New Mexico Game and Fish Fishing Report August 3, 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 April 26. Lake levels and stream flows.

CATCHES OF THE WEEK:

• Bluewater Lake: Richard Jimenez caught a 19-pound, 44-inch tiger muskie. He was using a 10-inch Rapala. Stone Phillips, 14, of Houston, Texas and formerly of Raton caught and released 10 tiger muskies including a 41-inch beauty July 28. He was using a chartreuse spinner bait and fishing with his grandfather, Lory Phillips and Anthony Manfredi of Ruidoso. Dylan Valdez, 10, of Albuquerque, caught and released a 40-inch tiger muskie July 30. He was using a chartreuse Trophy Tail Jr. spinner. James Romero of Albuquerque caught and released a 40-inch tiger muskie July 30. He was using hot dogs. Andy Biller of Albuquerque, caught and released a 29-pound, 48-inch tiger muskie August 2. He was fishing from the bank and using a large orange Rapala.
• Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Kaleb Whaley, 5, of Carlsbad, caught and released a 20-inch channel catfish, two bluegill, a small largemouth bass and two carp July 30. He was fishing with his dad, Brandon and using night crawlers and corn.
• Elephant Butte Lake: Kevin Rayson of Las Cruces, caught a 4-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass July 29. He was using a crank bait.
• Hopewell Lake: Andrew Reser, 8 of Erie, Colo., caught a 19-inch rainbow trout August 1. He was using a size 16 bead head pheasant tail.
• Monastery Lake: Lily Azures caught a limit of trout ranging in size from 20 to 22 inches July 29. She was using a bead head nymph.
• Seven Springs Brood Pond: Yankee Irving, 2, of Albuquerque caught his first fish, a rainbow trout,  Aug. 1. He was using rainbow Power Bait.

The following came in too late for last week’s report but we felt it was definitely worth mentioning:

• Quemado Lake: Damacio Pena caught a 20.4-pound, 42.4-inch tiger muskie July 27. He was using a top water lure.
• Young Pond: Chris Cordova of Las Cruces, caught and released an albino catfish July 24. He was using shrimp.  

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.

August 4

Northeast

Charette Lakes: Fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait and spinners for trout. We had no reports on perch.

Cimarron River: Stream flow on Monday near Cimarron was 21 cfs. Fishing was good using salmon eggs, worms, brassies, elk hair caddis, tricos and micromays for trout. Trout fishing at the Gravel Pit Lakes was good using Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms. A few were also caught by anglers using Pistol Petes.

Clayton Lake: Fishing was good using Power Bait for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was good using worms for bluegill. Fishing was fair using jerk baits, sweet beavers, senkos, chigger craws and salt craws for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. A few were also caught by anglers using crank baits. Fishing was fair to good using liver and homemade dough baits for catfish. Fishing was fair using crank baits for white bass. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from the high 70s to the low 80s.

Cowles Ponds: Fishing was fair to good using salmon eggs, night crawlers, Power Bait and Pistol Petes for trout. 

Coyote Creek: Fishing was fair using elk hair caddis, worms and salmon eggs for trout.

Eagle Rock Lake: Closed through next fall. The closure will allow Chevron Mining to dredge the lake and reconstruct the area.

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing was very good using worms for perch. Anglers did well from the bank and from anchored boats. Fishing for trout was slow to fair trolling Platte River specials and Panther Martins tipped with corn or Power Bait. Anglers trolling for trout also picked up a few kokanee. Fishing for northern pike picked up, as a few were caught by anglers using spoons and swim baits. 

Gallinas River: We had no reports this week.

Hopewell Lake: Fishing was very good using a variety of flies, Pistol Petes, Fisher Chick spinners, worms and Power Bait for trout.   

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

Lake Maloya: Fishing was good using Power Bait, corn, salmon eggs, damsel flies, hoppers and Pistol Petes for trout up to 3.5 pounds.

Los Pinos: Fishing was good using worms, parachute Adams, San Juan worms, prince nymphs, poundmeisters and wooly buggers for trout. 

Maxwell Lake 13: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Monastery Lake: Fishing was very good using Pistol Petes, salmon eggs, worms and Power Bait for trout. Colleen Ortiz and her daughter Angel of Albuquerque, caught limits of rainbow trout July 27. They arrived at the lake about 7:30 in the morning and had their limits by 9. They were using Power Bait and Pistol Petes. Angel’s first fish was her biggest. It was a healthy 18-inch rainbow.

Morphy Lake: Fishing was good using Pistol Petes, Kastmasters, Super Dupers and Panther Martins for trout in the early morning and evening hours.     

Pecos River: Stream flow on Monday was 320 cfs. Trout fishing was excellent on the special trout waters above Terrero with a wide variety of flies. Christopher McLaren and his son Cole had a great time catching and releasing 24 fish in a half day of fishing. Most of the fish were native browns and some measured 12 to 13 inches. They used olive caddis, parachute Adams, yellow humpys, orange stimulators, PMDs and BWOs on top and Psycho prince nymphs, electric blue prince nymphs, batman rubber legs and olive caddis pupa nymphs on the bottom. Dry dropper rigs worked well.  Christopher also reported that there were hatches of light-colored mayflies and BWOs in evidence. Fishing downstream was good early last week using a variety of flies, salmon eggs, Power Bait and worms for trout. Higher flows over the weekend slowed the action. Fishing for catfish was slow to fair with a few caught by anglers using liver and worms. 

Red River: Stream flow above Questa on Monday was 99 cfs. Fishing was slow due to high water conditions.

Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 698 cfs. Fishing was slow for all species. The water was starting to clear in the Wild Rivers section of the river.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow on Monday was 41 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco was 45 cfs. Fishing was very good using parachute Adams, elk hair caddis, hippie stompers and yellow sallies. 

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 first week in September. The only fishing access at this time is walk-in from the overlook area. Anglers have to traverse steep banks to access fishing. Fishing was very good using Mepps spinners, Fisher Chick spinners, worms, Gulp eggs and garlic Power Bait for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Shuree Ponds: Fishing was fair using Pistol Petes, elk hair caddis and wooly buggers for trout. We had no reports from the streams.

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

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

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

Ute Lake: Fishing was excellent using plastics and worms for bluegill. The white bass were found schooling deep and best baits were slab spoons and blade baits. Fishing was fair to good using small plastics on drop shot rigs and top water lures for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing for walleye was slow. Fishing was very good using chicken liver and night crawlers in the shallows near inlets for catfish. The surface water temp dropped from the previous week and ranged from the high 70s to the low 80s. 

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

Northwest

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

Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 513 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing was good using Rapala stick baits, spinner baits, jerk baits and hot dogs tiger muskies. We had no reports on other species.

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

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 202 cfs and 208 cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was fair using Panther Martins, Rapalas, Power Bait and night crawlers for brown and rainbow trout. Fishing below Abiquiu was slow.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was fair using tubes, salt craw, sweet beavers, worms and chigger craws for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair using blood baits and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

El Vado Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. 

Fenton Lake: Fishing was slow but there were a few trout caught by anglers using Pistol Petes, worms and salmon eggs.

Heron Lake: Fishing pressure remained light this past week. Fishing was slow but there were a few trout caught by anglers fishing the Piedra Cove area and using Power Bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species. Jackson Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Jemez Waters: Stream flow near Jemez on Monday morning was 106 cfs. Fishing on the Jemez was fair using worms, salmon eggs, copper John Barrs and black ants for trout. The water was a bit stained. Fishing on the Cebolla above and below Fenton Lake was very good using orange stimulators, yellow sallies, worms and hoppers for rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. Fishing on the Rio Guadalupe was fair using worms, beetles and dark colored pheasant tail nymphs for brown trout. Fishing on the San Antonio was slow. 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 worms, salmon eggs, Gulp eggs and Power Bait for trout.

Lake Farmington: Fishing was slow for all species. Nonmotorized watercraft are now allowed on Lake Farmington. Fees are $50 for the season or $5 daily.

Manzano Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Navajo Lake: Fishing was fair to good using buzz baits, crank baits and jerk baits for northern pike. Fishing was fair to good using tubes, worms, jerk baits, top water lures and jigs for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was fair using chicken liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species. The surface temp was in the mid to high 70s.

San Gregorio Lake: Trout fishing was slow.

San Juan: Water flow below Navajo Lake on Monday morning was 635 cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was good using chocolate and grey foam wing emergers, San Juan worms, hoppers, Chernobyl ants, dark midge patterns, RS2s and pheasant tail nymphs. Fishing through the bait waters was good using jerk baits, spinners, night crawlers, Gulp eggs, San Juan worms and wooly buggers. 

Seven Springs Brood Pond: About 90 percent of the pond is covered with aquatic vegetation leaving very little fishable water at this time.  This past week there were a few trout caught by youngsters using Power Bait.

Tingley Beach: Fishing at the Central Pond and Youth Pond was fair using hot dogs, homemade dough bait, Power Bait and worms for catfish. A few bluegill were caught by anglers using worms. We had no reports on other species. Fishing at the Bob Gerding Catch and Release Pond was slow.

Trout Lakes: Trout fishing was excellent using mosquito imitations, BWOs, spinners, Power Bait, worms and Gulp eggs.

Southwest

Alumni Pond: Fishing was slow but there were a few catfish caught by anglers using night crawlers and hot dogs.

Bear Canyon: Fishing was slow for all species.

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

Caballo Lake: Fishing was slow and fishing pressure was light. The only catch report we received was of an 18-inch drum.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was fair to good using minnows, crank baits and spinners in the early morning and late evening hours for white bass.  Fishing was slow to fair using sweet beavers, tubes, chigger craws, jerk baits and top water lures for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was good using chicken liver, cut bait, homemade dough bait and night crawlers over baited holes for catfish. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low to mid 80s. 

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

Gila River: Stream flow as of Monday morning was 188 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.    

Glenwood Pond: Fishing was fair to good using Power Bait for trout.

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

Percha Dam: Fishing was slow to fair using night crawlers and liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Quemado Lake: Fishing was fair using assorted Power Bait and worms for trout. Fishing was fair using top water lures and crank baits for tiger muskies. 

Rio Grande: Stream flow as of Monday morning was 1,720 cfs. Fishing below Elephant Butte was fair to good using beef liver and grubs for catfish. Fishing below Caballo was slow to fair using liver, homemade dough bait and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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

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

Southeast

Bataan Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 17 cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

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

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

Bosque Redondo: Fishing was slow to fair using beef liver 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 very good using crank baits, top water lures and plastic worms for largemouth bass. The best action was reported by anglers fishing near the mouth of the Seven Rivers channel. We had no reports on other species. The action may slow this week as a 35,000 acre feet release is scheduled.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing was fair to good using worms and spinner for a mixed bag of bluegill and small largemouth bass. Fishing was fair using corn for carp. Fishing was fair using worms and liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species. 

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

El Rito Creek: Fishing was fair using worms and salmon eggs for trout. 

Eunice Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Green Meadow Lake:  Fishing was fair to good using hot dogs, homemade dough bait and night crawlers for catfish. Fishing for all other species was slow. 

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was fair using worms, hot dogs and liver for catfish.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms for trout. We had no reports on other species.

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

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

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was very good using homemade dough bait, hot dogs and worms for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake as of Monday morning was 344 cfs. The area below Sumner Lake is closed at present due to high water release. Fishing downstream was fair using night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species. 

Perch Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 22 cfs. Fishing was fair using salmon eggs, scuds and pheasant tail nymphs for trout.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was fair using liver and worms for catfish. Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits and assorted plastics for smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species.

Sumner Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.