CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. - The first Cibola Fishing Report of 2026 starts off with a familiar winter pattern: fewer people on the water, fewer fishing reports coming in, but still plenty of fish in local ponds giving reasons to keep a rod in the truck.
Bluewater Lake
At Bluewater Lake State Park, there were no angler reports submitted during the Jan. 1–5 window. The most recent fishing update for Bluewater is still the Dec. 18 report, which described fishing for tiger muskie and trout as FAIR to GOOD when using 6th Sense spinners.
New Mexico State Parks’ most recent posted lake conditions for Bluewater (last updated Dec. 8, 2025) list the reservoir at an elevation of 7,368.890 feet (MSL) with an estimated volume of 4,559 acre-feet and boating conditions described as EXCELLENT.
USGS provisional data put Bluewater at 4,508 acre-feet on Dec. 29, 2025, and 4,489 acrefeet on Jan. 5, 2026 – a drop of 19 acre-feet over that stretch. Compared with the State Parks figure of 4,559 acre-feet posted on Dec. 8, the Jan. 5 USGS number is about 70 acre-feet lower, which is a relatively small change in the context of a reservoir this size. In other words: the lake appears to be holding fairly steady into early January, with a gradual decline that’s consistent with normal winter patterns.
For those planning a visit, Bluewater Lake State Park is currently on winter hours through March 31, with the gate open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park is also reminding visitors that the shower facility is temporarily closed due to a lack of heat, with that notice posted through April 1. As always, fireworks are prohibited in the park, and officials continue to emphasize basic water safety, including wearing life jackets when in or around the water.
For current conditions, anglers can visit the park webpage or call Bluewater Lake State Park at 505876-2391. Camping reservations are available through Reserve America at 877-664-7787.
Grants Riverwalk Pond In Grants, there were no angler reports from the Riverwalk Pond during this period either, but the pond did receive a fresh stocking.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish stocking report shows Grants Municipal Pond (Riverwalk Pond) was stocked Dec. 29 with 102 triploid rainbow trout. For local anglers, that means there is fish downtown for those with a license.