Monastery Lake reopened for fishing March 5

Basin part of program to protect fish and wildlife resources

After a winter closure, the Benedictine Monastery Lake, near the village of Pecos, was freshly stocked with trout and reopened for fishing at 10 a.m. Tuesday (March 5).

The Benedictine Monastery Lake is part of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Open Gate Program, which leases private lands to increase public opportunities for hunting, fishing and trapping.

Landowners may also participate in the program by allowing access to otherwise inaccessible public lands via right-of-way corridors through their deeded land. Open Gate also works with cooperating state and federal agencies to develop access in areas where needed.

Private lands and New Mexico’s outdoor heritage

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has long recognized the important role private lands play in promoting New Mexico’s outdoor heritage. Proper management of private lands plays an integral role in protecting fish and wildlife resources, ensuring they can be enjoyed by

current and future generations. Private landowners help promote New Mexico’s outdoor heritage by participating in the Open Gate program and providing quality outdoor recreation opportunities for hunters, anglers and trappers.

Accessing and using Open Gate properties

Properly licensed sportspersons may access Open Gate properties during the seasons and times for those species agreed upon in the Open Gate agreement with the landowner. No fee or special use permit is required to hunt, fish or trap on an Open Gate property.

Since participating landowners are under an Open Gate contract, no additional permission is

required to enter an Open Gate property. The primary entrance to all participating properties will be marked with a sign. All available hunting or fishing opportunities and all property rules can be located on these signs. Additionally, all signs will provide a QR code, which will take users to additional property information and maps.

Open Gate properties are only available to licensed hunters, anglers and trappers. Specific rules for each property are posted at the main entrance of the property and may also be found online. The following rules are common to most properties in the Open Gate program:

• Hunting activities may be restricted to drawn hunters only depending on species and GMU;

• No trespassing unless you are a properly licensed sportsperson, are accompanied by a properly licensed sportsperson or are license-exempt;

• Each properly licensed sportsperson or license-exempt person is allowed to be accompanied by no more than two guests;

• Scouting is only permitted during the two days immediately preceding the commencement of open season dates;

• No motor vehicle travel off designated roads or on closed roads;

• No destructive acts, including vandalism, graffiti, theft, removal or defacing natural features, resources or signs;

• No target practice allowed on Open Gate properties;

• No consumption of alcoholic beverages;

• No camping, no fires, and no littering allowed on Open Gate properties;

• Access allowed from: two hours before sunrise to: two hours after sunset.

Please adhere to all property-specific rules and the following when using Open Gate properties:

• Be a respectful and courteous guest;

• Practice ethical hunting, fishing and trapping;

• Leave all gates as you found them;

• Don’t block gates or roads with parked vehicles;

• Don’t shoot towards livestock, buildings or equipment;

• Don’t hunt, fish or trap in Safety Zones;

• Pick up all trash — including shotgun shells;

• Clean up after others who may leave trash behind;

• A simple “thank-you” to a landowner goes a long way.

Fishing Conditions

If you are planning a fishing trip this spring, the New Mexico Game and Fish Department has several tools to help. The Weekly Fishing Report provides up-to-date information on fishing conditions at numerous water bodies throughout the state. The Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner is full of figures depicting fishing conditions for several species and water bodies throughout the year. Additionally, the interactive Fishing Waters Map contains a wealth of information on fishing locations in New Mexico, displaying hundreds of fishing access points with information on fish species available, facilities, accessibility, boat ramps, and general regulations.

Anglers are reminded that their 2023-24 fishing licenses will expire on March 31. Fishing licenses for the 2024-25 season will go on sale starting March 25, and will be valid from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.

COURTESY NEW MEXICO TOURISM DEPARTMENT A fisherman casts his line at Monastery Lake, which reopened March 5. Monastery Lake is located near the Village of Pecos.