Bear Canyon Lake: TJ, age 14, caught two rainbow trout at once using glitter garlic PowerBait Jan. 3.

Eagle Nest Lake: Carlos Hammer, age 15, of Taos caught a 44-inch 22-pound pike using a gold jigging spoon Jan. 2. Marcello Richert, age 9, of Arroyo Hondo caught several large trout and a pike using small jigs Jan. 1.

Fenton Lake: Amy Kelly, age 5, of Rio Rancho caught her first fish, a rainbow trout, using an ice jig Jan. 10.

Santa Rosa Lake: Eric Chavez of Albuquerque caught a three-pound largemouth bass using a five-inch paddle tail swimbait Jan. 3. Eric also caught a 22-inch walleye using a five-inch paddle tail swimbait Jan. 9.

Tingley Beach: Josh Martinez of Albuquerque caught a 31.5-inch 10-pound 12-ounce catfish using PowerBait Jan. 9.

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.

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

Charette Lakes: Closed for the season.

Cimarron River: Stream flow near Cimarron Monday morning was not measured due to ice. In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Clayton Lake: Closed until March 2021.

Conchas Lake: Conchas Lake State Park has closed access to all boat ramps due to dropping water levels. In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

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 the 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 the 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 the 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: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Eagle Nest Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake was open to ice fishing, but ATV traffic and Six Mile Day Use Area closed due to unsafe ice conditions. Fishing for trout was good using jigs tipped with worms. Fishing for perch was very good, using small ice fishing jigs tipped with wax worms and earthworms. Fishing for pike was fair to good jigging spoons.

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: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake opened for ice fishing.

Lake Maloya: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for trout was good using dough bait.

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

Maxwell Lake 13: Closed for the season.

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

Morphy Lake: Closed for a renovation project on the dam and no firm opening date has been set.

Pecos River: Stream flow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery Monday morning was 34.0 cfs. Fishing for trout near the hatchery was fair using tungsten beadhead nymphs and midge flies.

Rio Grande: Stream flow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 354 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair using beadhead nymphs, midges and small Griffith’s gnat dry flies for rising fish.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

Storrie Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

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

Ute Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only.

Abiquiu Lake: The boat ramp is open. Anglers reported that there was a lot of ice on the lake.

Animas River: Water flow below Aztec Monday morning was 100 cfs.

Albuquerque Area Drains: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bluewater Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. 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 249 cfs and 51.7 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was good using size 14 beadhead hare’s ear nymph and orange zebra midge flies. Anglers reported trout feeding on the surface during the late afternoons.

Cochiti Lake: Visitors to the lake will 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. Anglers reported that fishing for all species was slow.

El Vado Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. El Vado Lake is open for ice fishing at the Dam Day Use Area.

Fenton Lake: Opened to ice fishing. Fishing for trout was slow, with the best reports coming from anglers using pink jigs tipped with mealworms.

Heron Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. ​Heron Lake is open for ice fishing.

Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 12.3 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair using midge and beadhead nymph flies.

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: Closed until further notice.

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

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

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

San Juan River: Stream flow Monday morning was 397 cfs. In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good using small size 24 chocolate foam wing emergers, size 20 black zebra midges, size 22 crystal midges, black flashbacks, black Baetis fly patterns and small chartreuse egg patterns.

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 yellow and green PowerBait fished deep. Fishing for catfish was slow, but one angler reported catching a large catfish while fishing for trout using PowerBait. Reminder: the far north fishing pond is for children 12 years old and younger only.

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

Alumni Pond: Closed by NMSU due to COVID health concerns.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for trout was good using glitter garlic PowerBait and beadhead pheasant tail nymph flies.

Bill Evans Lake: Anglers reported that fishing for trout was slow using spinners and bait.

Caballo Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Elephant Butte Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Anglers reported fishing for all species was slow.

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

Gila River: Stream flow Monday morning was 52.4 cfs.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was very good using PowerBait in various colors and scents.

Percha Dam: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

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

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

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was .74 cfs.

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

Trees Lake: Fishing for trout was very good using PowerBait, salmon eggs, worms and spinners.

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

Alto Lake: Anglers reported the lake was limited to residents and to check openings before you go.

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

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga Monday morning was 8.26 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.

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

Bottomless Lakes: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

Brantley Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

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

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing for trout was fair using salmon eggs, cheese dough bait, nightcrawlers and PowerBait.

Corona Pond: Anglers reported that the lake was frozen.

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

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

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

Grindstone Reservoir: Anglers reported the lake was limited to residents and to check openings before you go.

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

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

Oasis Park Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for trout was fair to good using PowerBait and spoons.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 15.9 cfs.

Perch Lake: Fishing for trout was good using green and yellow PowerBait.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow Monday morning at Hollywood was 4.31 cfs.

Santa Rosa Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for walleye was good using Fuzz-E Grubs tipped with plastic minnows and five-inch paddle tail swimbaits. Fishing for bass was fair using five-inch paddle tail swimbaits.

Sumner Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.

While many folks trade in their fly rods for skis each winter, some wise anglers have learned that trout fishing in the winter months can be quite productive. Here are a few tips for winter fishing.

1) Find open water. Keep in mind that many of New Mexico’s mountain streams are covered in snow and ice this time of year. Though it may be t-shirt weather in Albuquerque, it’s still winter in the high country! Choose lower elevation rivers like the Chama, Rio Grande and San Juan.

2) Fish deep. While there can be some good dry fly fishing in the winter (especially on the San Juan), most trout will feed below the surface in the winter, often close to the bottom.

3) Fish slow. Cold water temperatures slow down fish metabolism in the winter and most trout will prefer to find slow water to feed in, where they do not have to use as much energy. And because trout are generally less aggressive, spend more time in these deep slower pools, fishing through a stretch slower than you would in the summer.

4) Fish small. Midges (very small insects) make up the majority of a trout’s winter diet. Use two nymphs, with one being bigger, heavier and more colorful. A second nymph should be more realistic. Small midge patterns can be effective. Since midges are small and hard to see, the bigger nymph may help attract fish to the smaller midge.