New Mexico fishing and stocking reports for February 20

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

This fishing report, provided by the Department of Game and Fish in cooperation with Dustin Berg of www.gounlimited.org (“supporting disabled anglers”), has been generated from the best information available from area officers and anglers. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing adventure, or your catch of the week. Send it to us at funfishingnm@gmail.com . We may include your story in our next report. For catches of the week include: name, age, hometown, date, location, type of fish, length and weight if possible, and bait, lure or fly used. Fish weights and measurements are provided by the angler and printed here as received.

NOTE: There will be fewer reports available during the cooler seasons when fishing slows. The Department will make every effort to provide as much information as possible during the winter months.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST STOCKING REPORT

2023-24 Fishing RIBs and Licenses Still Available Online!

The 2023-24 Fishing Rules and Information Booklets (RIBs) are still available in print and online in English and Spanish for download . Licenses for the 2024-25 license year will be available for purchase beginning March 25.

Get your 2023-24 New Mexico fishing license!

Check the Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner!

The Department's Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner was created using data from past Weekly Fishing Reports to develop graphs depicting fishing conditions for several species and waterbodies throughout the year. Each graph represents the average fishing conditions for each week of the year over the four-year period.

The Department has also developed an interactive Fishing Waters Map with a wealth of information on fishing locations in New Mexico. It displays hundreds of fishing access points with information of fish species available, facilities, accessibility, boat ramps and general regulations.

Check out the webpage to plan your trip now!

Take the Bass and Trout Challenges!

To promote fishing opportunities in New Mexico and encourage anglers to branch out and discover new fishing waters and species, anglers can participate in the New Mexico Bass Challenge , the New Mexico Trout Challenge and the Master Angler Challenge. Who knows, you could catch a New Mexico Record Fish .

Catch all the challenge species that are found throughout New Mexico or a New Mexico State Record Fish and receive a certificate and challenge coin for your accomplishment!

Land Management Agency Links

The Department reminds anglers to “know before you go” and to contact land management agencies regarding additional regulations or restrictions on specific properties of interest prior to heading afield.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

U.S. Forest Service (USFS)

New Mexico State Lands

New Mexico State Parks

New Mexico Open Gate Properties

New Mexico Wildlife Management Areas

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Consult local government websites for information regarding specific city and town fishing access.

NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Eagle Nest Lake: Jimmy Ortiz of Bosque Farms caught his limit of rainbow trout, with the biggest being 15-inches long, while ice fishing using Salmon Peach PowerBait on Feb. 16.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Cabresto Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Charette Lakes: Closed until March 1.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was not measured due to ice. Fishing for trout was slow.

Clayton Lake: Closed until March 1.

Conchas Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Costilla Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Cowles Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Coyote Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Eagle Nest Lake: Ice fishing for trout was fair to good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait and small jigs tipped with wax worms. Ice fishing for perch was fair to good when using Rapala Jigging Rap lures tipped with meal worms. Fishing for pike was fair when using tube jigs and hot dogs. The lake remains open to ice fishing; however, it is restricted to foot traffic only. Avoid ice fishing near feeder streams or known springs, brush, logs, plants, docks or areas with multiple cracks or ice that is popping or otherwise weak. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Gallinas River: National Forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at 505-438-5300 for the latest closure information.

Hopewell Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Alice: The lake surface is closed due to unsafe ice conditions.

Lake Maloya: Ice fishing for trout was fair to good when using Garlic PowerBait. The ADA dock is open to anglers, with priority given to mobility-impaired persons.

Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Maxwell Lake 13: Closed until March 1.

Monastery Lake: The 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 .

Morphy Lake: Closed until March 1.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Monday morning was not measured due to ice. Fishing the lower portion of the river was good when using bait and spinners.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 36 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 459 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair when using black, leech-pattern flies and Panther Martin spinners.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Monday morning…