Game and Fish Fishing report August 21, 2015

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.

Check out the stocking report through Aug. 21. Lake levels and stream flows.

CATCHES OF THE WEEK:

Bluewater Lake: Richard Johnson of Rio Rancho caught a 24-pound, 44-inch tiger muskie Aug. 26. He was using a Rapala and reported catching and releasing 12 muskies over a three day period. Jake A. Martinez, with the help of his father Andrew J. Martinez, both of Albuquerque, caught a 48-inch tiger muskie Aug. 29. He was using a spinner bait. Jesse Apodaca of Albuquerque caught and released a 34-inch tiger muskie Aug. 30. He was using a Rapala.
Pecos River: Gilbert Suazo caught a four-pound, 21-inch rainbow trout August 30. He was using a live grasshopper.
Rio Grande: George Koroneos of Santa Fe, caught a 40-inch northern pike Aug. 29. He was using a gold hammered Panther Martin.
Storrie Lake: MykelJon Vasquez, 6, of Las Vegas, caught his first catfish Aug. 30. He was using worms.
Tingley Beach: Phil Sanders of Albuquerque caught a 4-pound, 24-inch channel catfish Aug. 28. He was using a night crawler.

The following came in late but we felt they were definitely worth mentioning:

El Rito Creek: Andrew Orlicky of Albuquerque caught a 30-inch channel catfish Aug. 23. He was fishing for trout and using worms.
Hopewell Lake: Bill Werntz of Albuquerque caught a 26-inch and a 29-inch rainbow trout Aug. 21. He was using night crawlers and grasshoppers.
Storrie Lake: Chasity Gonzales, 19, of Las Vegas, caught a 21-inch rainbow trout Aug. 11. She was using Zeke’s garlic bait.

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, age, hometown, date, and location, type of fish, length and weight if possible and bait, lure or fly used.

Sept. 1

Northeast

Charette Lakes: The water was quite murky but a few good size trout were caught by anglers using PowerBait and grasshoppers. We had no reports on perch.

Cimarron River: Stream flow on Monday below Eagle Nest was 11 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using salmon eggs, worms, elk hair caddis flies, hoppers and brassies for trout. We had no reports from the Gravel Pit Lakes.

Clayton Lake: Trout fishing was fair with the majority of the fish caught by anglers using PowerBait. We had no reports on other species. Fishing pressure was light.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was good using worms under a bobber, poppers and small crank baits for bluegill. Fishing was fair using top water lures, tubes, sweet beavers and jerk baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Anglers did well working main lake and secondary points. Fishing was fair using crank baits, spoons and jigs for white bass. Fishing was fair to good using liver and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on walleye. The surface water temp was in the upper 70s.

Cowles Ponds: Fishing was fair using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Coyote Creek: Fishing was fair using hoppers, olive caddis, salmon eggs and PowerBait for trout.

Eagle Rock Lake: Closed through next fall. The closure will allow Chevron Mining to dredge the lake and the Department of Game and Fish to improve the fishery.

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing was good using worms for perch. Fishing for trout continued to be sporadic. Anglers having the best luck were using PowerBait and fishing from the bank or from anchored boats. Fishing was slow to fair using spoons and spinners for northern pike. We had no reports on kokanee.

Gallinas River: Fishing was fair to good using salmon eggs, worms and streamers for trout.

Hopewell Lake: Fishing was good using hoppers, salmon eggs, night crawlers, worms and PowerBait for trout

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

Lake Maloya: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, hoppers, wooly buggers, olive and tan elk hair caddis and parachute Adams for trout.

Los Pinos: Fishing was good using worms, salmon eggs, hoppers, copper John Barrs and San Juan worms for trout.

Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was slow for all species.

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

Morphy Lake: Trout fishing was fair using hoppers, Pistol Petes, PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for trout.

Pecos River: Stream flow on Monday was 110 cfs. Trout fishing was good using elk hair caddis flies, hoppers, San Juan worms, salmon eggs, PowerBait and worms for trout. Fishing for catfish was fair using liver and night crawlers.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday was 50 cfs. Fishing was good using poundmeisters, red and orange stimulators, San Juan worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Rio Costilla: Stream flow on Monday near Costilla was 57 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 333 cfs. Fishing above the John Dunn Bridge was fair to good using streamers for northern pike. Fishing in the Pilar area was fair to good using streamers and zonkers for smallmouth bass. Trout fishing was fair to good using wooly buggers, San Juan worms, Fisher Chick spinners, poundmeisters, salmon eggs and night crawlers. We had no reports on northern pike.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow on Monday was 25 cfs. Fishing was good using royal Wulffs, hoppers and parachute Adams for trout.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco was 15 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Barbara: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: The boat ramp is scheduled to open Sept. 5. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Shuree Ponds: Fishing was good using elk hair caddis flies, parachute Adams, small hoppers and spinners for trout.

Springer Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Storrie Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using worms, salmon eggs and PowerBait for trout.

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

Ute Lake: Fishing was good using chicken liver and stink bait for catfish. Fishing was fair using spoons and blade baits for schooling white bass at 20 to 25 feet. Fishing was fair using tubes, worms, creature baits and top water lures for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was good using worms and small crank baits for bluegill. Fishing for walleye was slow. The surface water temp was in the upper 70s.

Winsor Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was fair to good using jerk baits, crank baits, chigger craws, wooly buggers and zonkers for smallmouth bass. Most of the bass caught were small. Fishing was fair using white grubs on the flats in about 8 feet of water for walleye. We had no reports on other species.

Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 218 cfs. The river is open to fishing and other recreation but it is recommended that anglers practice catch and release through the contaminated area for now.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskies was sporadic but there were several caught by anglers using an assortment of Rapalas. Fishing was fair using liver and hot dogs for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Brazos River: Fishing was fair using small streamers and salmon eggs for trout.

Canjilon Lakes: Closed by the U.S. Forest service until further notice due to danger from falling trees.

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 853 cfs and 746 cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was good using salmon eggs, PowerBait, night crawlers and wooly buggers for a mixed bag of rainbow, cutthroat and brown trout. Fishing below Abiquiu was slow.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was fair using creature baits, crank baits and jerk baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the mid 70s and the water was murky.

El Vado Lake: Fishing from boats was fair using crank baits for smallmouth bass. Anglers doing best were fishing near the dam. Fishing was good using corn and worms for carp. We had no reports on other species.

Fenton Lake: Fishing was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using PowerBait and worms.

Heron Lake: Fishing was slow for all species and fishing pressure was very light. The lake level is dropping but there is still plenty of water for launching boats.

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

Jemez Waters: Stream flow near Jemez on Monday morning was 28 cfs. Fishing on the Jemez was good using worms, copper John Barrs, hoppers and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing on the Cebolla above and below Fenton Lake was fair to good using stimulators, hoppers, worms and salmon eggs for trout. We had no reports from other streams in the area. For information on fishing the Valles Caldera call 1-866-382-5537.

Laguna Del Campo: Fishing was fair to good using salmon eggs, PowerBait, spinners and Pistol Petes for trout.

Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week. Nonmotorized watercraft are now allowed on Lake Farmington. Fees are $50 for the season or $5 daily.

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

Navajo Lake: Fishing was fair using top water lures, jerk baits, curly tail grubs tubes and Rooster Tails for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was slow to fair using chicken liver and beef liver for catfish. Fishing for northern pike was slow. We had no reports on other species.

San Gregorio Lake: Trout fishing was slow.

San Juan: Water flow below Navajo Lake on Monday morning was 598 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using parachute Adams, brassies, red annelids, small pheasant tail nymphs and midge clusters through the Quality Water area. Fishing through the bait waters was good using salmon eggs, PowerBait, jerk baits, night crawlers, wooly buggers and San Juan worms.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Tingley Beach: Fishing at the Central Pond and Youth Pond was slow to fair using hot dogs, liver and worms for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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

Southwest

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

Bear Canyon: Fishing was slow for all species.

Bill Evans Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Caballo Lake: Fishing picked up this past week for anglers fishing from the bank. They were using night crawlers, liver and crank baits and catching a mixed bag of catfish and white bass. We had no reports from boaters.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits, blade baits, spoons and spinners for white bass. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow but there were a few caught by anglers using top water lures, tubes, worms, salt craws and jerk baits. Fishing was good using chicken liver, beef liver, night crawlers and cut bait for catfish. The best reports came from anglers fishing at night. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low to mid 80s.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was fair using beef liver, chicken liver and hot dogs for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Gila River: Stream flow as of Monday morning was 103 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Glenwood Pond: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

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

Percha Dam: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light.

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

Rio Grande: Stream flow as of Monday morning was 2,080 cfs. Fishing below Elephant Butte was slow to fair using night crawlers and liver for catfish. Anglers using night crawlers also reported catching two walleye. We had no reports from below Caballo.

Snow Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Young Pond: Fishing was fair using liver, hot dogs and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Southeast

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

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 25 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was slow to fair using liver and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Bonito Lake: Closed by the city of Alamogordo until further notice due to fire damage.

Bosque Redondo: Fishing was fair using beef liver, homemade dough bait and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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

Brantley Lake: Anglers should practice catch-and-release for all fish here as high levels of DDT have been found in some fish. Fishing was slow for all species. The lake level is dropping rapidly with the current water release.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing was fair using worms, liver and homemade dough bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

El Rito Creek: Fishing was slow to fair using worms and salmon eggs for trout up to 16 inches. Fishing for all other species was slow.

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

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was fair to good using worms and liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using homemade dough bait, liver and night crawlers for catfish.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was good using PowerBait, salmon eggs, marshmallows and spinners for trout. Fishing was good using worms and spinners for small bass. We had no reports on other species.

Jal Lake: Fishing was fair using worms for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was good using homemade dough baits and blood baits for channel catfish. We had no reports on other species. The park is holding its 7th annual “Biggest Catfish Challenge” Derby with youth and adult categories Sept. 5. For more information, contact the State Park office at 575-356-5331.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake as of Monday morning was 101 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 9.9 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was good using chicken liver, night crawlers and hot dogs for catfish. Fishing was fair using tubes, salt craws, grubs and crankbaits for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the mid to high 70s.

Sumner Lake: Fishing was very good using crank baits and top water lures for largemouth bass and a few smallmouth bass. Fishing was very good using worms and crank baits for bluegill. Fishing was fair trolling crank baits for white bass. Fishing was slow to fair using liver and night crawlers for catfish. Michael Giudicissi and a buddy fished here on Aug. 28 and caught and released 18 largemouth bass, 4 walleye and several big sunfish. They were using top water lures and square billed crank baits.