New Mexico fishing and stocking reports for June 22, 2021

New Mexico fishing and stocking reports for June 22

06/22/2021

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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.

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Check the Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner!

The Department’s Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner was created using data from the 2016 to 2019 Weekly Fishing Reports to develop graphs depicting fishing conditions for several species and waterbodies throughout the year. Each graph represents the average fishing conditions for each week of the year over the four-year period.

Check out the new webpage to plan your trip now!

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, the New Mexico Trout Challenge and the Master Angler Challenge.

Catch all the challenge species that are found throughout New Mexico to receive your certificate and challenge coin!

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.

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

Bluewater Lake: Marvin Endito of Thoreau caught a 40-inch, 17-pound, 11-ounce tiger muskie using a waterdog June 20. Phillip Bishop of Albuquerque caught and released six tiger muskie, ranging in size from 32 to 36 inches, using large green/white and red/orange streamer flies June 15.

Brantley Lake: Chris Archibeque of Roswell caught a 4-pound largemouth bass using a green crankbait June 15.

Canjilon Lakes: Carlos Campos, age 2, of Pojoaque caught a 17-inch rainbow trout using a Rooster Tail spinner June 19.

Chama River: Bryant Henderson of east central Kansas caught a 24-inch lake trout using a Panther Martin spinner north of Heron Lake June 20.

Cochiti Lake: Mike Watkins of Albuquerque caught a 5-pound walleye using a Kastmaster lure June 18.

Cowles Ponds: Declan Padget, age 11, of Rio Rancho caught a 16.75-inch rainbow trout using a grasshopper June 19.

Eagle Nest Lake: Jeremy O’Dell, age 13, of Santa Fe caught a 20-inch, 3-pound rainbow trout using a black Pistol Pete spinner fly June 17.

Elephant Butte Lake: Zahara Gantz, age 13, of Silver City caught a 3.5-pound walleye using a curly tail jig June 16. Jessica Morales of El Paso, Texas caught a 4-pound largemouth bass using a Texas-rigged watermelon soft plastic bait near Rattle Snake Island June 16. Lunazul Looney, age 7, of Austin, Texas caught a 26-inch walleye using a white crankbait June 15.

Monastery Lake: Valerie Martin of Albuquerque caught a 17-inch and 15.5-inch rainbow trout using rainbow glitter PowerBait June 18.

Morphy Lake: Jose Pat Garcia, age 89, of Belen and his family caught their limits of trout using pink salmon eggs and orange PowerBait June 10.

Navajo Lake: Michael Brown, age 5, of Rio Rancho caught a 1-pound smallmouth bass using a jig June 19.

Pecos River: Patrick Iverson of Santa Fe caught a 16 and 18-inch rainbow trout using a Woolly Bugger and Perdigon fly June 11.

Red River: AJ Morales, age 10, of San Antonio, Texas caught a 14-inch rainbow trout using a grasshopper at the hatchery June 17.

Storrie Lake: David Lopez of Las Vegas caught several 10-pound catfish using trout viscera June 20.

Stubblefield Lake: Latasha Coho of Gallup caught a 15-pound catfish using chicken liver June 10.

Tingley Beach: Levi Weiss, age 9, of Albuquerque caught a 5.3-pound catfish using a hotdog June 19.

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: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 30.7 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait, nightcrawlers and beadhead nymph flies.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver.

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 largemouth and smallmouth bass was fair to good when using plastic worms and tubes. Fishing for white bass was fair to good when using chartreuse and silver spinners. Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using Berkley Flicker Shad lures, jigs and nightcrawlers. Fishing for crappie was fair when using live minnows. Fishing for catfish was good when using cut 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: Fishing for trout was good when using grasshoppers and salmon eggs.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using black Pistol Pete spinner flies. Fishing for perch was good when using worms and corn. Fishing for pike was good when using perch and rainbow color lures, black Pistol Pete spinner flies, juvenile pike swimbaits, Rebel minnows and Mepps spinners.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using green PowerBait and salmon eggs.

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

Gallinas River: Fishing for trout was fair when using worms.

Hopewell Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using garlic PowerBait.

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

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was good when using Pistol Pete spinner flies, PowerBait and various topwater and nymph flies.

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

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

Monastery Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using rainbow glitter PowerBait and various flies.

Morphy Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using pink salmon eggs, orange PowerBait and Pistol Pete spinner flies.

Pecos River: Streamflow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 69.0 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using salmon eggs, red worms, grasshoppers, Woolly Buggers and Perdigon flies.

Red River: Streamflow below the hatchery Monday morning was 89.4 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using salmon eggs and worms. Fishing for trout at the hatchery was good when using grasshoppers.

Rio Grande: Streamflow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 584 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using nightcrawlers, Rooster Tail spinners and salmon eggs.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow Monday morning near Valdez was 39.8 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using worms.

Rio Mora: Streamflow Monday morning near Terrero was 16.8 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was 10.6 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using garlic PowerBait and pink PowerBait.

Shuree Ponds: Closed until July 1, 2021.

Springer Lake: Fishing for pike was fair to good when using rainbow Kastmaster lures.

Storrie Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait. Fishing for catfish was good when using trout viscera and chicken liver.

Stubblefield Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver.

Ute Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when using topwater baits, spoons and small swimbaits. Fishing for walleye was very good when using jigs tipped Berkley Gulp minnows, swimbaits and curly tail grubs in 8 to 12-feet of water. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using Ned Rigs, tubes and chigger craws. Fishing for catfish was fair when using punch bait and chicken liver. Fishing for crappie was slow. The water surface temperature was in the mid-70 degrees Fahrenheit and the main lake color was stained.

Northwest Fishing Report

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using bottom bouncers with spinners tipped with worm in 8 to 10-feet of water. Fishing for bass was fair to good when crankbaits and curly tail grubs.

Animas River: Water flow below Aztec Monday morning was 913 cfs.

Albuquerque Area Drains:Fishing for bass was fair when using legged bug flies and small plastic worms.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was good when using large green/white and red/orange streamer flies, crankbaits, Rapala lures and swim baits.

Brazos River: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using gold Panther Martin spinners.

Canjilon Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using Rooster Tail spinners.

Chama River: Monday-morning flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 506 cfs and 422 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was fair when using spinners and nightcrawlers. Fishing below Abiquiu Lake was fair when using worms and nymph flies. 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 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. Fishing for walleye was fair when using Kastmaster lures and jigs.

El Vado Lake: Fishing for bass, perch and trout was very good when using spinners and PowerBait. El Vado Lake Dam Day Use area is open. The main lake area, boat launch and campground opened April 1. Camping by reservation only.

Fenton Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using nightcrawlers and flies. Please remember, only two cutthroat trout are allowed to be harvested per day within the regular five-fish limit.

Heron Lake: Fishing from a boat for rainbow trout and kokanee salmon was very good when using Panther Martin spinners, Rooster Tail spinners, Kokanee Killers and Rapala lures trolled 10 to 25 feet deep. Fishing from shore for rainbow trout and kokanee salmon was good when using chunky cheese garlic PowerBait, green PowerBait and salmon eggs. Sierra Vista and La Laja boat ramps are both open due to rising water levels.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 4.99 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using Panther Martin spinners and worms. Fishing near the Valles Caldera was good when using nymph flies.

Laguna del Campo: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using peach PowerBait.

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

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

McGaffey Lake: Due to extremely low water levels and unstable ground conditions, stocking efforts have been suspended. Lake conditions will be monitored and stockings will resume once conditions improve.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for bass was very good when using crankbaits, Ned Rigs, buzzbaits and green watermelon tubes. Fishing for pike was fair when using jerkbaits up the San Juan arm of the lake. Fishing for kokanee salmon was good when using pink and orange spinners and Hoochie Squid tipped with corn fish 20 to 30 feet deep.

Rio Grande: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using worms and chicken liver near Albuquerque.

San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

San Juan River: Streamflow Monday morning was 311 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using size midge emerger flies and red annelid flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good when using gold Panther Martin spinners, worms and PowerBait.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and Woolly Bugger flies.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using hotdogs and homemade dough-bait.

Trout Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using dry flies and worms.

Southwest Fishing Report

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

Bear Canyon Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was fair when using wacky rigged worms.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good when using plastic worms and crankbaits. Fishing for white bass was good when using live minnows, small spoons and white crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was good when using live minnows, bottom bouncers, nightcrawlers and crankbaits. Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver and nightcrawlers.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when using jointed swimbaits, yellow grubs, live worms and live shad. Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using Texas-rigged watermelon-colored soft plastic lures. Fishing for walleye was good when using silver crankbaits, chartreuse curly tail grubs tipped with worm, white crankbaits and bottom bouncer worm harness rigs. Fishing for crappie was good when using live minnows and live worms. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using shad, worms and live minnows.

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

Gila River: Streamflow Monday morning was 13.5 cfs.

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

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

Percha Dam: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using chicken breast.

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using rainbow PowerBait.

Rancho Grande Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 1,910 cfs. Fishing for catfish near Las Cruces was fair to good when using cut bait. Fishing for catfish near Caballo Lake was fair to good when using raw chicken and worms.

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

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

Young Pond: Fishing for all species was slow.

Southeast Fishing Report

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and green garlic PowerBait.

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

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 2.31 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: Fishing for bass was fair when using green soft plastic worms.

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

Brantley Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using green crankbaits.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Corona Pond: Fishing for catfish was fair when using hotdogs.

Eunice Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using PowerBait.

Green Meadow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using white PowerBait and salmon peach PowerBait.

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

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

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

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 91.5 cfs.

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

Ruidoso River: Streamflow Monday morning at Hollywood was 3.09 cfs.

Santa Rosa Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Sumner Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair when using bottom bouncer nightcrawler harness rigs.

Tips and Tricks – Navajo Lake Kokanee Salmon Fishing is Hot!

Limits of kokanee salmon are being caught regularly right now at Navajo Lake and here are what anglers are having success using.

Pink and orange seem to be the hot lure color choices right now. Spinners and Hoochie Squid are both producing very well. Important: Tip each hook of your spinner or Hoochie Squid with one to three kernels of white Shoepeg corn.

A dodger, “Christmas” tree or various shiny attractor is placed in-line 1 to 2 feet before your lure.

The kokanee salmon have been schooling at an average depth of 20 to 30 feet deep in the main lake near the mouths of the St. Frances and San Juan canyons.

There are two popular methods for getting your lures to the depth where the schools of salmon are located.

Downriggers use a lead ball to achieve specific desired depths. Downriggers are the most accurate and effective way for you to get your lures into the strike zone.
Lead line uses weighted line to drag your lures to a desired depth. Lead line uses 30-foot intervals of differently colored line sections to help the angler approximate the depth of their lure based upon the number of colors they have let out. It is not an exact science, but for each color you let out your lure goes down approximately 5 feet. For example, if you let out five colors, you should be fishing approximately 25 feet deep. This equation will vary based upon the speed of your boat. I have generally had my best success trolling 1.5 to 2 mph with five to seven colors out.

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

Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community!