Fishing Line for Jan. 8, 2026

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Donald Vang had a successful day catching white bass, walleye and catfish using 3- and 4-inch Gulp minnows and blade baits, with most of the fish caught at a depth of 60 feet at Ute Lake, on Jan. 3.

Dwayne Harrison caught a tiger muskie using a Rooster Tail lure on an ultralight rod and 8-pound line at Bluewater Lake on Jan. 3.

Kelly Rice caught several rainbow trout and a couple nice brown trout using flies in the quality waters on the San Juan River on Dec. 30.

Brian Culligan caught two Gila trout using flies in the west fork of the Gila River on Dec. 16.

Hunter Ervin caught two trout measuring between 11 and 12 inches using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait at Alto Lake on Jan. 4. His mother also caught four trout in a fairly short amount of time. He also traveled to Grindstone Reservoir and caught two more trout.

Brian Powers caught his limit of trout using worms and PowerBait at Alto Lake on Dec. 27.

Valerie Wyatt caught four trout using worms at Berrendo Creek on Jan. 3.

Noah Baca caught his first brook trout using worms at Bonito Lake on Jan. 3.

James Gabaldon, of Belen, caught and released 10 brook trout using flies at Bonito Lake on Jan. 3.

Monica Polanco caught a trout using Rainbow PowerBait at Bonito Lake on Dec. 30.

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.

The Eagle Nest Lake surface 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 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.

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 42.3 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 35.1 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 630 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was slow using flies.

Streamflow on the Rio Hondo near Valdez on Wednesday morning was 6.01 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Mora near Terrero on Wednesday morning was 9.09 cfs.

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

Fishing for white bass, walleye and catfish at Ute Lake was very good using 3- and 4-inch Gulp minnows and blade baits in 60 feet of water.

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, 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 281 cfs.

Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information. Fishing for tiger muskie was fair to good using Rooster Tail lures.

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 exist for safe 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 18.4 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 72.4 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 791 cfs.

Streamflow on the San Juan River near Archuleta on Wednesday morning was 284 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout and brown trout was slow to fair using flies in the quality waters.

If you catch a native Rio Grande chub in the Kid’s Pond at 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 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: 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. The South Monticello boat ramp 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 70.9 cfs. Fishing for Gila trout was slow to fair using flies in the west fork.

At the Gila Waters, streamflow near Gila Hot Springs on Wednesday morning was 49.9 cfs.

The most recent report for Glenwood Pond was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was good using PowerBait.

Quemado Lake has reopened to the public.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0.87 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

Fishing for trout at Alto Lake was fair to good using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait and worms.

Fishing for trout at Berrendo Creek 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 8.9 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Bonito Lake was good using Rainbow PowerBait, worms and flies. 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 at Grindstone Reservoir 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 Oasis Park Lake was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using PowerBait.

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.

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 4.04 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, 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, Ned Houk Ponds, Oasis Park Lake, Rio Bonito, Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond, Santa Rosa Lake, Spring River Pond, Sumner Lake and Timberon Ponds.