CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – Early June is when Cibola County’s fishing pattern starts to shift. This week’s reports fit that seasonal turn, with catfish showing as the bright spot at Bluewater and bluegill continuing to provide steady action at the Grants Riverwalk Pond.
Bluewater Lake
At Bluewater Lake State Park, the most recent report noted catfish fishing was FAIR to GOOD using cut bait. For current conditions, anglers can visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-8762391.
Boating conditions remain listed as EXCELLENT under the most recent State Parks lake conditions update (last updated May 18, 2026), which reported the reservoir at 7,366.750 feet (MSL) with an estimated volume of 3,738 acre-feet and a surface area of 373 acres. USGS provisional elevation readings show 7,366.39 feet on June 2 and 7,366.19 feet on June 9, a decline of 0.20 feet over that stretch. That’s consistent with the gradual step-down we’ve seen through spring into early summer.
Visitors should also remember that Stage II fire restrictions remain
in effect at Bluewater Lake State Park. This means no campfires or solid-fuel fires (including charcoal, coal, or wood stoves), and additional restrictions apply to fireworks, smoking, certain equipment use, and offroad vehicle use. With summer traffic increasing, following Stage II restrictions is part of keeping the park open, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.
There were no new stocking updates reported for Bluewater during the June 2–8 window, so this is a good point in the season to remind readers what has already been planted this year.
The most recent significant stocking we’ve recorded at Bluewater came on March 10, when the lake received two separate plants of triploid rainbow trout: 3,500 fish (about 10-inch class) and 9,609 fish (about 7-inch class), for a combined 13,109 trout delivered in a single day.
Earlier in the season, Bluewater was also stocked on Feb. 16 with 5,618 triploid rainbow trout. Those spring stockings helped carry the trout bite through late winter and early spring; by early June, the weekly reports often shift toward species like catfish—and, for anglers chasing excitement, tiger muskie.
Grants Riverwalk Pond
At the Grants Riverwalk Pond, bluegill fishing was reported as GOOD with PowerBait. As we head deeper into summer, that’s the kind of report families like to hear: an in-town spot where young anglers can stay busy and feel some pulls on the line.
While there was no new stocking reported this week at Riverwalk, several deliveries earlier this year helped keep the pond active. The Riverwalk Pond was stocked around the turn of the year and again through the spring, including Feb. 11 (102 trout) and May 14 (209 trout).
Share Your Fishing Story
Community members can strengthen these reports and help build a running record of fishing at Bluewater Lake and the Riverwalk Pond, especially with warmer weather on the horizon. As your community newspaper, the Cibola Citizen looks forward to receiving and publishing local photos and stories from the lake and pond. Send your catches, conditions updates, and fishing stories to editor@cibolacitizen.com