Fishing in New Mexico this September has turned into a frustrating gamble. Sometimes, anglers pull in nets full of prized trout, but other times they come up empty.
Anglers across New Mexico are coping with unpredictable conditions. Critically low water, higher temperatures, and toxic algae blooms have changed many favorite fishing spots for the worse. Many sportsmen now call it a classic “hit-and-miss” nightmare.
Some rivers still offer good catches of brown and rainbow trout. Others have shrunk to shallow, clear streams where fish flee away at any indication of movement.
Even some reservoirs that still produce good catches need enough water to launch a boat.
The San Juan River offers some of the best fishing in New Mexico right now, with water flows at 850 to 900 cubic feet per second, and the temperature at 48°F. Anglers are catching quality brown and rainbow trout using midges, small dry flies, and larva patterns.
One angler even reported landing a 25-inch brown trout on a size-22 red larva fly. But travel north to the Rio Grande near Cerro, and the picture changes dramatically. There, flows have collapsed to just 37 cubic feet per second.
The river is now so clear that trout are easy to spot but very hard to catch. With lots of anglers and rising afternoon temperatures, the fish are stressed. Most people now fish early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Another risk as well. Parts of the Rio Grande have a hazardous algal bloom warning. Anglers are being told to rinse their fishing gear thoroughly after leaving the water. Fishing picture remains frustratingly patchy elsewhere. The Pecos River near Pecos has produced “very good” trout fishing on worms for some families, while Bonito Lake and Grindstone Reservoir have been yielding limits of rainbow trout on PowerBait and spinners.
Catfish and bluegill are still biting at places such as Bill Evans Lake and Bluewater Lake, where anglers have also reported tiger muskies prowling the water. But the bad news is piling up.
Quemado Lake remains closed due to a harmful algal bloom. And Charette Lake is under a full Danger Advisory.
Low water levels have closed or made boat ramps dangerous at Heron Lake, parts of Elephant Butte, Santa Rosa, and El Vado.
Smaller streams are struggling, too. Their flows are running well below average following poor snowpack and weak spring runoff.
Weekly reports from the New Mexico Department of Wildlife show that fishing is getting harder. Some popular spots have not had any angler reports for weeks. Those who do go out are being told to fish during the coolest times of day and to handle trout very carefully.
Monsoon storms have brought isolated bursts of rain and the possibility of more disruption.
Free Fishing Weekend is still set for September 26-27, during which residents and non-residents are allowed to fish without a fishing license. However, parts of the Rio Grande south of Albuquerque are already running dry.
To make the most of the last weeks of summer, anglers should check the latest river gauges, algal bloom warnings, and park updates before they go fishing.
