Fishing Report – April 23 – 28

  • Gabriel Figueroa (above right) caught a 48-inch tiger muskie using Garlic PowerBait on April 15. “Surprisingly, I caught him with 10-pound mono, a No. 6 hook and PowerBait,” he said. “I fought him for four minutes before I got him on shore.” Courtesy Photo
    Gabriel Figueroa (above right) caught a 48-inch tiger muskie using Garlic PowerBait on April 15. “Surprisingly, I caught him with 10-pound mono, a No. 6 hook and PowerBait,” he said. “I fought him for four minutes before I got him on shore.” Courtesy Photo
  • Heather Atsye of Laguna (above left) caught three rainbow trout using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait on April 12. Courtesy Photo
    Heather Atsye of Laguna (above left) caught three rainbow trout using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait on April 12. Courtesy Photo
  • Bluewater Lake water levels continued their seasonal decline in April 2025, falling from 10,280 acre-feet at the beginning of the month to 9,921 acre-feet by April 28. Despite the steady drop, lake conditions remain favorable for spring fishing and boating access. Courtesy Photo
    Bluewater Lake water levels continued their seasonal decline in April 2025, falling from 10,280 acre-feet at the beginning of the month to 9,921 acre-feet by April 28. Despite the steady drop, lake conditions remain favorable for spring fishing and boating access. Courtesy Photo

    Trout Action Good, Tiger Muskie Bite Slows at Bluewater Lake

    Diego Lopez, Editor

    Spring fishing remains lively at Bluewater Lake, although conditions are beginning to show the subtle shifts of late April.

    Fishing for rainbow trout was reported as good this past week, with anglers finding reliable success using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait along the shoreline and near rocky points. Meanwhile, tiger muskie activity was slow to fair, with a few reported hook-ups using Garlic PowerBait.

    Among those experiencing the spring bite were HeatherAtsye of Laguna, who caught three rainbow trout using Rainbow Glitter Power-Bait on April 12, and Gabriel Figueroa, who landed a 48inch tiger muskie on April 15.

    Lake conditions continue to change gradually as the weather warms. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Bluewater Lake held 9,993 acre-feet of water on April 24, with a slight drop to 9,921 acre-feet by April 28. While water levels are slowly declining, they remain favorable for both shoreline and boat access.

    Important Updates for Park Visitors

    Bluewater Lake State Park has now moved to Stage II Fire Restrictions, elevating from Stage I restrictions implemented earlier this spring. Under Stage II:

    All open flames—including campfires, charcoal grills, and coal stoves—are prohibited, even in developed campgrounds. Only devices fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG (such as propane stoves) are permitted, and only in areas that have been cleared of all flammable materials within a three-foot radius.

    These restrictions are necessary due to increased wildfire risk across the region. Anglers and visitors are urged to use extreme caution and follow all posted signage at the park.

    While Bluewater State Park is at Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, Cibola National Forest remains in Stage 1.

    Grants Riverwalk Pond Quiet Again The Cibola Citizen received no angler reports from the Grants Municipal Pond this week.

    The pond was last stocked in early April, and conditions are still supportive of trout fishing for those willing to put in the time. As always, angler feedback helps us better understand the bite conditions and pond activity.

    Reminder to Anglers:

    Help us celebrate Cibola’s fishing culture! Share your photos and reports by emailing editor@cibolacitizen. com or contribute directly to the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish to support the state’s weekly report.