Fishing Line for Sept. 25, 2025

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Mary Vang caught a catfish, estimated to weigh between 10-12 pounds, using a jig head at Ute Lake with a 3-inch Gulp minnow on Sept. 20.

Jeremy Pitts caught a 37-inch tiger muskie at Bluewater Lake using a jointed minnow lure on Sept. 20.

Anthony (Chiquito) Jaramillo caught five catfish using shrimp on the Rio Grande in the back ditch at Bernardo Waterfowl Management Area on Sept. 17.

Mateo caught his first bass at Chaparral Park Lake using a white spinner bait 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

Fishing for trout at Charette Lakes was good using silver-and-yellow Panther Martin spinners.

Streamflow on the Cimarron River near Cimarron on Wednesday morning was 12.5 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. Fishing for trout was good using spinners.

The New Mexico Environment Department has reported a potentially harmful algae bloom at 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. Visit the New Mexico Environment Department’s News Releases page for more information.

Fishing for trout at Hopewell Lake was good using flies and all kinds of spinners.

Fishing for trout at Monastery Lake was slow to fair using PowerBait. The lake is part of the Department’s Open Gate Program. Please visit our website for more information about this 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 72.3 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 35.1 cfs. The most recent report for was received Sept. 18. At that time, 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 178 cfs. The most recent report for was received Sept. 18. At that time, 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 14.9 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Mora near Terrero on Wednesday morning was 30 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Pueblo near Peñasco on Wednesday morning was 13.8 cfs.

The most recent report for 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.

Fishing for catfish at Ute Lake 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, Lake Maloya, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Red River City Ponds, Springer 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 187 cfs.

Fishing for tiger muskie at Bluewater Lake was slow using jointed minnow lures. 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.

The most recent report for Fenton Lake was received Sept. 18. At that time, fishing for trout 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 13.1 cfs. Fishing for trout was very good using brown-and-yellow Bob Hoppers on Jaramillo Creek.

Fishing for trout Lagunitas Lakes 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.

Fishing for trout on the Rio Cebolla was fair to good using Adams dry flies below Fenton Lake.

The most recent report for the 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 147 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 77 cfs.

Streamflow on the San Juan River near Archuleta on Wednesday morning was 758 cfs. The most recent report for was received Sept. 18. At that time, fishing for brown trout was very good using Baetis WD-40 flies in the quality waters.

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, 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.

Fishing for catfish at Bill Evans Lake 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.

Fishing for largemouth bass at Elephant Butte Lake 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.

Fishing for catfish at Escondida Lake was very good using chicken livers.

Streamflow on the Gila River near Gila on Wednesday morning was 47.7 cfs.

Streamflow at the Gila Waters near Gila Hot Springs on Wednesday morning was 29.9 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. Fishing for catfish was fair to good using shrimp in the back ditch at Bernardo Waterfowl Management 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

Fishing for catfish at Bataan Lake 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 3.34 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Bonito Lake was slow to fair using PowerBait. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

Fishing for catfish at Chaparral Park Lake was good using white spinner baits.

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.

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.

Streamflow on the Pecos River below Sumner Lake on Wednesday morning was 66.5 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 34.7 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 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, 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 and Timberon Ponds.