Fishing Report: Are you up for a Challenge?

Southwest New Mexico Fishing Report

• Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing conditions have been adversely affected in the aftermath of the Trout Fire.
• Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when trolling Woolly Buggers.
• 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.
• Escondida Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Garlic PowerBait.
• Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 107 cfs.
• Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 74.3 cfs.
• Lake Roberts: The most recent report was received Feb. 26. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using Corn PowerBait.
• Quemado Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 26. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using Orange PowerBait.
• Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0.08 cfs.
• Young Pond: The most recent report was received Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using inline spinners. 

NMDoW received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Caballo Lake, Glenwood Pond, Percha Dam, Quemado Lake, Rancho Grande Ponds, Snow Lake and Trees Lake.  

Graphic courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Are you up for a challenge?

By Melissa Garnett, Southeast Area Public Information Specialist

The New Mexico Fishing Challenges are a great way to get outdoors exploring New Mexico’s beautiful wild places.

The challenges require the angler to have a valid New Mexico fishing license (for anglers over the age of 12) and to fish public waters in search of certain species. As you catch each species required for your challenge, take a photo! You’ll need to send in those photos as proof of what you caught.

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Once you’ve caught ’em all, send the photos, your CIN and the location of each catch to dgf-fishingchallenges@dgf.nm.gov. We reward our Fishing Challenge winners with a challenge coin and certificate.

Anyone with a New Mexico fishing license can participate! Getting a license is easy — go to our webpage, your local area office or any of our vendor partners. Start exploring! This weekly fishing report has great tips on current fishing conditions and would be a good place to start.

The challenges available and the requirements for each are listed below:

1. New Mexico Trout Challenge – Anglers must catch a brown, brook, rainbow, Rio Grande cutthroat and Gila trout to enter.
2. New Mexico Bass Challenge – Anglers must catch a largemouth, smallmouth, white and spotted bass to enter.
3. New Mexico Master Angler Award Program – Catch a big one?! If you exceed the minimum total length detailed on our webpage you can qualify for this award.
4. New Mexico Record Fish Angler – Catch a REALLY big one?! Take your fish to a certified scale and submit an application for review. Call the closest Department area office, and an officer or biologist will certify your record. Current state records are listed on the Department’s webpage.

All challenge submissions must be from fish caught legally in open season with a license by legal means. Document your catch with a photo. If measuring a fish for a challenge: nose flush with the measuring board, pinch the tail and measure to the nearest inch. Take a photo of the fish on the board.

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