NM fishing/stocking report for April 17
View in browser
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing adventure, or your catch of the week. Just visit https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/weekly-report/ and use the iFish form at the bottom of this page. Submissions received by 5 p.m. Monday will be considered for inclusion in that week's fishing report. For catches of the week include: your 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 displayed here as received. Photos containing sensitive material may be altered or excluded at the Department's discretion.
This fishing report, provided by the Department of Game and Fish, 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.
CHECK OUT THE LATEST STOCKING REPORT
The weekly stocking report is posted each Friday, so it can include the latest stocking details right up to the weekend.
The 2025-26 license year is underway!
License sales for the 2025-26 license year have begun. Licenses from the 2024-2025 license year are no longer valid. The 2025-26 Fishing Rules and Information Booklet (RIB) is available online in both English and Spanish, and will soon be available in print at Department offices and vendors statewide.
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!
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 CATCHES OF THE WEEK
Eagle Nest Lake: Val Armijo of Albuquerque caught five rainbow trout, with the largest measuring 24 inches, in a span of three hours using Salmon Peach PowerBait on April 10. Ryan Flores of Belen (not pictured) caught a 19-inch rainbow trout using Garlic PowerBait on April 11.
Morphy Lake: Chantel Davis caught five trout using Salmon Peach Glitter PowerBait on April 10. “I went up for the afternoon and caught five fish, including this monster,” she said.
Pecos River: Ariana Coriz, age 8, caught a brook trout and a rainbow trout, and Christian Coriz, age 11, caught three rainbow trout using worms and salmon eggs on April 13. “Had a blast and can’t wait until next weekend,” they said. Mark Martinez of Santa Fe (not pictured) caught a 22-inch rainbow trout using a worm on April 8. Krista Black of Santa Fe (not pictured) caught her first fish, a 12-inch rainbow trout, using worms on April 7.
Rio Grande: James Gurule caught two smallmouth bass at the Taos Junction Bridge using a Panther Martin double blade on April 10.
Santa Cruz Reservoir: Donald Kirkmond Mackie (not pictured) caught 10 trout using a dry Caddis fly on April 4. “This is the first time in 20 years of fishing on this lake that I caught trout on a dry fly,” he said.
NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT
Cabresto Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Charette Lakes: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using crawlers and salmon eggs.
Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Wednesday morning was 20.1 cubic feet per second (cfs).
Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was slow when using PowerBait.
Conchas Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Costilla Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Cowles Ponds: Fishing for trout was slow.
Coyote Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for rainbow trout was very good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait and Garlic PowerBait. For updated lake conditions and potential hazards, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.
Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait.
Gallinas River: National Forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Maloya: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Maxwell Lake 13: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Monastery Lake: Fishing for trout was slow when using White and Green PowerBait. The lake is part of the Department’s Open Gate Program. Please visit our website for more information about this property .
Morphy Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Salmon Peach Glitter PowerBait and slow to fair when using Pautzke Fire Balls.
Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Wednesday morning was 170 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using worms.
Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 55.7 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was very good when using Garlic Chartreuse PowerBait Marshmallows.
Red River…