NM fishing/stocking report for May 15

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 Licenses from the 2024-2025 license year are no longer valid.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

Cimarron River: Jonathan Sturgeon (not pictured) and his group caught and released between 10-20 rainbow trout and brown trout each day on May 5 and 6 below Eagle Nest Lake, using size-14 stone fly emergers and worms.

Cowles Ponds: Jonathan Coy caught and released six brown trout while fly fishing using a salmon egg dropper on May 11.

Eagle Nest Lake: Linda Williams (above left) caught a rainbow trout using nightcrawlers on May 11. “Beautiful snow on the mountains overlooking the lake,” she said. Elvis and Alijah Chavez (above right) combined to catch 10 rainbow trout using Chunky Cheese, Garlic and Salmon Peach PowerBait on May 9. “We really had a good time – first time fishing Eagle Nest Lake, my son and me,” Elvis Chavez said. “We will definitely be going back soon.”

Morphy Lake: Jerry Blount (above left) caught his limit of trout, including two times where he caught two fish at once, using PowerBait on May 9. “Quite a surprise and a thrill,” he said. Aaron James DeHerrera (above right) caught his limit of trout for the first time, using a rainbow Pistol Pete on May 9.

Pecos River: The Coriz family (above left), pictured here arguing over who caught the biggest trout, combined to catch between 25 and 30 trout between the five of them during a pre-Mother’s Day trip using worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs on May 10. Lawrence Gonzales, Aaron Abeyta and Ruben Maestas (above right) caught 33 trout, keeping 15, using red worms on May 10. “The fish kept biting fast and furious,” Gonzales said. “Best fishing trip of the year so far!”

Red River: Alice Gonzales caught five rainbow trout using salmon eggs below the Red River Hatchery on May 9.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Cathleen Moya ( above left) and her husband caught five trout using PowerBait on their first fishing trip in a very long time on May 8. “It was a treat to be out fishing and even more so to reel in a catch like this,” she said. Gary Trujillo (above right) caught four trout using PowerBait on May 4. Donald J. Maestas (not pictured) caught five trout using Garlic PowerBait on May 8. “Fishing was fantastic – caught my limit in about 30 minutes,” he said.

Storrie Lake: Bill (not pictured) caught three trout using PowerBait on May 7.

Ute Lake: Dale Brooker caught seven walleye earlier this month.

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 120 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was good when using size-14 stone fly emergers and worms below Eagle Nest Lake.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was slow when using PowerBait.

Conchas Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was slow to fair when using crankbaits. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good when using spinnerbaits.

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

Cowles Ponds: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when fly fishing using a salmon egg dropper.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for rainbow trout was fair to good when using night crawlers and Chunky Cheese, Garlic and Salmon Peach PowerBait. For updated…