Fishing Features: New Mexico fishing report

New Mexico Department of Game & Fish

Posted: 08/13/2013 08:33:25 AM MDT
This fishing report, provided by Bill Dunn and the Department of Game and Fish, has been generated from the best information available from area officers and anglers. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.

Recent catches

Bluewater Lake: Aug.5, Michelle Lord of Santa Fe caught several tiger musky in the 30 to 40-inch range.

Martin's muskyHopewell Lake: Aug.3, Julia Sisneros, age 5, caught a 16-inch rainbow trout. She was using worms.

Navajo Lake: Aug.3, John Portell of Farmington caught a 29-inch, 15-pound, 2-ounce blue catfish and a 27-inch, 12-pound, 4-ounce channel catfish. He was fishing in the back of La Jara Canyon and using cut bait.

Ute Lake: Aug.3, Tyler Decker of Amarillo caught and released a 4.94-pound smallmouth bass. He was using a swim jig.

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 fishforfun2@hotmail.com. We may include your story in our next report. For catches of the week, include name, date, and location, type of fish, length and weight if possible and bait, lure or fly used.

class="TXBody">Southeast Bataan Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. One angler reported spending four hours here using bait and spinners with no success.

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 2.8 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Blue Hole Park Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bonito Lake: Closed.

Bosque Redondo: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bottomless Lakes: Fishing was slow for all species. Check these lakes out during the winter trout stocking.

Brantley Lake: Anglers are to practice catch-and-release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

El Rito Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Green Meadow Lake: We had no reports form anglers this week.

Grindstone Reservoir: Trout fishing was fair to good using Pistol Petes, Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms.

Jal Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Lake Van: Fishing was slow to fair using chicken liver, homemade dough bait and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was slow for all species and fishing pressure was extremely light. Anglers are reminded that there is a 2-fish limit on channel catfish.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 108 cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

Perch Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Ruidoso on Monday was 10 cfs. Trout fishing was slow to fair using worms, salmon eggs and small copper John Barrs.

Santa Rosa Lake: The main boat ramp has reopened to No Wake boating. The water level came up significantly this past week and resulted in very murky water. Fishing slowed for all species but there were a few catfish caught by anglers using liver and shrimp.

Sumner Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Both boat ramps are now open.

Southwest

Bear Canyon: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was good using night crawlers, hot dogs and chicken liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Caballo Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using chicken liver, shrimp, hot dogs and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species. One lane remained open at the main boat ramp.

Elephant Butte: The surface water temp ranged from the mid 70s to the low 80s. Fishing was good using shrimp, night crawlers and homemade dough bait for catfish. Eric Marta did well fishing the Three Sisters and Rock Canyon Marina areas. He caught several catfish in both places. His best baits were shrimp, liver and worms. White bass fishing was fair to good for anglers using white crank baits, white and chartreuse grubs, minnows and jerk baits. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow to fair using topwater lures, tubes, senkos and jerk baits. A few walleye were caught by anglers using crank baits and minnows. We had no reports on other species. The Monticello, Rock Canyon and Dam Site boat ramps remain closed due to low water conditions.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 175 cfs and fishing was slow for all species.

Glenwood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Roberts: A project of improve the dam and spillway here is under way. The water level will be lowered about 10 feet and will remain low during construction which is expected to take about one year. During this time the boat ramp will be closed and shore line access may be limited. The portion of the lake around the dam and spillway will be closed until completion of the project.

Percha Dam: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Quemado Lake: Trout fishing was fair using worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, marshmallow salmon egg combinations and Pistol Petes. We had no reports on tiger musky.

Rio Grande: Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday morning was 5.5 cfs. Fishing was slow to fair using liver, cut bait and night crawlers for catfish and carp. Above Elephant Butte, fishing was good using shrimp, hot dogs and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Snow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Northeast

Cabresto Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Charette Lakes: Due to low water levels only small boats are being launched here. Trout fishing was slow.

Cimarron River: Water flow near Cimarron on Monday was 18 cfs. Trout fishing the last day or two has been good for anglers using parachute adams, zebra midges, size 14 caddis and small stimulators. A few trout have also been taken on salmon eggs and worms. Fishing at the Gravel Pit Lakes was slow to fair using hoppers, worms and Power Bait.

Clayton Lake: Muddy, rising water slowed fishing but there were a few trout and catfish caught by anglers using worms. The lake level has risen several feet with all the recent rains and the boat ramp has reopened.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was fair to good using chicken liver, homemade dough bait and night crawlers for catfish. The best action was reported by anglers fishing at night. Fishing was fair using tubes, crank baits and jerk baits for smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, bottom-bouncer night crawler rigs and grubs for walleye. We had no reports on other species. The Cove and Central campgrounds and the steep boat ramp on the north side and the Corps ramp on the south side are now open.

Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was slow.

Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing was fair to good trolling Panther Martins, Arnies, Z Rays and Super Dupers tipped with corn for a mixed bag of kokanee and rainbow trout and an occasional northern pike. Bank fishing was good using worms for perch and Power Bait for rainbow trout. Anglers fishing from the bank also caught a few northern pike. Boat launching conditions have improved with the extension of the boat ramp and increased rains in the area.

Hopewell Lake: Fishing was fair to good using worms, Power Bait and an assortment of dry flies for trout.

Lake Alice: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait and Pistol Petes.

Lake Maloya: Trout fishing in the evening hours was very good for anglers fishing in the dam area and using elk hair caddis, parachute adams and Pistol Petes.

Los Pinos: Trout fishing was good using spinners, salmon eggs, prince nymphs and hoppers.

Manzano Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Monastery Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait, hoppers and Pistol Petes.

Morphy Lake: Fishing was slow with just a few trout taken by anglers using worms and Power Bait.

Nutrias Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Pecos River: The following waters are closed to fishing: Pecos River from Cowles to the Village of Pecos, Cow Creek, Mora Creek, Holy Ghost Creek, Panchuela Creek, Winsor Creek, Jacks Creek, Cowles Ponds and Dalton Canyon area. There are several good fishing lakes and streams to explore that are outside the burn areas in the Pecos Wilderness. Check with the Pecos Ranger Station for more detailed information.

Red River: Water flow near the hatchery Monday was 60 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using San Juan worms, poundmeisters, night crawlers, Power Bait and salmon eggs. A good portion of the river was quite muddy due to recent rains.

Rio Costilla: Water flow below Costilla Dam was 18 cfs. Trout fishing was very good using elk hair caddis, stimulators and hoppers.

Rio Grande: Water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday was 228 cfs. Trout fishing was good using San Juan worms, hoppers, copper John Barrs, night crawlers and spinners. Fishing was fair to good using wooly buggers and night crawlers for smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow near Valdez on Monday was 15 cfs. Trout fishing was good using poundmeisters, worms and salmon eggs.

Rio Pueblo: Water flow near Penasco was 2.9 cfs. Trout fishing was slow to fair using caddis, hoppers and small copper John Barrs.

Santa Barbara: Trout fishing was fair using bead-head prince nymphs and hoppers.

Shuree Ponds: Heavy moss has created poor fishing conditions on the ponds.

Springer Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Storrie Lake: Fishing was fair using Power Bait and worms for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Ute Lake: Fishing was good using stink bait and night crawlers for catfish. The best action was reported by anglers fishing the evening hours and fishing in the shallows. Fishing was fair using slab spoons for white bass. A few were also taken on crank baits. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was tough but there were a few caught by anglers using swim jigs, senkos, topwater lures and curly tail grubs. Fishing for walleye was slow. The surface water temp was in the upper 70s.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Night fishing was fair to good using night crawlers and shrimp for catfish and a few walleye. Anglers working bottom bouncer night crawler and bottom bouncer Gulp worms did well catching walleye during the day. The key was to work slow and work depths of 8 to 15 feet. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair using topwater lures, senkos, tubes, salt craws and jerk baits. Most of the smallmouth bass caught were small. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from the low to mid 70s.

Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday was 484 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Albuquerque Area Drains: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing was fair using jerk baits, crank baits, spinners and spoons for tiger musky. Most of the musky caught were less than 30 inches in length. Fishing was good using hot dogs and shrimp for catfish. Fishing for trout was fair to good using Power Bait, worms and salmon eggs. An alternate ramp has been provided for boaters which is a bit deeper than the main boat ramp area. Anglers should be aware that it is illegal to use live minnows at this lake.

Brazos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Canjilon Lakes: Trout fishing was fair using Panther Martins, copper John Barrs, Pistol Petes and hoppers.

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 261 cfs and 200 cfs respectively. Trout fishing below El Vado was fair to good using wooly buggers, hoppers, Power Bait, salmon eggs and night crawlers. Fishing below Abiquiu was slow but there were a few trout caught by anglers using night crawlers.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was fair using Gulp baits, night crawlers and stink bait for catfish. Fishing was fair using topwater lures, senkos and jerk baits for smallmouth bass. A few northern pike were caught by anglers using jerk baits and swim baits. Fishing for white bass was slow but a few were caught on crank baits and minnows. We had no reports on other species.

El Vado Lake: The water level remains quite low but there is still plenty of water for fishing and the boat ramp remains accessible. We had no reports from anglers again this week.

Fenton Lake: Fishing slowed considerably this past week and most likely will stay that way until the vegetation dies off in the fall.

Heron Lake: Kokanee fishing was slow for all species. The water level has been dropping about a foot and a half per week and the only boat ramp open is the primitive ramp in the Ridge Rock area. Boaters are advised to use caution.

Jackson Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Jemez Waters: Fishing on the Rio Guadalupe slowed this past week as locally heavy rains muddied the waters. Action should pick up again as waters clear. Fishing on the Cebolla below Fenton was slow all week. Action above the lake was good until the weekend when the bite turned off. Best action early in the week was for anglers using small caddis and parachute adams. The Jemez River was flowing heavy with ash and is expected to stay that way through the monsoon season. Fishing on the San Antonio and East Fork on the Valles Caldera has been tough under storm conditions as well but some nice fish have been caught on the not so wet days. Best flies have been small hopper imitations. For information on fishing the Valles Caldera visit vallescaldera.gov.

Laguna del Campo: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Farmington: Fishing was slow for all species.

Navajo Lake: Fishing was fair trolling Arnies, Panther Martins and Z Rays tipped with corn about three feet behind flashers for kokanee. Anglers reported taking fish at 4 to 7 colors or an estimated 20 to 35 feet. Fishing was fair using grubs, tubes, baby brush hogs, crank baits, topwater lures and jerk baits for smallmouth bass and an occasional largemouth bass. Most of the smallmouth bass caught were under the size limit. Fishing was slow to fair using perch colored crank baits, jerk baits and swim baits for northern pike. Night fishing was good using cut bait and stink bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from the mid to high 70s.

San Gregorio: We had no reports from anglers this week.

San Juan: Water flow below Navajo on Monday was 807 cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was good using RS2s, wooly buggers, red and cream larva, small black and brown midge patterns and red sparkle worms. Fishing through the bait waters was fair to good using wooly buggers, jerk baits, salmon eggs and night crawlers.

Santa Cruz Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using Pistol Petes, Power Bait and worms for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Trout fishing was good using Pistol Petes, salmon eggs and Power Bait.

Tingley Beach: Fishing was slow for all species.