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NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Pecos River: Jorge Liloy noted the river was running strong and fish are swimming deeper than usual, “nymphing is the way to go.” He caught this trout with Pat’s Rubber Legs on the Sept. 20.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Charette Lake: The lake is currently under a Harmful Algae Bloom Warning Advisory.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron on Tuesday morning was 17.2 cubic feet per second (cfs). The most recent report was received Sept. 24. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait at the Gravel Pits.

Clayton Lake: The lake is currently under a Harmful Algae Bloom Warning Advisory.

Conchas Lake: The most recent report was received Sept. 24. At that time, fishing for  largemouth and smallmouth bass was very good when using topwater poppers.

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait. For more information,visit Sugarite Canyon State Park’s webpageor call 575-445-5607.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos on Tuesday morning was 356 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Pat’s Rubber Legs.

Red River: The most recent report was received Sept. 17. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was very good when using PowerBait with aniseed. Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Tuesday morningwas 53.5 cfs.

Rio Grande: Fishing for rainbow trout was good when using olive streamer flies near Questa. Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Tuesday morning was 207 cfs. The Rio Grande is currently under a Harmful Algae Bloom Danger Advisory from the John Dunn Bridge through the Orilla Verde Recreation Area.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez on Tuesday morning was 23.3 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero on Tuesday morning was 195 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco on Tuesday morning was 27.7 cfs.

Shuree Ponds: The most recent report was received Sept. 24. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using elk hair caddis flies, blowtorch nymph files and Higa’s S.O.S. nymph flies.

Ute Lake: The most recent report was received Sept. 24. At that time, fishing for white bass, smallmouth bass and catfish was good when using jig heads and 4-inch Gulp minnows. Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using paddle tail swimbaits.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Cabresto Lake, Clayton Lake, Cowles Ponds,Coyote Creek, Eagle Nest Lake, Eagle Rock Lake, Fawn Lakes, Gallinas River, Harris Pond, Hopewell Lake, Lake Alice, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Morphy Lake, Red River City Ponds, Rio Costilla, Rito la Presa, Santa Cruz Reservoir, Springer Lake, Storrie Lake and Stubblefield Lake.

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

San Juan River: Thomas Marquez caught this 12 lb brown trout on a night crawler on Sept. 21.

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: The most recent report was received Sept. 17. At that time, fishing for walleye was good when using a Panther Martin with worms. Fishing for smallmouth bass was very good when using worms on a jig head. Contact the Abiquiu Lake Main Office at 505-685-4371 for updated lake conditions and closure information.

Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec on Tuesday morning was 1930 cfs.

Bluewater Lake: The most recent report was received Sept. 24. At that time, fishing for tiger muskie was slow when using swimbaits. The lake is currently under a Harmful Algae Bloom Warning Advisory.

El Vado Lake: Boating access is limited, with an imminent boat ramp closure expected due to low water conditions. For more information, visit El Vado Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-588-7247.

Fenton Lake: The most recent report was received Sept. 24. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using Cheese Garlic PowerBait and casting small spoons from the dam, and very good when using rainbow nymph and grey foam wing emerger flies. For more information, visit Fenton Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-829-3630.

Heron Lake: Boat ramps are closed due to extremely low water. For more information,visit Heron Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-588-7470.

Liam Knight Pond: The most recent report was received Sept. 24. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was slow to fair when using rooster tail spinners.

Navajo Lake: The most recent report was received Sept. 24. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was slow to fair when using Ned rigs.

Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake on Tuesday morning was 103 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake on Tuesday morning was 68.5 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 on Tuesday morning was 1790 cfs.

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta on Tuesday morning was 284 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was very good when using nightcrawlers in the quality waters.

Tingley Beach: The most recent report was received Sept. 24. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow when using chicken liver.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three  weeks: Albuquerque Area Drains, Brazos River, Bluewater Lake, Canjilon Lakes, Cochiti Lake, Jemez Waters, Lake Farmington, McGaffey Lake, Rio Cebolla, Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Park #1), San Gregorio Lake,Seven Springs Kids Pond, Tiger Park Reservoir and Trout Lakes.

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Bill Evans Lake: Some of the best largemouth bass fishing can be found in New Mexico’s smaller lakes. Clayton, Bill Evans and Lake Roberts can offer trophy-sized fishing opportunities.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Bear Canyon Lake: Closed to the public Monday – Thursday starting October 5. The Lake will remain open Friday-Sunday. Regular use projected to return in Jan. 2027.

Caballo Lake: With recent water releases from Elephant Butte and Caballo lakes, water levels are changing across the lake; boaters should exercise caution in low-water areas. For more information, visit the Caballo Lake State Park webpage or call 575-743-3942.

Elephant Butte Lake: Due to historically low water levels, all park boat ramps are closed at this time. For more information, visit the Elephant Butte State Park webpage or call 575-744-5923.

Escondida Lake: The most recent report was received Sept. 24. At that time, fishing for bass was slow to fair when using worms.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila on Tuesday morning was 109 cfs.

Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs on Tuesday morning was 59.8 cfs.

Quemado Lake: The lake is currently under a Harmful Algae Bloom Danger Advisory.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Lake was 0 cfs.

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

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Bonito Lake: This Open Gate property in the Sacramento Mountains is open for fishing. Anglers commonly find rainbow trout here.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Alto Lake: The most recent report was received Sept. 24. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using a combo of worms, Kastmasters and rainbow spinners. Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using rainbow spinners.

Bataan Lake: The most recent report was received Sept. 24. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using shrimp on a Carolina rig.

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

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga on Tuesday morning was 8.42 cfs.

Ned Houk Ponds: The most recent report was received Sept. 24. At that time, fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using Hog Wild.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake on Tuesday morning was 0.25 cfs.

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood on Tuesday morning was 69.4 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: Bonito Lake, Blue Hole Park Pond, Bosque Redondo Lake, Bottomless Lakes, Brantley Lake, Carlsbad Municipal Lake, Chaparral Park Lake, Corona Pond, Dennis Chavez Pond, Estancia Park Lake, Eunice Lake, Greene Acres Lake, Green Meadow Lake, Grindstone Reservoir, Harry McAdams Park Pond, Jal Lake, Lake Van, Perch Lake, Rio Bonito, Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond, Santa Rosa Lake, Spring River Pond, Sumner Lake and Timberon Ponds.

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

White Bass Bonanza

Enjoy this throwback from our very own New Mexico Wildlife magazine September/October 1966 issue and learn where to fish for white bass currently.

Editor’s Note: Some of the data in this article was taken from the September/October 1996 edition of New Mexico Wildlife, the Department’s official magazine.

The Department of Wildlife began stocking white bass in 1959, and from there the fishery steadily grew. In fact, white bass are New Mexico’s most frequently caught warm-water sport fish. Known for their voracious appetite, tendency to strike eagerly at lures once the waters warm, they are relatively easy for anglers to catch and are great eating.

Today, the white bass population is strong enough to support a 25-fish-per-day bag limit. The largest white bass caught in New Mexico to date was a 4-pound, 13-ounce fish measuring 19½”, caught by Jack Alexander at Bill Evans Lake in 1983.

As schooling fish, white bass tend to gather in high numbers, avoiding more turbid waters. Although white bass prefer deep, open water, they will surface to strike at a school of shad.

To catch white bass, use light to medium spinning tackle on a 5- to 6.5-foot rod. Six-pound test line works best. Try jigs and flashy spinner-jig combinations: white, yellow, silver, or chartreuse, with reflective tape on the spoons and polished spinners.

Any small lure that looks like a shad (small silvery fish) will catch white bass when a school is located. Also try crankbait spoons, minnow imitation plugs, jigging spoons, and propellered surface lures. Topwater plugs that sputter are good to use when white bass feeding is in full force.

In previous years, fall surveys have indicated that white bass populations are highest at Conchas Lake, Lake Sumner, and Ute Lake. Over the past year, white bass numbers have slightly improved at Caballo.

Check the Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner!

It displays hundreds of fishing access points with information on available fish species, facilities, accessibility, boat ramps and general regulations.

Check out the webpage to plan your trip now!