Fishing Report: Department of Wildlife Working to Keep Elephant Butte Bass Fishery Healthy

Southwest New Mexico Fishing Report

• Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing conditions have been adversely affected in the aftermath of the Trout Fire.
• Bill Evans Lake: The most recent report was received May 14. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was good using salmon eggs and Garlic PowerBait.
• Caballo Lake: Fishing for walleye was slow but white bass was fair when using colorful lures.
• Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was fair to very good when trolling with shining lures and white soft grubs. The South Monticello boat ramp is currently closed due to low water levels. The closure will be lifted when water levels rise and conditions allow.
• Escondida Lake: Fishing for catfish was very good when using shrimp.
• Gila River: Streamflow near Gila on Wednesday morning was 24.3 cfs.
• Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs on Wednesday morning was 54.7 cfs.
• Lake Roberts: The most recent report was received May 7. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow when using PowerBait.
• Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 529 cfs.

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

Stocking Report Highlights

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife recently stocked nearly 1 million largemouth bass fry into Elephant Butte Reservoir over two days in May. The stockings, supplied through the Rock Lake Trout Rearing Facility, are intended to support future warm-water fishing opportunities at the lake.

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Department of Wildlife Working to Keep Largemouth Bass Populations Healthy at Elephant Butte

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife stocked nearly 1 million largemouth bass fry into Elephant Butte Reservoir over two days in May, just prior to Memorial Day weekend. While the number sounds massive, the fry measured less than a quarter-inch in length on average. The stockings, supplied through the Rock Lake Trout Rearing Facility, are intended to support future warm-water fishing opportunities at the lake.

Last August, bass anglers turned out at Elephant Butte Reservoir to assist Department of Wildlife fisheries staff with a historic community stocking event. More than 1,300 largemouth bass measuring 14-16 inches were released into the lake — a significant departure from the department’s more typical stockings of small fry and fingerlings.

Wildlife officials thanked anglers who helped disperse the larger bass throughout the lake, noting the project was made possible through fishing license revenue and public support for conservation programs.