New Mexico Fishing Reports
02-16-2008
NORTHEAST AREA
COCHITI LAKE: The lake is covered with ice that is considered unsafe for fishing. For updated conditions, call the park rangers office at 505-465-2300.
CONCHAS LAKE: There were no anglers on the water this past week but action should pick up with the warmer weather coming. Look for bass and walleye holding deep along the main channel. Use jigs and slab spoons and work them slowly for best results.
EAGLE NEST LAKE: As of this past Monday the ice was about 17-to-20 inches thick. Fishing was good for anglers using ice jigs tipped with corn or wax worms, power bait and salmon eggs for perch. Anglers using the same baits also caught a few good size trout. For updated ice conditions, contact the state park office at 505-377-1594.
LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: As of Monday the ice was about 18 inches thick at Lake Maloya and about 14 inches at Lake Alice. Ice fishing at both lakes was fair-to-good for anglers using corn, home made dough baits, salmon eggs and ice jigs. The state park office at the lake has advised us to inform anglers that they will be fishing at their own risk. For updated ice conditions contact the state park office at 505-445-5607.
MONASTERY LAKE: The lake is closed to ice fishing.
PECOS RIVER: As of Monday, water flow near Anton Chico was 24cfs. Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using small spinners, pheasant tail nymphs, wax worms and salmon eggs. The best fishing has been in the late morning and early afternoon hours.
RED RIVER: Water flow as of Monday near Questa was 38cfs. Fishing below the hatchery this past weekend was good for anglers using flash back pheasant tails, small copper john barrs, San Juan worms and wax worms for trout up to 15 inches.
RIO GRANDE: The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 501cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.
STORRIE LAKE: As of Monday, there was thin ice on the lake considered unsafe for fishing. For updated conditions call the state park office at 505-425-7278.
UTE LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week but expect fishing activity to pick up with the warmer temperatures. Look for walleye and white bass schooled up deep along the main channel. Use slab spoons and jigs for your best chance to catch them.
NORTHWEST AREA
ABIQUIU LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
ALBUQUERQUE
AREA DRAINS: Trout fishing on the Albuquerque, Belen, Peralta and Bernalillo Drains was fair this past week. Anglers did best using power bait, salmon eggs, small dry flies and small crappie jigs. At the Corrales Drain, anglers also reported catching bluegill, carp, catfish and small largemouth bass. They were using corn, salmon eggs and small crappie jigs.
ANIMAS RIVER: We had no reports from anglers this week.
BLUEWATER LAKE: As of this past Monday the ice was reported at about 12-to-14 inches thick. Fishing was slow. There were a few trout taken by anglers using ice jigs, corn and worms. Fishing pressure remained light. For updated ice conditions, call the state park office at 505-876-2391.
CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 208cfs and 36cfs below Abiquiu. We had no reports from anglers this week.
CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE: Trout fishing was considered fair-to-good at all ponds. Anglers fishing the bait waters did best using power bait, wax worms, small spinners and salmon eggs. On the catch and release pond, anglers did well using RS2s, chamois leeches and small bead head pheasant tail nymphs.
EL VADO LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
FENTON LAKE: As of Monday the lake was covered with 12-to-17 inches of ice. Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using wax worms, ice jigs, corn and salmon eggs. The state park office at the lake has advised us to inform anglers that they will be fishing at their own risk and to be especially cautious around coned areas. For updated ice conditions, call the state part office at 505-829-3630.
HERON LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
JACKSON LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 29cfs. Trout fishing on the lower Jemez was good for anglers using small bead head pheasant tail nymphs, wax worms and salmon eggs. Our best reports this week came from anglers fishing downstream from Soda Dam.
LAKE FARMINGTON: We had no reports from anglers this week.
MANZANO LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
NAVAJO LAKE: There was very light fishing pressure on the lake again this past week and we had no reports from anglers. Your best chances of catching fish here this time of year is to troll for big brown and rainbow trout. Try using light line and troll big crank baits up the Pine arm.
RAMAH LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 519cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was good for anglers using orange and red San Juan worms, red annelids, small flash back pheasant tail nymphs, egg patterns and small bunny leeches. Further downstream, fishing was fair-to-good using night crawlers, spinners, bead head nymphs, bead head wooly buggers and power bait.
SOUTHWEST AREA
BEAR CANYON: We had no reports from anglers this week.
BILL EVANS LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon egg/corn combinations, power bait, small spoons and Pistol Petes. We had no reports on other species.
BURN LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers using corn and salmon eggs. Saul Frank was one of a group of 4 anglers that caught 10 trout and missed a few others in just 2 hours time this past Sunday. Saul also reported that other anglers were catching carp and catfish.
CABALLO LAKE: Fishing continued to be slow for all species.
ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing was slow for all species and there were very few anglers on the lake again this past week. The water was quite murky and surface temps ranged from 43-to-45 degrees. The water level continues to rise and all boat ramps are currently open.
GLENWOOD POND: Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs.
ESCONDIDA LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
GILA RIVER: Water flow near Gila on Monday was 113cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
LAKE ROBERTS: We had no reports from anglers this week.
PERCHA DAM: Fishing was slow for all species.
QUEMADO LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 5.5cfs. Fishing here and below Caballo this past week was slow for all species.
SOUTHEAST AREA
BATAAN LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers using worms, power bait and salmon eggs.
BLACK RIVER: We had no reports from anglers this week.
BOSQUE REDONDO: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, worms and salmon eggs.
BOTTOMLESS LAKES: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait.
BRANTLEY LAKE: Anglers are to practice catch and release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish. The park was closed for one day last week due to severe winter weather but it has reopened.
CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers using small spinners, small wet flies, power bait and salmon eggs.
GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR: We had no reports from anglers this week.
LAKE VAN: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, corn and salmon eggs.
OASIS STATE PARK: The park pond has reopened to fishing. For updated conditions contact the park office at 505-356-5331.
PECOS: Below Sumner Lake, water flow on Monday was 29cfs. Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using Pistol Petes and power bait. We had no reports on other species.
PERCH LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait and prop flies under a bubble
RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was3.5cfs. Trout fishing was slow. Fishing pressure was very light.
SANTA ROSA LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
SUMNER LAKE: Fishing pressure was light this past week. There were a few anglers out looking for walleye near the dam but we had no reports of their success or failure.
Crews stocked 12,585 rainbow trout averaging 10.6 inches in length in the following waters:
BATAAN LAKE, BLACK RIVER, BLUE HOLE PARK POND, BOTTOMLESS LAKES, BURN LAKE, CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE, EL RITO CREEK-Near Santa Rosa, LAKE VAN, PECOS RIVER-Villanueva to I-40, PERCH LAKE-Guadalupe County & YOUNG POND.
In addition, crews stocked 192,573 fingerling brown trout in the Middle Rio Grande and 1,167,936 fingerling kokanee salmon in Abiquiu Reservoir, El Vado Lake and Navajo Reservoir.
CATCHES OF THE WEEK:
Pecos River: Last weekend Leon Lujan and his brother Mark from Santa Fe were fishing the upper Pecos. Leon caught a 22.5 inch rainbow trout and Mark caught a 15 inch and 16 inch rainbow. They were using 1/32 ounce black Panther Martin spinners.
If you have a catch of the week story or just want to tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing experience send it to us at billfishnm@hotmail.com. We may include your story in our next report. For catches of the week, include date, location, type of fish, length and bait used to catch the fish.
Provided by Bill Dunn for the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish
Public Affairs Division
P.O. Box 25112
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
(505) 476-8000
billfishnm@hotmail.com
11-16-2007
NORTHEAST AREA
CANJILON LAKES: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, worms, spinners and salmon eggs.
CHARETTE LAKES: Trout fishing was good this past week using power bait, worms and hoppers. Fishing was fair using worms for perch. The best reports came from anglers fishing early and late in the day.
CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest this past Monday was 27cfs. Trout fishing was very good using assorted dry flies. A few trout were also taken by anglers using spinners and worms.
CLAYTON LAKE: Fishing was generally slow for all species. There were a few trout and catfish taken by anglers fishing at night and using night crawlers and power bait.
CONCHAS LAKE: Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was good using senkos, tubes, and salt craws. A few bass were also taken by anglers using buzz baits and spinner baits. Fishing for catfish was fair for anglers fishing at night and using liver and cut bait. Fishing for bluegill was fair using worms. We had no reports on other species.
COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was fair this past week for anglers using renegades, worms and power bait.
EAGLE NEST LAKE: Fishing from the bank was good using worms for perch. Anglers fishing from the bank also caught a few rainbow trout and kokanee. Fishing from boats was sporadic. Anglers trolling christmas tree/spinner combinations caught a few kokanee and rainbow trout.
HOPEWELL LAKE: Trout fishing was fair using power bait, worms and small parachute adams.
LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: This week's report was pretty much the same as last week with the best fishing taking place in the evening hours. Anglers did best fishing from boats and working the middle of Lake Maloya with power bait, mosquito patterns and black gnats.
MAXWELL LAKES: Fishing was slow.
MCALLISTER LAKE: There has been a fish kill on the lake and there are no plans to restock the lake with trout at this time.
MONASTERY LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using spinners, Pistol Petes, worms, salmon eggs and power bait.
MORPHY LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, mosquito patterns, damsel flies and millers.
PECOS RIVER: As of Monday, water flow near Pecos was 76cfs. Trout fishing was good for anglers using elk hair caddis, parachute adams, copper john barrs, power bait and night crawlers.
RED RIVER: Water flow below the hatchery on Monday morning was 62cfs. Trout fishing was slow due to muddy water conditions. A few trout were taken by anglers working worms and wooly buggers along the banks.
RIO COSTILLA: Trout fishing was very good for anglers using PMDs, yellow sallies, humpys and small bead head nymphs.
RIO GRANDE: The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 464cfs. Fishing for all species was slow.
RIO PUEBLO: Trout fishing was very good using small parachute adams, royal wulffs and royal coachmen.
SHUREE PONDS: We had no reports from anglers this week. These are special trout waters and only artificial flies or lures with single, barbless hooks may be used.
SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using large in line spinners for northern pike. We had no reports on other species.
STORRIE LAKE: Trout fishing in the early morning and late evening hours was fair for anglers using worms and power bait. We had no reports on other species.
UTE LAKE: Fishing was generally slow but there were a few smallmouth bass and white bass caught. Some were taken on top water lures while others hit jig and minnow combinations and grubs. A few catfish were taken by anglers fishing at night and using night crawlers and cut bait. Fishing for walleye was slow. A few bluegill were taken by anglers using worms. We had no reports on other species.
NORTHWEST AREA
ABIQUIU LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.
BLUEWATER LAKE: Fishing for tiger musky was good again this past week as anglers landed several fish in the 30-to-40 inch range. Best lures were 5 inch jerk baits, top water lures and in line spinners. We had no reports on other species.
CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 534cfs and 554cfs below Abiquiu. Trout fishing below El Vado was fair-to-good for anglers using bead head wooly buggers, copper john barrs, night crawlers and power bait. Fishing below Abiquiu was slow.
COCHITI LAKE: Water conditions changed this past week as the lake became quite murky from recent rains. There were a few white bass caught by anglers using jig and minnow rigs and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.
EL VADO LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
FENTON LAKE: Anglers reported trout fishing as slow this past week. There was heavy fishing pressure over the past weekend and the water was quite murky.
HERON LAKE: Fishing for kokanee was fair trolling wedding rings, double whammies and kokanee killers tipped with corn at 20-to-29 feet. Anglers trolling for kokanee also caught several rainbow trout. Trout fishing from the bank was slow with only a few rainbows caught by anglers using power bait.
JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 16cfs. Trout fishing here, on the Rio Guadalupe and on the East Fork was good for anglers using parachute adams, black irresistibles, royal wulffs and stimulators. A few fish were also taken by anglers using spinners, salmon eggs and worms.
LAGUNA DEL CAMPO: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using spinners, Pistol Petes, small spoons and power bait.
MANZANO LAKE: Trout fishing was slow.
NAVAJO LAKE: Fishing was fair using worms for bluegill. Anglers using worms also reported catching several smallmouth bass. Several bass in the 1-to-3 pound class were taken by anglers using senkos, tubes and grubs. Fishing was fair trolling christmas tree/Arnie/corn combinations for kokanee. The fish were deep and most were taken at depths of 50-to-90 feet. Fishing for northern pike slowed down but there were a few taken by anglers using spinner baits, plastics and top water lures. Fishing for carp was good using worms.
RAMAH LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
SAN GREGORIO LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair using power bait and wooly buggers for rainbow trout.
SANTA CRUZ LAKE: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait and spinners.
SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 787cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was fair for anglers using dead chickens, parachute adams, small bead head pheasant tail nymphs, sparkle worms and small egg patterns. Fishing through the bait waters was fair for anglers using jerk baits, wooly buggers and night crawlers for a mix of rainbow and brown trout.
TINGLEY BEACH: We had no reports from anglers this week.
SOUTHWEST AREA
BEAR CANYON: We had no reports from anglers this week.
BILL EVANS LAKE: Fishing was fair using worms and small grubs for bluegill. Fishing was slow for all other species.
BURN LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.
CABALLO LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair using crank baits and white, green and chartreuse grubs for white bass. Fishing for all other species was slow.
ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing was fair using senkos, tubes, worms and crank baits for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Most of the fish caught were small. Fishing was slow-to-fair using crank baits, grubs and minnows for white bass. A few striped bass were taken by anglers using live bait. Fishing was slow-to-fair using liver, shrimp and cut bait for catfish. The best catfish reports came from anglers fishing over baited holes. We had no reports on other species.
GLENWOOD POND: The pond was recently stocked and should provide some great action. If you are in the area, check it out.
ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was slow.
GILA RIVER: Water flow near Gila on Monday was 109cfs. Fishing on the Forks was slow-to-fair for anglers using small bead head nymphs and stimulators for trout.
LAKE ROBERTS: We had no reports from anglers this week.
PERCHA DAM: We had no reports from anglers this week.
QUEMADO LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using jerk baits for tiger musky. Trout fishing was slow but a few were taken by anglers using bead head wooly buggers.
RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 1,410cfs. Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using night crawlers and cut bait for catfish. Anglers fishing for catfish also caught several carp. A few trout were taken by anglers using spinners and worms.
SOUTHEAST AREA
BATAAN LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
BONITO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs, Pistol Petes, spinners, power bait, and worms.
BOSQUE REDONDO: We had no reports from anglers this week.
BRANTLEY LAKE: Anglers are to practice catch and release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish. This would be a good lake for anglers to practice different casting and tackle techniques.
CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE: Fishing was slow. There were a few bass taken by anglers using grubs, worms and jerk baits. We had no reports on other species.
GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR: We had no reports from anglers this week. Rainbow trout stocking has been temporarily suspended while the Village of Ruidoso treats the lake to control algae blooms.
JAL LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.
LAKE VAN: We had no reports from anglers this week.
OASIS PARK LAKE: The State Park will be draining the lake for maintenance and renovation. Work is expected to be complete around the end of summer. For more information contact the park office at 505-356-5331.
PECOS RIVER: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 95cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.
RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 2.4cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair using tubes, senkos, worms, salt craws and crank baits for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Most of the bass caught were small. We had no reports on other species.
SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.