Fishing Line for Dec. 18, 2025

CATCHES OF THE WEEK 

Daniel Muenzberg caught a few trout using a size-16 dry fly on the Pecos River on Dec. 11.

Del Clothier had a successful day at Ute Lake catching catfish and white bass using green blades on Dec. 10. 

Brian Rael caught several trout ranging in size from 19-23 inches long using jigs and PowerBait at Eagle Nest Lake on Nov. 29.

Andrew Luna and Adrian Garcia, both of Los Lunas, caught and released more than 40 rainbow trout using Swedish pimples and tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms at Hopewell Lake on Dec. 14.

David Martinez and his grandpa, Dennis, caught their limit of trout using salmon eggs at Clear Ditch at the Albuquerque Area Drains on Dec. 3.

Deaven and Mercedes Garcia caught a carp using worms at the Albuquerque Area Drains on Dec. 11. 

Elijah Sanchez caught and released eight trout and two tiger muskies at Bluewater Lake using a 6th Sense spinner on Dec. 13.

Catfish Merenda caught a brown trout using a red annelid in the quality waters on the San Juan River on Nov. 29.

Cali Deprest caught and released 14 rainbow trout using Garlic PowerBait and Gulp on a Carolina rig and No. 6 hook at Tingley Beach on Dec. 11.

Lily Deprest caught and released 11 rainbow trout using Garlic PowerBait and pale green Gulp on a Carolina rig and No. 6 hook at Tingley Beach on Dec. 11.

Aaron Berlint caught the biggest catfish he has ever caught using chicken at Elephant Butte Lake on Dec. 6.

Sebastien, 4, caught a trout — his first fish ever — using PowerBait with the help of his dad, Abel Flores, at Glenwood Pond on Dec. 14.

Brian Powers caught six trout, keeping five measuring between 11½-12½ inches, at Alto Lake on Dec. 13. He caught one on a multicolored Kastmaster, four on worms and one on orange-and-yellow-swirl Garlic PowerBait.

Jon Gruger and Robbie Fresquez caught their limit of trout two days in a row using a variety of PowerBait at Bonito Lake on Dec. 8-9.

Mario and Monica Velasco of Portales caught their limit of trout using PowerBait at Oasis Park Lake on Dec. 9. Their chocolate lab, Zeke, loves going fishing as well.

Lincoln and Woodrow Arias, on their first fishing trip with their dad and Pampo, caught multiple trout using Pautzke Fire Balls at Perch Lake on Dec. 6. 

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 not measured due to ice. 

Fishing for trout at Eagle Nest Lake was good using jigs and PowerBait. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

Ice fishing for trout at Hopewell Lake was very good using Swedish pimples and tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms.

The most recent report for Lake Maloya was received Nov. 27. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using Rainbow PowerBait.

The most recent report for Monastery Lake was received Dec. 4. At that time, fishing for trout was good using Kastmasters, worms and PowerBait. 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 35.7 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow using size-16 dry flies.

Streamflow on the Red River below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 31.7 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 598 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Hondo near Valdez on Wednesday morning was 6.73 cfs. 

Streamflow on the Rio Mora near Terrero on Wednesday morning was 7.35 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Pueblo near Peñasco on Wednesday morning was not measured due to ice.

The most recent report for Santa Cruz Reservoir was received Nov. 27. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using lures.

Fishing for walleye, crappie, catfish and white bass at Ute Lake was fair to good using 3- and 4-inch Gulp minnows and jigs with green blades.

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, Harris Pond, Lake Alice, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Morphy Lake, Red River City Ponds, Red River Hatchery, Rio Costilla, Shuree Ponds, 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.

Fishing for carp at Albuquerque Area Drains was very good using worms. Fishing for trout was good using salmon eggs.

Streamflow on the Animas River below Aztec on Wednesday morning was 303 cfs.

The most recent report for the Belen Riverside Drain was received Nov. 27. At that time, fishing for trout was good using salmon eggs.

Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information. Fishing for tiger muskie and trout was fair to good using 6th Sense spinners.

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.

Fenton Lake has a layer of ice covering 90% of its surface, with a small area of open water in the center that cannot be reached from shore.

At the Jemez Waters, streamflow near the Village of Jemez Springs on Wednesday morning was 15.9 cfs. 

The most recent report for Navajo Lake was received Nov. 27. At that time, snagging for kokanee was slow.

Streamflow on the Rio Chama below El Vado Lake on Wednesday morning was 250 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiú Lake on Wednesday morning was 400 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 959 cfs.

Streamflow on the San Juan River near Archuleta on Wednesday morning was 280 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was very good using red annelids in the quality waters.

The most recent report for Seven Springs Kids’ Pond was received Dec. 11. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using worms. Anglers reported that the pond is approximately half-frozen, though the fish continue to bite. 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 rainbow trout at Tingley Beach was very good using Garlic PowerBait and pale green Gulp on Carolina rigs with No. 6 hooks.

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, Lagunitas Lakes, Lake Farmington, Liam Knight Pond, McGaffey Lake, Navajo Lake, Rio Cebolla, 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 Elephant Butte Lake was good using chicken.

The most recent report for Escondida Lake was received Nov. 27. At that time, fishing for catfish was good using PowerBait.

At the Gila River, streamflow near Gila on Wednesday morning was 61.2 cfs.

Streamflow at the Gila Waters near Gila Hot Springs on Wednesday morning was 49.9 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Glenwood Pond was good using PowerBait.

Quemado Lake is currently closed due to an algal bloom. It will reopen when the New Mexico Environment Department advises that the lake is safe for public use. For more information, visit the Gila National Forest website.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0.77 cfs. 

The department received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Bill Evans Lake, Caballo Lake, Elephant Butte 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 Alto Lake was received Dec. 4. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using PowerBait, multicolored Kastmasters and worms. 

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

Streamflow on the Black River at Malaga on Wednesday morning was 1.72 cfs. The most recent report was received Dec. 4. At that time, fishing for flathead catfish was slow to fair using shad chunks.

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

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 32.2 cfs. 

Streamflow on the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 4.22 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 Sumner Lake was received Nov. 20. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was good using Panther Martin Spinners.

The department received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Bataan 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, 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 and Timberon Ponds.