NM Game and Fish Fishing Report May 3, 2016

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 29. Lake levels and stream flows.

Attention Anglers: Don’t get caught fishing with an expired license. The new season started April 1. Buy a new license online at www.wildlife.state.nm.us, or over the telephone with the department’s Information Center at 888-248-6866. Many bait and tackle, fly shops, sporting goods and convenience stores also sell fishing licenses. Get your new license today!

Catches of the week:

Escondida Lake: Eric Chavez and his son Dominic of Belen caught and released five largemouth bass ranging from 15 inches to 20.5 inches May 1. Eric caught the big bass while using a bass assassin on 4-pound test line. Sisters Paige Chavez, 11, and Mykah Olivas, 8, both of Belen, caught a 25-pound carp May 1. They were using PowerBait.
Heron Lake: Ernest Chavez of Albuquerque caught a 28-inch lake trout and one more about the same size. He was using an orange Rapala.
Laguna Del Campo: Aaliyah Gallegos, 7, of Santa Fe caught a 21-inch rainbow trout May 1. She was using PowerBait.
Rio Grande: Adrian Rojas of Sunland Park caught a 21.3-pound catfish April 28. He was fishing near Sunland Park and using a live bluegill.
Ute Lake: Leland McCauley of Logan and Scoot Whitney of Rio Rancho caught and released 37 smallmouth bass April 24. The largest fish weighed 3.2 pounds. They were using jigs, craws, tubes and jerk baits.

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

Elephant Butte Lake: Stephen Dail of Las Cruces caught and released 17 smallmouth and largemouth bass in a period of 4 hours April 22. The largest fish was a 6-pound, 12-ounce largemouth bass. He was fishing the east side of the lake and using Hologram Shad Robo worms. Jason Sellers of Albuquerque, caught a 30-inch, 15-pound channel catfish April 24. He was using live minnows.

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.

May 3

Northeast

Charette Lakes: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Clayton Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait for limits of rainbow trout. We had no reports on other species.

Cimarron River: Stream flow near Cimarron on Monday was 23 cfs. Trout fishing was slow to fair using worms, salmon eggs, red annelids and San Juan worms. We had no reports from the Gravel Pit Lakes.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was good using crank baits, tubes, salt craws, creature baits, jerk baits, spinner baits and plastic worms for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Tamarah Helmstetler of Roswell caught and released several smallmouth bass ranging in size from 7 to 13 inches. She was using minnows under a bobber. Fishing was good using crank baits, jerk baits, grubs and sassy shad for white bass. Fishing was fair using shrimp, liver and stink bait for catfish. Fishing was fair using minnows, curly tail grubs and crank baits for walleye. Fishing was fair using minnows for crappie. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the high 50s.

Cowles Ponds: Fishing was good using PowerBait for trout.

Coyote Creek: Fishing was good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, Zeke’s trout bait, Gulp eggs and spinners for trout.

Eagle Nest Lake: The Courtesy docks are partially installed but fully usable.

Fishing from the bank and from boats was good using PowerBait, salmon eggs, Arnie’s lures and Platte River specials for rainbow trout to 21 inches. We had no reports on other species. The Annual Pike and Carp Tournament will be conducted May 7 and 8. For more information, call (505) 485-8328.

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 to good using PowerBait and homemade dough bait for trout up to 16 inches in length.

Lake Maloya: Fishing was good using PowerBait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes for rainbow trout.

Los Pinos River: Fishing was very good using San Juan worms, prince nymphs and worms for trout.

Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms under a bobber for trout.

Monastery Lake: Fishing was fair using salmon peach PowerBait, Pistol Petes, worms under a bobber and salmon eggs for trout.

Morphy Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, salmon eggs, Fisher Chick spinners, Panther Martin spinners and Pistol Petes for trout.

Pecos River: Stream flow on Monday was 175 cfs. Fishing was good using San Juan worms, prince nymphs, wooly buggers and night crawlers for trout. Fishing was slow to fair using worms for catfish.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday was 87 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Red River City Ponds: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, salmon eggs worms and Pistol Petes for trout.

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

Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 900 cfs. Fishing was slow to fair using wooly buggers, black jigs, night crawlers and spoons for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow near Valdez on Monday was 32 cfs. Fishing was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using San Juan worms.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco on Monday was 80 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Barbara River: Trout fishing was fair using prince nymphs and bead-head hare’s ear nymphs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing was good using small crank baits, Pistol Petes, Fisher Chick spinners, wooly buggers, Pistol Petes, worms and PowerBait for trout. Anglers did well from boats and from the bank. We had no reports on other species.

Shuree Ponds: Opens for the season July 1.

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

Storrie Lake: Fishing was good using salmon eggs and salmon peach and garlic PowerBait, corn and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing was fair to good using chicken liver in the evening hours for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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

Ute Lake: Fishing was fair to good using live minnows and crank baits for walleye. The walleye appeared to be in post spawn condition. Fishing was good using swim baits, tubes, salt craws, chigger craws and plastic worms for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was slow to fair trolling crank baits for white bass. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the upper 50s.

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

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits, curly tail grubs, minnows and jerk baits for walleye. Fishing was good using tubes, worms, swim baits, jerk baits and crank baits for smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species.

Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 652 cfs. Fishing was fair using night crawlers and gold Panther Martins for trout.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing was fair to good using assorted PowerBait and salmon egg marshmallow combinations for trout. A few tiger musky were caught by anglers using clatter baits and jerk baits. 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 95 cfs and 216 cfs respectively. Fishing below Abiquiu was good using worms, wooly buggers, pheasant tail nymphs, San Juan worms and copper John Barrs for rainbow and brown trout. We had no reports from above or below El Vado.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was fair using spinners, jerk baits and crank baits for northern pike. Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, jerk baits, tubes, swim baits, senkos and tubes for smallmouth bass. A few white bass were caught by anglers using crank baits. Fishing was slow to fair using liver 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 good using olive wooly buggers, mayfly nymphs, PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for trout.

Heron Lake: Fishing was good using roe sacs, PowerBait and Rapalas for a mix of rainbow trout and lake trout.

Jackson Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, Pistol Petes, pheasant tail nymphs and worms for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez River near Jemez Springs on Monday morning was 147 cfs. Fishing was good using San Juan worms, copper John Barrs, salmon eggs and worms for trout. Fishing on the San Antonio River was good using worms, hare’s ear and prince nymphs for a mixed bag of brown and rainbow trout. Fishing on the Cebolla River was very good using worms, hare’s ear nymphs and San Juan worms for brown trout. Fishing on the Rio Guadalupe was slow to fair using worms and night crawlers for brown trout. We had no reports from other streams in the area.

Laguna Del Campo: The season opened May 1 and fishing was very good using worms, PowerBait, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes and small spoons 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: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait and spinners for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Navajo Lake: Fishing was very good using jerk baits, swim baits, crank baits, tubes, grubs and senkos for smallmouth bass. Fishing was good using swim baits, crank baits and jerk baits for northern pike. Fishing was fair using Rapalas and PowerBait for trout. The surface water temp was in the low 50s. We had no reports on other species.

San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers.

San Juan River: Stream flow as of Monday morning was 448 cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was good using little princess nymphs, foam wing emergers, RS2s, red annelids, fluff baetis, zebra midges, BWOs, Griffith’s gnats and comparaduns. Fishing through the bait waters was good using night crawlers, salmon eggs, gold Panther Martin spinners, small jerk baits, spoons and copper John Barrs for trout. The latest flow projections call for a mid-May 3-day ramp up to 5,000 cfs, followed by 31 days at 5,000 cfs, followed by a 2-week ramp back down to the base release.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, Pistol Petes, small spinners and small spoons for trout.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout at the Central Pond and Youth Pond was fair using cheese baits, PowerBait, salmon eggs, marshmallow salmon egg combos and small spoons. Fishing was good using shrimp, homemade dough bait and hot dogs for catfish. Trout fishing at the Bob Gerding Catch and Release Pond was fair using small streamers, zebra midges, San Juan worms and small gold spoons. We had no reports on other species.

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

Southwest

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

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

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

Caballo Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits, jerk baits, minnows and sassy shad for walleye and white bass. Fishing was fair to good using liver, shrimp and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was good using minnows, sassy shad, curly tail grubs, jerk baits and crank baits for white bass. Fishing was good using swim baits, creature baits, tubes, jigs, senkos, crank baits and jerk baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was good using minnows, shrimp, blood baits, liver and night crawlers for catfish. Fishing was fair using minnows, small grubs and crappie jigs for crappie and walleye. We had no reports on other species.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was good using bass assassins for largemouth bass. Fishing for trout was slow but there were a few caught by anglers using PowerBait, homemade dough bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.

Gila River: Stream flow as of Monday morning was 78 cfs. Fishing on the main river was fair using night crawlers and liver for catfish. Fishing on the West Fork was fair using small, dark colored nymphs for trout. We had no reports from the other forks or species.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing was good using gold and brass Panther Martins, salmon eggs, worms and PowerBait for trout. We had no reports on other species.

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

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

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday morning was 1,120 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using sassy shad, green and chartreuse curly tail grubs and minnows for walleye and a few small smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using night crawlers and liver for catfish. Fishing in the Leesburg State Park area was very good using beef liver and plastics for channel catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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

Young Pond: Fishing was slow to fair using beef liver and worms for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Southeast

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

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

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 13 cfs. Fishing was slow with just a few catfish caught by an angler using worms.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs. Fishing was fair using liver and worms for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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

Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using tubes and crank baits for largemouth bass. Fishing for all other species was slow.

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

Brantley Lake: Anglers are required to catch and release all fish here as high levels of pesticides have been found in some fish. Fishing from the bank and from boats was very good using crank baits, swim baits, jerk baits, senkos, tubes, jigs, spinners, spoons and curly tail grubs for largemouth bass and white bass. We had no reports on other species.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing was fair using Vienna sausage and liver for channel catfish. Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait, Gulp eggs, worms and spinners for trout. A few bluegill were caught by anglers using worms and Vienna sausage. We had no reports on other species.

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

El Rito Creek: Fishing was good using worms, PowerBait, Zeke’s trout bait and small spoons for trout. Fishing was fair to good using worms, and curly tail grubs for largemouth bass. We had no reports on other species.

Eunice Lake: Fishing was fair using worms and stink bait for catfish.

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was fair using liver, worms and hot dogs for catfish.

Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms, homemade dough bait, salmon eggs, Panther Martins and Kastmasters 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 liver, night crawlers and homemade stink bait for catfish. A few trout were caught by anglers using PowerBait and worms. We had no reports on other species.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait, Pistol Petes and small spoons for trout. Fishing was slow to fair using blood baits for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake as of Monday morning was 1,540 cfs. Access to the river immediately below Sumner has been closed for the high water released which is expected to last through May 3. Fishing further downstream was good using liver, shrimp and blood baits for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Perch Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, Zeke’s trout bait, spoons, small streamers and San Juan worms for trout. Fishing was fair using worms, liver and homemade dough bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 16 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits, grubs, creature baits, plastic worms and tubes for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was fair using crank baits, grubs and jig and minnow combinations for walleye. We had no reports on other species. There is a planned water release this week which will send about 5,000 acre feet downstream.

Sumner Lake: Fishing was good using crank baits, minnows and sassy shad for walleye. Fishing was good using crank baits, jerk baits, tubes, worms and creature baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was fair using liver and cut bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species.