Fishing Line for Dec. 24, 2025

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Brandon and his daughter caught and released more than 30 brook and rainbow trout, keeping four, using jigs tipped with nightcrawlers and wax worms at Hopewell Lake on Dec. 20.

Joseph Calabaza Jr., 8, of Albuquerque, caught several rainbow trout, including an 18-incher, using mealworms at Monastery Lake on Dec. 13.

Joseph caught a rainbow trout using live bait near the Jamie Koch Pavilion on the Pecos River on Dec. 1.

Kyle Druktenis caught a personal-best 27-inch rainbow trout that was 7½ inches around using a muddler fly on the Pecos River on Dec. 20.

Giovanni and Jared Chavez, along with their grandfather, caught their limits of trout using Rainbow PowerBait at Grindstone Reservoir on Dec. 12.

Nathaniel Mascarenas caught a 14-inch rainbow trout, his personal best this year, using Green and Yellow Garlic PowerBait at Lake Van on Dec. 20.

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.

The most recent report for Eagle Nest Lake was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was good using jigs and PowerBait. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

The most recent report for Hopewell Lake was received Dec. 18. At that time, ice fishing for trout was very good using Swedish pimples and tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms.

Fishing for trout at Monastery Lake was slow to fair using mealworms. The lake is part of the Department’s Open Gate Program. Please visit our website for more information.

Streamflow on the Pecos River near Pecos on Wednesday morning was 32.6 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow using size-16 dry flies. Fishing for trout was fair to good using muddler flies and live bait.

Streamflow on the Red River below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 41.2 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 649 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Hondo near Valdez on Wednesday morning was 7.5 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Mora near Terrero on Wednesday morning was 6.33 cfs.

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

The most recent report for Ute Lake was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for walleye, crappie, catfish and white bass 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, Lake Maloya, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Morphy Lake, Red River City Ponds, Red River Hatchery, Rio Costilla, Santa Cruz Reservoir, 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 trout at Albuquerque Area Drains was good using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait.

Streamflow on the Animas River below Aztec on Wednesday morning was 281 cfs.

Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information. The most recent report for was received Dec. 18. At that time, 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.

The most recent report for Fenton Lake was received Dec. 18. At that time, the lake had 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 Jemez on Wednesday morning was 15.4 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Chama below El Vado Lake on Wednesday morning was 99.8 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiú Lake on Wednesday morning was 89.5 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 702 cfs.

Streamflow on the San Juan River near Archuleta on Wednesday morning was 280 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was very good using RS2 and Grey Midge flies 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.

The most recent report for Tingley Beach was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout 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.

The most recent report for Elephant Butte Lake was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for catfish was good using chicken.

Streamflow near Gila River on Wednesday morning was 59.9 cfs.

At the Gila Waters, streamflow near Gila Hot Springs on Wednesday morning was 48.1 cfs.

The most recent report for Glenwood Pond was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for trout 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, Escondida Lake, 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. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using multicolored Kastmasters, worms and orange-and-yellow-swirl Garlic PowerBait.

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

Streamflow on the Black River at Malaga on Wednesday morning was 8.9 cfs. The most recent report was received Dec. 4. At that time, fishing for flathead catfish was slow to fair using shad chunks.

The most recent report for Bonito Lake was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using a variety of PowerBait. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

The most recent report for Carlsbad Municipal Lake was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was slow using a variety of baits.

Fishing for trout was very good at Grindstone Reservoir using Rainbow PowerBait. Grindstone Reservoir is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildlife impact closures, please see the Grindstone Reservoir Webpage before planning a visit.

The most recent report for Oasis Park Lake was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using PowerBait.

Fishing for trout at Lake Van was very good using Green or Yellow Garlic PowerBait.

Streamflow on the Pecos River below Sumner Lake on Wednesday morning was 20.1 cfs.

The most recent report for Perch Lake was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair using Pautzke Fire Balls.

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 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, 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, Rio Bonito, Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond, Santa Rosa Lake, Spring River Pond, Sumner Lake and Timberon Ponds.