Fishing Line for Nov. 6, 2025

A REEL CHANGE

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish wants to hear from you. Submit your latest New Mexico fishing adventure, or your catch of the week, at the department’s fishing and stocking report website, wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/weekly-report, and use the iFish form at the bottom of the page. For catches of the week include your name, age, hometown, date, location, type of fish, length and weight if possible, and bait, lure or fly used. Submissions received by 5 p.m. Monday will be considered for inclusion in that week’s fishing report.

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Larry Tafoya of Rio Rancho snagged eight kokanee salmon in a span of four hours at Eagle Nest Lake on Nov. 4.

Jacob Archuleta caught a brown trout on the Red River using a Panther Martin spinner on Oct. 26 below the Red River Hatchery.

Ukiah, 10, and Metolius Logsdon, 7, reeled in four trout at Santa Cruz Reservoir using Green PowerBait after hiking in on Nov. 3.

Donald Vang and his wife caught a total of nine walleye, along with 20 white bass, one bluegill and five channel catfish at Ute Lake using 4-inch Gulp minnows on ⅜-ounce jig heads and 2½-inch blade baits on Nov. 1.

Jeremy Pitts caught an 11-pound catfish at Bluewater Lake using chicken livers near the dam around 1 p.m. on Nov. 1.

Timothy Vojtech and Dave Flores caught a northern pike at Cochiti Lake using a minnow on a 5-foot fishing pole and 8-pound test line on Oct. 29.

Fay Evans-Martin caught and released 20 rainbow trout on the San Juan River using size-24 grey-and-black Big Mac flies on a 6x tippet while drifting on Oct. 23 in the quality waters.

Uriah “Rage” Lucero and his friends, all of Isleta Pueblo, each caught their limits of trout using PowerBait and pink worms at Seven Springs Kids’ Pond on Nov. 1 in celebration of Uriah’s birthday. The fish ranged in length from 11- to 14-inches, and Uriah was very excited to make fish tacos for his birthday.

Robert Perez caught several 4- and 5-pound largemouth bass at Eunice Lake using black and blue chatterbaits and soft plastic crawfish on Oct. 31, fishing in the dark after work.

Let the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish know how your fishing trip went with the iFish form: wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/weekly-report or email darren.vaughan@dgf.nm.gov

NOTES FROM GAME & FISH

Northeast fishing report

Streamflow on the Cimarron River near Cimarron on Wednesday morning was 12.9 cubic feet per second (cfs). The most recent report for was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was good using a small black midge fly.

Snagging for kokanee salmon at Eagle Nest Lake was very good. Fishing for rainbow trout was slow using flies and spoons from a boat. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

Fishing for trout at Hopewell Lake was slow using lures and very good using PowerBait and worms while bottom fishing.

The most recent report for Lake Maloya was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using Pink Lemonade PowerBait.

Monastery 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 56.2 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using Salmon Peach PowerBait.

Streamflow on the Red River below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 42.4 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was slow to fair using Panther Martin spinners.

The most recent report for Red River City Ponds was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using beadhead nymphs and homemade dough bait.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 764 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for brown trout was slow using flies, spinners and worms.

Streamflow on the Rio Hondo near Valdez on Wednesday morning was 13.6 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Mora near Terrero on Wednesday morning was 24.8 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Pueblo near Peñasco on Wednesday morning was 12.1 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Santa Cruz Reservoir was slow to fair using Green PowerBait.

The most recent report for Shuree Ponds was received on Oct. 16. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using grasshopper-pattern and blowtorch flies.

Fishing for walleye, white bass, bluegill and channel catfish was good using 4-inch Gulp minnows on ⅜-ounce jig heads and 2½-inch blade baits at Ute Lake.

The department received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Cabresto Lake, Clayton Lake, Charette Lakes, Conchas Lake, Cowles Ponds, Coyote Creek, Eagle Rock Lake, Gallinas River, Harris Pond, Lake Alice, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Morphy Lake, Red River Hatchery, Rio Costilla, Springer Lake, Storrie Lake and Stubblefield Lake.

Northwest fishing report

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 467 cfs.

Fishing for catfish at Bluewater Lake was slow to fair using chicken liver near the dam. Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information.

The most recent report for Canjilon Lakes was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was very good with nightcrawlers. Fishing for trout at the middle lake was slow using a Joe’s fly.

Fishing for northern pike at Cochiti Lake was very good using minnows.

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.

The most recent report for Fenton Lake was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for trout was good using Orange, Pink and Garlic PowerBait.

At the Jemez Waters, streamflow near the Village of Jemez Springs on Wednesday morning was 18.4 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was slow using worms and salmon eggs.

The most recent report for Navajo Lake was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for northern pike was good using crankbaits. Snagging for kokanee was slow to fair.

Streamflow on the Rio Chama below El Vado Lake on Wednesday morning was 105 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiú Lake on Wednesday morning was 61.1 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 16. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using flies below Abiquiú Lake. 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.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande at Albuquerque on Wednesday morning was 404 cfs.

Streamflow on the San Juan River near Archuleta on Wednesday morning was 362 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was very good using size-24 grey-and-black Big Mac flies on a 6x tippet in the quality waters.

Fishing for trout at Seven Springs Kids’ Pond was very good using PowerBait and pink 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 Trout Lakes was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using green Pistol Pete flies.

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, Lagunitas Lakes, Lake Farmington, Liam Knight Pond, McGaffey Lake, Rio Cebolla, Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1), San Gregorio Lake, Tiger Park Reservoir, Tingley Beach 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 Elephant Butte Lake was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow to fair using carp and shad cut bait. Fishing for crappie was good using white grubs.

Streamflow on the Gila River near Gila on Wednesday morning was 57.3 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was slow to fair using nightcrawler jigs.

Streamflow at the Gila Waters near Gila Hot Springs on Wednesday morning was 34.1 cfs.

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

The department received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Bill Evans Lake, Caballo Lake, Escondida Lake, Glenwood Pond, Lake Roberts, Percha Dam, Quemado Lake, Rancho Grande Ponds, Snow Lake, Trees Lake and Young Pond.

Southeast fishing report

The most recent report for Alto Lake was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for trout was good using worms.

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

Streamflow on the Black River at Malaga on Wednesday morning was 4.37 cfs.

The most recent report for Blue Hole Park Pond was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair using Whopper Ploppers.

Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

The most recent report for Brantley Lake was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good using plastic crawdads.

Fishing for largemouth bass at Eunice Lake was very good using black and blue chatterbaits and soft plastic crawfish.

The most recent report for Grindstone Reservoir was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using orange-and-black Mepps spinners and worms. 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 Oasis Park Lake was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was good using worms.

Streamflow on the Pecos River below Sumner Lake on Wednesday morning was 0.25 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 Santa Rosa Lake was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good using crankbait.

The most recent report for Sumner Lake was received Oct. 30. At that time, fishing for flathead catfish was good using ¼-ounce jigs with curly tail grubs.

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