Fishing Line for Oct. 2, 2025

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Jonathon Litefoot and his friends combined to catch 15 rainbow trout at Eagle Nest Lake using Garlic PowerBait and worms on Sept. 25.

Thomas E. Chrobocinski caught, photographed and released 40 trout ranging in length from 10-21 inches at Hopewell Lake using Joe’s flies on Sept. 23.

Maryanne Montoya caught a 23-inch, 5.8-pound trout at Lake Maloya using Pink Lemonade PowerBait on Sept. 26.

Sam L. had a successful day of trout fishing on the Pecos River using worms on Sept. 21.

Robert Ortiz caught and released multiple brown, brook and rainbow trout on the Red River using hand-tied flies in the town of Red River on Sept. 19.

Robert and Madison caught and released 20-plus trout using bead head nymphs and homemade dough bait at Red River City Ponds on Sept. 19. It was Robert’s first time fly fishing and the first time using Madison’s new bait rod.

Seth Hardy caught and released several rainbow trout, cutbows and brown trout, including a 23-inch rainbow, on the Rio Grande using an olive-colored, self-tied streamer fly on Sept. 27.

Roberto Trujillo caught a trout on his last cast of the day on the Rio Hondo using a black and gold Panther Martin spinner on Sept. 28.

Larry Bernstein caught his first brown trout using a fly on Sept. 9, his first time fishing at Abiquiú Lake.

Jeremy Pitts caught a monster tiger muskie at Bluewater Lake using a chartreuse spinnerbait on Sept. 30. “When I hooked this, I knew this was potentially a record, but wanted it to live,” he said. “So I marked its length on the boat, and later measured it at 46.5 inches. It was over 30 pounds, as I had to wrestle with it. I’m glad it’s still swimming around!” The state-record tiger muskie was caught at Bluewater Lake in 2012 by Justin Easley, and measured 46 inches in length and 31 pounds, 14 ounces in weight.

Elijah Salazar caught six trout at Fenton Lake using black-and-red zebra midges on Sept. 22.

Gio caught five trout, with the largest measuring 18.5 inches, using a dry fly at Fenton Lake on his first fly-fishing adventure with his uncle on Sept. 28.

Mary Acosta had a successful day of trout fishing at Fenton Lake using Garlic and Salmon Peach PowerBait on Sept. 19.

Gabriela Lopez Escobedo caught and released 15 trout on the San Antonio at the Jemez Waters using midge-pattern dry flies on Sept. 24.

Rick Lamery caught a brown trout on the San Juan River using PowerBait PowerEggs on Sept. 26. He used two white eggs and one red egg.

Austyn Riley caught his limit of trout using Pautzke Fire Balls at Quemado Lake on Sept. 28 while taking part in the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s Family Small Game Hunting Camp.

Daniel Flores and his son went on their first fishing trip together on Sept. 17, and the younger Flores was the first to catch something, reeling in a catfish on the Pecos River using a hot dog on Sept. 17.

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).

The most recent report for Cowles Ponds was received Sept. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using worms.

The most recent report for Coyote Creek was received Sept. 11. At that time, fishing for trout was good using spinners.

Fishing for rainbow trout at Eagle Nest Lake was good using Garlic PowerBait and worms. The New Mexico Environment Department has reported a potentially harmful algae bloom at the lake and the public is advised to take precautions, including keeping pets out of the water and avoiding swimming in the algae bloom. Visit the New Mexico Environment Department’s News Releases page for more information.

Fishing for trout at Hopewell Lake was very good using Joe’s flies.

Fishing for trout at Lake Maloya was very good using Pink Lemonade PowerBait.

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

The most recent report for Morphy Lake was received Sept. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using Salmon Peach PowerBait.

Streamflow on the Pecos River near Pecos on Wednesday morning was 69.2 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using worms.

Streamflow on the Red River below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 36.3 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was fair to good using hand-tied flies in the town of Red River.

Fishing for trout at Red River City Ponds was very good using bead head nymphs and homemade dough bait.

The most recent report for Rio Costilla was received Sept. 11. Fishing for trout was slow using size 16-18 bead head Baetis Nymph flies past the fish barrier.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 191 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was slow to fair using black and gold Panther Martin spinners. Fishing for rainbow trout was good using dry flies, streamer flies and nymphs. Fishing for bass was good using yellow-body Panther Martin spinners.

Streamflow on the Rio Hondo near Valdez on Wednesday morning was 13 cfs. 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 26 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Pueblo near Peñasco on Wednesday morning was 13.4 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir is currently closed. For more information, please visit the Bureau of Land Management’s website.

The most recent report for Storrie Lake was received Sept. 11. Fishing for bluegill was good using worms.

The most recent report for Ute Lake was received Sept. 25. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow using jig heads with 3-inch Gulp minnows.

The department received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Cabresto Lake, Clayton Lake, Conchas Lake, Eagle Rock Lake, Gallinas River, Harris Pond, Lake Alice, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Red River Hatchery, Shuree Ponds, Springer Lake and Stubblefield Lake.

Northwest fishing report

Fishing for brown trout at Abiquiú Lake 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 182 cfs.

Fishing for tiger muskie at Bluewater Lake was slow using chartreuse spinnerbaits. Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information.

The most recent report for Canjilon Lakes was received Sept. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using a variety of flies and lures.

The most recent report for Cochiti Lake was received Sept. 11. Fishing for northern pike was slow to fair using frogs.

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 dry flies and black-and-red zebra midges and slow to fair using Garlic and Salmon 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 14.8 cfs. 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.

The most recent report for Navajo Lake was received Sept. 18. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was slow to fair using Whopper Ploppers and good using worms.

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 97.1 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiú Lake on Wednesday morning was 27.7 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.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande at Albuquerque on Wednesday morning was 81.6 cfs.

Streamflow on the San Juan River near Archuleta on Wednesday morning was 603 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was good in the bait section using PowerBait PowerEggs.

The most recent report for Seven Springs Kids’ Pond was received Sept. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using black Woolly Buggers. 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 Sept. 18. At that time, fishing for bluegill was slow to fair using Siberian Titan Salmon Eggs.

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 Bill Evans Lake was received Sept. 25. At that time, fishing for catfish was very good using jerky.

Caballo Lake is now open to motorized boat use and the boat ramp has reopened, as water levels have returned to normal after work to remove excessive debris from the dam’s intake structure. Visit Caballo Lake State Park’s website for more information.

The most recent report for Elephant Butte Lake was received Sept. 25. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was good using live minnows. Fishing for catfish was good using worms and minnows. Fishing for white bass, walleye, drum and crappie was fair to good using 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 42.2 cfs.

At the Gila Waters, streamflow near Gila Hot Springs on Wednesday morning was 32 cfs.

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

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0 cfs. Fishing for catfish was fair to good using worms in the San Marcial area.

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

Southeast fishing report

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 14.2 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 catfish at Chaparral Park Lake was fair to good using chicken livers.

The most recent report for Eunice Lake was received Sept. 18. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good using Megabass and Yozuri jerkbaits.

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 slow using worms.

Streamflow on the Pecos River below Sumner Lake on Wednesday morning was 98.8 cfs. 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 42.7 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 Santa Rosa Lake was received Sept. 11. Fishing for walleye was good using green spoons. Fishing for largemouth bass was very good using “anything green.”

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, 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, Oasis Park Lake, Perch Lake, Rio Bonito, Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond, Spring River Pond, Sumner Lake and Timberon Ponds.