Bill Evans Lake: Bucky Smith used a break from UNM to work on his New Mexico Bass and Trout Challenges on Oct. 9. He caught three bass in a few hours using a fathead minnow on a circle hook.
Source: New Mexico Department of Wildlife
Photos: Courtesy
Feature Image from “Native Fishes of the Rio Grande, New Mexico” (See Below)
ATTENTION: Several lakes throughout New Mexico are under Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) watches or warnings. Be sure to visit the New Mexico Environment Department’s HAB Advisory Map for the latest conditions and advisories before going out.
SouthWEST New Mexico Fishing Report
- Bear Canyon Lake: Closed to the public Monday–Thursday. The lake will remain open Friday-Sunday. Regular use is projected to return in January 2027.
- Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using live baits (fathead minnows).
- Caballo Lake: With recent flooding along the Rio Grande, water levels are changing across the lake; boaters should exercise caution in low-water areas. For more information, visit the Caballo Lake State Park webpage or call 575-743-3942.
- Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when usting cut shad. The Marina del Sur boat ramp is now open. Park staff reminds visitors to remain cautious of lake debris and shallow areas due to recent changes in water levels. The Rock Canyon and South Monticello boat ramps are closed. For more information, visit the Elephant Butte State Park webpage or call 575-744-5923.
- Escondida Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 15. At that time, fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver and fair when using worms. Fishing for bluegill was fair when using worms. Fishing for carp was fair when using chicken liver.
- Gila River: Streamflow near Gila on Tuesday morning was 238 cfs.
- Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs on Tuesday morning was 101 cfs.
- Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait.
- Quemado Lake: The lake has reopened after recent rains cooled lake temperatures and diluted the amount of cyanobacteria in the water. The lake remains under a Harmful Algae Bloom Danger Advisory.
- Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Lake was 0.68 cfs.
Department of Wildlife received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Glenwood Pond, Percha Dam, Rancho Grande Ponds, Trees Lake, Snow Lake, Whitewater Creek and Young Pond.
Bait and Switch
By Melissa Garnett M.S.
Southeast Area Public Information Specialist
There are a lot of questions that come into the Department’s area offices concerning the legal use of live bait (using live fish as bait) or cutbait (dead, cut-up fish as bait).
Here’s what New Mexico anglers need to know.
First, baitfish cannot be used in Special Trout Waters, Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge or Bottomless Lakes State Park. It’s also illegal to put goldfish or bullfrogs in New Mexico waters — not as bait; not as pets you’re bored with; not as forage for your fishing hole. Live fish may not be moved from the body of water where they’re caught into another body of water without a permit from the Department.
Live fish may not be moved from the body of water where they’re caught into another body of water without a permit from the Department. (Posters Courtesy N.M. Department of Wildlife)
Taking baitfish (minnows)
Licensed anglers and kids age 11 and younger can collect live bait for personal use with dip nets, cast nets, traps, seines or by angling. A seine cannot be longer than 20 feet, and the mesh needs to be 3/8 inch or smaller. If you catch a protected sport fish, endangered species or threatened species while collecting bait, you must return it to the water.
Bluegill and sunfishes (Lepomids) can be used as live or dead bait when taken by rod and reel, but only in the water in which they were caught. This means a sunfish caught at Lake Van may not be used as bait in Berrendo Creek, for example.
Live fish may not be moved from the body of water where they’re caught into another body of water without a permit from the Department. (Posters Courtesy N.M. Department of Wildlife)
Fathead minnows, red shiners and shad are great live bait species and can be used as live or cutbait in the Pecos River drainage, except at Bottomless Lakes State Park, Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge and BLM overflow areas. They may also be used in the Canadian River Drainage, at Elephant Butte Lake State Park, Caballo Lake State Park and in the Rio Grande. The Gila and San Francisco rivers allow fatheads only. Common carp can be used as cutbait statewide.
Live fish may not be moved from the body of water where they’re caught into another body of water without a permit from the Department. (Posters Courtesy N.M. Department of Wildlife)
Purchased bait
Commercially packaged bait is not considered baitfish by law and can be used in all waters where the use of bait is legal.
Last tidbits
Chumming is allowed everywhere except Special Trout Waters. Check pages 21-23 of the Fishing Rules and Information Booklet for a list of these waters.
If you legally caught a game fish, you can use the eyes, guts and eggs in waters where you’re allowed to use bait.
Still have questions? Call your nearest area office or the Department’s Information Center (888-248-6866) to check the rules and regulations in your fishing waters.
You must be logged in to post a comment.