednesday morning was 96.5 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using leeches and other flies below Abiquiu Lake. Please note that 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 640 cfs.

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta on Wednesday morning was 293 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was slow to fair when using San Juan worms 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.

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, Tingley Beach and Trout Lakes.

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

With temperatures in the low 60s expected over the next 10 days, a day at Caballo Lake could be the perfect escape for those who aren’t fans of winter’s chill. (Photo courtesy New Mexico State Parks)

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

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

Elephant Butte Lake: 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 on Wednesday morning was 75.3 cfs. The most recent report was received on January 8. At that time, fishing for Gila trout was slow to fair when using flies in the West Fork.

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

Quemado Lake: The lake has reopened to the public.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0.43 cfs.

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

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Bonito Lake: Matthew Esparza caught three rainbow trout and a large brook trout in a span of two hours using a ¼-ounce orange squarebill crankbait on the dam side of the lake on Jan. 8.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: The most recent report was received Jan. 8. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait and worms.

Berrendo Creek: The most recent report was received Jan. 8. At that time, 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 8.26 cfs.

Bonito Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Garlic PowerBait and ¼-ounce orange squarebill crankbaits. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

Grindstone Reservoir: The most recent report was received Jan. 8. At that time, 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.

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: Fishing for trout was very good when using multiple types of PowerBait and PowerBalls.

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, Carlsbad Municipal 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, Lake Van, Ned Houk Ponds, Oasis Park Lake, Perch 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

Chasing Winter Fish: What You Can Catch Now

By Darren Vaughan

Winter should have been here a long time ago, with snow finally hitting the ground for the first time in many parts of New Mexico just last week.

Better late than never, I suppose.

Fortunately, for those of us who prefer to have four distinct seasons, the calendar says we still have more than two months left to enjoy these colder temperatures — and maybe a snowflake or two — before the weather warms up once again.

It sounds like the perfect opportunity to get outside, catch a few fish, and enjoy a bit of solitude. Sure, there will be others out there braving the cold, but the crowds of spring and summer are still several months away. But the big question is this: if you do decide to bundle up and head for the nearest stream or lake, what can you expect to catch?

This is where the Department’s Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner page can quickly become your best friend. Last week, I began to scratch the surface of what this resource can do for you. Here is a little more detailed look.

As it turns out, some of the best trout fishing you’ll see all year can be found in January and February. The Pecos River above Pecos, the Jemez River, the quality waters and bait waters sections of the San Juan River, and the Rio Chama below Abiquiu Lake are all hotspots, as is Lake Maloya.

Maybe, it’s kokanee you’re after. While the best kokanee fishing in the state is from mid-July through early November at Navajo Lake, Eagle Nest Lake typically offers its best kokanee fishing of the year in mid-to-late January, as well as decent yellow perch fishing after a swoon that typically runs from October through December. Of course, at Eagle Nest, you’re at the mercy of lake-surface conditions, so keep an eye on this report in the coming weeks to see how conditions evolve throughout the season.

Of course, if cold-weather fishing isn’t your thing, the Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner page can still be a valuable resource as you start planning your first fishing trip of the spring. You can see where you might want to spend a pleasant, 70-degree afternoon while you spend a chilly, 20-degree evening relaxing in front of a warm fireplace.

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!