NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Pecos River: Lexi Castillo, age 6, caught her first fish, a trout, casting and reeling it in all by herself using salmon eggs on Feb. 23. “Such a proud moment,” Jeremy Castillo said. “All her patience and dedication finally paid off.”

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Andrew Luna, Adrian Garcia and Nathan Jones caught and released more than 30 rainbow and brown trout using mealworms, Joe’s flies and Panther Martins on Feb. 22. “The fishing action was tremendous,” Andrew said.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Sara and Vincent Jaramillo caught nine trout using PowerBait on Feb. 15. “Early bird gets the worm,” they said.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

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

Eagle Nest Lake: The lake is now open for boating, though the courtesy docks have not been installed. The lake surface may have a thin layer of ice early in the morning that burns off by midday. Avoid the boat ramp when there is snow and ice on it. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using PowerBait.

Lake Alice: Anglers reported the lake is closed to ice fishing and shore fishing. For more information, visit Sugarite Canyon State Park’s webpage or call 575-445-5607.

Lake Maloya: Anglers reported the lake is closed to ice fishing and shore fishing. For more information, visit Sugarite Canyon State Park’s webpage or call 575-445-5607.

Monastery Lake: The lake is closed due to unsafe ice conditions. Monastery 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 not measured due to ice. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon eggs.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 38.7 cfs.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 435 cfs. The most recent report was received Feb. 19. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was slow when using a variety of midges, perdigon flies and dry flies.

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

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 7.91 cfs.

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

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait, mealworms, Joe’s Flies and Panther Martins.

Ute Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for walleye was good to very good when using deep-diving lures, 4-inch Gulp minnows and blade baits. Fishing for catfish was good when using 4-inch Gulp minnows and blade baits. Fishing for white bass was very good when using 4-inch Gulp minnows and blade baits.

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, Gallinas River, Harris Pond, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Red River City Ponds, Red River Hatchery, Rio Costilla, Shuree Ponds, Springer Lake, Storrie Lake and Stubblefield Lake.

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Navajo Lake: Chris Ricci caught and released a brown trout that ate a 3-inch paddle-tail swimbait over a deep water transition on Feb. 16. “Crappie are still plentiful and eating crappie jigs,” Chris added. “Northern pike are also plentiful and actively feeding on everything.”

Tingley Beach: Cisco, age 7, caught his first fish, a trout, using PowerBait and worms on Feb. 21. “Beautiful day out at Tingley in the kids’ pond,” said Paulina Kingsby, Cisco’s mother. “Weather was nice, a bit cold, slightly windy, but absolutely beautiful!”

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 19. At that time, fishing for kokanee salmon and rainbow trout was good when trolling Shad Rap Deep Runners from a boat. 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 Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was good when using curly tail shad.

Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec Wednesday morning was 248 cfs.

Bluewater Lake: The lake is now free of ice and is open to recreational boating and fishing. Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information. Fishing for tiger muskie was slow when using 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 25.1 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using barbless nymph flies.

Liam Knight Pond: The most recent report was received Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using red earthworms.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for brown trout was good when using 3-inch paddle tail swimbaits. Fishing for crappie was good when using crappie jigs. Fishing for northern pike was good, and anglers noted they are feeding on “everything.”

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Wednesday morning was 90.4 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Wednesday morning was 42.2 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 454 cfs.

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Wednesday morning was 311 cfs.

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.

Tiger Park Reservoir: Fishing for trout was very good when using pink-and-silver and blue-and-silver ¼-ounce Joe’s Flies Super Strikers.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout was very good in the kids’ pond when using worms and PowerBait.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Brazos River, Canjilon Lakes, Cochiti Lake,Heron Lake, Jackson Lake, Laguna del Campo, Lagunitas Lakes, Lake Farmington, 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

Lake Roberts: Malia Lujan, celebrating her fourth birthday, caught her first fish, a trout, using Corn PowerBait on Feb. 14.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

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

Bill Evans Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using Kastmasters from a boat.

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.

Escondida Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 19. At that time, fishingfor trout was slow to fair when using Garlic PowerBait and corn.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 102 cfs.

Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 67.3 cfs.

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Corn PowerBait.

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Orange PowerBait.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0.08 cfs.

Young Pond: The most recent report was received Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using inline spinners.

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

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Fishing for trout has recently been good when using worms, Salmon Peach Glitter PowerBait and Rainbow Glitter PowerBait at Bonito Lake.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait Rainbow Nuggets and Green Trout Nuggets, and fair to good when using Kastmasters, worms and Rainbow Twist PowerBait.

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

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Wednesday morning was 5.6 cfs.

Bonito Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 19. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using worms and fair to good when using Salmon Peach Glitter PowerBait and Rainbow Glitter PowerBait.Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

Corona Pond: The most recent report was received Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using cut bait.

Eunice Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 19. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was good when using rooster tails.

Green Meadow Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 5. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait Corn Nuggets.

Grindstone Reservoir: The most recent report was received Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using multicolored Kastmasters and worms.Grindstone Reservoir is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildfire impact closures, please see the Grindstone Reservoir Webpage before planning a visit.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Wednesday morning was 113 cfs.

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 18.50 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: Alto Lake, Bataan Lake, Blue Hole Park Pond, Bosque Redondo Lake, Bottomless Lakes, Brantley Lake, Carlsbad Municipal Lake, Chaparral Park Lake, Dennis Chavez Pond, Estancia Park 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 and Sumner Lake.

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

Check out our warmwater fishing workshops!

If you’ve always wanted to learn how to fish and don’t know where to start, the Department of Wildlife will also host free Beginner Warmwater Fishing Workshops in April.

The first will take place on April 19 at the Northwest Area office in Albuquerque, and the second on April 26 at the Southwest Area office in Las Cruces. Participants will learn fishing techniques, fish identification, the

necessary gear, the rules and regulations, terminal tackle, knot tying and casting.

These workshops are open to adults aged 18 and older with little or no warmwater fishing experience. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. March 30. Click here to register (link is inactive until registration begins).

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!