New Mexico Game and Fish Fishing Report

CATCHES OF THE WEEK: Bill Evans Lake: April 18, Michelle Tafoya of Silver City caught and released a 20-inch, 7-pound, 3-ounce largemouth bass. She was using plastics. Conchas Lake: April 18, Rick White of Albuquerque caught and released a 4.8-pound largemouth bass. He was using a jerk minnow.  April 18, John Demarets of Albuquerque caught and released a 4.7-pound largemouth bass. He was using a sweet beaver. April 18, Kent Kelly of Albuquerque caught and released a 4-pound largemouth bass. He was using a tube. Rio Grande: April 18, Brittany Jaramillo was fishing the southern Rio and caught a 15-pound channel catfish. She was using liver. April 19, Fredrick Kloeppel caught a 23-pound flathead catfish. He was fishing the same area and using live crawfish. Ute Lake: April 18, David Lough of Amarillo caught a 5.71-pound largemouth bass. He was using a crank bait. The following came in too late for last week’s report but we felt it was definitely worth mentioning: Manzano Lake: April 3, Victor Gonzales caught a 21-inch largemouth bass. He was using nymph grape Power 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, date, and location, type of fish, length and weight if possible and bait, lure or fly used.

April 21

Northeast

Charette Lakes: Fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait for trout.

Cimarron River: Stream flow was 15cfs near Cimarron. Trout fishing in the lower canyon below Clear Creek was fair for anglers using copper John Barrs, bead head hare’s ears, San Juan worms, prince nymphs and Panther Martins. Fishing at the Gravel Pit Lakes was slow.

Clayton Lake: Fishing was fair to good using Power Bait, homemade dough bait and spinners for trout.  We had no reports on other species.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was good using minnows for crappie. This past weekend, fishing was very good using tubes, chigger craws, jerk minnows, sweet beavers, crank baits and jerk baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Most of the bass were caught in less six feet of water. Fishing was good using crank baits, spinners and grubs for white bass. Fishing was fair using crank baits and tubes for walleye.  A few catfish were caught by anglers using night crawlers and stink bait. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the high 50s.

Coyote Creek: Fishing picked up over the weekend and anglers did well using salmon eggs and worms 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 make improvements. 

Eagle Nest Lake: The boat ramp is open but the docks are not yet in place. Fishing near the bank was good using salmon peach and garlic scented Power Bait, roe sacs, Gulp eggs and salmon eggs for trout. We had no reports on other species. The first annual Pike and Carp Tournament will be held May 2 and 3. For more information call the Eagle nest Fly Shack at (505) 974-9168.

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

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

Lake Alice: Fishing was fair using Power Bait for trout.

Lake Maloya: Fishing was good using corn and garlic scented Power Bait for trout. The Sugarite Canyon State Park annual Fishing Derby will be held May 30 through June 7 with a free Kids Derby on June 6. For more information or early registration call (575) 445-5607.

Los Pinos: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was fair to good using Power Bait, worms and salmon eggs for trout. 

Monastery Lake: Fishing was fair using worms and Power Bait for trout.

Morphy Lake: Trout fishing was good over the past weekend. Several limits were taken by anglers using salmon eggs, Power Bait, homemade dough bait and worms. The boat ramp is closed but the lake is accessible with canoes and kayaks.

Cowles Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Pecos River: Stream flow on Monday was 109 cfs. Trout fishing was good using wooly buggers, San Juan worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms. 

Red River: Water flow near the hatchery on Monday was 146 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week. A fish habitat and angler access project near the hatchery is underway and expected to cause elevated water turbidity. The project is expected to affect fishing in the area until June.

Red River City Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Costilla: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 411 cfs. Fishing was slow to fair using wooly buggers, worms and spinners for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow near Valdez was 24 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco was 55 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Santa Cruz Reservoir: This water remains closed to boating while the Bureau of Land Management renovates the north lake camp ground, boat launch, picnic area and main access road. The plan is to have all work completed by the end of July. The only fishing access at this time is walk-in from the overlook area. Anglers have to traverse steep banks to access fishing. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Shuree Ponds: Closed during elk calving season. Opens July 1.

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

Storrie Lake: Fishing was very good using salmon eggs for limits of trout. We had no reports on other species.

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

Ute Lake: Fishing was good using minnows for walleye in 15- to 20-feet of water. Fishing was fair to good using curly tail grubs and minnows along the rocks for crappie. Fishing was good using crank baits, minnows and grubs for white bass. Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, jerk baits and an assortment of soft plastics for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the high 50s.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, grubs, tubes and jigs for smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair trolling crank baits and spinner/night crawler rigs for walleye. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was between 53 and 57 degrees.

Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 356 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 to good using hot dogs, swim baits, large flies and top water lures for tiger muskie. We had no reports on other species. The only open boat ramp is the primitive ramp located south of the main boat ramp. The surface water temp was in the mid 50s. It is illegal to use bait fish at this lake.

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

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

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 182 cfs and 345 cfs respectively. Fishing below Abiquiu was slow. Fishing below El Vado was fair to good using wooly buggers, San Juan worms, night crawlers, Power Bait and salmon eggs for trout.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing for northern pike was rated as slow to fair this past week with a few fish caught by anglers using crank baits. Fishing for catfish was fair using cut bait. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the mid 50s.

El Vado Lake: Fishing was very good using worms, Power Bait and salmon eggs for a mixed bag of brown and rainbow trout. Fishing was good using worms and corn for carp. We had no reports on other species.

Fenton Lake: Fishing was good using olive Pistol Petes, wooly buggers, Power Bait, worms and salmon eggs for trout. 

Heron Lake: Bank fishing was fair using cut bait, Power Bait, Panther Martins and Daredevles for rainbow trout. The water level continues to rise and a concrete extension to the La Laja boat ramp is being poured this week.

Jackson Lake: Fishing was fair using Power Bait, Daredevles, salmon eggs and worms for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Jemez Waters: Stream flow near Jemez on Monday morning was 106 cfs and a bit murky. Trout fishing on the Jemez was good using worms, salmon eggs and bead head prince nymphs for trout. Fishing on the Rio Cebolla was good using worms and salmon eggs. Fishing on the San Antonio was fair to good using small bead head nymphs.

Navajo Lake: Fishing was good   using minnows and small grubs and tubes for crappie. Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits, swim baits and jerk baits for northern pike. Fishing was fair using crank baits, tubes, jigs and jerk baits for smallmouth bass and an occasional largemouth bass. We had no reports on other species. The surface temp was in the mid 50s.

San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers.

San Juan: Water flow below Navajo Lake on Monday morning was 490 cfs. Visibility was a little over a foot as it was last week. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was fair to good using RS2s, chamois leeches, black or grey midge pupa, comparaduns, desert storms and olive streamers. Hatch activity is picking up. Fishing through the bait waters was fair to good using salmon eggs, San Juan worms, RS2s, Power Bait, worms and jerk baits.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing was good using Power Bait, worms, salmon eggs and assorted flies for trout.

Tingley Beach: Fishing at the Central Pond was fair using spinners, Power Bait, salmon eggs, worms and homemade dough bait for trout. Fishing was fair using small crank baits and white spinner baits for largemouth bass. Fishing at the Youth Pond was fair using salmon eggs and Power Bait for trout. We had no reports from the Catch and Release Pond.

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. There were a few trout caught by anglers using Power Bait and salmon eggs.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using tubes, senkos and crank baits for largemouth bass. Fishing was slow to fair using worms, Power Bait and Pistol Petes for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Caballo Lake: Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, jerk baits and grubs for white bass. Fishing for walleye was sporadic but there were a few caught by anglers using crank baits. The surface water temp was in the low 60s.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, spinner baits and curly tail grubs for white bass. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was good using chigger craws, swim baits, jigs, jerk baits, tubes and crank baits. Fishing was slow to fair using minnows for crappie. Fishing was fair using stink bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low 60s.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using Pistol Petes, worms, corn, salmon eggs and Power Bait for trout.

Gila River: Stream flow as of Monday morning was 108 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Glenwood Pond: Fishing was good using Power Bait and salmon eggs for trout.

Lake Roberts: Construction update: Modifications to the dam and spillway have been completed. Now awaiting approval for the engineer’s specifications to fix the outlet pipe. Will provide additional updates as they become available. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Quemado Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte on Monday morning was .86 cfs. We had no reports from anglers.

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

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

Southeast

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

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 9.6 cfs. Trout fishing was slow to fair using salmon eggs and worms.

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

Bonito Lake: Closed until further notice.

Bosque Redondo: Fishing was fair using stink bait for catfish. A few trout were caught by anglers using corn/salmon egg combinations. We had no reports on other species.

Bottomless Lakes: Trout fishing was fair using yellow Power Bait and salmon eggs. Fishing pressure was light.

Brantley Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits and jerk baits for largemouth bass. We had no reports on other species. Anglers should practice catch-and-release here as high levels of DDT have been detected in some fish.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing was fair using assorted colors of Power Bait for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Chaparral Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

El Rito Creek: Fishing was slow to fair using worms, Power Bait and salmon eggs for trout.

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

Green Meadow Lake:  Fishing was slow but there were a few largemouth bass caught by anglers using tubes and worms. We had no reports on other species.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Grindstone Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

Oasis Park Lake: Trout fishing was slow. Fishing pressure was light.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner on Monday was 102 cfs. Fishing was fair using stink bait and worms for catfish. Fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait and worms for trout.

Perch Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 31 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using jigs for crappie. Fishing for all other species was slow with just a few bass caught by anglers using tubes and jigs. The surface water temp was in the mid 50s.

Sumner Lake: Fishing was fair to good using tubes, jigs, grubs, crank baits, jerk baits and spinner baits for a mixed bag of smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the mid 50s.