Fishing Line for March 12, 2026

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Ralph Lopez caught five trout at Santa Cruz Reservoir using a Kastmaster on March 9.

OraNell Mirabal caught five trout at Bluewater Lake using homemade bait on March 7.

Liam Garcia, 3, caught a trout at Fenton Lake using PowerBait on March 4.

Brian Powers caught three trout at Bonito Lake using a multicolored Kastmaster on March 7.

Charles Martinez caught and released 10 trout at Bonito Lake using PowerBait Yellow Power Eggs on March 2.

Brenden Maynard and his father, Chris, caught and released 25 bass ranging in length from 6-15 inches using swimbaits at Chaparral Park Lake on March 8.

Keven Woody took his kids on their first fishing trip on March 1, and they combined to catch 13 catfish at Lake Van using PowerBait.

Anthony Knoll caught a 3½-pund largemouth bass and a 3.6-pound smallmouth bass within 10 yards of each other using the same chartreuse-colored shallow square-bill crankbait at Santa Rosa Lake on March 1.

Carlos caught three trout and his father caught five using PowerBait and garlic-scented marshmallows at Escondida Lake on March 6.

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 4.26 cubic feet per second (cfs).

The most recent report for Eagle Nest Lake was received March 5. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was fair to good using Rainbow PowerBait from the bank. The lake is now open for boating, though the courtesy docks have not been installed. The lake surface may have a thin layer of ice early in the morning that burns off by midday. Avoid the boat ramp when there is snow and ice on it. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

The most recent report for Eagle Rock Lake was received Feb. 26. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair using PowerBait.

For more information on Lake Alice, visit Sugarite Canyon State Park’s webpage or call 575-445-5607.

The most recent report for Lake Maloya was received March 5. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using floating PowerBait. For more information, visit Sugarite Canyon State Park’s webpage or call 575-445-5607.

Monastery Lake is closed due to unsafe ice conditions. Monastery 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 March 5. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using Salmon Peach PowerBait.

Streamflow on the Pecos River near Pecos on Wednesday morning was 38.9 cfs. The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair using worms.

Streamflow on the Red River below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 37.5 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 583 cfs. The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fly-fishing for rainbow trout was slow using midges, blue wing olives and dry flies.

Streamflow on the Rio Hondo near Valdez on Wednesday morning was 9.16 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Mora near Terrero on Wednesday morning was 10.7 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Pueblo near Peñasco on Wednesday morning was 13.9 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Santa Cruz Reservoir was fair to good using Kastmasters.

Fishing for trout at Storrie Lake was fair to good using floating bait.

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, Gallinas River, Harris Pond, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Red River City Ponds, Red River Hatchery, Rio Costilla, Shuree Ponds, Springer Lake, Stubblefield Lake and Ute Lake.

Northwest fishing report

The most recent report for Abiquiú Lake was received Feb. 19. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was good when trolling Shad Rap Deep Runners from a boat. 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 303 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Bluewater Lake was good using homemade bait. Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information.

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.

Fishing for trout at Fenton Lake was fair to good using PowerBait. 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 29.5 cfs. Fishing for brown trout was slow to fair using red worms.

The most recent report for Liam Knight Pond was received March 5. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow using worms. Fishing for rainbow trout was good using green jigs.

The most recent report for Navajo Lake was received Feb. 26. At that time, fishing for brown trout was good using 3-inch paddle tail swimbaits. Fishing for crappie was good using crappie jigs. Fishing for northern pike was good, and anglers noted they are feeding on “everything.”

Streamflow on the Rio Chama below El Vado Lake on Wednesday morning was 90.4 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiú Lake on Wednesday morning was 51.1 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 518 cfs.

Streamflow on the San Juan River near Archuleta on Wednesday morning was 305 cfs. The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fly-fishing for rainbow trout was fair to good in the bait section, and slow using bead-head Woolly Buggers in the quality waters. Fishing for brown trout was slow using rabbit strip swing flies in the quality waters.

If you catch a native Rio Grande chub 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 Tiger Park Reservoir was received Feb. 26. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using pink-and-silver and blue-and-silver ¼-ounce Joe’s Flies Super Strikers.

Fishing for trout at Tingley Beach was good using PowerBait.

The department received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Albuquerque Area Drains, Brazos River, Canjilon Lakes, Cochiti Lake, Heron Lake, Jackson Lake, Laguna del Campo, Lagunitas Lakes, Lake Farmington, McGaffey 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 trout at Bill Evans Lake was fair to good using PowerBait and garlic cheese.

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.

Fishing for trout at Escondida Lake was good using PowerBait and garlic-scented marshmallows.

Streamflow on the Gila River near Gila on Wednesday morning was 81.5 cfs.

Streamflow at the Gila Waters near Gila Hot Springs on Wednesday morning was 73.1 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Lake Roberts was fair to good using PowerBait, cheese and red eggs.

The most recent report for Quemado Lake was received Feb. 26. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good using Orange PowerBait.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0.1 cfs.

The department received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Caballo Lake, Glenwood Pond, Percha Dam, Quemado Lake, Rancho Grande Ponds, Snow Lake, Trees Lake and Young Pond.

Southeast fishing report

The most recent report for Alto Lake was received Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using PowerBait Rainbow Nuggets and Green Trout Nuggets, and fair to good using Kastmasters, worms and Rainbow Twist PowerBait.

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

Streamflow on the Black River at Malaga on Wednesday morning was 4.16 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Bonito Lake was good using PowerBait and salmon eggs. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

The most recent report for Corona Pond was received Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for trout was very good using cut bait.

The most recent report for Eunice Lake was received Feb. 19. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was good using rooster tails.

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

Fishing for trout at Oasis Park Lake was very good using PowerBait.

Streamflow on the Pecos River below Sumner Lake on Wednesday morning was 111 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 25.7 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: Alto Lake, Bataan Lake, Blue Hole Park Pond, Bosque Redondo Lake, Bottomless Lakes, Brantley Lake, Carlsbad Municipal Lake, Chaparral Park Lake, 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, Santa Rosa Lake, Spring River Pond and Sumner Lake.