Fishing Line for Aug. 14, 2025

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Maxx Dennis, 5, of Santa Fe, caught his personal-best trout using a Pistol Pete at Monastery Lake on Aug. 8.

Ashley Gonzales caught a trout — her first fish — using a worm at Fenton Lake on Aug. 9.

Angelo caught his first catfish at Elephant Butte Lake using blood bait on Aug. 8.

Robert Holcomb and his group caught 11 trout using Rainbow PowerBait and Pistol Pete red tails at Grindstone Reservoir on Aug. 9.

If you have a catch of the week story, send it to funfishingnm@gmail.com.

NOTES FROM GAME & FISH

Northeast fishing report

The most recent report for Cabresto Lake was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using a variety of dry flies.

The most recent report for Charette Lakes was received July 24. At that time, fishing for trout was good using Garlic PowerBait and silver spinners.

Water levels on the Cimarron River are extremely low. Streamflow near Cimarron on Wednesday morning was 3.75 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Fishing for smallmouth bass at Conchas Lake was slow using green-and-yellow spoons.

The most recent report for Cowles Ponds was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for trout was slow using PowerBait.

Fishing for kokanee at Eagle Nest Lake was slow using Kokanee Killers. For updated lake conditions and potential hazards, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

Gallinas River was recently stocked the first time since the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.

The most recent report for Harris Pond was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for catfish was good using dough balls.

The most recent report for Hopewell Lake was received July 31. At that time, fishing for trout was good using Pistol Petes and PowerBait.

The most recent report for Lake Maloya was received July 24. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using lures.

Fishing for trout at Monastery Lake was good using Pistol Petes and natural bait. The lake is part of the Department’s Open Gate Program. Please visit our website for more information about this property.

Streamflow on the Pecos River near Pecos on Wednesday morning was 77.1 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow using a variety of dry flies.

Streamflow on the Red River below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 26.3 cfs.

The most recent report for Red River City Ponds was received July 31. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using Velveeta cheese.

The most recent report for Red River Hatchery was received July 24. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was good using Green PowerBait.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 220 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Hondo near Valdez on Wednesday morning was 10.2 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Mora near Terrero on Wednesday morning was 27.3 cfs.

Fishing for trout on the Rio Pueblo was slow to fair using dry flies. Streamflow near Peñasco Wednesday morning was 12.1 cfs.

Fishing for trout on the Santa Barbara River was slow using Trout Magnet grubs.

The most recent report for the Santa Cruz Reservoir was received July 31. At that time, fishing for trout was slow using PowerBait and spinners.

The most recent report for Shuree Ponds was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for trout was good using elk-hair caddis flies and red and olive zebra midges.

The most recent report for Storrie Lake was received July 24. At that time, fishing for trout was good using Panther Martin spinners.

The most recent report for Stubblefield Lake was received July 24. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good using cut bait.

The most recent report for Ute Lake was received July 24. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good using Berkley Stunner jerkbaits.

The department received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Clayton Lake, Costilla Creek, Coyote Creek, Eagle Rock Lake, Lake Alice, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Morphy Lake and Springer Lake.

Northwest fishing report

Fishing for walleye at Abiquiú Lake was good using spinners. Contact the Abiquiú Lake Main Office at 505-685-4371 for updated lake conditions and closure information.

Streamflow on the Animas River below Aztec on Wednesday morning was 5.98 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Bluewater Lake was slow using worms, PowerBait, chicken liver, hot dogs and shrimp. Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information.

Fishing for trout at Canjilon Lakes was good using dry flies.

The most recent report for Cochiti Lake was received July 31. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was slow using red-and-white Dardevle lures. Fishing for northern pike was fair to good using white crankbaits.

El Vado Lake is open to boating and angling with a primitive boat ramp available at the Dam Day Use Area, as well as the main (concrete) boat ramp and courtesy dock at El Vado Lake State Park. For more information, visit El Vado Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-588-7247.

Fishing for trout at Fenton Lake was good using worms and slow using Garlic PowerBait. Visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-829-3630 for updates.

At the Jemez Waters, streamflow near the Village of Jemez Springs on Wednesday morning was 3.89 cfs.

The most recent report for Lagunitas Lakes was received July 31. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using Rainbow PowerBait and worms.

The most recent report for Navajo Lake was received July 31. At that time, fishing for northern pike was fair to good using green Rooster Tails, spinners, stuffed rat topwater lures and shallow-diving crankbaits.

The most recent report for the Rio Chama was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using black nymph flies above El Vado Lake. Streamflow below El Vado Lake on Wednesday morning was 103 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiú Lake on Wednesday morning was 196 cfs. Please remember, from the river-crossing bridge on U.S. Highway 84 at Abiquiú upstream 7 miles to the base of Abiquiú Dam is special trout waters with a bag limit of only two trout.

Rio Grande is currently dry through Albuquerque.

Streamflow on the San Juan River near Archuleta on Wednesday morning was 1,030 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Seven Springs Kids’ Pond was fair to good using Peach PowerBait. If you catch a native Rio Grande chub in the Kid’s Pond, please do not leave it on the bank; return it to the water where it can survive as part of our native ecosystem.

The most recent report for Tingley Beach was received July 31. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow to fair using magic bait, chicken liver and dough bait.

The department received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Albuquerque Area Drains, Brazos River, Grants Riverwalk Pond, Heron Lake, Jackson Lake, Laguna del Campo, Lake Farmington, Liam Knight Pond, McGaffey Lake, Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1), San Gregorio Lake, Tiger Park Reservoir and Trout Lakes.

Southwest fishing report

Fishing conditions at Bear Canyon Lake have been adversely affected in the aftermath of the Trout Fire.

The most recent report for Caballo Lake was received July 31. Fishing for white bass was fair to good using shad, shallow-diving minnows and worms.

Fishing for white bass at Elephant Butte Lake was very good using topwater Whopper Ploppers. Fishing for catfish was slow to fair using blood bait.

Fishing for catfish at Escondida Lake was slow using chicken liver, shrimp, worms and stink bait.

The most recent report for the Gila River was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for Gila trout was very good using elk-hair caddis flies near the Catwalk. Streamflow near Gila on Wednesday morning was 20.7 cfs.

Streamflow at the Gila Waters near Gila Hot Springs on Wednesday morning was 37.2 cfs.

The most recent report for Lake Roberts was received July 31. At that time, fishing for catfish was good using stink bait.

Fishing for catfish at Rancho Grande Ponds was good using chicken liver and worms.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0 cfs.

The most recent report for Trees Lake was received July 24. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good using chicken liver.

The most recent report for Young Pond was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for bluegill was very good using hot dogs and shrimp.

The department received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Bill Evans Lake, Glenwood Pond, Percha Dam, Quemado Lake and Snow Lake.

Southeast fishing report

The most recent report for Bataan Lake was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good using special-made bait.

Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on Berrendo Creek.

Streamflow on the Black River at Malaga on Wednesday morning was 103 cfs.

Fishing for brook trout at Bonito Lake was good using PowerBait. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

The most recent report for Brantley Lake was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was good using nightcrawlers.

The most recent report for Carlsbad Municipal Lake was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for catfish was good using nightcrawlers.

The most recent report for Chaparral Park Lake was received July 24. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good using cut chicken breasts covered in Kool-Aid.

Fishing for bass at Green Meadow Lake was fair to good using lures.

The most recent report for Greene Acres Lake was received July 24. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good using shrimp.

Fishing for trout at Grindstone Reservoir was very good using Rainbow PowerBait and Pistol Pete red tails. Grindstone Reservoir is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildlife impact closures, please see the Grindstone Reservoir Webpage before planning a visit.

Fishing for catfish at Lake Van was good using hot dogs.

The most recent report for Lower Transill Reservoir was received July 24. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was good using small crankbaits in the pool below the dam.

Fishing for catfish at Oasis Park Lake was slow to fair using stink bait.

Streamflow on the Pecos River below Sumner Lake on Wednesday morning was 107 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 25.7 cfs. Fishing conditions will be adversely affected for an extended period of time due to recent flooding in the area.

The most recent report for Sumner Lake was received Aug. 7. At that time, anglers reported good conditions for carp fishing.

The department received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Alto Lake, Blue Hole Park Pond, Bosque Redondo Lake, Bottomless Lakes, Corona Pond, Dennis Chavez Pond, Estancia Park Lake, Eunice Lake, Green Meadow Lake, Greene Acres Lake, Harry McAdams Park Pond, Jal Lake, Ned Houk Ponds, Perch Lake, Rio Bonito, Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond, Santa Rosa Lake, Spring River Pond and Timberon Ponds.