NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Conchas Lake: Gregory Henington caught five largemouth bass using plastic tubes on March 14. “Beautiful day, but slow fishing,” he said. “This largemouth was caught in about eight feet of water.”

Pecos River: Robert Trujillo caught five trout using worms on March 15.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Makena and Isla Montoya caught eight trout using a variety of PowerBait while fishing with their dad on March 12.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Charette Lakes: The upper and lower lakes have reopened to the public.

Clayton Lake: The lake has reopened to the public.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Wednesday morning was 7.3 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Conchas Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was slow to fair when using plastic tubes.

Eagle Nest Lake: The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, 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: The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, 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.

Maxwell Lakes: Lakes 13 and 14 have reopened to the public.

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: The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Wednesday morning was 23.5 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using worms.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 31.7 cfs.

Red River City Ponds: The ponds have reopened to the public.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 603 cfs. The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fly-fishing for rainbow trout was slow when using midges, blue wing olives and dry flies.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Wednesday morning was 8.7 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 6.58 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Wednesday morning was 12.6 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using a variety of PowerBait.

Storrie Lake: The most recent report was received March 12. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using floating bait.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Cabresto Lake, Cowles Ponds, Coyote Creek, Gallinas River, Harris Pond, Los Pinos River, Red River Hatchery, Rio Costilla, Shuree Ponds, Springer Lake, Stubblefield Lake and Ute Lake.

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Tingley Beach: Greg Sanchez caught a trout using Garlic PowerBait in the early morning on March 12.

Tingley Beach: Gilbert Salas, Jr. caught a smallmouth bass and three trout, keeping one 15-inch trout, using a Pistol Pete on March 12.

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: Contact the Abiquiu Lake Main Office at 505-685-4371 for updated lake conditions and closure information.

Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec Wednesday morning was 318 cfs.

Bluewater Lake: The most recent report was received March 12. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using homemade bait. Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information.

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 most recent report was received March 12. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait. For more information, visit Fenton Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-829-3630.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Wednesday morning was 31.8 cfs. The most recent report was received March 12. At that time, fishing for brown trout was slow to fair when using red worms.

Liam Knight Pond: The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fishingfor 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 468 cfs.

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Wednesday morning was 268 cfs.The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, 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 very good when using Green Garlic PowerBait and good when using Pistol Petes.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Albuquerque Area Drains, 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

Quemado Lake: Matthew Armijo of Socorro caught a tiger muskie and also caught and released 10 trout measuring 16 inches or larger using a Trout Slayer while fishing with his fiancée on March 13. “We woke up at 5 a.m.,” he said. “As soon as we got there, the bite was on. I landed a huge muskie and lost an even bigger one right after that. I love that lake so much.”

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 March 12. At that time, fishingfor trout was fair to good when using PowerBait and garlic cheese.

Elephant Butte Lake: The South Monticello boat ramp is currently closed due to low water levels. The closure will be lifted when water levels rise and conditions allow.

Escondida Lake: The most recent report was received March 12. At that time, fishingfor trout was good when using PowerBait and garlic-scented marshmallows.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 66.7 cfs.

Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 62.9 cfs.

Lake Roberts: The most recent report was received March 12. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait, cheese and red eggs.

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout and tiger muskie was very good when using Trout Slayers.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0.02 cfs.

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, Trees Lake and Young Pond.

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Alto Lake: Brian Powers caught 10 trout, releasing five and keeping five, on March 14. He caught six using a multicolored Kastmaster and four using worms.

Alto Lake: The Sibley family, from El Paso, caught more than 20 trout using PowerBait and Pautzke Fire Balls on March 11.

Bonito Lake: Mario Gonzalez and his grandsons, Isaiah and Marcelo, caught 10 trout in 2½ hours using red worms and Rainbow Garlic-Scented PowerBait on March 13.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait, Pautzke Fire Balls, multicolored Kastmasters and worms.

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

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Wednesday morning was 2.77 cfs.

Bonito Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using red worms and Rainbow Garlic-Scented PowerBait. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

Chaparral Park Lake: The most recent report was received March 12. At that time, fishing for bass was very good when using swim baits.

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.

Lake Van: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using golden Kastmasters.

Oasis Park Lake: The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Wednesday morning was 70.8 cfs.

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 16.2 cfs. Fishing conditions will be adversely affected for an extended period of time due to recent flooding in the area.

Santa Rosa Lake: The most recent report was received March 12. At that time, fishingfor bass was slow to fair when using shallow square-bill crankbaits.

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, Corona Pond, Dennis Chavez Pond, Estancia Park Lake, Eunice Lake, Green Meadow Lake, Greene Acres Lake, Harry McAdams Park Pond, Jal Lake, Ned Houk Ponds, Perch Lake, Rio Bonito, Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond, Spring River Pond and Sumner Lake.

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

Spring has sprung!

By Darren Vaughan

This weekend, we will welcome the vernal equinox — or, as it’s more commonly known, the first day of spring.

With that comes longer, warmer days, and more hours to spend out in nature enjoying New Mexico’s spectacular scenery and some of the most underrated fishing opportunities in the country.

Of course, those of us who have been here a while, or their entire lives in many cases, know that this might just be a mirage. Sure, we’re ringing in spring with temperatures in the low 80s this weekend in Santa Fe, approaching 90 in Albuquerque and low-to-mid 90s in Las Cruces. But we also know there’s a possibility of sub-freezing mornings and blustery 50-degree days still to come — also known as “fake spring.”

But no matter what the weather brings us over the next couple months, it’s a great time to be outdoors, casting a line in your favorite lake or stream and spending time in nature, maybe with some friends and/or family and reeling in a few fish.

Of course, it always helps to have a few tricks up your sleeve when you go out there hoping for a successful day of fishing. A quick Google search reveals numerous YouTube videos and personal blogs with early spring fishing tips, as well as ideas from reputable publications and other state wildlife agencies that can be helpful.

Back in 2017, our friends at TakeMeFishing.org took the opportunity to share some tips for various species across the country. For instance, hatchery-raised trout can be easier to catch in the first two weeks of the season, as they are eager for a meal; however, in catch-and-release areas, they can eventually figure out what anglers are doing.

Of course, the most important advice is to make sure your fishing license is up to date! Licenses for the 2025-2026 license year are still good, but only until March 31. After that date, you’ll need to have a 2026-2027 license. These licenses go on sale March 25 at Department offices and license vendors across the state, as well as through the Department’s Online Licensing System. You can also call our Information Center at 888-248-6866 during regular business hours, and they’ll be glad to help you get set up!

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!