Information and photo provided by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish

People might be taking time off for the Christmas and New Year’s holiday. Fish are still biting in December at lakes and streams across southern and southeast New Mexico this week.

In Lincoln County, fishing for trout was very good using flies at Bonito Lake. Fishing for trout was good using PowerBait at Grindstone Lake.

At Corona Pond, fishing for trout was good using earthworms.

At Oasis Lake State Park near Portales, fishing for trout was good using homemade dough bait.

Near Truth or Consequences, fishing for catfish was fair using worms and cut bait.

In Las Cruces, fishing for trout was fair to good using small rainbow-pattern spoons at Young Park Pound.

In Otero County, at Timerbon Ponds, fishing for trout was good using Orange PowerBait Trout Nuggets.

This fishing report, provided by the Department of Game and Fish in cooperation with Dustin Berg of www.gounlimited.org, has been generated from the best information available from area officers and anglers. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.

Want to brag on latest big fish catch?

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s weekly fishing report has been a staple for anglers in the Land of Enchantment for decades, regardless of the format. Whether it has been on a printed newspaper page or a smartphone screen, this report has provided fishing enthusiasts with important information to ensure that their next fishing trip with be as successful and enjoyable as possible.

With that in mind, the Department in recent years has been looking at ways to keep this weekly report relevant — not just now, but for years to come. After months of hard work by Department staff, we are excited to announce the launch of iFish, the Department’s new web interface where you, the angler, can submit your catches and fish stories through an easy-to-use form. An iFish smartphone app is in the works as well and should be available for download on Android and Apple devices in the months to come. iFish will be the only way to submit Catches of the Week and other fishing data going forward. Submitting your catches isn’t just about bragging rights, however. Your submissions help Department staff plan fish management, stocking and improvements, as well as providing other anglers with valuable tips to help them reel in the big one as well.

How does iFish work?

Here’s how you can tell everyone about your latest fishing adventure or Catch of the Week:

1. Visit: https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/weekly-report/.

2. Use the iFish form at the bottom of this page to tell us about your fishing adventures over the past week. Note: Conditions change, so the Department will use only the most recent week’s entries to create the Weekly Fishing Report.

3. Fill out the form once for each species you catch (i.e., one form for largemouth bass, another for rainbow trout, etc.).

4. Did you catch a big fish? Did you take a kid fishing? Did you achieve a fishing milestone? Click the Catch of the Week checkbox at the bottom of the form and upload your best photo and catch details. This is optional.

5. Click “Submit.” If you caught more than one species, just click “Add Another Form” after submitting and follow the steps above for each additional species.

Only submissions received through the iFish form (https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/fishing/weekly-report/) will be accepted for publication in the weekly Fishing and Stocking Report beginning Jan. 1, 2025.