This fishing report, provided by Bill Dunn and the Department of Game and Fish, has been generated from the best information available from area officers and anglers. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.
Charette Lakes: John Aguilar of Albuquerque caught a limit of rainbow trout ranging in size from 17 to 22-inches Mar. 2. He was using chartreuse PowerBait.
Elephant Butte Lake: Randy James Medran, age 8, of Silver City caught his very first largemouth bass which measured 15.75-inches Mar. 3. He was using a creature bait. George Torres of Stanley caught and released a 19-pound blue catfish Mar. 1. He was fishing from shore and using shad cut bait. Ryan Beall of Elephant Butte caught and released a 10-pound largemouth bass Feb. 24.
Green Meadow Lake: Darrell Carr of Ruidoso and Hobbs caught and released a 6.37-pound largemouth bass Mar. 1. He was using a chatterbait with a beaver trailer.
Red River: Jesse Cordova, age 6, and his dad James of Rio Rancho, caught several trout in the 11 to 14-inch range Feb. 28. They were using egg patterns and bead head pheasant tail nymphs.
Tingley Beach: Rocco Spurgeon, age 9, of Rio Rancho caught three rainbow trout Feb. 28 while fishing at the Youth Pond. He was using orange PowerBait. Jaaron Baldonado, age 4, and Jeremiah Baldonado, age 4 did well at the Central Pond Mar. 2. They caught several rainbow trout while using their Ninja Turtle and Star Wars combos bait with PowerBait. Yumalai Barrios, age 11 caught her biggest fish to date, a 16.5-inch rainbow trout. She was using a rainbow-colored dimpled spoon.
The following report came in late, but is definitely worth mentioning:
Springer Lake: Chris Brashear of Springer caught a 20-inch and a 21-inch northern pike, lost one more and had a few short strikes Feb. 25. He was using a Storm 360GT search bait.
If you have a catch of the week story or just want to tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing experience, send it to us at fishforfun2@hotmail.com. We may include your story in our next report.
For catches of the week, include name, age, hometown, date, and location, type of fish, length and weight if possible and bait, lure or fly used.
Northeast Fishing Report
Cabresto Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Charette Lakes: Fishing was very good using chartreuse and lime green PowerBait on the bottom for rainbow trout.
Cimarron River: Stream flow near Cimarron on Monday morning was 18.2 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Clayton Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait for trout. We had no reports on other species. The boat ramp is closed due to low water conditions.
Conchas Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Costilla Creek: Mark your calendar to check this one out next spring.
Cowles Ponds: Check this one out in the spring for some great trout action.
Coyote Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Eagle Nest Lake: Closed to ice fishing due to rapidly deteriorating ice conditions. For updates, call the state park office at (575) 377-1594.
Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Fawn Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Gallinas River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Hopewell Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Alice: The lake has been closed to fishing due to thin ice conditions.
Lake Maloya: As of Sunday, March 3, the lake has been closed to ice fishing due to unstable ice conditions. For updates, call the state park office at (575) 445-5607.
Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Maxwell Lake 13: Opened for the season March 1. We received no reports from anglers this week.
Monastery Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Morphy Lake: Closed for a renovation project on the dam. Work is scheduled to be completed in June, but no firm opening date has been set.
Pecos River: Stream flow near the town of Pecos on Monday morning was 39.6 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using small nymphs, worms and Fire Balls for trout.
Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday morning was 36.3 cfs. Fishing was good using worms, salmon eggs, egg patterns, bead head pheasant tail nymphs and San Juan worms for trout.
Rio Grande: Stream flow at the Taos Junction Bridge was 493 cfs. Fishing was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using weighted wooly buggers and Kastmasters. Fishing pressure was light.
Rio Hondo: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Mora: Stream flow on Monday morning was 9.38 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Pueblo: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Santa Cruz Reservoir: Peter Romero reported the lake surface is about 25 percent free of ice with plenty of room for bank fishing. Fishing was slow.
Shuree Ponds: Closed for the season.
Springer Lake: Fishing was fair to good using searchbaits, swim baits and crank baits for northern pike. We had no reports on other species.
Storrie Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Stubblefield Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Ute Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using swim baits and blade baits in 30 to 35 feet of water. We had no reports on other species. Fishing pressure was extremely light.
Northwest Fishing Report
Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was slow for all species and fishing pressure was very light. The lake level remains low, and the concrete boat ramp is completely out of the water.
Animas River: Water flow below Aztec on Monday morning was 519 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Albuquerque Area Drains: Trout fishing on the Albuquerque, Albuquerque (South), Belen, Corrales and Peralta drains was good using PowerBait, worms, Fire Balls, copper John Barrs, baetis nymphs, bunny leeches and bead head pheasant tail nymphs. A few largemouth bass were caught by anglers fishing the Albuquerque and Peralta drains and using tubes and worms. We had no reports on other species.
Bluewater Lake: As of March 2, the lake was free of ice and open to boating and fishing. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Brazos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Canjilon Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Chama River: Monday morning flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 27.6 cfs and 147 cfs respectively. Trout fishing below Abiquiu was fair to good using small bead head nymphs, small streamers and worms. We had no reports from below El Vado.
Cochiti Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
El VadoLake: As of Saturday, March 2, the lake is closed to ice fishing due to unsafe conditions. For ice updates, call the state park office at (575) 588-7470.
Fenton Lake: Fishing was good using Kastmasters, corn, trout magnets, meal worms, ice jigs, salmon eggs and PowerBait. The ice thickness on Sunday was about 15 inches. Joseph Salazar, Austin Hall and Santiago Ramirez caught limits of trout Mar. 2. They were using trout magnets and salmon eggs. With warmer weather moving in, call the state park office for ice condition updates at (575) 829-3630.
Heron Lake: As of Saturday, March 2, the lake is closed to ice fishing due to unsafe conditions. For updates on ice conditions, check the state park web site or call the state park office at (575) 588-7470.
Jackson Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait for trout. We had no reports on other species.
Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez on Monday morning was 23.3 cfs. Trout fishing on the Jemez was good using worms, copper John Barrs and mop flies. We had no reports from the other streams.
Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.
Lagunitas Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Manzano Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.
Navajo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
San Juan River: Stream flow below Navajo Lake on Monday morning was 289 cfs and the water was a bit murky. Trout fishing was fair through the Quality Water for anglers using olive leech patterns, egg patterns, RS2s, Big Macs, small bead head pheasant tail nymphs, little princess nymphs and red San Juan worms. Through the bait waters, trout fishing was fair using worms, Fire Balls, wooly buggers, copper John Barrs and egg patterns.
Seven Springs Brood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Tingley Beach: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, worms, Fire Balls, spoons and Pistol Petes for trout. We had no reports on other species.
Trout Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Southwest Fishing Report
Alumni Pond: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, homemade dough bait and Velveeta cheese for trout.
Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing was good using worms, small crappie jigs and small tubes for crappie. Fishing was good using PowerBait and worms for trout. We had no reports on other species.
Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, Gulp eggs, Pistol Petes and small spoons for trout. Christopher Palomarez of Silver City reported good fishing this past week. He caught several trout while using garlic bait and Fire Balls. We had no reports on other species.
Caballo Lake: Fishing was fair using cut bait and liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species.
Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was good using tubes, swim jigs, crank baits, creature baits and plastic worms for largemouth bass, white bass and a few walleye. Fishing for catfish was slow, but a few were caught by anglers fishing at night and using cut shad. We had no other reports.
Escondida Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, homemade dough bait, Joe’s flies and Pistol Petes for trout.
Gila River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 419 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Glenwood Pond: Fishing was good using PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout.
Lake Roberts: Fishing was good using worms and homemade dough bait for catfish. Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, worms and homemade dough bait for trout. Fishing for largemouth bass was slow.
Percha Dam: The water remains extremely low and we had no reports from anglers.
Quemado Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rancho Grande Ponds: Fishing was fair to good using worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.
Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was .20 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Snow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Young Pond: The pond remains closed for cleaning and repair.
Southeast Fishing Report
Alto Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, homemade dough bait, Kastmasters and Pistol Petes for trout.
Berrendo Creek: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, homemade baits and worms for trout.
Bataan Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms, Fire Balls, garlic cheese, small spoons and Pistol Petes for trout.
Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday morning was 5.49 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was good using Fire Balls and PowerBait for trout.
Bonito Lake: Closed until further notice by the city of Alamogordo due to fire damage. It appears now that the lake will be out of commission until the spring of 2020.
Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing was good using bead head nymphs, Kastmasters, PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout. We had no reports on other species.
Bottomless Lakes: Fishing was fair using PowerBait for trout.
Brantley Lake: Fishing was good using crank baits, swim baits, spinner baits and jigs for largemouth bass. A few catfish were caught by anglers using liver and homemade dough baits. We had no reports on other species.
Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, homemade dough bait, worms and salmon eggs for trout.
Chaparral Park Lake: Trout fishing was very good using PowerBait, worms, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes.
Corona Pond: Fishing was fair using Fire Balls and PowerBait for trout.
El Rito Creek: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, copper John Barrs, Gulp eggs and garlic cheese for trout.
Eunice Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, Fire Balls and worms for trout.
Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, homemade dough bait and Fire Balls for trout. Fishing was slow to fair using chatter baits and spinner baits for largemouth bass.
Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms, spinners and Pistol Petes for trout.
Grindstone Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Jal Lake: Fishing was very good using PowerBait and worms for trout.
Lake Van: Fishing was very good using homemade dough bait, PowerBait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes for trout. Josh Grant reported catching his limit of trout within 45 minutes while using Pistol Petes. The fish ranged in size from 9 to 13 inches. We had no reports on other species.
Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was good using worms, PowerBait and homemade dough bait for trout.
Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday morning was 87.5 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Perch Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Ruidoso River: Stream flow on Monday morning at Hollywood was 37.6 cfs. Trout fishing was good using salmon eggs, egg patterns and copper John Barrs for trout.
Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was good using tubes and beavers for largemouth bass and an occasional walleye. We hand no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the mid 40s.
Sumner Lake: Fishing was fair to good using tubes, crank baits, spoons and blade baits for largemouth bass, walleye and a few white bass. We had no reports on other species.