A New Mexico license runs to March 31, so this year's covers the winter. The Winter Trout Waters are stocked from November 1 to March 31, and kokanee may be snagged on the Rio Chama below El Vado, the Pine River, El Vado Lake, Navajo Lake and Eagle Nest Lake until December 31, and at Heron Lake and Willow Creek only from November 11. A few waters bar ice fishing outright, and the state park opens and closes the ice on Eagle Nest Lake.
What to fish for in early November
New Mexico's winter puts trout in waters too warm for them in summer and ice on the lakes of the north. The San Juan below Navajo Dam fishes every day of the winter, the kokanee season on the Chama lakes runs into December, and in the south the desert reservoirs at Truth or Consequences stay open for white bass and stripers.
These notes cover the whole winter, the ice included. In early November, Eagle Nest Lake is usually still open water, at about 47F.
Rainbow Trout
Planted from November into ponds and valley lakes that turn too warm for it by summer, while the mountain streams and small lakes keep their own through the cold.
Where. The Winter Trout Waters, Tingley Beach in Albuquerque among them, the Ruidoso lakes, and Fenton and Bluewater in the Jemez and the Zuni Mountains.
The rainbow trout waters we forecast Water Usual water now Forecast San Juan River below Navajo Dam about 46F Best Mon, Nov 16, A+Today's forecast Bluewater Lake about 49F Best Wed, Nov 11, A+Today's forecast Quemado Lake about 48F Best Fri, Nov 13, A+Today's forecast Brown Trout
Grows big on midges in the cold, steady flow below the dam, and is sight-fished in clear water.
Where. The Quality Waters of the San Juan below Navajo Dam, and the Rio Grande in its gorge.
The brown trout waters we forecast Water Forecast Red River below the Questa hatchery Best Fri, Nov 13, CToday's forecast Kokanee
Turns red and runs up the inlets to spawn in late fall, which is when the snagging season opens.
Where. Heron and El Vado lakes, Willow Creek and the Rio Chama below El Vado.
Yellow Perch
Bites through the ice in big schools when the lake is open to it, with pike in the same water.
Where. Eagle Nest Lake, when the state park opens its ice, and Heron and El Vado.
The yellow perch waters we forecast Water Usual water now Forecast Eagle Nest Lake about 47F Today's forecast White Bass
Schools on the shad in open water through the cold, with striped bass and walleye in the same reservoirs.
Where. Elephant Butte and Caballo at Truth or Consequences, and Ute Lake on the eastern plains.
Usual water now is that water's normal for this point in the season: a lake's modeled seasonal curve or a river gauge's long-run average, not this year's reading. The forecast link reads this week's.
What changes soon
The next six weeks of this report's calendar for New Mexico.
- Wed November 11Kokanee may be snagged at Heron Lake and Willow Creek in New Mexico, 12 a day, to December 31; both are closed to kokanee through November 10.
In the last two weeks
- Sun November 1New Mexico's Winter Trout Waters, lakes and river stretches too warm for trout in summer, start to be stocked with rainbow trout, through March 31.
Every date for New Mexico from November to February (3)
- Sun November 1New Mexico's Winter Trout Waters, lakes and river stretches too warm for trout in summer, start to be stocked with rainbow trout, through March 31.
- Wed November 11Kokanee may be snagged at Heron Lake and Willow Creek in New Mexico, 12 a day, to December 31; both are closed to kokanee through November 10.
- Thu December 31Last day of kokanee snagging in New Mexico.
This week's fishing reports
This report covers the season. For what was caught this week, read the people who report on this water.
The Department of Wildlife reports weekly all winter, a fishing report on Thursdays and a stocking report on Fridays, and the Albuquerque Journal prints the fishing report as a web article. Duranglers in Durango keeps a dated San Juan report that it updated through past winters. No other dated winter reporter could be found for the San Juan or the northern lakes.
Where to fish in New Mexico, area by area
Each water links to its live forecast. The engine outlook in these areas was generated November 3, 2026, for the 14 days from that date; good hours are the hours at or above a B+.
The San Juan below Navajo Dam
San Juan River (Quality Waters) · Navajo Lake
The tailwater the San Juan forms below Navajo Dam in the northwest corner of the state, its first miles the special-regulation Quality Waters, cold enough from the dam to hold large rainbows and browns all year and fished mostly with tiny flies; above it, Navajo Lake reaches north into Colorado.
Who reports here. Duranglers in Durango keeps a dated report for the river, updated through past winters every few weeks, and the Department of Wildlife's weekly report covers it too.
Engine outlook
- Best: Mon, Nov 16, A+13 good hours48F measured Nov 3 at SAN JUAN RIVER NEAR ARCHULETA, NMbest run 13h1300 cfsat SAN JUAN RIVER NEAR ARCHULETA, NMon this water
The northern mountain lakes
Eagle Nest Lake · Heron Lake · El Vado Lake
The high lakes of the north, Eagle Nest in the Moreno Valley below Wheeler Peak and Heron and El Vado on the Rio Chama, where trout, kokanee, perch and pike come through the ice in a cold winter, and at Eagle Nest the state park opens and closes the ice.
Who reports here. The Department of Wildlife's weekly report carries the ice: last winter it said Eagle Nest was closed to ice fishing on January 8 and 22 and open again on February 5. The state park answers by phone, 575-377-1594.
Engine outlook
- Its best day in this outlook has passed.
The northern rivers and mountain lakes
Rio Grande · Red River · Rio Pueblo · Cimarron River · Pecos River
The trout water of the northern mountains: the Rio Grande in its gorge below the Colorado line, the Red River and the Rio Pueblo coming down to it near Questa and Taos, the Cimarron below Eagle Nest Dam, the upper Pecos with Monastery Lake beside it, and Lake Maloya above Raton.
Who reports here. The Department of Wildlife's weekly report names these waters; its January editions, posted to SportfishingReport water by water on the 8th, 15th and 22nd, reported every one of them at least once.
Engine outlook
- Best: Fri, Nov 13, C0 good hours44F measured Nov 3 at RED RIVER BELOW FISH HATCHERY, NEAR QUESTA, NM129 cfsat RED RIVER BELOW FISH HATCHERY, NEAR QUESTA, NMon this water
The Jemez and Bluewater
Fenton Lake · Jemez River · Bluewater Lake
Fenton Lake in the Jemez Mountains west of Los Alamos, with the Jemez River and its forks below it, and Bluewater Lake in the Zuni Mountains near Grants, trout and tiger muskie water that freezes in a cold winter.
Who reports here. The Department of Wildlife's weekly report names these waters; its January editions, posted to SportfishingReport water by water on the 8th, 15th and 22nd, reported both lakes each week. The river had no report of its own.
Engine outlook
- Best: Wed, Nov 11, A+13 good hours51F modeled from this lake's own seasonal curvebest run 7h
Elephant Butte and Caballo
Elephant Butte Lake · Caballo Lake · Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam
The two Rio Grande reservoirs at Truth or Consequences, Elephant Butte and Caballo below it, desert water for striped bass, white bass, walleye, catfish and black bass, and the river between and below their dams.
Who reports here. The Department of Wildlife's weekly report names these waters; its January editions, posted to SportfishingReport water by water on the 8th, 15th and 22nd, reported the big lake each week. The lower lake and the river had none of their own.
Engine outlook
- Best: Tue, Nov 10, A+14 good hours65F modeled from this lake's own seasonal curvebest run 14h
The Gila country
Gila River · Quemado Lake · Bear Canyon Lake · Lake Roberts · Glenwood Pond
The forks of the Gila in the wilderness north of Silver City and the river below them, Lake Roberts and Bear Canyon Lake in the Mimbres country, Quemado Lake in the pines of Catron County and the pond at Glenwood, trout water with native Gila trout in the headwaters.
Who reports here. The Department of Wildlife's weekly report names these waters; its January editions, posted to SportfishingReport water by water on the 8th, 15th and 22nd, reported the river and Quemado Lake each week, Bear Canyon Lake twice and the Glenwood pond once.
Engine outlook
- Best: Fri, Nov 13, A+13 good hours50F modeled from this lake's own seasonal curvebest run 13h
The Ruidoso lakes
Grindstone Reservoir · Alto Lake · Bonito Lake
The small mountain lakes around Ruidoso below Sierra Blanca, Grindstone and Alto by the town and Bonito Lake in its canyon to the north, stocked trout water in the pines.
Who reports here. The Department of Wildlife's weekly report names these waters; its January editions, posted to SportfishingReport water by water on the 8th, 15th and 22nd, reported all three lakes in most of them.
The eastern plains lakes
Ute Lake · Conchas Lake · Santa Rosa Lake · Sumner Lake · Perch Lake
The plains reservoirs of the east, Ute Lake at Logan and Conchas on the Canadian, Santa Rosa and Sumner on the Pecos with the small lakes of Santa Rosa beside them, and the warm-water lakes of the Pecos valley and the eastern towns, Oasis near Portales, Lake Van at Dexter and Carlsbad's lake on the river, for walleye, bass, crappie and catfish.
Who reports here. The Department of Wildlife's weekly report names these waters; its January editions, posted to SportfishingReport water by water on the 8th, 15th and 22nd, reported Ute Lake each week and the small lakes in one or both of the first two. The big reservoirs on the Canadian and the Pecos had no report of their own.
Engine outlook
- Best: Thu, Nov 12, A+13 good hours62F modeled from this lake's own seasonal curvebest run 7h
The rules from November to February
What changed this time
- New Special Trout Waters: Jack's Creek, the Rio Chiquito and the Rio San Antonio. The agency is now the New Mexico Department of Wildlife, formerly the Department of Game and Fish.
Read on October 20, 2026, from the New Mexico Department of Wildlife (its 2026-2027 fishing rules and information booklet and its weekly fishing report) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Navajo State Park pages.
Licenses, and which state's rules apply
- A license runs April 1 to March 31, so one bought this spring is good through the quarter. Anglers 12 and older need one; 11 and younger fish free. Residents pay $35 a year and nonresidents $90; a one-day license is $12 and a five-day $30 for anyone; a junior license, ages 12 to 17, $5 or $20; residents 65 to 69 pay $8, and 70 and older fish free. A Habitat Management and Access Validation, $4, goes with the license except at 17 and younger or with a free license, and a Habitat Stamp, $10, is needed on Forest Service and BLM land.
- Navajo Lake begins in Colorado and ends in New Mexico, which holds two-thirds of it, and each side is fished on its own state's license and rules: Colorado Parks and Wildlife tells anglers who cross the state line from its side to buy a New Mexico license and read New Mexico's regulations first.
Bait, gear and fish you cannot keep
- One rod, or two with the Second Rod Validation ($10), and never three. Game fish may not be snagged, except kokanee in their snagging season. Special Trout Waters ban chumming and baitfish, and many take artificial flies and lures with a single barbless hook only. A live game fish may not leave the water it was caught in.
Lakes, ponds and rivers
- Daily limits, with many waters set differently: five trout and kokanee in any combination, no more than two of them lake trout and two cutthroat; two trout on Green Chile and Xmas Chile Special Trout Waters, and catch and release on Red Chile Waters; five black bass, largemouth and spotted of at least 14 inches and smallmouth of at least 12; 15 catfish; 20 crappie; five walleye; ten northern pike, unlimited and none returned at Eagle Nest Lake; one striped bass; one tiger muskie of at least 40 inches; 25 white bass and wipers; 30 yellow perch. Possession is twice the daily limit.
- Winter Trout Waters, lakes and river stretches too warm for trout in summer, are stocked with rainbow trout from November 1 to March 31. Kokanee may be snagged from October 1 to December 31 on the Rio Chama below El Vado, Navajo Lake (outside its buoyed no-wake areas), the Pine River, El Vado Lake and Eagle Nest Lake, and at Heron Lake and Willow Creek from November 11 to December 31, 12 a day; Heron Lake and Willow Creek are closed to kokanee until November 10.
Through the ice
- Some waters bar ice fishing outright, among them Bonito Lake, Monastery Lake and Springer Lake; check a water's own rules before going out on the ice.
Read on these agency pages: NMDOW: 2026-2027 New Mexico Fishing Rules and Info (PDF), CPW: Navajo State Park, Park Highlights.
The season at a glance
What these months usually do
Each lake's own seasonal curve, the one the engine scores the lake on: what these dates usually do, modeled rather than measured, and not a forecast for this year.
| Water | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | Jan 1 | Feb 1 | Feb 28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluewater Lake | 50F | 43F | 37F | 37F | 39F |
| Eagle Nest Lake | 48F | 41F | 37F | 35F | 35F |
| Elephant Butte Lake | 65F | 56F | 53F | 51F | 53F |
| Quemado Lake | 49F | 42F | 38F | 38F | 41F |
| Ute Lake | 59F | 49F | 43F | 43F | 49F |
Each river's own gauge: its average for these dates across the years it has recorded, measured, and not a forecast for this year.
| Water | Nov 1 | Dec 1 | Jan 1 | Feb 1 | Feb 28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan River below Navajo DamSAN JUAN RIVER NEAR ARCHULETA, NM, 2014 to 2023 | 46F | 43F | 41F | 41F | 41F |
The moon from November to February
| Month | New moon | Full moon |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | Mon, Nov 9 | Tue, Nov 24 |
| December 2026 | Tue, Dec 8 | Wed, Dec 23 |
| January 2027 | Thu, Jan 7 | Fri, Jan 22 |
| February 2027 | Sat, Feb 6 | Sat, Feb 20 |
The U.S. Naval Observatory's dates, on local time.
Daylight in each area from November to February
Worked out for one place in each area, on its own clock.
| Area | Shortest day | Earliest sunset | Latest sunrise |
|---|---|---|---|
| The San Juan below Navajo Damat San Juan River below Navajo Dam | 9h 38m, Dec 21 | 4:56pm, around Dec 6 | 7:25am, around Jan 6 |
| The northern mountain lakesat Eagle Nest Lake | 9h 40m, Dec 21 | 4:47pm, around Dec 6 | 7:15am, around Jan 6 |
| The northern rivers and mountain lakesat Red River below the Questa hatchery | 9h 39m, Dec 21 | 4:48pm, around Dec 6 | 7:17am, around Jan 6 |
| The Jemez and Bluewaterat Bluewater Lake | 9h 46m, Dec 21 | 5:01pm, around Dec 6 | 7:23am, around Jan 6 |
| Elephant Butte and Caballoat Elephant Butte Lake | 9h 57m, Dec 21 | 5:03pm, around Dec 4 | 7:14am, around Jan 8 |
| The Gila countryat Quemado Lake | 9h 52m, Dec 21 | 5:06pm, around Dec 5 | 7:22am, around Jan 7 |
| The Ruidoso lakesat Ruidoso | 9h 57m, Dec 21 | 4:56pm, around Dec 4 | 7:08am, around Jan 8 |
| The eastern plains lakesat Ute Lake | 9h 46m, Dec 21 | 4:43pm, around Dec 5 | 7:05am, around Jan 6 |