NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Rio Grande: Mindee Joseph caught two rainbow trout and one brown trout using worms on March 14.

Rio Grande: Wesley Gonzales caught multiple small brown trout, keeping this medium-sized one, drifting worms on a single hook on March 19.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Jerome Dominguez caught three trout using nightcrawlers on March 22.

Ute Lake: James Meeks caught 10 smallmouth bass, releasing the smaller ones, using minnows on March 20. “Best day of smallmouth bass fishing ever,” he said.

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 on Wednesday morning was 9.13 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 on 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.

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:  Will be opening soon. Please look out for our email blast announcing the official day. 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 on March 5. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Wednesday morning was 41.2 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using worms.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 33.2 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. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez on Wednesday morning was 12.1 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 9.4 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Wednesday morning was 21.7 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using nightcrawlers.

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

Ute Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was slow when using black-and-blue skirted jigs with Rage Craw trailers. Fishing for smallmouth bass was very good when using minnows.

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

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Bluewater Lake: Benjamin Apodaca caught a tiger muskie using a rooster tail lure on March 22.

Bluewater Lake: Elena Gonzales caught a trout using garlic cheese on March 18.

Bluewater Lake: Patrick Dyea caught a tiger muskie using PowerBait on March 17. It was his biggest catch to date, following a 20-minute battle to land the fish.

Fenton Lake: Jamal Alonzo caught five trout using Orange Garlic PowerBait on March 13.

Navajo Lake: Chris Ricci caught his limit of crappie using jigs on March 20.

Seven Springs Kids Pond: Elias “Chavo” Barela caught 11 fish, including this 15-inch rainbow trout, using an olive-colored Pistol Pete on March 18 — his seventh birthday.

Tingley Beach: Greg Sanchez caught and released three trout using Garlic PowerBait and Chartreuse PowerBait on March 19.

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 on Wednesday morning was 634 cfs.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was slow to fair when using rooster tail lures and fair to good when using PowerBait. Fishing for trout was very good when using garlic cheese. 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: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using Orange Garlic PowerBait. For more information, visit Fenton Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-829-3630.

Heron Lake: Anglers reported difficult conditions, with receding water increasing the risk of getting stuck in mud or quicksand.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Wednesday morning was 42.7 cfs. The most recent report was received on 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: Crappie fishing was good with jigs. Fishing for northern pike was fair when using swimbaits. Fishing for bass was slow.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Wednesday morning was 500 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Wednesday morning was 61.1 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 300 cfs.

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta on Wednesday morning was 259 cfs. Fly-fishing for rainbow trout in the quality waters was slow to fair.

Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: Fishing for trout was very good when using olive-colored Pistol Petes. 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.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout was good when using Garlic PowerBait and Chartreuse PowerBait.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Albuquerque Area Drains, Brazos River, Canjilon Lakes, Cochiti 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

Elephant Butte Lake: Andrew Luna, Bryant Michael Tafoya, Rodney Morton and Nathan Jones caught an abundance of white bass while trolling diving Rapala crankbaits on March 22. “The fishing was non-stop action,” Andrew said. “This day, we weren’t fishermen — we were catchermen!”

Elephant Butte Lake: Aaron Brewer caught this largemouth bass using a creature bait on March 22.

Elephant Butte Lake: Gene España of Las Cruces caught and released many bass using soft plastics on March 21.

Elephant Butte Lake: Brandon Hawkins of Las Cruces caught and released many bass using soft plastics on March 21.

Escondida Lake: Gabriel Gutierrez caught a bass using a chatterbait on March 17. “Slow day, then this monster hit,” he said. “Thankfully, I changed my line the night before from 4-pound to 8-pound line.”

Quemado Lake: Ruben Chavira’s grandson, Eli Chavira, caught an 18-inch, 4-pound rainbow trout, while his great-grandson, Xavier Hobbs, reeled in his first trout — a 14-inch, 1½-pound rainbow — using Green Garlic PowerBait on March 21.

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 using Green and Orange PowerBait and yellow salmon eggs.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for bass was very good when using soft plastics and creature baits and trolling diving Rapala crankbaits. 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: Fishing for bass was good when using chatterbaits.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 62.6 cfs.

Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 66.2 cfs.

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using PowerBait and good when using rooster tail spinners from a kayak.

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when using Green Garlic PowerBait.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0.13 cfs.

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

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Sumner Lake: Liam Garcia caught five walleye using white shad on March 20.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: The most recent report was received on March 19. At that time, 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: The most recent report was received on March 19. At that time, 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 on March 12. At that time, fishing for bass was very good when using swim baits.

Grindstone Reservoir: The most recent report was received on March 19. At that time, 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: The most recent report was received on March 19. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good when using golden Kastmasters.

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

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake on Wednesday morning was 96.3 cfs.

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 16.6 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 on March 12. At that time, fishing for bass was slow to fair when using shallow square-bill crankbaits.

Sumner Lake: Fishing for walleye was slow to fair when using white shad.

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, Lake Van, Ned Houk Ponds, Perch Lake, Rio Bonito, Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond and Spring River Pond.

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

Here’s your chance to show off!

By Darren Vaughan

By the time next week’s fishing report rolls around, the calendar will have flipped from March to April — and the Department’s calendar will have flipped from the 2025-2026 license year to 2026-2027, meaning you’ll have to make sure you’ve gotten your new fishing license.

Once you’ve got that squared away, it’s time to get out there, enjoy nature and, with any luck, reel in something to brag about! But how do you go about showing off that catch? The New Mexico Department of Wildlife has just the thing for you!

All of the pictures you see in the Catches of the Week above were submitted via the Department’s iFish form, available on the Fishing and Stocking Reports web page. In fact, the vast majority of the data you see in the body of the Weekly Fishing Report comes from the public’s submissions — this week’s report includes data from 26 submissions sent over the past seven days. Just by telling us what worked for you, or didn’t work for you, you’re helping your fellow anglers as they decide where to go and what bait, lure or fly to use.

We’re also always looking for your top tips and tricks that may help others have success with a rod and reel. Sure, nobody wants to give away all their secrets — after all, if you’ve found your hot spot and the perfect bait, lure or fly that has the fish biting non-stop, you’re probably not going to want to see a crowd start to gather there. But if you have fly-tying techniques, tips for fishing in certain water conditions or even just a great fish story, we’d love to share it! You can email your Tips, Tricks and Stories submission toDarren.Vaughan@dgf.nm.gov, and we’ll be happy to consider it for publication in a future Weekly Fishing Report!

The Department is responsible for publishing this report each Thursday, but it truly belongs to you, the anglers. It is for you, by you.

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!