NM fishing/stocking report for March 12

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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 in print at Department offices and vendors statewide. The 2026-2027 Rules and Information Booklet, which takes effect April 1, will soon be available.

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

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

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Wednesday morning was 4.26 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Eagle Nest Lake: The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was fair to good when 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.

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

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

Lake Maloya: The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using floating PowerBait. 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: The most recent report was received March 5. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait.

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

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

Rio Grande: Streamflow 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 when using midges, blue wing olives and dry flies.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Wednesday morning was 9.16 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 10.7 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Wednesday morning was 13.9 cfs.

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

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

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, Stubblefield Lake and Ute Lake.

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Bluewater Lake: OraNell Mirabal caught five trout using homemade bait on March 7. “It was an amazing experience,” she said. “I’ve never caught a fish this big before.”

Fenton Lake: Liam Garcia, age 3, caught a trout using PowerBait on March 4. “He cast out his PowerBait and watched his line start to dance,” his submission said. “Before he knew it, he was holding up his trout with the biggest smile — already counting down to the next fishing adventure.”

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 19. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was good when trolling Shad Rap Deep Runners from a boat. Contact the Abiquiu Lake Main Office at 505-685-4371 for updated lake conditions and closure information.

Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec Wednesday morning was 303 cfs.

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

El Vado Lake: The 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…