New Mexico Fishing Report

Bluewater Lake: Eli Sanchez, age 11, of Rio Rancho caught a 40-inch tiger muskie using a crankbait June 5.

Canjilon Lakes: Rick McCall of Santa Fe caught a 20-inch rainbow trout using Berkley Power Worms June 4.

Eagle Nest Lake: Adam Jaramillo of Grants caught a 21.5-inch rainbow trout and eight perch using earthworms May 28.

Eagle Rock Lake: Rich Cave of Dallas caught a 17.5-inch rainbow trout using PowerBait June 1.

Elephant Butte Lake: Zachary Sotelo-Iturralde, age 6, of Albuquerque caught a 21-inch walleye using a bottom bouncer with worm harness June 7. Jordan Bartoo, age 12, of Truth or Consequences caught his limit of walleye and 16 white bass using a silver spinner tipped with worm June 4. Tyler Berg, age 14, of Rio Rancho caught a 19-inch walleye using a chartreuse curly tail jig June 2.

Eunice Lake: Paola Ramirez of Hobbs caught a 12-inch albino rainbow trout using extra scent glitter PowerBait June 1.

Fenton Lake: Elias Gabaldon, age 8, of Los Lunas, Dominic Trujillo, age 12, of Bernalillo, and Don Trujillo, age 12, of Bernalillo all caught their limits of trout using PowerBait June 5.

Grindstone Reservoir: Jerry Armijo of Tularosa caught a 17 and 18-inch rainbow trout using a shad lure June 1.

Jal Lake: Caelyn Samaniego, age 8, and Colton Samaniego, age 5, both of San Angelo, Texas, caught two 12-inch rainbow trout using rainbow PowerBait June 6.

Laguna del Campo: Ariana Archuleta, age 8, of Española caught a 15-inch rainbow trout using salmon eggs. Ariana and her sister Natalia, age 6, each caught their limit of trout May 31.

Monastery Lake: Zoee Gutierrez, age 6, of Albuquerque caught a 16-inch rainbow trout using garlic PowerBait May 30. Kyla Garcia, age 5, of Rio Rancho caught an 18-inch rainbow trout using salmon peach PowerBait May 28.

Morphy Lake: Justin Estrada of Las Vegas caught and released a 21-inch rainbow trout using a size 18 Psycho Prince Nymph fly June 2. Gene Gonzales, age 7, Daelynn Sisneros, age 7, and Jayden Gonzales, age 5, all of Albuquerque caught their limits of rainbow trout using salmon peach PowerBait May 30.

Pecos River: Benedict Velasquez of San Felipe Pueblo caught a 20-inch rainbow trout using salmon eggs June 4.

Rio Grande: Skylar Wilson, age 5, of Rio Rancho caught a 3-pound catfish north of Albuquerque using worms June 2. Sergio Prieto of El Paso caught several catfish including a 42-pound and 23-pound on the Rio Grande near Hatch.

San Juan River: Mathias Charley of Farmington caught a 17-inch rainbow trout using a black Pistol Pete spinner fly May 29.

Santa Rosa Lake: Camden Williams, age 11, of Albuquerque caught a 16-inch largemouth bass using a minnow imitation lure June 4.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Dylan Griego, age 5, of Albuquerque caught his limit of rainbow trout using garlic scented PowerBait and a Panther Martin spinner June 2. Hailey Martinez, age 7, of Los Alamos caught and released a 19-inch rainbow trout using a gray bunny leech fly June 1. Azaryiah Chavarria, age 6, of Española caught a 14-inch rainbow trout using a nymph fly May 29.

Sumner Lake: Daniel Herrera of Juan Tomas caught a 25-inch, 9-pound walleye using a goldfish imitation lure June 6.

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: Fishing for trout was good when using beadhead nymph flies and dry flies.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 27.9 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait, nightcrawlers and spinners at Gravel Pit Lakes.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using various colors of PowerBait. Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver.

Conchas Lake: Conchas Lake State Park has closed access to all boat ramps due to dropping water levels. The boat ramps on the south side of the lake managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are open. Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was good when using plastic worms and tubes. Fishing for white bass was good when using bright orange and chartreuse spinners. Fishing for crappie and walleye was fair when using minnows, curly tail grubs and jigs. Fishing for catfish was good when using worms.

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 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 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for trout was slow when using salmon peach PowerBait and earthworms. Fishing for perch was good when using earthworms. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using Rapala lures, olive bugger flies, streamer flies and Mepps spinners.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.

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

Gallinas River: Fishing for trout was fair when using Panther Martin spinners.

Hopewell Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using olive Pistol Pete spinners and chartreuse PowerBait.

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

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was good when using dough bait, PowerBait and silver Kastmasters.

Los Pinos River: Fishing for trout was slow. Anglers reported high water levels but fairly clear water.

Maxwell Lake 13: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Monastery Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon peach PowerBait, cheese PowerBait and orange PowerBait.

Morphy Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Prince Nymph flies, Pistol Pete spinner flies and salmon peach PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 99.4 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using Panther Martin spinners, salmon eggs and Baetis nymph flies.

Red River: Streamflow below the hatchery Monday morning was 133 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using Panther Martin spinners, silver spoons, garlic PowerBait, corn PowerBait and salmon eggs.

Rio Grande: Stream flow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 900 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using nightcrawlers, salmon eggs and streamer flies.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow Monday morning near Valdez was 82.4 cfs.

Rio Mora: Stream flow Monday morning near Terrero was 34.3 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Peñasco Monday morning was 33.4 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using green garlic PowerBait.

Shuree Ponds: Closed until July 1, 2021.

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

Storrie Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using chicken liver.

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

Ute Lake: Fishing for white bass was fair when using top-water-baits and small swimbaits. Fishing for walleye was fair when using bottom bouncers with nightcrawler harnesses and white jigs. Fishing for bass was good when using Berkley Hit Worms on a Ned Rig, Whopper Ploppers, Pop-R’s, swimbaits and wacky rigged Berkley Generals. Fishing for catfish was good when using punch bait and chicken liver. Fishing for crappie was fair to good when using live minnows. The water surface temperature was in the lower 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the main lake color was stained.

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for bass and walleye was slow. Fishing for carp was fair when using corn.

Animas River: Waterflow below Aztec Monday morning was 2,800 cfs.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was fair when using crankbaits, Rapala lures and swimbaits. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using chicken liver and hotdogs.

Brazos River: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using silver and yellow Panther Martin spinners.

Canjilon Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using Berkley Power Worms, beadhead nymph flies and dry flies.

Chama River: Monday-morning flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 405 cfs and 422 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was fair when using nightcrawlers. Fishing below Abiquiu Lake was fair when using worms. Please remember, from the river-crossing bridge on U.S. Highway 84 at Abiquiu upstream seven miles to the base of Abiquiu Dam is special trout waters with a bag limit of two trout only.

Cochiti Lake: Visitors to the lake need to make a reservation by purchasing a ticket at least 24 hours in advance through www.recreation.gov. Tickets and reservations will NOT be sold at the lake. Fishing for bass was good when using buzz baits, rattle traps and spinnerbaits. Fishing for pike was fair when using swim baits and crankbaits.

El Vado Lake: El Vado Lake Dam Day Use area is open. The main lake area, boat launch and campground opened April 1. Camping by reservation only.

Fenton Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using nightcrawlers, chartreuse garlic PowerBait, pink garlic PowerBait and rooster tail spinners. Please remember, only two cutthroat trout are allowed to be harvested per day within the regular five-fish limit.

Heron Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait and worms. Sierra Vista boat launch and the primitive boat launch are both open due to rising water levels. Caution is advised during windy conditions.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 11.6 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using rainbow colored Panther Martin spinners, nymph flies and worms.

Laguna del Campo: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon eggs, worms and PowerBait.

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

Lake Farmington: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using green PowerBait and pink PowerBait.

McGaffey Lake: Due to extremely low water levels and unstable ground conditions, stocking efforts have been suspended. Lake conditions will be monitored and stockings will resume once conditions improve.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for bass was very good when using crankbaits, Ned Rigs, buzz baits and green watermelon tubes. Fishing for pike was fair to good when using joined Rapala lures and green tubes. Fishing for kokanee salmon was slow to fair when using pink spinners tipped with corn.

Rio Grande: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using worms between Bernalillo and Albuquerque.

San Gregorio Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using midge pattern flies.

San Juan River: Streamflow Monday morning was 329 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using midge cluster flies, midge emerger flies, white bunny leeches, chamois leeches and size 22-24 root beer mayfly emerger pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good when using black Pistol Pete spinner flies and PowerBait.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using black Woolly Buggers, grey bunny leech pattern flies, nymph flies, garlic scented green and orange PowerBait, gold Panther Martin spinners and worms.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for catfish was fair when using chicken liver, homemade dough bait and stink bait.

Trout Lakes: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using dry flies.

Alumni Pond: Fishing for trout was slow. Fishing for catfish was fair when using worms and hotdogs.

Bear Canyon Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was fair when using wacky rigged worms.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using minnows and crankbaits. Fishing for white bass was good when using live minnows, small spoons and white crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was good when using live minnows, bottom bouncers, nightcrawlers and crankbaits. Fishing for crappie was good when using minnows and green and yellow feathertail jigs. Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver and nightcrawlers.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when using green Flicker Shad lures, Sassy Shad and white crankbaits. Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using purple, maroon, light brown and clear plastic worm and lizard imitations. Fishing for walleye was good when using silver spinners tipped with worm, chartreuse curly tail grubs tipped with worm and bottom bouncer worm harness rigs. Fishing for crappie was good when using live minnows and small curly tail jigs. Fishing for catfish was good when using shad, worms and live minnows.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for bass was fair when using worms. Fishing for catfish was fair when using cut bait.

Gila River: Streamflow Monday morning was 20.7 cfs. Fishing for catfish was good when using cut bait.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using dry flies. Fishing for bass was slow to fair when using plastic worms. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using beef liver and live worms.

Percha Dam: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using chicken breast.

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 Monday morning was 1,900 cfs.

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

Trees Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver.

Young Pond: Fishing for all species was slow.

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using green garlic PowerBait and silver spoons. Fishing for bass was fair when using Texas-rigged plastic worms and nightcrawlers.

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

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga Monday morning was 2.88 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 that the lake will be out of commission until 2022.

Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using green pumpkin soft plastic worms.

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

Brantley Lake: Fishing for crappie was fair to good when using rubber-legged nymph flies.

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 catfish was good when using raw chicken.

Eunice Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using extra scent glitter PowerBait.

Green Meadow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using shad lures, white PowerBait and purple PowerBait.

Jal Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using rainbow PowerBait.

Lake Van: Fishing for catfish was good when using red hotdogs.

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

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 82.8 cfs.

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

Ruidoso River: Streamflow Monday morning at Hollywood was 3.47 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using small worms and small spinners.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was good when using minnow lures.

Sumner Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using goldfish imitation lures and shad imitation lures.

Recipe ingredients 

• Pike fillets (as many equally sized pieces as desired)
• Eggs mixed (three to start, then as needed)
• Louisiana fish fry breading
• Vegetable oil or peanut oil (whatever you like to cook with when frying)
• Coleslaw mix without dressing
• Sauce (your choice — I use a homemade coleslaw that is two parts sour cream, one part mayonnaise and sriracha (sriracha is added for heat as desired). Or, I use ranch secret dressing or a lemon-lime ranch dressing. You could even use the coleslaw mix from the packet if you want to keep it simple.)
• Corn tortillas
• Chopped green chile
• Sliced lime
• Sliced avocado

Directions

1. Cut pike fillets accordingly using the “five cut fillets” method that can be found on YouTube. Thundermist Lures has a good YouTube video called “how to get 5 boneless fillets.” Make sure all your fillets are boneless.
2. Fry each corn tortilla in oil for 30 seconds on both sides until crispy as desired. If you want soft tacos, then just cook them in a pan to heat them up.
3. Batter your fish fillets in Louisiana fish fry breading.
4. Dip fillets into eggs that have been whisked.
5. Place fillets into frying pan with oil that has been already heated to frying temperature. Heat them in vegetable oil or peanut oil for about 5-10 minutes until crispy as desired on each side.
6. Place fillets into corn tortilla. As a topping add coleslaw with dressing, avocado, lime and green chile. Enjoy!