Bluewater Lake: Joyce DeAnda of Los Lunas caught and released a 37-inch tiger muskie using a water dog Aug. 21. Anthony Martinez of Santa Fe caught and released a 40-inch tiger muskie using a homemade fly Aug. 17. Jesse Martinez of Rio Rancho caught and released a 38-inch tiger muskie using a homemade fly Aug. 17.
Canjilon Lakes: John Lee Tonkinsonof Cuba caught a 20-inch, 2-pound rainbow trout using a Pistol Pete spinner fly Aug. 12.
Elephant Butte Lake: Jonny Chavez of Socorro caught and released a 3.5-pound smallmouth bass using a top water popper fly Aug. 22.
Eunice Lake: John McRae of Hobbs caught an 8-pound largemouth bass using an Ozark lipless crankbait Aug. 17.
Hopewell Lake: Diana Lovato of Santa Fe caught a 22-inch rainbow trout using worms Aug. 16.
Navajo Lake: Jim McDonald of El Paso, Texas, caught a 30-inch pike and 34-inch pike using a Buck Perry spoonplug Aug. 19. Steve Craig of Arizona caught a 35-inch pike using a Buck Perry spoonplug Aug. 19. Dustin Beatty of Crownpoint caught a 4-pound largemouth bass using a 3/8-ounce black and blue Strike King football jig with a black and blue Rage Menace trailer Aug. 14.
Pecos River: Ray Ortiz of Albuquerque caught a 27-inch rainbow trout using PowerBait Aug. 13.
Tingley Beach: Aviana Leyba, age 5, of Albuquerque caught a 13-inch catfish and a 5-inch bluegill using hot dogs and salmon eggs in the kids' pond Aug. 14.
If you have a catch of the week story or just want to tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing experience, send it to us at funfishingnm@gmail.com. We may include your story in our next report. For catches of the week, include name, age, hometown, date, location, type of fish, length and weight if possible, and bait, lure or fly used.
Cabresto Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Charette Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 21.2 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was good using caddis dry flies and hopper dry flies. Fishing for trout at Gravel Pit Lakes was good when using homemade dough bait.
Clayton Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver and red wiggler worms. Fishing for trout was fair when using PowerBait.
Conchas Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Costilla Creek: The Department is implementing the final phase of a project to expand Rio Grande cutthroat trout in 120 miles of the Costilla watershed in northernNewMexico. The final phase involves the removal of fish within a designated area (Rio Costilla from Costilla Dam downstream to the Valle Vidal Boundary, including all tributaries and Comanche Creek from the road culvert crossing on FR 1950 downstream to its confluence with Rio Costilla and all tributaries). Tentative stocking of Rio Grande cutthroat trout is set for spring 2023. National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 for the latest closure information.
Cowles Ponds: National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300 for the latest closure information.
Coyote Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for rainbow trout was good when using Pistol Pete spinner flies and salmon peach PowerBait.
Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using pink PowerBait.
Gallinas River: National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300 for the latest closure information.
Hopewell Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using worms.
Lake Alice:We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Maloya:Fishing for trout was very good when using salmon eggs, yellow Pistol Pete spinner flies, orange PowerBait, marshmallows, worms, and Joe’s Flies.
Los Pinos River: National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 for the latest closure information.
Maxwell Lake 13: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Monastery Lake: The lake will remain closed until further notice. For more information, visit the Open Gate webpage.
Morphy Lake: State park closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit Morphy Lake State Park’s webpage or call (575) 387-2328 for the latest closure information.
Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Monday morning was 261 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait. National forest and state park closures have been in place restricting fishing access to much of the Pecos River. Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300 for the latest forest closure information. Visit Pecos Canyon State Park’s webpage or call (505) 670-8196 for the latest park closure information.
Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery Monday morning was 114 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using Trout Magnet lures in the upper river section.
Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 510 cfs. Anglers reported murky water caused by rain.
Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Monday morning was 45.6 cfs. National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 for the latest closure information.
Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Monday morning was 109 cfs. National forest and state park closures have been in place restricting fishing access to the Rio Mora. Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300 for the latest forest closure information. Visit Pecos Canyon State Park’s webpage or call (505) 670-8196 for the latest park closure information.
Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Penasco Monday morning was 70.6 cfs. National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 for the latest closure information.
Santa Cruz Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Shuree Ponds: Fishing for trout was good when using garlic PowerBait, Slim Jim lures and white Woolly Buggers with silver or gold reflective strands.
Springer Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Storrie Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Stubblefield Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Ute Lake: Fishing for walleye was slow. Fishing for white bass was fair when using vertical jigging spoons and blade baits for suspended fish in 20-30 feet of water. Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was good when using drop shot rigs in 8-16 feet of water and top water lures in the back of coves. Fishing for crappie was slow. Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawler worms and cut bait. The main lake water surface temperature was in the low 80 F range and the water clarity was clear.
Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good when using live worms.
Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec Monday morning was 378 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using dry flies.
Albuquerque Area Drains: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was good when using water dogs and homemade streamer flies.
Brazos River: Fishing for trout was good when using hopper dry flies and black and gold Panther Martin spinners.
Canjilon Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using Pistol Pete spinner flies and orange PowerBait. National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 for the latest closure information.
Cochiti Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using twin tail chartreuse curly tail grubs. Fishing for catfish was good when using minnows and chicken liver.
El Vado Lake: El Vado Lake can be accessed at Hargroves Day Use Area off State Road 322 and the Main Park area off State Road 112. The Rio Chama can be accessed at the North El Vado Day Use Area on State Road 95, 10 miles west of U.S. Highway 84. Lake levels are steady but expected to drop as crews work on the El Vado Dam. The Dam Day Use Area is closed due to the ongoing construction. State Road 112 over the dam will experience periodic closures.For more information, visit El Vado Lake State Park’s webpage or call (575) 588-7247.
Fenton Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using nymph flies and garlic PowerBait.
Grants Riverwalk Pond: The pond has dried up due to pump failure. The city is planning to repair the pumps but is taking this opportunity to dredge the pond. They expect the pond to be offline for at least two to three months. Fish stockings will be discontinued until all work is done.
Heron Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Monday morning was 59.2 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms. National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300 for the latest closure information.
Laguna del Campo: Fishing for trout was fair when using worms and orange PowerBait.
Lagunitas Lakes: National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 for the latest closure information.
Lake Farmington: Fishing for bass was fair when using plastic worms.
McGaffey Lake: Stocking efforts have been suspended due to extremely low water levels and unstable ground conditions. Lake conditions will be monitored and stocking will resume once conditions improve.
Navajo Lake: Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass was good when using Buck Perry spoonplugs, plastic worms, Ned rigs and 3/8-ounce black and blue Strike King football jigs with a black and blue Rage Menace trailer in 5-20 feet of water. Fishing for pike was good when trolling using Buck Perry spoonplugs. Fishing for kokanee salmon was fair to good when using pink and orange spinners tipped with corn.
Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake and below Abiquiu Lake Monday morning was 146 cfs and 208 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was slow and anglers reported mucky waters. Please remember, from the river-crossing bridge on U.S. Highway 84 at Abiquiu upstream 7 miles to the base of Abiquiu Dam is special trout waters with a bag limit of two trout only.
Rio Grande: Fishing for catfish near Albuquerque was fair to good when using shrimp.
Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1): We had no reports from anglers this week.
San Gregorio Lake: National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at (505) 438-5300 for the latest closure information.
San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Monday morning was 503 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using small dry flies, San Juan worm flies and egg-pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was fair to good when using worms, red annelid flies and black and gold spinners.
Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using chartreuse PowerBait and peach PowerBait.
Tiger Park Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Tingley Beach: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using hot dogs. Fishing for bluegill was fair when using salmon eggs.
Trout Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using pink PowerBait, corn and salmon eggs. National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access. Visit the Carson National Forest webpage or call the Carson National Forest office at (505) 758-6200 for the latest closure information.
Alumni Pond: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using small crankbaits with an orange and brown back and orange and brown plastic worms. Fishing for catfish was fair when using green worms and live grubs.
Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for all species was slow.
Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using nightcrawler worms.
Caballo Lake: Fishing for crappie was fair when using live white grubs. Fishing for bass was slow to fair when using crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was good when using small red, deep-diving crankbaits. Fishing for white bass was fair when using small crankbaits. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut bait.
Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using live minnows and cut carp bait. Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was fair to good when using topwater flies, Whopper Plopper lures and white minnow buzz baits. Fishing for white bass was good when using white crankbaits and Sassy shad. Fishing for crappie was fair when using Sassy shad and live minnows. Fishing for walleye was slow.
Escondida Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using shrimp and nightcrawler worms.
Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Monday morning was 11,000 cfs.
Glenwood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Roberts: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Percha Dam: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using pink PowerBait.
Rancho Grande Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Grande: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using carp cut bait and nightcrawler worms.
Snow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Trees Lake: Fishing for bass was good when using 3-inch plastic worms. Fishing for catfish was good when using nightcrawler worms.
Young Pond: Fishing for catfish was slow.
Alto Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using live worms.
Bataan Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using shrimp, worms and chicken liver.
Berrendo Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week. Please visit theOpen Gate webpagefor more information onthis property.
Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 407 cfs.
Blue Hole Park Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Bonito Lake: Closed until further notice by the city of Alamogordo due to fire damage.
Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawler worms. Fishing for bluegill was good when using nightcrawler worms.
Bottomless Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Brantley Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when using small jigs. Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawler worms.
Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using worms.
Chaparral Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Corona Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Eunice Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was good when using lipless crankbaits.
Green Meadow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Greene Acres Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using shrimp marinated in Pautzke Catfish Nectar.
Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using garlic nightcrawler worms. Fishing for catfish was good when using worms.
Jal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Van: Fishing for catfish was good when using cut carp bait.
Oasis Park Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawler worms.
Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 0.30 cfs.
Perch Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Bonito: Fishing for rainbow trout was fair when using worms.
Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood Monday morning was 80 cfs.
Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Santa Rosa Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Sumner Lake: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using nightcrawler worms.
Timberon Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.
By Jim McDonald
I fished Navajo Lake with my friend Steve Craig from Arizona this past Friday, Aug. 19. We caught nine large pike, six smallmouth bassand two largemouthbass. All fish were caught trolling using Buck Perry spoonplugs. Two of the fish I caughthad a blue-green mouth andtongue. This is the first time that I have seen this.
Both fish were caught at the edge of the weed line. My fish measured 30 and 34 inches. Steve caught a 35-inch pike trolling in much-deeper water, and his fish did not have any signs of blue coloring. Water temp was 73 F and the fish were biting all over the lake. NMDGF fish biologists periodically receive similar reports of pike from Navajo Lake with blue-green mouths. They suspect this coloring is related to diet or possibly genetics.
Has anyone ever caught a similar fish, and why do you think this occurs?
Let us know how your fishing trip goes! Share your tips and tricks with your fellow anglers by emailing us at funfishingnm@gmail.com and let’s help the next generation of anglers find success.
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