NM fishing/stocking report for Feb. 26
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing adventure, or your catch of the week. Just visit the Department's Weekly Fishing & Stocking Report website and use the iFish form at the bottom of the 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 2025-2026 license year is ongoing!
Licenses for the 2025-2026 license year remain valid until March 31, 2026. The 2025-2026 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 years.
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 on available fish species, facilities, accessibility, boat ramps, and general regulations.
Check out the webpage to plan your trip now!
NORTHEAST
NORTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK
Pecos River: Lexi Castillo, age 6, caught her first fish, a trout, casting and reeling it in all by herself using salmon eggs on Feb. 23. “Such a proud moment,” Jeremy Castillo said. “All her patience and dedication finally paid off.”
Santa Cruz Reservoir: Andrew Luna, Adrian Garcia and Nathan Jones caught and released more than 30 rainbow and brown trout using mealworms, Joe’s flies and Panther Martins on Feb. 22. “The fishing action was tremendous,” Andrew said.
Santa Cruz Reservoir: Sara and Vincent Jaramillo caught nine trout using PowerBait on Feb. 15. “Early bird gets the worm,” they said.
NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT
Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Wednesday morning was not measured due to ice.
Eagle Nest Lake: 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.
Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using PowerBait.
Lake Alice: Anglers reported the lake is closed to ice fishing and shore fishing. For more information, visit Sugarite Canyon State Park’s webpage or call 575-445-5607.
Lake Maloya: Anglers reported the lake is closed to ice fishing and shore fishing. For more information, visit Sugarite Canyon State Park’s webpage or call 575-445-5607.
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: Morphy Lake State Park is closed for the season until Feb. 28.
Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Wednesday morning was not measured due to ice. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon eggs.
Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 38.7 cfs.
Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 435 cfs. The most recent report was received Feb. 19. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was slow when using a variety of midges, perdigon flies and dry flies.
Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Wednesday morning was not measured due to ice.
Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 7.91 cfs.
Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Wednesday morning was not measured due to ice.
Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait, mealworms, Joe’s Flies and Panther Martins.
Ute Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for walleye was good to very good when using deep-diving lures, 4-inch Gulp minnows and blade baits. Fishing for catfish was good when using 4-inch Gulp minnows and blade baits. Fishing for white bass was very good when using 4-inch Gulp minnows and blade baits.
We 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, Storrie Lake and Stubblefield Lake.
NORTHWEST
NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK
Navajo Lake: Chris Ricci caught and released a brown trout that ate a 3-inch paddle-tail swimbait over a deep water transition on Feb. 16. “Crappie are still plentiful and eating crappie jigs,” Chris added. “Northern pike are also plentiful and actively feeding on everything.”
Tingley Beach: Cisco, age 7, caught his first fish, a trout, using PowerBait and worms on Feb. 21. “Beautiful day out at Tingley in the kids’ pond,” said Paulina Kingsby, Cisco’s mother. “Weather was nice, a bit cold, slightly windy, but absolutely beautiful!”
NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT
Abiquiu Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 19.…