Fishing Line for Sept. 18, 2025

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Arrow, 5, was ecstatic after catching his first trout at Cowles Ponds using worms on Sept. 13.

Hugo Melchor, of El Paso, caught and released 12 trout at Hopewell Lake using hand-tied jig flies on Sept. 6.

Lilly Lovato, 9, caught a trout at Morphy Lake using Salmon Peach PowerBait on Sept. 5.

Stephanie Johnson caught five rainbow trout on the Red River using worms below the Red River Hatchery on Sept. 12.

Seth Hardy caught and released several brown and rainbow trout, including this 18-inch rainbow, using an olive sled-tied streamer fly on the on Sept. 11 on the Rio Grande near Questa.

Larry Orona caught and released 10 trout at Canjilon Lakes using a variety of flies and lures on Sept. 5.

Hugo Melchor, of El Paso, caught and released 25 trout at Fenton Lake using hand-tied jig flies on Sept. 4.

Tessa caught a trout at Fenton Lake using PowerBait on her first cast during her first-ever fishing trip on Sept. 6.

Loren Worthen caught a largemouth bass at Navajo Lake using a Whopper Plopper on Sept. 13.

David Ivey caught and released 10 brown trout on the San Juan River using a Baetis WD-40 fly on Sept. 12.

Lincoln Gill caught 14 trout at Seven Springs Kids’ Pond in less than two hours using black Woolly Buggers for his first time fly fishing on Sept. 14.

Jackson Martinez caught his personal-best bluegill at Tingley Beach using Siberian Titan Salmon Eggs on Sept. 8.

Tony Pistilli and his group of five had a great day catching white bass at Elephant Butte Lake using spoons on Sept. 11.

Robert Perez caught four largemouth bass at Eunice Lake using Megabass and Yozuri jerkbaits on Sept. 14.

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 from Cabresto Lake was received Aug. 28. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using olive bead head caddis flies.

Fishing for trout at Charette Lakes was very good using worms.

Streamflow on the Cimarron River near Cimarron on Wednesday morning was 12.5 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Fishing for trout at Cowles Ponds was very good using worms.

The most recent report for Coyote Creek was received Sept. 11. Fishing for trout was good using spinners.

The New Mexico Environment Department has reported a potentially harmful algae bloom at the Eagle Nest Lake and the public is advised to take precautions, including keeping pets out of the water and avoiding swimming in the algae bloom. For updated lake conditions and potential hazards, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

Fishing for trout at Hopewell Lake was very good using hand-tied jig flies.

The most recent report for Lake Maloya was received Aug. 28. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using PowerBait Mice Tails and Pistol Pete flies.

The most recent report for Monastery Lake was received Aug. 28. At that time, fishing for trout was slow using worms and Pistol Petes. The lake is part of the Department’s Open Gate Program. Please visit our website for more information about the property.

Fishing for trout at Morphy Lake was fair to good using Salmon Peach PowerBait.

Streamflow on the Pecos River near Pecos on Wednesday morning was 96.3 cfs. The most recent report for was received Sept. 4. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using PowerBait and good using elk-hair caddis and Adams flies.

Streamflow on the Red River below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 43.7 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was very good using worms below the Red River Hatchery.

The most recent report for Red River Hatchery was received Sept. 4. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was good using salmon eggs and slow to fair using leech-like flies.

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 229 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using flies. Fishing for smallmouth bass was very good using Pete’s spinner flies. Fishing for northern pike was good using spinnerbaits.

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 43.3 cfs.

The most recent report for Rio Pueblo was received Aug. 28. At that time, fishing for trout was good using worms. Streamflow near Peñasco on Wednesday morning was 14.4 cfs.

The most recent report for the Santa Cruz Reservoir was received Sept. 4. At that time, fishing for trout was slow using PowerBait and spinners.

The most recent report for Shuree Ponds was received Sept. 4. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair using leech-like flies from a kayak.

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

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

Northwest fishing report

The most recent report for Abiquiú Lake was received Aug. 28. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was slow to fair using wacky-rigged Senkos. 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 307 cfs.

Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information.

Fishing for trout at Canjilon Lakes 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 sing 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 fair to good using PowerBait and very good using hand-tied jig flies. Visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-829-3630 for updates.

The most recent report for Heron Lake was received Sept. 4. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was slow using gold Blue Fox Vibrax Wildeye Inline Spinners.

At the Jemez Waters, streamflow near the Village of Jemez Springs on Wednesday morning was 17.8 cfs. The most recent report for was received Sept. 4. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was good using nightcrawlers on the Cebolla River.

Fishing for largemouth bass at Navajo Lake was slow to fair using Whopper Ploppers and good using worms.

The most recent report for Rio Chama was received Sept. 4. At that time, fishing for trout below Abiquiú Lake was slow using PowerBait, salmon eggs and nightcrawlers. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was good using nightcrawlers. Streamflow below El Vado Lake on Wednesday morning was 97.1 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiú Lake on Wednesday morning was 123 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 232 cfs.

Streamflow on the San Juan River near Archuleta on Wednesday morning was 596 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was very good using Baetis WD-40 flies in the quality waters.

Fishing for trout Seven Springs Kids’ Pond 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.

Fishing for bluegill at Tingley Beach 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, Jackson Lake, Laguna del Campo, Lagunitas Lakes, 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. 4. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was good using 3-ounce white spinners.

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.

Fishing for white bass at Elephant Butte Lake was very good using spoons.

Streamflow on the Gila River near Gila on Wednesday morning was 43.3 cfs.

At the Gila Waters, streamflow near Gila Hot Springs on Wednesday morning was 29.2 cfs.

The most recent report for Quemado Lake was received Sept. 11. Fishing for trout was slow to fair using PowerBait.

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: Escondida Lake, 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. 11. Fishing for catfish was fair to good using shrimp.

The most recent report for Berrendo Creek was received Aug. 28. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using bacon. Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property.

Streamflow on the Black River at Malaga on Wednesday morning was 17.1 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Bonito Lake was very good using Panther Martin spinners and all forms of PowerBait. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

The most recent report for Corona Pond was received Sept. 4. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow to fair using chicken liver and hot dogs.

Fishing for largemouth bass at Eunice Lake was fair to good using Megabass and Yozuri jerkbaits.

The most recent report for Greene Acres Lake was received Aug. 28. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good using liver and nightcrawlers.

Grindstone Reservoir is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildlife impact closures, please see the Grindstone Reservoir Webpage before planning a visit.

Streamflow on the Pecos River below Sumner Lake on Wednesday morning was 40.6 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 61.2 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 Sept. 11. Fishing for walleye was good using green spoons. Fishing for largemouth bass was very good using “anything green.”

The most recent report for Sumner Lake was received Sept. 4. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was good using Texas-rigged Senkos.

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, 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 and Timberon Ponds.