NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Eagle Nest Lake: Jackson Chapman caught a rainbow trout using Rainbow PowerBait from the bank near the boat ramp on Feb. 27.

Morphy Lake: Carol Valdez caught four trout using Salmon Peach PowerBait on March 1.

Pecos River: Kim Castillo Jaramillo caught three trout using worms on March 1.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Wednesday morning was 4.81 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for rainbow trout was fair to good when using Rainbow PowerBait from the bank. 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: The most recent report was received Feb. 26. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair when using PowerBait.

Lake Alice: For more information, visit Sugarite Canyon State Park’s webpage or call 575-445-5607.

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using floating PowerBait. 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: Fishing for trout was very good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Wednesday morning was 48.3 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using worms.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 37.5 cfs.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 596 cfs. Fly-fishing for rainbow trout was slow when using midges, blue wing olives and dry flies.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Wednesday morning was 10.1 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 11.1 cfs.

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

Santa Cruz Reservoir: The most recent report was received Feb. 26. At that time, 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

Bluewater Lake: Lowell Smith caught a trout using a green, yellow and orange Kastmaster on Feb. 27.

Liam Knight Pond: Benito Lujan caught a 28-inch catfish using a worm on March 1.

San Juan River: Laine, from Springfield, Mo., caught 12 rainbow trout while fly-fishing at Crusher Hole on Feb. 28. “He recently took up fly fishing, so I helped out with some casting lessons, fishing techniques and shared several of my flies with him,” William Defino said. “He is a true natural!”

San Juan River: William Defino caught a brown trout using a rabbit strip swing fly on March 1.

San Juan River: William Defino caught a rainbow trout using a bead-head Woolly Bugger on Feb. 22. “The rainbow struck violently as I lifted close to the bank and bolted to the middle of the river,” he said. “I truly didn’t expect to land it. I told myself, ‘if I can at least see it before the tippet snaps.’ I am considering purchasing a bigger landing net!”

Tingley Beach: Greg Sanchez and his girlfriend, Annette, each caught two large trout using Garlic PowerBait and corn on March 1.

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 345 cfs.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for trout was slow when using green, yellow and orange Kastmasters. 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 34.2 cfs. The most recent report was received Feb. 26. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using barbless nymph flies.

Liam Knight Pond: Fishing for catfish was slow when using worms. Fishing for rainbow trout was good when using green jigs.

Navajo Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 26. At that time, 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 49.5 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 373 cfs.

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Wednesday morning was 299 cfs. Fly-fishing for rainbow trout was fair to good in the bait section, and slow when using bead-head Woolly Buggers in the quality waters. Fishing for brown trout was slow when using rabbit strip swing 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.

Tiger Park Reservoir: The most recent report was received Feb. 26. At that time, 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 good when using bead-head nymph flies, Garlic PowerBait and corn.

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

 Escondida Lake: Bennie B, age 3, caught two trout using Garlic PowerBait.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

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

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when trolling Woolly Buggers.

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: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Garlic PowerBait.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 107 cfs.

Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 74.3 cfs.

Lake Roberts: The most recent report was received Feb. 26. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using Corn PowerBait.

Quemado Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 26. At that time, 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

Oasis Park Lake: Mike Happeny (retired U.S. Air Force), of Alamogordo, and Mario (retired U.S. Air Force) and Monica Velasco (U.S. Air Force veteran), of Portales, each caught their limits of trout on Feb. 25. The three were stationed together at Travis AFB in California 24 years ago.

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 4.16 cfs.

Bonito Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and salmon eggs.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.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and salmon eggs. Grindstone Reservoir is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildfire impact closures, please see the Grindstone Reservoir Webpage before planning a visit.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Wednesday morning was 111 cfs.

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 25.7 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, 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 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

Are you up for a challenge?

By Melissa Garnett, Southeast Area Public Information Specialist

The New Mexico Fishing Challenges are a great way to get outdoors exploring New Mexico’s beautiful wild places.

The challenges require the angler to have a valid New Mexico fishing license (for anglers over the age of 12) and to fish public waters in search of certain species. As you catch each species required for your challenge, take a photo! You’ll need to send in those photos as proof of what you caught.

Once you’ve caught ’em all, send the photos, your CIN and the location of each catch to dgf-fishingchallenges@dgf.nm.gov. We reward our Fishing Challenge winners with a challenge coin and certificate.

Anyone with a New Mexico fishing license can participate! Getting a license is easy —go to our webpage, your local area office or any of our vendor partners. Start exploring! This weekly fishing report has great tips on current fishing conditions and would be a good place to start.

The challenges available and the requirements for each are listed below:

1. New Mexico Trout Challenge – Anglers must catch a brown, brook, rainbow, Rio Grande cutthroat and Gila trout to enter.

2. New Mexico Bass Challenge – Anglers must catch a largemouth, smallmouth, white and spotted bass to enter.

3. New Mexico Master Angler Award Program – Catch a big one?! If you exceed the minimum total length detailed on our webpage you can qualify for this award.

4. New Mexico Record Fish Angler – Catch a REALLY big one?! Take your fish to a certified scale and submit an application for review. Call the closest Department area office, and an officer or biologist will certify your record. Current state records are listed on the Department’s webpage.

All challenge submissions must be from fish caught legally in open season with a license by legal means. Document your catch with a photo. If measuring a fish for a challenge: nose flush with the measuring board, pinch the tail and measure to the nearest inch. Take a photo of the fish on the board.

Graphic courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife

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!