July 2025 Fishing Reports
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Welcome to the July 2025 New Mexico Fishing Report, brought to you by Everyday Outdoor Store! With hot days and cool mornings, it’s a great time to fish our favorite local lakes and rivers around Santa Rosa, Lake Sumner, Clovis, and Roswell.
🌡️ Weather & Water Conditions
Temps are hitting the 90s across most of the state, and the fish are feeling it too. Early morning and late evening are your best bet, especially for trout and bass. Water levels are lower than spring but stable.
💡 Pro Tip: Fish deeper water mid-day and stick to shady banks or submerged cover.
🎣 What’s Biting in July?
🐟 Trout (Rainbow & Brown)
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Where: Santa Rosa Lake in the early morning hours
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Best Time: Sunrise and cloudy afternoons
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Top Baits: PowerBait, salmon eggs, small spinners
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Notes: Focus on deeper coves and shady banks
🐡 Catfish (Channel & Flathead)
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Where: Lake Sumner, local ponds near Roswell
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Best Time: Late evening through the night
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Top Baits: Cut bait, chicken liver, stink bait, nightcrawlers
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Notes: Night fishing is 🔥 — they’re feeding aggressively in the warm shallows
🎣 Bass (Largemouth & Smallmouth)
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Where: Ponds and lakes around Clovis and Santa Rosa
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Best Time: Dawn and dusk
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Top Baits: Topwater frogs, plastic worms, crankbaits
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Notes: Look for weed beds and submerged logs — they’re hiding in cover to escape the heat
🐠 Bluegill & Sunfish
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Where: Public ponds in Clovis & Roswell
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Best Time: All day
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Top Baits: Worms, small jigs, dough balls
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Notes: Great fishing for kids and beginners — these fish are easy to catch and full of action
📍 Local Hotspot Roundup
Santa Rosa Lake:
Morning trout bite is solid. Try near the dam or deeper coves with spinners or floating bait.
Lake Sumner:
Hotspot for evening and night catfishing. Bring strong hooks and be patient — the big ones are biting!
Clovis Area Ponds (like Ned Houk):
Bluegill are hitting non-stop. Good bass action in the early hours. Great local option for families.
Roswell Public Fishing Areas (like Bottomless Lakes):
Bluegill and bass both active. Catfish reports strong around sunset — try the shallows and bring the stink bait.
🧰 July Gear Tips
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Use heavier sinkers to get bait deeper mid-day
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Bring polarized sunglasses to spot structure below the surface
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Topwater lures are your best friend early in the morning
🎒 Need bait, hooks, or help choosing the right gear?
Stop by Everyday Outdoor Store — we’ve got what you need to fish smarter this summer, right here in New Mexico.
Tight lines and cold drinks,
Everyday Outdoor Store Team