Fishing Line for Oct. 30, 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

Maryanne Montoya caught a 21-inch, 5-pound rainbow trout using Pink Lemonade PowerBait fishing off the bottom of Lake Maloya on her first cast of the evening on Oct. 24.

Patrick Goldbogen, 9, of Santa Fe, won first place in the Nambe Lake Fall Fishing Derby on Oct. 25, reeling in an 18¾-inch, 3-pound, 3-ounce rainbow trout using a Panther Martin spinner. Patrick has only been fishing since August, but has quickly become quite proficient and loves the sport.

Larry Bernstein caught a catfish at Cochiti Lake using a white fly on Oct. 23.

Frank Jaramillo caught four northern pike at Navajo Lake using a crankbait on Oct. 12.

Michelle S. Jaramillo snagged a kokanee at Navajo Lake on Oct. 18.

Austin Lujan, 7, of Los Lunas, caught five trout at Seven Springs Kids’ Pond using Rainbow PowerBait on Oct. 26.

Ray Padilla caught a catfish using carp and shad cut bait at Elephant Butte Lake on Oct. 18. He had also caught a pair of blue catfish weighing 14 and 16 pounds earlier that morning at Caballo Lake.

Vladimir Avina caught five crappie using white grubs at Elephant Butte Lake on Oct. 18.

Michael L. Pangburn caught a smallmouth bass on the Gila River using a nightcrawler jig on Oct. 15.

Valerie Wyatt caught five trout and one bluegill at Alto Lake using worms on Oct. 25.

Nathaniel Mascarenas caught five trout at Grindstone Reservoir using a black-and-orange Mepps spinner on Oct. 25.

Thomas Guzman and his wife caught five rainbow trout at Grindstone Reservoir using worms on Oct. 23.

Jason Harthorn, 11, caught this largemouth bass – the largest fish he has ever caught – using worms at Oasis Park Lake while fishing for bluegill on Oct. 24.

Jody Wolfe caught a flathead catfish using a ¼-ounce jig with a curly tail grub on 10-pound line while fishing for white bass at Sumner Lake on Oct. 25.

Scott Wolfe caught a flathead catfish using a ¼-ounce jig with a curly tail grub on 10-pound line while fishing for white bass at Sumner Lake on Oct. 25.

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 14.3 cubic feet per second (cfs). The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was good using a small black midge fly.

The most recent report for Eagle Nest Lake was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for Northern pike was slow using worms and salmon eggs. For updated lake conditions, 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.

The most recent report for Hopewell Lake was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was good to very good using grey bunny leeches, Joe’s flies and Green PowerBait.

Fishing for trout at Lake Maloya 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 77.1 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. The most recent report was received on Oct. 16. At that time, 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. 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 327 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was slow using flies, spinners and worms.

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

Streamflow on the Rio Mora near Terrero on Wednesday morning was 34.3 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Pueblo near Peñasco on Wednesday morning was 13.1 cfs.

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.

The most recent report for Ute Lake was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for white bass, smallmouth bass and walleye was fair to good using 3- and 4-inch Gulp minnows and Flicker Shad.

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, Lake Alice, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Morphy Lake, Red River Hatchery, Rio Costilla, Santa Cruz Reservoir, 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 623 cfs.

The most recent report for Bluewater Lake was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was good using PowerBait. 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 catfish at Cochiti Lake was slow using white flies.

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 Orange, Pink and Garlic PowerBait.

At the Jemez Waters, streamflow near Jemez on Wednesday morning was 17.1 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for trout was slow using worms and salmon eggs.

Fishing for northern pike at Navajo Lake 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 305 cfs.

Streamflow on the San Juan River near Archuleta on Wednesday morning was 367 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout in the bait waters was fair to good using salmon eggs.

Fishing for trout at Seven Springs Kids’ Pond was very good using Rainbow 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.

Fishing for trout at Trout Lakes 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.

Fishing for catfish at Elephant Butte Lake 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 51.2 cfs. Fishing for smallmouth bass was slow to fair using nightcrawler jigs.

Streamflow at the Gila Waters near Gila Hot Springs on Wednesday morning was 33.4 cfs.

The most recent report for Quemado Lake was received Oct. 9. At that time, fishing for trout was good using Pautzke Fire Balls.

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

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: Bill Evans Lake, Caballo Lake, Escondida Lake, Glenwood Pond, Lake Roberts, Percha Dam, Rancho Grande Ponds, Snow Lake and Trees Lake.

Southeast fishing report

Fishing for trout at Alto Lake 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 5.32 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.

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

The most recent report for Eunice Lake was received Oct. 23. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good using cherry Kool-Aid chicken breast.

Fishing for trout at Grindstone Reservoir 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.

Fishing for smallmouth bass at Oasis Park Lake was good using worms.

Streamflow on the Pecos River below Sumner Lake on Wednesday morning was 100 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 35.2 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.

Fishing for flathead catfish at Sumner Lake 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.