Fishing Report: What Winter Fish You Can Catch Now

Stocking Report: Young Pond received 400 lbs of Triploid Rainbow Trout from the Los Ojos Hatchery (Parkview) on January 13, 2025. The stocking comprised around 652 fish approaching 11.5 inches in length.

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 South Monticello boat ramp is currently closed, and access to Rattlesnake Island is currently restricted due to low water levels. The closures will be lifted when water levels rise and conditions allow.
• Gila River: Streamflow near Gila on Wednesday morning was 75.3 cfs. The most recent report was received on January 8. At that time, fishing for Gila trout was slow to fair when using flies in the West Fork.
• Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs on Wednesday morning was 49.9 cfs.
• Quemado Lake:The lake has reopened to the public.
• Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0.43 cfs. 

NMDGF received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Bill Evans Lake, Caballo Lake, Escondida Lake, Glenwood Pond, Lake Roberts, Percha Dam, Rancho Grande Ponds, Snow Lake, Trees Lake and Young Pond.  

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Chasing Winter Fish: What You Can Catch Now

By Darren Vaughan

Winter should have been here a long time ago, with snow finally hitting the ground for the first time in many parts of New Mexico just last week.

Better late than never, I suppose.

Fortunately, for those of us who prefer to have four distinct seasons, the calendar says we still have more than two months left to enjoy these colder temperatures — and maybe a snowflake or two — before the weather warms up once again.

It sounds like the perfect opportunity to get outside, catch a few fish, and enjoy a bit of solitude. Sure, there will be others out there braving the cold, but the crowds of spring and summer are still several months away. But the big question is this: if you do decide to bundle up and head for the nearest stream or lake, what can you expect to catch?

This is where the Department’s Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner page can quickly become your best friend. Last week, I began to scratch the surface of what this resource can do for you. Here is a little more detailed look.

As it turns out, some of the best trout fishing you’ll see all year can be found in January and February. The Pecos River above Pecos, the Jemez River, the quality waters and bait waters sections of the San Juan River, and the Rio Chama below Abiquiu Lake are all hotspots, as is Lake Maloya.

Maybe, it’s kokanee you’re after. While the best kokanee fishing in the state is from mid-July through early November at Navajo Lake, Eagle Nest Lake typically offers its best kokanee fishing of the year in mid-to-late January, as well as decent yellow perch fishing after a swoon that typically runs from October through December. Of course, at Eagle Nest, you’re at the mercy of lake-surface conditions, so keep an eye on this report in the coming weeks to see how conditions evolve throughout the season.

Of course, if cold-weather fishing isn’t your thing, the Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner page can still be a valuable resource as you start planning your first fishing trip of the spring. You can see where you might want to spend a pleasant, 70-degree afternoon while you spend a chilly, 20-degree evening relaxing in front of a warm fireplace.

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Let NMDGF know how your fishing trip goes! Share your tips and tricks with your fellow anglers by filling out the iFish formand let’s help the next generation of anglers find success.