Fishing Report: A Fishing New Year’s Resolution

Southwest New Mexico Fishing Report

• Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing conditions have been adversely affected in the aftermath of the Trout Fire.
• Elephant Butte Lake: The most recent report was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for catfish was good when using chicken.
• Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 72.4 cfs.
• Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 54.7 cfs.
• Glenwood Pond: The most recent report was received Dec. 18. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.
• Quemado Lake:The lake is currently closed due to an algal bloom. It will reopen when the New Mexico Environment Department advises that the lake is safe for public use. For more information, visit the Gila National Forest website.
• Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0.77 cfs. 

Game and Fish received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Bill Evans Lake, Caballo Lake, Escondida Lake, Lake Roberts, Percha Dam, Rancho Grande Ponds, Snow Lake, Trees Lake and Young Pond. Remember to let us know how your fishing trip goes! Share your tips, tricks and stories with your fellow anglers by filling out the iFish form and let’s help the next generation of anglers find success. If you would like to submit a story for Tips, Tricks and Stories, please email Communications Director Darren Vaughan at Darren.Vaughan@dgf.nm.gov. 

New Year’s Resolution

By Darren Vaughan

The state-record largemouth bass (15 pounds, 13 ounces) and white bass (4 pounds, 13 ounces) were both caught at Bill Evans Lake near Cliff.

The new year is upon us.

For many people, that means making resolutions that, while well-intentioned, inevitably fall by the wayside before the calendar hits February with an avalanche of unused gym memberships in their wake. So, before you embark on another set of “new year, new you” promises, here are some ideas that might just be easier to follow — and possibly just as rewarding!

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If you’re used to fishing for bass and catfish down south, and you want a new challenge, maybe it’s time to give trout fishing in northern New Mexico a try. While it hasn’t been cold enough yet for most of New Mexico’s lakes to freeze, a lengthy cold snap could make ice fishing a possibility this winter. Once things warm back up, you could hit up the world-renowned trout fishery on the San Juan River in the northwest corner of the state.

Likewise, if you’re used to fly fishing on the San Juan or in the Pecos Wilderness, you can head down south to try your luck with some of the state’s warm-water species. After all, the state-record blue catfish and flathead catfish were both caught at Elephant Butte Lake State Park near Truth or Consequences, and the state-record largemouth and white bass were both caught at Bill Evans Lake south of Cliff. Or, maybe the pursuit of the New Mexico Trout Challenge or New Mexico Bass Challenge can lead you to far-flung corners of the state.

As for me, my goal is much more modest. I spend most of my time in my office at the Department headquarters in Santa Fe, longing for a relaxing afternoon outdoors. Some of the top fishing in the state is within an hour or two — the Pecos, Monastery Lake, Cochiti Lake and Abiquiu Lake come to mind, among others, so my goal is to spend at least an afternoon or two this coming year dropping a line in the water and seeing what I can catch. The main goal, of course, is to reel in one of those monsters that you all regularly submit to us for this report each week — but that’s why they call it “fishing” and not “catching.”

May 2026 bring you happiness, prosperity, and even more angling success!