Weekly Fishing & Stocking Report
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This fishing report, provided by Dustin Berg of www.gounlimited.org (“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.
There will be fewer reports available during the cooler seasons when fishing slows. The department will make every effort to provide as much information as possible during the winter months.
Tuesday 3-21-2023
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Catch of the Week
Alto Lake: Analeigh Tapia, age 6, of Santa Fe caught a 14-inch rainbow trout using PowerBait March 12.
Elephant Butte Lake: Alex Flores of Las Cruces caught a 16-pound flathead catfish using shad cut bait March 15. Kris Flores of Las Cruces caught an 18-pound striper using shad cut bait March 15. Hayden, Ira, Cheyvonne and Scott Trowbridge of Chinle, Arizona, caught a 41-pound blue catfish using cut shad bait March 14. Justin Alford of Albuquerque caught and released a 7-pound largemouth bass using a black-and-silver, square-billed crankbait March 12. Max Maldonado, age 12, of El Paso, Texas, caught a 4-pound, 8.6-ounce smallmouth bass using a silver-and-blue Rapala lure March 11.
Lake Roberts: Emmy Valles, age 6, of Silver City caught a 14-inch rainbow trout using a rainbow-pattern spoon March 18. Noah Valles, age 9, of Rio Rancho caught a 12-inch rainbow trout using a crawdad-pattern lure March 18.
Morphy Lake: Jonathan Newman of Fort Worth, Texas, caught and released a 21-inch rainbow trout using a brown-trout-pattern Thomas spoon March 13.
Ned Houk Ponds: Lilee Peacock, age 8, of Clovis caught her first fish, and a total of four trout, using salmon-peach PowerBait March 14.
Pecos River: Virginia Chavez of Los Lunas caught a 25-inch rainbow trout using worms March 19.
Rio Chama: Nate Kornetzke of Albuquerque caught a 17-inch brown trout using an articulating black streamer fly below Abiquiu Lake March 15.
San Juan River: Jared Fishburn of Farmington caught an 18-inch brown trout using a size-20, red annelid fly March 14.
Tingley Beach: Joseph Vigil of Albuquerque caught an 18-inch rainbow trout using salmon-peach PowerBait March 14.
Ute Lake: Ryan Fought of Tucumcari caught a 4-pound walleye using a Rough Neck Tackle Green Craw March 13. Jayden LeClear, age 16, of Clovis caught a 25-inch, 6-pound walleye using a crankbait March 3.
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. Fish weights and measurements are provided by the angler and printed here as received.
New Mexico Bass & Trout Challenge
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Archive Links
Recent Weekly Fishing Reports:
March 14 | March 7 |Feb. 28 | Feb. 21 | Feb. 14 | Feb. 7 | Jan. 31 | Jan. 24 | Jan. 17 | Jan. 10 |
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Weekly Stocking Reports
Fishing Conditions & Trip Planner
The Department’s new 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. 
Lake Levels & Streamflow
Lake levels for the latest water storage reports for New Mexico reservoirs (USDA website).
River and streamflow for New Mexico provided by USGS.
Fishing Publications
NMDGF Fisheries Management Plan 2022
Angler Satisfaction Survey 2021
Angler Satisfaction Survey 2020
Angler Satisfaction Survey 2019
See more NMDGF Publications including New Mexico Wildlife magazine http://magazine.wildlife.state.nm.us.
Record Fish Information
Fish Donation Certificate
Use the following if you give fish, game meat, or parts of game animals to an individual: Possession Certificate.
Northeast
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 not measured due to ice.
Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and PowerBait.
Conchas Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Costilla Creek: The Valle Vidal is closed to fishing until July.
Cowles Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Coyote Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Eagle Nest Lake: Lake surface is closed to all activities due to deteriorating ice conditions. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.
Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Gallinas River: National Forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at 505-438-5300 for the latest closure information.
Hopewell Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Alice: Closed due to unsafe ice conditions.
Lake Maloya: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Maxwell Lake 13: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Monastery Lake: The lake has been freshly stocked with trout and reopened for fishing. The Benedictine Monastery Lake is part of the Department’s Open Gate Program. Please visit our website for more information about this property.
Morphy Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Thomas spoons.
Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Monday morning was 62 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and olive Woolly Bugger flies.
Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 50 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow when using streamer flies, Woolly Bugger flies and San Juan worm flies. Fishing for trout at the hatchery was slow to fair when using egg-pattern flies and Kastmaster lures.
Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 619 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using PowerBait and nightcrawler worms.
Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Monday morning was not measured due to ice.
Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was not measured due to ice.
Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was not measured due to ice. Fishing for trout was good when using pink and purple nymph flies.
Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using bright-yellow PowerBait.
Shuree Ponds: Closed to fishing until July.
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 walleye was slow to fair when using crawdad-pattern jigs and crankbaits. Fishing for white bass was slow when vertical jigging using jigging spoons and Berkley Gulp Minnows. Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass was slow when using crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Fishing for crappie was fair to good when using live minnows at night with lights in 15-20 feet of water. The main lake water surface temperature was in the upper 40 F range, and the water was clear.
Northwest
Abiquiu Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec Monday morning was 369 cfs.
Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon eggs and peach PowerBait.
Bluewater Lake: Fishing for all species was slow.
Brazos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Canjilon Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Cochiti Lake: Fishing for crappie and pike was fair to good when using white swimbaits. Fishing for catfish was good when using nightcrawler worms and chicken liver.
El Vado Lake: Closed due to dam construction project. For more information, visit El Vado Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-588-7247.
Fenton Lake: Due to deteriorating and dangerous ice conditions, Fenton Lake is now closed for ice fishing. Going onto the ice or throwing objects onto the ice is strictly prohibited. The park will remain open for day use and camping. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-829-3630.
Grants Riverwalk Pond: The city is in the final stages of repairs; stocking will resume soon.
Heron Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Monday morning was 122 cfs. Fishing for trout above Fenton Lake was fair to good when using pink Trout Magnet lures. Due to the rising popularity of fishing in Valles Caldera National Preserve, the National Park Service will begin charging a fee for its fishing permits starting April 1, 2023 to support the management of its fishing program. The new fee schedule will be $20 for an annual pass ($10 for youth 12-17) and $5 for a 7-day pass ($3 for youth 12-17). A State of New Mexico fishing license is also required to fish within Valles Caldera. For more information visit www.nps.gov/vall.
Laguna del Campo: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lagunitas Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week.
McGaffey Lake: Stocking efforts have been suspended due to extremely low water levels and unstable ground conditions. Lake conditions will be monitored and stocking will resume once conditions improve.
Navajo Lake: Fishing for pike was fair when using large streamer flies and jerkbaits.
Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Monday morning was 226 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Monday morning was 491 cfs. Anglers reported the water clarity below El Vado Lake was murky. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was good when using black streamer 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.
Rio Grande: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1): We had no reports from anglers this week.
San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Monday morning was 289 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was fair to good when using midge-pattern flies and red annelid flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters section was fair to good when using PowerBait and black-and-gold Panther Martin spinners.
Seven Springs Brood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Tiger Park Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using olive, beadhead streamer flies.
Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout was good when using homemade salmon-peach PowerBait. Fishing for trout in the catch-and-release pond was good when using black-and-olive, leech-pattern flies.
Trout Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Southwest
Alumni Pond: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using chunky cheese PowerBait, Velveeta cheese and black Pistol Pete spinner flies. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using gold, gray and green streamer flies.
Bear Canyon Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Bill Evans Lake: The department is conducting a boater and angler improvement project at Bill Evans Lake from February to April. Improvements include the installation of a new concrete boat ramp and dock; improvements to the existing boat ramp; the installation of rock, fishing jetties; road improvements; and re-grading the north camping access area. Anglers should expect road and lake closures during construction. For current conditions, contact the department’s Fisheries Management Division at 505-476-8055. Anglers are encouraged to visit surrounding lakes such as Bear Canyon Lake, Lake Roberts and Trees Lake for alternate fishing locations.
Caballo Lake: Fishing for crappie and white bass was fair when using curly-tail grubs.
Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using black-and-silver, square-billed crankbaits and silver-and-blue Rapala lures. Fishing for white bass was fair to good when using small, chartreuse jig heads with soft plastic baits and white, weighted black-streamer flies. Fishing for striped bass was fair when using small swimbaits with a jig head. Fishing for crappie was good when using small, dark-colored jigs and live minnows. Fishing for catfish was good when using live minnows and cut bait.
Escondida Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon-peach PowerBait.
Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Monday morning was 796cfs.
Glenwood Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon eggs and orange PowerBait.
Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was good when using rainbow-pattern spoons, yellow-and-black Panther Martin spinners, crawdad-pattern lures and nymph flies from a boat. Fishing for trout was fair when using PowerBait from the shore.
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 all species was slow.
Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Monday morning was 0 cfs. Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using cut bait near Elephant Butte Lake.
Snow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Trees Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and worms.
Young Pond: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using corn, midge-pattern flies and black-and-white streamer flies.
Southeast
Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.
Bataan Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Berrendo Creek: Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using red-and-black Senko worms.
Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 5 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: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using green PowerBait.
Brantley Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using lime-green PowerBait.
Chaparral Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Corona Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Eunice Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using corn-flavored PowerBait.
Green Meadow Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using worms fished beneath a bobber.
Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using marshmallows, garlic PowerBait and salmon-peach PowerBait.
Harry McAdams Park Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using homemade dough bait. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using purple, plastic worms and creature baits.
Lake Van: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.
Ned Houk Ponds: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon-peach PowerBait.
Oasis Park Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.
Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 41 cfs.
Perch Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Bonito: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood Monday morning was 41 cfs.
Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Santa Rosa Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Sumner Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Timberon Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Tips and Tricks
Spring Walleye Fishing is Starting to Get Good
We are starting to see reports of successful walleye anglers trickle in from down south and out east at Elephant Butte and Ute lakes. This is a sure sign that it will not be long before spring walleye fishing is in full effect. If you know, you know! Walleye is some of the finest-eating fish available. If you haven’t had the pleasure of fishing for walleye, here are some tips for catching them in the months of March, April and May.
- Starting in March, walleye move into shallow water (5-10 feet deep) for their annual spawn. If I were fishing for walleye, I would cast a perch-pattern, 4-inch jerk bait along rocky/gravel shorelines. Also, I’d try chartreuse, curly-tail grubs.
- Another method to try from March to May is casting or trolling deeper-diving crankbaits lures such as Berkley Flicker Shad, Reef Runner, Walleye Diver and Bomber lures. You don’t want to fish these lures too shallow because they will inevitably become snagged due to their diving nature. Try using these lures in water that is between 10-20 feet deep.
The key to fishing for walleye in March is to fish around rocky/gravel banks. This is where they like to spawn, and they will be moving in and out of these areas until some point in April. By the end of April, the walleye are typically done spawning and can be found off of those rocky points, on the edge of brushy ledges and essentially where the bait fish are located. This is because the walleye are recouping spent energy from the spawn and feeding is a priority.
Let us know how your fishing trip goes! Share your tips and tricks with your fellow anglers by emailing us at funfishingnm@gmail.com and let’s help the next generation of anglers find success.
Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community!
