Mike Smith
Carlsbad Current-Argus
msmith@currentargus.com

A Hall of Fame induction awaits any angler who catches five species of trout across the state, a spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish said.

Melissa Garnett said the New Mexico Trout Challenge mirrors two other fishing tests offered by the Department – the Bass Challenge and the New Mexico Master Angler Program.

“The New Mexico Fishing Challenges are a great way to get outdoors exploring New Mexico’s beautiful wild places,” Garnett said in an email.

To qualify for the Trout Challenge Hall of Fame featured on the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish website, Garnett said, a challenge participant must catch five types of trout: Rio Grande Cutthroat, Gila, Brown, Brook and Rainbow.

Garnett said winners receive an additional challenge coin and a certificate along with being featured in the Hall of Fame.

She said the trout challenge is a year-round contest, and last year drew visitors from 13 states.

“The really cool thing about the trout challenge is people are traveling from all over the country to complete their trout challenge,” Garnett said. “We are blessed with a beautiful and diverse wildness and encourage you to get outdoors and explore.”

Garnett said trout fishing is best in clean, cool, running water.

“Mountain streams are a good place to find trout,” she said.

What are the rules?

According to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish website, challenge participants 12 years and older must have a current New Mexico fishing license. Licenses are not required for New Mexico resident and non-resident anglers 11 years of age or younger.

Garnett said a fishing license can be obtained online at https://onlinesales.wildlife.state.nm.us or by calling 888-248-6866. She said participants also must have a Customer Identification Number (CIN), which is assigned when an applicant for a hunting or fishing license creates an account with the Department of Game and Fish.

Once the challenge is complete, Garnett said, entrants should submit their name, email address, mailing address, fishing license number and CIN along with photos of the species caught to dgf-fishingchallenges@dgf.nm.gov.

She said entrants also must identify the bodies of water where the fish were caught.

Following is a list of record catches in the trout challenge categories.

Cutthroat Trout: Elias Mendoza, 1981, Latir Lakes, 10 pounds, 2 ounces, 24 5/8 inches

Brown Trout: C.T. Colgrove, 1946, Chama River, 20 pounds, 4 ounces, 34¼ inches

Rainbow Trout: Peter Romero, 1999, Santa Cruz Lake, 31 pounds, 12½ ounces, 33½ inches

Gila Trout: Todd Polak, 1999, Gila River, 5 pounds, 8 ounces, 20 inches

Brook Trout: Jack Campbell, 1996, Hidden Lake, 5 pounds, 21 inches

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 extension-2361.