Fishing Line for Oct. 16, 2025

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Briana Paiz caught two rainbow trout, including an 18-incher, using worms below the Red River Hatchery on Oct. 13.

Kolt Henderson caught and released eight trout using flies on the Rio Chama below Abiquiú Dam on Oct. 9.

Christina R. caught some small catfish, a few crappies, one white bass and a monster smallmouth bass using worms at Elephant Butte Lake from the shore on Oct. 11.

Carmen Gonzales caught and released eight trout at Grindstone Reservoir using PowerBait on Oct. 12.

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 Charette Lakes was received Sept. 25. At that time, fishing for trout was good using silver-and-yellow Panther Martin spinners.

Streamflow on the Cimarron River near Cimarron on Wednesday morning was 13.4 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was fair to good using PowerBait.

The most recent report for Eagle Nest Lake was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was good using Garlic PowerBait and worms. For updated lake conditions and potential hazards, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

The most recent report for Harris Pond was received Oct. 9. At that time, fishing for catfish was good using roast beef.

Fishing for trout at Hopewell Lake was very good using Peach PowerBait.

The most recent report for Lake Maloya was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using Pink Lemonade PowerBait.

The most recent report for Monastery Lake was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for trout was good using nightcrawlers. 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 116 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using Pautzke Fire Balls.

Streamflow on the Red River below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 41.2 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was slow below the Red River Hatchery using worms.

The most recent report for Red River City Ponds was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using bead head nymphs and homemade dough bait.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 207 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using worms and Panther Martin spinners.

Streamflow on the Rio Hondo near Valdez on Wednesday morning was 17 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair using black and gold Panther Martin spinners.

Streamflow on the Rio Mora near Terrero on Wednesday morning was 38.2 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Pueblo near Peñasco on Wednesday morning was 14.4 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Shuree Ponds was fair to good using grasshopper-pattern and blowtorch flies.

Fishing for white bass, catfish and walleye at Ute Lake was fair to good when using 4-inch Gulp minnows on ⅜-inch jig heads.

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

Northwest fishing report

The most recent report for Abiquiú Lake was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for brown trout was fair to good using flies. 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 4,430 cfs.

Fishing for catfish at Bluewater Lake was slow to fair using hot dogs. Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information.

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 live nightcrawlers. 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 on Wednesday morning was 31.4 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for trout was good using midge-pattern dry flies on the San Antonio.

The most recent report for Lagunitas Lakes was received Sept. 25. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using black Woolly Buggers and Rooster Tails.

Fishing for northern pike at Navajo Lake was good using crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

The most recent report for Rio Cebolla was received Sept. 25. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using Adams dry flies below Fenton Lake.

Streamflow on the Rio Chama below El Vado Lake on Wednesday morning was 501 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiú Lake on Wednesday morning was 150 cfs. 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 106 cfs.

Streamflow on the San Juan River near Archuleta on Wednesday morning was 418 cfs. Fishing for trout was good at the Texas Hole using size-20 Parachute Adams flies.

If you catch a native Rio Grande chub at Seven Springs Kids’ 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 department received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Albuquerque Area Drains, Brazos River, Canjilon Lakes, Cochiti Lake, 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, 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 Bill Evans Lake was received Sept. 25. At that time, fishing for catfish was very good using jerky.

Fishing for catfish at Elephant Butte Lake was slow to fair using worms and minnows from the bank. Fishing for white bass, crappie and smallmouth bass was fair to good using worms and minnows from the bank.

The most recent report for Escondida Lake was received Sept. 25. At that time, fishing for catfish was very good using chicken livers.

Streamflow on the Gila River near Gila on Wednesday morning was 131 cfs.

Streamflow at the Gila Waters near Gila Hot Springs on Wednesday morning was 38.7 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Quemado Lake was good using Pautzke Fire Balls.

Streamflowon the Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good using worms in the San Marcial area.

The most recent report for Young Pond was received Oct. 9. 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: Caballo Lake, Glenwood Pond, Lake Roberts, Percha Dam, Rancho Grande Ponds, Snow Lake and Trees Lake.

Southeast fishing report

The most recent report for Alto Lake was received Oct. 9. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using Green PowerBait.

The most recent report for Bataan Lake was received Sept. 25. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow to fair using shrimp.

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

Streamflow on the Black River at Malaga on Wednesday morning was 13.9 cfs.

The most recent report for Bonito Lake was received Sept. 25. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair using PowerBait. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

Fishing for largemouth bass at Brantley Lake was fair to good using plastic crawdads.

The most recent report for Chaparral Park Lake was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good using chicken livers.

Fishing for trout at Grindstone Reservoir was very good using flies, PowerBait, Super Dupers 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.

Fishing for catfish at Lake Van was good using Cherry Kool-Aid-soaked gizzards.

Streamflow on the Pecos River below Sumner Lake on Wednesday morning was 61.6 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow to fair using hot dogs at Pecos River Park in Carlsbad.

Streamflow on the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 38.6 cfs. Fishing conditions will be adversely affected for an extended period of time due to recent flooding in the area.

The department received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Blue Hole Park Pond, Bosque Redondo Lake, Bottomless Lakes, Brantley Lake, Carlsbad Municipal Lake, 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, Lake Van, Ned Houk Ponds, Oasis Park Lake, Perch Lake, Rio Bonito, Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond, Santa Rosa Lake, Spring River Pond, Sumner Lake and Timberon Ponds.