Fishing Line for Aug. 21, 2025

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Paityn Chavez of Santa Rosa caught four largemouth bass at Conchas Lake using a poor house curly tail on Aug. 9. Paityn has been fishing since she was 4 years old, and her father describes her as a natural.

Carl Ortiz caught a tiger muskie using a small, light blue spinner at Bluewater Lake on a boat near the dam on Aug. 13.

Austyn Riley of Laguna Pueblo caught five trout at Glenwood Pond using PowerBait on Aug. 16.

Colton Skipworth caught a 15-inch trout at Bonito Lake using worms on Aug. 8. The fish broke his line as he reeled him in, so his grandfather had to catch the fish with his hands before it went back into the lake.

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

NOTES FROM GAME & FISH

Northeast fishing report

Fishing for trout at Cabresto Lake was very good using purple haze and Adams flies.

Streamflow on the Cimarron River near Cimarron on Wednesday morning was 10.3 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Fishing for largemouth bass at Conchas Lake was very good using poor house curly tails.

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

The most recent report for Eagle Nest Lake was received Aug. 14. At that time, fishing for kokanee 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.

Fishing for trout at Hopewell Lake was fair to good using Thomas Buoyant lures.

The most recent report for Monastery Lake was received Aug. 14. At that time, fishing for trout 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 the property.

Streamflow on the Pecos River near Pecos on Wednesday morning was 80.4 cfs. The most recent report for was received Aug. 14. At that time, 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 30.6 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.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 199 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Hondo near Valdez on Wednesday morning was 9.73 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Mora near Terrero on Wednesday morning was 24.2 cfs.

The most recent report for the Rio Pueblo was received Aug. 14. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair using dry flies. Streamflow near Peñasco on Wednesday morning was 10.6 cfs.

The most recent report for the Santa Barbara River was received Aug. 14. At that time, fishing for trout was slow using Trout Magnet grubs.

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

Fishing for trout at Shuree Ponds was slow to fair using flies.

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

Northwest fishing report

The most recent report for Abiquiú Lake was received Aug. 14. At that time, fishing for walleye was good using spinners. Contact the Abiquiú Lake Main Office at 505-685-4371 for updated lake conditions and closure information.

Fishing for catfish at Albuquerque Area Drains was slow to fair using chicken breast with Jell-O.

Streamflow on the Animas River below Aztec on Wednesday morning was 46.9 cfs.

Fishing for tiger muskie at Bluewater Lake was good using Whopper Ploppers and slow using small, light blue spinners. Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information.

Fishing for trout at Canjilon Lakes was slow using spoons and Kastmasters, though it was reported that one angler caught a trout using a live grasshopper.

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 slow to fair 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 5.49 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.

Fishing for northern pike at Navajo Lake was fair to good using 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 99.8 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiú Lake on Wednesday morning was 117 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 976 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was fair to good using red worms in the bait section and very good using mouse rat flies in the quality waters. Fishing for rainbow trout was slow to fair using red worms and salmon eggs in the bait section.

Fishing for trout at Seven Springs Kids’ Pond was fair to good using worms. 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: 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 boat ramp at Caballo Lake has been closed and use of motorized boats is prohibited because of low water levels. Visit Caballo Lake State Park’s website for more information. The most recent report for was received July 31. Fishing for white bass was fair to good using shad, shallow-diving minnows and worms.

The most recent report for Elephant Butte Lake was received Aug. 14. At that time, fishing for white bass 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 to fair using hot dogs with Kool-Aid.

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 20.0 cfs.

At the Gila Waters, streamflow near Gila Hot Springs on Wednesday morning was 36.4 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Glenwood Pond was very good using PowerBait.

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

Fishing for brown trout at Percha Dam was fair to good using worms.

Fishing for trout at Quemado Lake was slow to fair using Garlic PowerBait.

The most recent report for Rancho Grande Ponds was received Aug. 14. At that time, fishing for catfish 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 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, Snow Lake and Trees 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 72 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Bonito Lake was good using worms. 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 Green Meadow Lake was received Aug. 14. At that time, fishing for bass was fair to good using lures.

The most recent report for Grindstone Reservoir was received Aug. 14. At that time, fishing for trout 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.

The most recent report for Lake Van was received Aug. 14. At that time, fishing for catfish was good using hot dogs.

The most recent report for Oasis Park Lake was received Aug. 14. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow to fair using stink bait.

Streamflow on the Pecos River below Sumner Lake on Wednesday morning was 121 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 33.1 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, Chaparral Park Lake, 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.