Conchas Lake: Bryan Novotny of Rio Rancho caught a 20-inch walleye using a Cincy Fisher ½-ounce jigging blade in 25-feet of water near the dam Dec. 17.

Escondida Lake: Damian Padilla of Belin caught a 3-pound largemouth bass using a black leech pattern fly Dec. 20.

Grindstone Reservoir: Martin Bonilla of Alto caught and released a 22-inch 5-pound rainbow trout using a marshmallow Dec. 14.

Oasis Park Lake: Reyes Calbert of Portales caught a 16-inch rainbow trout using a Kastmaster spoon Dec. 16.

Perch Lake: Andre Garcia, age 11, of Clovis caught a 17-inch rainbow trout using salmon peach PowerBait Dec. 19.

Tingley Beach: Carson Rose, age 5, of Albuquerque caught a 16-inch rainbow trout at the kids’ pond using his Cars’ fishing pole with garlic PowerBait Dec. 19.

If you have a catch of the week story or just want to tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing experience, send it to us at funfishingnm@gmail.com. We may include your story in our next report.

For catches of the week, include name, age, hometown, date, location, type of fish, length and weight if possible, and bait, lure or fly used.

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

Charette Lakes: Closed for the season.

Cimarron River: Stream flow near Cimarron Monday morning not measured due to ice. Per the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Anglers reported limited open water to fish.

Clayton Lake: Closed until March 2021.

Conchas Lake: Fishing for walleye was slow using Cincy Fisher ½-ounce jigging blades in 25-feet of water. Fishing for all other species was very slow. Water temperatures were in the low to mid-40s F.

Costilla Creek: The Department has implemented the final phase of a project to expand Rio Grande cutthroat trout in 120 miles of the Costilla watershed in northern New Mexico. The final phase involved removal of fish within a designated area (Rio Costilla from Costilla Dam downstream to the Valle Vidal Boundary including all tributaries and Comanche Creek from the road culvert crossing on FR 1950 downstream to its confluence with Rio Costilla and all tributaries) with a tentative restocking of the Rio Grande cutthroat in spring 2022. Places to fish nearby include Costilla Creek below the fish barrier, Upper Comanche Creek, Shuree Ponds, Middle Ponil Creek, Upper Powderhouse Creek, Little Costilla Creek, Vidal Creek and McCrystal Creek. The Department anticipates the completion of this final phase in the fall of 2021. Please check the Department website for additional information on the project and to identify alternative angling opportunities in the interim.

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

Coyote Creek: Per the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Eagle Nest Lake: Per the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. It is closed to boating, ice-fishing and shore fishing due to recent weather conditions that have led to unsafe lake surface conditions. The lake is currently closed to all watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, inflatables and all types of motorboats.

Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Gallinas River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Lake Alice: Per the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake opened for ice fishing.

Lake Maloya: Per the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake is open for ice fishing.

Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Maxwell Lake 13: Closed for the season.

Monastery Lake: Closed due to COVID-19 health concerns. Check the Open Gate webpage for future updates.

Morphy Lake: Closed for a renovation project on the dam and no firm opening date is set.

Pecos River: Stream flow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was not measured due to ice. Fishing for trout was fair using worms.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery Monday morning was 37.5 cfs. Fishing for trout near the hatchery was fair using dry hopper and nymph fly rigs.

Rio Grande: Stream flow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 370 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair using large colorful bead head nymph flies.

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

Rio Mora: Stream flow Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Springer Lake: Anglers reported thin ice and unsafe fishing conditions.

Storrie Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Stubblefield Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair using jigs in two to five feet of water. Anglers reported ice conditions varying from day-to-day and often being unsafe.

Ute Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residence for day-use only.

Abiquiu Lake: The boat ramp is closed.

Animas River: Water flow below Aztec Monday morning was 135 cfs.

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

Bluewater Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. It is closed to boating and ice-fishing due to recent weather conditions that have led to unsafe lake surface conditions. The lake is currently closed to all watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, inflatables and all types of motorboats.

Brazos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Chama River: Monday morning flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 105 cfs and 47 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was fair to good using bead head nymph flies. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was good using small green midge pattern flies, brown and black size 12-16 weighted beadhead nymph flies, hare’s ear, pheasant tail and Perdigon nymph flies.

Cochiti Lake: Scheduled to reopen on Jan. 4, 2021.

El Vado Lake: El Vado Lake State Park is open at the Dam Day Use area only from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and New Mexico Residents only. Salmon Snagging season continues through Dec. 31.

Fenton Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake is closed to boating and ice-fishing due to recent weather conditions that have led to unsafe lake surface conditions. The lake is currently closed to all watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, inflatables and all types of motorboats.

Heron Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake can be accessed at Ridge Rock or La Laja. Salmon Snagging season continues through Dec. 31. Fishing for trout was good using marshmallow bait. All boat ramps are closed due to low water. The Quality Waters of the Rio Chama can be accessed at the Rio Chama Trailhead. Stairs are closed, but access to the river can be gained by using the road.

Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 21.7 cfs.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.

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

Lake Farmington: Fishing for trout was good using white PowerBait.

Manzano Lake: Closed until further notice.

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

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

San Gregorio Lake: Anglers reported that the lake is frozen.

San Juan River: Stream flow Monday morning was 343 cfs. In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for trout was good using zebra midge flies, streamers, bunny leeches and Woolly Bugger flies.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Closed due to COVID-19 health concerns. Check the Department’s Alerts page for future updates.

Tingley Beach: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for trout was good using yellow and garlic flavored PowerBait.

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

Alumni Pond: Fishing for trout was good using flavored salmon eggs and marshmallows.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using nymph flies, yellow Pistol Pete spinners and multicolored Kastmaster spoons tipped with a yellow PowerBait worm. Fishing for crappie was slow to fair using tan/yellow beadhead nymph flies.

Bill Evans Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Caballo Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Elephant Butte Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for catfish was good using shad.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for trout was good using black leech pattern flies.

Gila River: Stream flow Monday morning was 51.2 cfs.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was good using nymph flies and small gold spoons. Fishing for catfish was slow using cut carp bait. Fishing for bass was slow using green grubs.

Percha Dam: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

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

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

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was .83 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

Young Pond: Closed by the City of Las Cruces due to COVID-19 health concerns.

Alto Lake: Fishing for rainbow trout was good using salmon peach PowerBait.

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

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga Monday morning was 9.57 cfs.

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

Bonito Lake: Closed until further notice by the city of Alamogordo due to fire damage. It appears now that the lake will be out of commission until 2022.

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

Bottomless Lakes: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for trout was good using worms and PowerBait.

Brantley Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for trout was good using white PowerBait.

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

Corona Pond: Fishing for trout was good using earthworms.

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

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing for trout was good using homemade dough bait and cheese PowerBait.

Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good using salmon peach PowerBait and marshmallows. Anglers reported the lake was limited to residence and to check openings before you go.

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

Lake Van: Fishing for trout was good using spoons and dough bait.

Oasis Park Lake In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for trout was good using Kastmaster spoons.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 21.0 cfs.

Perch Lake: Fishing for trout was good using salmon peach PowerBait.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow Monday morning at Hollywood was 4.31 cfs.

Santa Rosa Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Sumner Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Some of the better places for fishing have treacherous rocks and brush waiting to snag and tangle your fishing line. The fish are there because the fish feel safe in the rocks and their food source often congregates in such attractive habitat.

It can make for a frustrating conundrum when you have found an excellent place to fish, you are getting bites, but you are also getting snagged repeatedly because your fishing weight slips between rock cracks or wrap around the brush.

It begins to feel like work when you have to retie your entire fishing rig every few casts.

This problem can be significantly resolved using a simple rubber band trick.

1. Slide a rubber band through the loop of your weight. You should now have two rubber band loops extending from either side of your hook loop.
2. Push one rubber band loop through the other rubber band loop and pull tight, securing the weight in place onto your rubber band.
3. Tie your fishing line to the rubber band on the opposite end of where the weight is attached.

Now when your weight slips between rock cracks and gets snagged, you can hopefully jiggle and “bounce” your weight free, avoiding snag. If you cannot get your weight to jiggle and bounce free, you can simply put tension on your fishing line until the rubber band breaks. Note: do not use a rubber band stronger than your fishing line. After breaking your rubber band, if there is enough band still attached to your fishing line, tie on another weight to the remaining band. If there is not enough remaining band, simply tie on another rubber band.

Hopefully, this trick saves you some hassle, fishing hooks and bait!