New Mexico fishing and stocking reports for March 16

03/16/2021

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This fishing report, provided by Dustin Berg of Go Unlimited (supporting disabled anglers) 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.

Check out the latest stocking report

Get your New Mexico fishing license

(Valid April 1 to March 31; 2020-2021 licenses are on sale now,

2021-2022 licenses will go on sale starting March 24)

A MESSAGE FROM THE DEPARTMENT:

As COVID-19 continues to force all of us to make changes to our daily schedule, the Department would like to remind you that together we can make a difference. To help minimize the spread of the virus:

Practice social distancing
Wash your hands regularly
Avoid non-essential travel
Wear a face covering
Avoid interacting with large groups

Click the flyer to the right. Please share it with your friends and family.

Take the Bass and Trout Challenges!

To promote bass and trout fishing opportunities in New Mexico and encourage anglers to branch out and discover new fishing waters and species, anglers can participate in the New Mexico Bass Challenge and the New Mexico Trout Challenge. Catch all the challenge species that are found throughout New Mexico to receive your certificate and challenge coin.

The Department is continuing to adapt our ways of working to conserve wildlife for all New Mexicans. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Department biologists and conservation officers continue to conduct wildlife surveys, contact anglers and OHV recreationists and stock fish in open waters throughout the state.

Our teams are wearing personal protective equipment for everyone’s safety while working in small groups for maximum social distancing. We ask for your help to keep everyone safe and healthy by following the NMDOH public health emergency order by wearing PPE while staying at least six feet away from staff and equipment.

Closure Information:

The Department reminds anglers it is their responsibility to be aware of closures and contact land managers for properties of interest when restrictions are lifted.

Consult local government websites for information regarding specific city and town fishing access.

Catches of the week

Rancho Grande Ponds: Hunter Hernandez, age 4, of Silver City caught a 14-inch largemouth bass using a rainbow Kastmaster lure March 8.

Rio Grande: George Torres of Stanley caught and released two flathead catfish weighing in at 32-pounds 8-ounces and 22-pounds 11-ounces north of Elephant Butte Lake using cut bait March 8.

Tingley Beach: Chris Ortega of Albuquerque caught an 18-inch largemouth bass using an olive Woolly Bugger March 10. Gavyn Miller, age 6, and brother Luca Miller, age 2, of Albuquerque caught a 15-inch rainbow trout and a few others using salmon peach PowerBait in the kid’s pond March 7.

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 funfishingnm@gmail.com. We may include your story in our next report.

For catches of the week, include name, age, hometown, date, 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Cimarron River: Stream flow near Cimarron Monday morning was not measured due to ice. Fishing for trout was good using worms, salmon eggs and peach PowerBait. Maverick campground (gravel pit) was clear of most ice and fishable.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using PowerBait and nightcrawlers.

Conchas Lake: Conchas Lake State Park has closed access to all boat ramps due to dropping water levels. The boat ramps on the south side of the lake managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are open. Fishing for white bass was good using yellow grubs and crankbaits fished 25-feet deep. Fishing for walleye was fair using gold spoons. Fishing for catfish was fair using cut carp bait.

Costilla Creek: The Department has implemented the final phase of a project to expand Rio Grande cutthroat trout in 120 miles of the Costilla watershed in northern New Mexico. The final phase involved removal of fish within a designated area (Rio Costilla from Costilla Dam downstream to the Valle Vidal Boundary including all tributaries and Comanche Creek from the road culvert crossing on FR 1950 downstream to its confluence with Rio Costilla and all tributaries) with a tentative restocking of Rio Grande cutthroat in spring 2022. Places to fish nearby include Costilla Creek below the fish barrier, Upper Comanche Creek, Shuree Ponds, Middle Ponil Creek, Upper Powderhouse Creek, Little Costilla Creek, Vidal Creek and McCrystal Creek. The Department anticipates completion of this final phase in the fall of 2021. Please check the Department website for additional information on the project and to identify alternative angling opportunities in the interim.

Cowles Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Coyote Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Eagle Nest Lake: The lake was closed to ice fishing due to deteriorating ice conditions.

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: Open to bank fishing only. Anglers reported fishing was slow.

Lake Maloya: The lake is closed to ice fishing due to deteriorating ice conditions.

Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Maxwell Lake 13: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Monastery Lake: Closed due to COVID-19 health concerns. Check the Open Gate webpage for future updates.

Morphy Lake: Fishing for trout was good using Blue Fox #2 spinners, Pistol Pete flies, San Juan worms and elk hair caddis flies.

Pecos River: Stream flow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 21.2 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair using worms and salmon eggs.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery Monday morning was 35.1 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair using small bead-head nymph flies.

Rio Grande: Stream flow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 490 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good using size 22 midge larva flies and Blue Wing Olive flies on cloudy days.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow Monday morning near Valdez was not measured due to ice.

Rio Mora: Stream flow Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was very good using spoons and Panther Martin spinners.

Shuree Ponds: Closed until July 1, 2021.

Springer Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Storrie Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Stubblefield Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Ute Lake: Fishing for white bass was fair trolling crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was fair using jigs tipped with live minnows or Gulp minnows in 20 to 25-feet of water. Fishing for bass was fair to good using yellow and silver spoons. Fishing for catfish and crappies was slow. The water surface temperature was in the low 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Northwest Fishing Report

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair trolling crankbaits.

Animas River: Water flow below Aztec Monday morning was 154 cfs.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing for trout was fair using dough bait.

Bluewater Lake: Closed to boating and ice fishing due to recent weather conditions that have led to unsafe lake surface conditions. The lake is currently closed to all watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, inflatables and all types of motorboats.

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 99.5 cfs and 55.0 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was fair to good using Black Bunny Leech flies and minnow imitation swim baits. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was good using PowerBait, spinners, Woolly Buggers, egg pattern flies and bead-head nymphs. Please remember from the river-crossing bridge on U.S. Highway 84 at Abiquiu upstream seven miles to the base of Abiquiu Dam is special trout waters with a bag limit of two trout only.

Cochiti Lake: Visitors to the lake need to make a reservation by purchasing a ticket at least 24 hours in advance through www.recreation.gov. Tickets and reservations will NOT be sold at the lake.

El Vado Lake: The lake is closed to ice fishing due to deteriorating ice conditions.

Fenton Lake: The lake is closed to ice fishing due to deteriorating ice conditions.

Heron Lake: The lake is closed to ice fishing due to deteriorating ice conditions.

Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 27.6 cfs.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season; will open on May 1, 2021.

Lagunitas Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Farmington: Fishing for trout was fair using garlic PowerBait.

Manzano Lake: Closed until further notice.

McGaffey Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for trout was fair using Panther Martin spinners and Rapala lures.

Rio Grande: Fishing for white bass and walleye was fair near Bernalillo using curly tail grubs.

San Gregorio Lake: Anglers reported that the lake is frozen.

San Juan River: Stream flow Monday morning was 413 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good using leech pattern flies, egg pattern flies, chamois worms, crystal flash midges and red larva flies.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Closed due to COVID-19 health concerns. Check the Department’s Alerts page for future updates.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout was good using Bunny Leech pattern flies and salmon peach PowerBait. Fishing for bass was fair using olive Woolly Buggers.

Trout Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Southwest Fishing Report

Alumni Pond: Fishing for trout was good using corn, Velveeta cheese, marshmallows and PowerBait.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for trout was good using black Woolly Buggers with a red bead-head.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for trout was good using bright yellow corn PowerBait and dull orange cheese PowerBait.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for white bass was good using small deep-diving Bandit crankbaits.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was good using white/silver shad color deep diving crankbaits, yellow grubs and yellow crankbaits.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for trout was good using corn.

Gila River: Stream flow Monday morning was 61.2 cfs.

Glenwood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Roberts: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Percha Dam: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Quemado Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rancho Grande Ponds: Fishing for bass and trout was good using rainbow Kastmaster lures.

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was .04 cfs. Fishing for catfish north of Elephant Butte Lake was good using cut bait.

Snow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Trees Lake: Fishing for trout was fair. Fishing for all other species was slow.

Young Pond: Fishing for trout was good using corn, Velveeta cheese, marshmallows and PowerBait.

Southeast Fishing Report

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good using PowerBait.

Bataan Lake: Fishing for trout was good using salmon peach Powerbait with glitter.

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga Monday morning was 3.97 cfs.

Blue Hole Park Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bonito Lake: Closed until further notice by the city of Alamogordo due to fire damage. It appears that the lake will be out of commission until 2022.

Bosque Redondo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bottomless Lakes: Fishing for trout was good using yellow garlic PowerBait.

Brantley Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using dough bait and PowerBait.

Chaparral Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Corona Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Eunice Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good using Texas rigged purple Zoom worms. Fishing for trout was good using small white Rooster Tail spinners.

Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good using Kastmaster lures and salmon peach PowerBait.

Jal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Van: Fishing for trout was good using yellow garlic PowerBait.

Oasis Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 93.1 cfs.

Perch Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow Monday morning at Hollywood was 4.31 cfs. Anglers reported fishing for trout was slow.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair using curly tail grubs and nightcrawlers.

Sumner Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Tips and Tricks – Get your second rod validation to increase your catch rate

In New Mexico, you can purchase a second rod validation for only $4.00, which allows you to fish with two separate fishing rods simultaneously. That is one surefire way to increase your odds of catching fish! With the new license year approaching (April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022), here are a couple of reasons why you should purchase your second rod validation.

1. Set one fishing rod up for bait fishing and another one for spinner/lure casting. While you have your bait fishing rod setup patiently waiting for a strike, you can be moving around, casting different types of lures and finding out if the fish prefer one method of fishing over the other.

2. Find out what depth and what type of bait the fish are biting twice as fast with two rods! Set both rods up with different colors and types of bait. Also, set both rods up to be fished at different depths by using weights and bobbers. Often the hardest part of catching fish is finding out what depth and type of bait the fish prefer on any given day. By using two rods, you speed up the process of narrowing down your depth and bait combinations. Once you figure out what depth and bait the fish prefer, you can set up both of your rods the same way and increase the overall fishing action.

Second Rod Validation

To fish with two rods, anglers 12 years of age and older must purchase a Second Rod Validation. This validation is not required in conjunction with any free fishing license or privilege. All other license regulations, such as bag and possession limits, remain the same. Three rods cannot be used at any time.

For more information, visit the Department’s license fees webpage.

Share with your fellow angler’s tips and tricks by emailing us at funfishingnm@gmail.com and let us help the next generation of anglers find success.

Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community!