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Articles by George Morse
Weekly Fishing Report: Feb. 23, 2026
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Several lakes in Northeast New Mexico will open for fishing Feb. 28. Morphy Lake State Park, Clayton Lake State Park, Charette Lakes and Maxwell Lake 13 will open after being closed for the winter. Clayton Lake was stocked Feb. 18 with 4,001 rainbow trout in preparation for the opener. Be sure to call 575.377.1594 to check on ice conditions at Eagle Nest Lake. The weather forecast indicates a warming trend so ice conditions may deteriorate.
Weekly Fishing Report: Feb.19, 2026
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The warm winter weather has appears to have ended a brief ice-fishing season here in Northern New Mexico. Eagle Nest Lake was open for about a week, but deteriorating ice conditions led to its closure. Fenton Lake has yet to open for ice fishing, along with Lake Maloya and Lake Alice at Sugarite Canyon State Park have not opened for ice fishing. There was very limited stocking activity in Northern New Mexico this past week.
Weekly Fishing Report: Feb. 9, 2026
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The frigid temperatures a week ago that got the ice-fishing season started gave way to warmer temperatures last week. Eagle Nest Lake State Park hosted its annual Ice-Fishing Derby Jan. 31, but the warmer temperatures have led to the lake being closed again to ice fishing. Cash prizes were awarded after the Derby for the biggest rainbow trout, biggest northern pike and biggest yellow perch. The results of the Fishing Derby are available.
Weekly Fishing Report: Feb. 2, 2026
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The frigid temperatures a week ago got the ice-fishing season started. Eagle Nest Lake State Park hosted its annual Ice-Fishing Derby Saturday (1/31). Cash prizes were awarded for the biggest rainbow trout, biggest northern pike and biggest yellow perch. The results of the Fishing Derby are not yet available. Check the website for Friends of Eagle Nest Lake and Cimarron Canyon State Parks later this week.
Weekly Fishing Report: Jan. 26, 2026
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The frigid temperatures this past weekend have gotten the ice-fishing season started. Eagle Nest Lake State Park will host its annual Ice-Fishing Derby Saturday, Jan. 31. Cash prizes will be awarded for the biggest rainbow trout, biggest northern pike and biggest yellow perch. Registration fees are typically $40 for all three categories. Prize amounts are dependent on the number of entries.
Weekly Fishing Report: Jan. 19, 2026
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post There was no stocking activity in Northern New Mexico last week. Only Tingley Beach and the drainage canals in the Albuquerque area were stocked. There have been some good reports of nice- sized brook trout being caught at Bonito Lake. These are wild fish that spawn In Bonito Creek. It is one of just a handful of year-around trout fisheries in Southeast New Mexico.
Weekly Fishing Report: Jan. 10, 2026
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The stocking of rainbow trout resumed this past week in Northern New Mexico. Catchable-size rainbow trout were stocked at many locations. Check in the fishing reports to see how many and when trout were stocked. If they were not stocked let week, the most recent stocking will be included. There was some very cold weather over the weekend, Below-zero temperatures were recorded at some locations.
Weekly Fishing Report: Jan. 5, 2026
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Happy New Year! Rainbow trout were not stocked anywhere last week in Northern New Mexico. All the stocking activity took place in Southern New Mexico. Even Tingley Beach and the Albuquerque area drains were not stocked. The weather has been too warm and the ice-fishing season is off to a slow start. With the exception of Hopewell Lake, no New Mexico lakes or state parks are open for ice fishing.
Weekly Fishing Report: Dec. 22, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Happy New Year! There was limited stocking activity last week and most of the stocking activity was in Southern New Mexico. This area had a taste of winter. Temperatures may not be as warm as they normally would be for this time of year. Small streams at higher elevations are starting to ice up. The Rio Pueblo, Santa Cruz River and Rio Costilla are already reporting icy conditions that prevent the measurement of streamflow.
Weekly Fishing Report: Dec. 22, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Merry Christmas! If you are looking for gifts for the anglers in your family, lures make good stocking stuffers. So do jars of Power Bait or salmon eggs. Don’t think you have to spend a lot of money on rods and reels. There are some excellent, moderately-priced equipment that will be perfectly fine for the needs of most anglers. Small streams at higher elevations are starting to ice up.
Weekly Fishing Report: Dec. 15, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Small streams at higher elevations are starting to ice up. The Rio Pueblo, Santa Cruz River and Rio Costilla are already reporting icy conditions that prevent the measurement of streamflow. Lakes are starting to develop thin ice, but it will be awhile before the ice is thick enough for safe ice fishing. This time of year is good time to plan a strip to Southern New Mexico.
Weekly Fishing Report: Dec. 8, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The beautiful, melodic calls of migrating sandhill cranes echoed through the sky in the Espanola Valley this past week. They are headed south where they will spend the winter at the Bosque de Apache National Wildlife Refuge South of Socorro. Winter is a good time to visit the Refuge and be amazed at the numbers of cranes and snow geese that migrate there.
Weekly Fishing Report: Dec. 1, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post There was just a little stocking done last week in Northern New Mexico due to the Thanksgiving holiday. In the winter, most of the stocking of catchable-size rainbow trout is in Southern New Mexico. Snow is now beginning to fall in the higher elevations and the beautiful white covering on the mountains is a most welcome sight.
Weekly Fishing Report: Nov. 24, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Happy Thanksgiving. Snow is now beginning to fall in the higher elevations and the beautiful white covering on the mountains is a most welcome sight. When planning a trip it will be increasingly important to keep track of weather and road conditions at and going to your destination. Several lakes will begin to freeze over and it will be awhile before the ice is thick enough to allow for ice fishing.
Weekly Fishing Report: Nov. 18, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The rainfall Sunday night in parts of New Mexico was most welcome. The winter snowpack is off to a slow start. A good snowpack would be a much needed shot in the arm. Streamflows on the Rio Grande decreased over the past week but are still above normal. Streamflows Sunday (1116) were 676 cubic feet per second at Taos Junction Bridge and 727 at Embudo. The streamflow at Cerro near the Colorado border was 542 cubic-feet-per-second.
Weekly Fishing Report: Nov. 9, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The State Game and Fish Department stocked Nov. 5 a total of 7,160 Gila trout in the East Fork, Middle Fork and West Fork of the Gila River. The fish averaged four inches in size. Gila trout are raised at the Federal Fish Hatchery in Mora. They are one of two species of trout native to New Mexico. The other is the Rio Grande cutthroat trout. Gila trout inhabit the Gila River drainage in Southwestern New Mexico.
Weekly Fishing Report: Nov. 2, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The stocking of rainbow trout by the State Game and Fish Department has shifted its emphasis to Southern New Mexico. Lakes and ponds too warm in the summer to support trout are being stocked now because of cooler weather. Streamflow on the Rio Grande increased over the last week. Streamflows today were 497 cubic-feet-per-second at Taos Junction and 557at Embudo. The streamflow at Cerro near the Colorado border was 380 cubic feet per second.
Weekly Fishing Report: Oct. 27, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The Charette Lakes, Clayton Lake, Maxwell Lake 13, Morphy Lake and Laguna del Campo will close for the season Friday, Oct. 31. Streamflow on the Rio Grande has been dropping now that the floodwaters from Southern Colorado have subsided. Stream flows just a week ago were over 1,000 cubic-feet-per-second at Taos Junction Bridge and at Embudo. Stream flows Sunday (Oct. 26) was 376 cubic-feet-per-second at Taos Junction and 461 at Embudo.
Weekly Fishing Report: Oct. 13, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Kokanee salmon snagging season is open at Navajo Lake, El Vado Lake and Eagle Nest Lake. Snagging season at Heron Lake begins Nov. 11 after the egg-taking operation. Possession of kokanee salmon at Heron Lake is prohibited from Oct. 1 until Nov. 11. All snagging seasons end Dec. 31 at all locations. In recent years, the best snagging success has been at Navajo Lake. Southern Colorado has experienced heavy rainfall and rivers are flooding.
Weekly Fishing Report: Oct. 6, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Kokanee salmon snagging season opened Oct. 1 at Navajo Lake, El Vado Lake and Eagle Nest Lake. Snagging season at Heron Lake begins Nov. 11 after the egg-taking operation. Possession of kokanee salmon at Heron Lake is prohibited from Oct. 1 until Nov. 11. All snagging seasons end Dec. 31 at all locations. In recent years, the best snagging success has been at Navajo Lake.
Weekly Fishing Report: Sept. 30, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Kokanee salmon snagging season opens Wednesday at Navajo Lake, El Vado Lake and Eagle Nest Lake. Kokanee are a landlocked species of sockeye salmon that spend their entire lives in freshwater and do not migrate to the ocean. Like other species of Pacific salmon, they live for 3-4 years, then spawn. After spawning, they die.
Weekly Fishing Report: Sept. 23, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post In October the State Game and Fish Department will begin stocking lakes and ponds in Southern New Mexico as part of their Winter Trout Stocking Program. These waters are too warm in the summer to sustain trout. They cool down in the fall and during the winter they do not freeze so trout can survive. This offers anglers in that part of the state the opportunity to cast out without having to make a long drive.
Weekly Fishing Report: Sept. 15, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post When you start seeing your breath in the early morning hours it is a sure sign that fall is just around the corner and summer is coming to an end. Fall is a beautiful t ice to be outdoors. The changing colors of the aspen trees adds a burst of golden color to the mountains. Brown trout and brook trout spawn in the fall. The males will develop brighter colors and, in some cases, hooked jaws (kypes).
Weekly Fishing Report: Sept. 8, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The cooler temperatures and rain that New Mexico experienced this past week should help to improve fishing conditions. Bank fishermen at our lakes should benefit the most as trout will start moving into shallower water as the water temperatures cool down. If you are a hunter, bring along your shotgun on trips into the mountains. Blue grouse season is open.
Weekly Fishing Report: Sept. 1, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Early predictions for the upcoming winter are for a weak La Nina pattern. La Nina usually means lower precipitation and warmer than average temperatures. However, the Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a cold and wet winter for New Mexico. Let’s hope they are right. One river that seems to still be holding up well is the Pecos River. Streamflows throughout the drainage are near, at or above normal.
Weekly Fishing Report: Aug. 18, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post This is a good time to give trout a break as streamflows are low and water temperatures warm. Early predictions for the upcoming winter are for a weak La Nina pattern. La Nina usually means lower precipitation and warmer than average temperatures. This is not what is needed. One river that seems to be holding up well is the Pecos River. Streamflows throughout the drainage are at or near normal. Some of the best fishing will be found below dams.
Weekly Fishing Report: Aug. 11, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Streamflows remain low in many parts of New Mexico. Unfortunately, the early predictions for the upcoming winter are for a weak La Nina pattern. La Nina usually means lower precipitation and warmer than average temperatures. One river that seems to be holding up well is the Pecos River. The Eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo mountains have been getting more monsoon rain than North-Central and Northwestern New Mexico.
Weekly Fishing Report: Aug. 5, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post There was very limited stocking of trout last week in Northern New Mexico. This reflects the conditions. Rising water temperatures and low streamflows limit the amount of water where hatchery trout can be stocked. One river that seems to be holding up well is the Pecos River. The Eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo mountains have been getting more monsoon rain than North-Central and Northwestern New Mexico.
Weekly Fishing Report: July 28, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The month of August begins Friday. This is the beginning of the “dog days of summer. Warm temperatures and low streamflows put a damper on trout streams and rivers. This is a good time to give trout a rest. Warm water temperatures over 70-degrees make the trout lethargic and over 75 degrees can kill them.
Weekly Fishing Report: July 21, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Southern New Mexico is starting to feel the effects of our below-average snowpack this winter and meager spring runoff. The Rio Grande recently dried up in Albuquerque. Elephant Butte Lake near Truth or Consequences is now at just 4-percent of its capacity. Caballo Lake, the reservoir immediately below Elephant Butte, is at just 8-percennt of its capacity.
Weekly Fishing Report: July 14, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The brown trout was introduced into New Mexico’s rivers and streams in the late 19th and early 20th century. Originally native to Europe and Asia, the brown trout has proven to be very adaptable and has established wild populations in all the states where it has been introduced. They have not been stocked in New Mexico for many years. If you catch a brown trout in New Mexico, it is a wild, naturally reproduced fish.
Weekly Fishing Report: July 8, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post As is typical of monsoon season here in New Mexico, the showers were hit-or-miss last week. It is best if you are a gardener to stick to a regular routine of watering and not rely on Mother Nature. This time of year, the best fishing will often be found at higher elevations. The smaller headwater streams are where the water remains cooler. The best time to fish will be early morning and evening.
Weekly Fishing Report: June 30, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post This past week marked the beginning of our so-called monsoon season. During the middle of the week there were frequent showers. Some areas around Ruidoso in the Sacramento Mountains experienced flash flooding. The weekend saw the weather turn hot and mostly dry. A similar weather pattern appears to be taking shape for the upcoming week. Be sure to pack some rain gear when you head out on a fishing trip this time of year.
Weekly Fishing Report: June 24, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The weather has been hot for the last week or two here in Northern New Mexico. Under these conditions fishing in the early morning or evening hours is often the best time to be out. Trout in lakes will be moving into deeper water seeking cooler water temperatures. There is rain in the forecast for the upcoming week. Be sure to bring some rain gear with you. Fishing during a shower can be productive.
Weekly Fishing Report: June 16, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Brook trout are another of the five species of trout that an angler needs to catch in order to complete a New Mexico Trout Slam. They are not widely distributed in New Mexico. Brook trout are not native to New Mexico. Their native range is east of the Mississippi River in the Appalachian Mountains and Great Lakes area. They have been widely introduced throughout the Western United States.
Weekly Fishing Report: June 9, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Anglers that would like to catch a Gila trout should head to Lake Roberts near Silver City. The lake was stocked June 5 with 1,031 Gila trout from the Federal Fish Hatchery near Mora. This Hatchery is devoted to the raising of Gila trout. These were big trout. They averaged 20.1 inches in size and slightly over three pounds. They were excess brood fish used to supply eggs for the hatchery.
Weekly Fishing Report: June 2, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The snow has melted. Snow water equivalent and snow depth will no longer be monitored until winter. One of the most-frequently asked questions by other anglers is what lure or fly to use. The best answer is one that you have confidence in that it will catch fish! The State Game and Fish Department is continuing to stock bigger-than-average trout in locations throughout Northern New Mexico.
Weekly Fishing Report: May 26, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The State Game and Fish Department is continuing to stock bigger-than-average trout in locations throughout Northern New Mexico. Check out the Fishing Report to see where these larger trout have been stocked. If you are catching bigger trout at your favorite fishing hole, these stockings are why. The Department has begun its Summer Catfish Stocking Program in Southern New Mexico.
Weekly Fishing Report: May 20, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The past few weeks the State Game and Fish Department has been stocking some bigger-than-average trout at locations throughout Northern New Mexico. These fish will average 15-17 inches in size with some18-20 inchers in the mix. Check out the Fishing Report to see where these larger trout have been stocked. If you are catching bigger trout at your favorite fishing hole these stockings are why.
Weekly Fishing Report: May 14, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post This past week saw good, soaking rain at lower elevations. There was heavy snow at higher elevations (up to three feet at some locations). The mountains were covered with a beautiful white blanket. They looked better in the beginning of May than they had looked most of the winter. The moisture is most welcome after our dry winter and meager snowpack. Streamflow increased and should slowly drop this coming week.
Weekly Fishing Report: May 5, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post There was a nice, soaking rain Sunday in the Espanola Valley. More rain is forecast for the coming week temperatures are on the cool side for May and the higher elevations are still getting snow. The moisture is most-welcome after our dry winter and meager snowpack. Streamflow in the Rio Grande remains low. The streamflow at Cerro near the Colorado border was just 173 cubic-feet-per second. There will be no big spring runoff from Colorado.
Weekly Fishing Report: April 29, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The State Department of Game & Fish stocked several lakes with kokanee salmon last week. Kokanee are a land-locked species of sockeye salmon that spend their entire lives in fresh water and do not migrate to the ocean. The fish are stocked as small fry just 1.5 inches long. They are hatched at Los Ojos Fish Hatchery from eggs gathered at Heron Lake and Navajo Lake.
Weekly Fishing Report: April 22, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Winter-like weather made a brief appearance in New Mexico last week. The Jemez Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains were covered with a beautiful white blanket of snow at higher elevations. Good to see after such a dry winter but just a drop in the bucket of what we need. Streamflow in the Rio Grande remains low. The streamflow at Cerro near the Colorado border was just 169 cubic-feet-per second.
Weekly Fishing Report: April 15, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post This last week saw unseasonably warm temperatures with several cities throughout the state setting records for daily high temperatures, including Santa Fe and Albuquerque. It was a toasty 97 degrees in Roswell. Streamflows around the state showed some dramatic increases due to melting snow. However, streamflow in the Rio Grande is low. The streamflow at Cerro near the Colorado border was just 117 cubic-feet-per second.
Weekly Fishing Report: April 7, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post Winter made a return visit last week to New Mexico. Friday and Saturday saw winter-like temperatures below freezing. The big winner in terms of snowfall was the east facing slopes of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Areas near Mora picked up 16 inches of snow. The temperatures will rise dramatically this coming week, with forecasts calling for 80 degrees by Saturday. Streamflows should increase this week due to melting snow.
Weekly Fishing Report: March 30, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post New Mexico’s snowpack remains below normal. The measure of snow water equivalent, which is the amount of water you will have once the snow is melted, is below 30-percent of normal in the Upper Rio Grande, Jemez River and Pecos River basins. The Chama River Basin is now 40-percent of normal. The upper tributaries of the Jemez River are becoming accessible, as very little snowpack remains.
Weekly Fishing Report: March 18, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The snowpack in Northern New Mexico is still well-below normal. Despite more beneficial snow that fell this past week, the measure of snow water equivalent, which is the amount of water you will have once the snow is melted, is below 50-percent of normal in the Upper Rio Grande, Jemez River and Pecos River basins. The Chama River Basin improved somewhat and is now 57-percent of normal.
Weekly Fishing Report: March 7, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The snowpack in Northern New Mexico is 34 percent of normal. The weather last week was warm and dry. Locally the snowpack at the Hopewell measuring station was 55-percent of normal with a snow depth of 24 inches a week ago. Two weeks ago there were two different weather patterns in New Mexico. Temperatures were bitterly cold in Eastern New Mexico, but much milder in the Central and Western parts of the state.
Weekly Fishing Report: Feb. 24, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The snowpack in Northern New Mexico is 43-percent of normal. Two weeks ago saw some snow in the mountains and the snowpack increased. Locally the snowpack at the Hopewell measuring station is 55-percent of normal with a snow depth of 24 inches. Last week saw two different weather patterns in New Mexico. Temperatures were bitterly cold in Eastern New Mexico, but much milder in t he Central and Western parts of the state.
Weekly Fishing Report: Feb. 16, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE Sports and Outdoors Los Alamos Daily Post The snowpack in Northern New Mexico is 39-percent of normal. Last week saw some snow in the mountains and the snowpack increased. Locally the snowpack at the Hopewell measuring station is 55-percent of normal with a snow depth of 24 inches. The snowpack in Southern Colorado, including the headwaters of the Rio Grande, is also below normal. Northern and Central Colorado received heavy snow last week, but the storm bypassed Southern Colorado.
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