Fishing Line for Jan. 15, 2026

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Justin Salazar caught three brown trout using red worms on the Rio Grande on Jan. 11.

Robert Trippett caught his personal-best largemouth bass in just 30 minutes of fishing, using a clown-colored jerkbait at Ute Lake on Jan. 4.

Albert Garcia, 11, of Tierra Azul, and his father, Ross, combined to catch eight trout on a chilly day using leeches and other flies on Jan. 10 on the Rio Chama below Abiquiú Lake.

Landon Benavidez, who spent the day on the water with his dad, uncle Dre and cousin Charles, caught three fish, including a rainbow trout, using a San Juan worm in the quality waters on the San Juan River on Dec. 28.

Matthew Esparza caught three rainbow trout and a large brook trout in a span of two hours using a ¼-ounce orange squarebill crankbait on the dam side of Bonito Lake on Jan. 8.

Let the New Mexico Department of Wildlife 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.

Eagle Nest Lake is temporarily closed to boating, ice fishing, walking and all other activities due to recent winter weather conditions that have created unsafe lake surface conditions. The lake is closed to all watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, inflatables and all types of motorboats. Eagle Nest Lake State Park staff will continue to monitor ice conditions for ice fishing. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

The boat dock and the ADA dock at Lake Maloya are closed for winter lake conditions. For more information, visit Sugarite Canyon State Park’s webpage or call 575-445-5607.

The most recent report for Monastery Lake was received Dec. 24. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair using mealworms. The lake is part of the Department’s Open Gate Program. Please visit our website for more information about this property.

Morphy Lake State Park is closed for the season until Feb. 28.

Streamflow on the Pecos River near Pecos on Wednesday morning was 37.8 cubic feet per second (cfs). The most recent report for was received Dec. 24. At that time, 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 34 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 376 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was very good using red worms.

Streamflow on the Rio Hondo near Valdez on Wednesday morning was not measured due to ice.

Streamflow on the Rio Mora near Terrero on Wednesday morning was 50.1 cfs.

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

Fishing for largemouth bass at Ute Lake was fair to good using clown-colored jerkbaits.

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, Hopewell Lake, Lake Alice, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, 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.

The most recent report for Albuquerque Area Drains was received Dec. 24. At that time, fishing for trout was good using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait.

Streamflow on the Animas River below Aztec on Wednesday morning was 248 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Bluewater Lake was fair to good using Cheese PowerBait.

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 boat ramp/launch area at Fenton Lake is closed due to ice accumulations on the lake. It will remain closed until conditions are safe for ice fishing or the lake has completely thawed. For more information, visit Fenton Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-829-3630.

At the Jemez Waters, streamflow near the Village of Jemez Springs on Wednesday morning was 17.1 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Chama below El Vado Lake on Wednesday morning was 94.4 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiú Lake on Wednesday morning was 96.5 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good using leeches and other flies below Abiquiú Lake. Please note that 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 640 cfs.

Streamflow on the San Juan River near Archuleta on Wednesday morning was 293 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was slow to fair using San Juan worms in the quality waters.

If you catch a native Rio Grande chub in the Seven Springs Kids’ 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 department received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: 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, 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.

The South Monticello boat ramp at Elephant Butte Lake is currently closed, and access to Rattlesnake Island is currently restricted due to low water levels. The closures will be lifted when water levels rise and conditions allow.

Streamflow on the Gila River near Gila on Wednesday morning was 75.3 cfs. The most recent report for was received on January 8. At that time, fishing for Gila trout was slow to fair using flies in the West Fork.

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

Quemado Lake has reopened to the public.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0.43 cfs.

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, Trees Lake and Young Pond.

Southeast fishing report

The most recent report for Alto Lake was received Jan. 8. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait and worms.

The most recent report for Berrendo Creek was received Jan. 8. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair using worms. Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property.

Streamflow on the Black River at Malaga on Wednesday morning was 8.26 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Bonito Lake was good using Garlic PowerBait and ¼-ounce orange squarebill crankbaits. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

The most recent report for Grindstone Reservoir was received Jan. 8. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using Rainbow Glitter 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 Lake Van was received Dec. 24. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using Green or Yellow Garlic PowerBait.

Streamflow on the Pecos River below Sumner Lake on Wednesday morning was 14.7 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Perch Lake was very good using multiple types of PowerBait and PowerBalls.

Streamflow on the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 4.04 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, 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, Sumner Lake and Timberon Ponds.