New Mexico fishing and stocking report for May 9, 2017

New Mexico fishing and stocking report for May 9

05/09/2017

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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 May 5. Lake levels and stream flows.

Catches of the week:

Abiquiu Reservoir: Cody Thomas, 10, of White Rock, caught a 28-inch, 7.5-pound walleye May 6. He was using a green curly tail jig. He also caught a big smallmouth bass while trolling a crank bait along the shoreline.
Alumni Pond: Keelan Holden-McWhorter, 2, of Las Cruces, caught a 22-inch catfish May 4. He was using dough bait.
Conchas Lake: Aryanna Vasquez, 6, of Las Vegas, caught a 25-inch catfish May 6. She was using worms. MykelJon Vasquez, 8, of Las Vegas caught an 18-inch largemouth bass May 6. He was using a red worm jig.
Cowles Ponds: Phil Cordova, 5, of Albuquerque and Jordan Jones, 9, of Albuquerque, caught their limits of trout within 45 minutes May 7. Phil caught his with night crawlers and Jordan caught his with Pistol Petes.
Eagle Nest Lake: Manuel Torres of Taos caught a 40-inch, 17.5-pound northern pike May 6. He was using a Panther Martin. Nicolas Sanchez, 19, of Los Lunas, caught a 33-inch,15-pound northern pike May 6. He was using a spoon in a rainbow trout color.
Elephant Butte Lake: Jag Gonzales, 2, of Vanderwagen, caught a white bass May 2. He landed the fish with his Grandma’s help and was using a minnow.
Lake Maloya: Adrian Mendez, 14, of Raton, caught a 27-inch, 7-pound rainbow trout May 7. He was using orange PowerBait.
Morphy Lake: Zara Bustos, 6, of Las Vegas, caught a 14.5-inch rainbow trout May 6. She was using a Panther Martin.
Ute Lake: Nic Lubera, 16, of Clovis, caught a 23-inch walleye May 7. He was using a live minnow. Monty Landcaster of Logan caught and released a 4.68-pound largemouth bass May 7.

The following report came in late but deserves a mention:

Conchas Lake: Tom McWhorter of Bosque Farms caught and released a 4.66-pound largemouth bass April 29.

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 9

Northeast

Charette Lakes: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait, spinners and worms for trout. Fishing was fair using worms for perch. We had no other reports.

Clayton Lake: Fishing was good using spinners, worms and PowerBait for rainbow trout. We had no reports on other species. Due to low water conditions, the boat ramp remains closed.

Cimarron River: Stream flow below Eagle Nest Lake on Monday was 1.0 cfs. Trout fishing was very good using mosquitoes, Cimarron specials, wooly buggers, parachute Adams, parachute BWOs, bead-head hare’s ears, San Juan worms, Panther Martin spinners, worms and PowerBait. A section of the river has been closed due to a fuel spill. The closed area starts at mile marker 291 and goes to the Perryville Day use area. Anglers are asked to steer clear of the area. Trout fishing at the Gravel Pit Lakes was very good using a wide variety of PowerBait, Fire Balls, worms and spinners. The 25th Annual Children’s Fishing Derby will be held Saturday, May 13. For more information, contact the Cimarron Canyon State Park office at (575) 377-6271.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was very good using crank baits, sweet beavers, top water lures, worms, tubes, senkos, jigs and curly tail grubs for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was good using chartreuse and white crank baits for white bass. Fishing was fair using crank baits, jig and minnow combinations and spinner minnow combinations for walleye. Fishing was fair using night crawlers, stink bait and cut bait for catfish. Fishing was good using minnows for crappie.

Cowles Ponds: Fishing was excellent using Pistol Petes, night crawlers and PowerBait for trout.

Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was very good using small bead-head nymphs, worms and salmon eggs. Kathryn Phillips reported great fishing over the weekend catching and releasing several trout in a few hours. She was using a bead-head prince nymph.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, Berkley power eggs and worms for trout.

Eagle Nest Lake: Bank fishing and fishing from anchored boats was good using PowerBait, strip leeches and wooly buggers for rainbow trout. Trolling for trout is picking up as some anglers did well trolling Panther Martin spinners and Platte River specials. Fishing for northern pike was fair to good using clousers, wooly buggers, zombie fox flies, spinners and swim baits. We had no other reports.

Gallinas River: Fishing was good using worms, copper John Barrs and streamers for trout.

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

Lake Alice: Trout fishing was very good using PowerBait.

Lake Maloya: Trout fishing was reported as excellent as most anglers caught limits. They were using PowerBait, Pistol Petes, Fire Balls, Panther Martins, Kastmasters and a wide assortment of flies.

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

Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout.

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

Morphy Lake: Fishing was very good using Pistol Petes, spinners, PowerBait, worms and Gulp eggs for trout. Mike Schroetke reported very good to excellent fishing this past Friday. He was using spinners and took home of limit of 14 to 17-inch rainbow trout.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos on Monday was 305 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using San Juan worms, small streamers, salmon eggs, PowerBait and worms for trout

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday was 202 cfs. Fishing was fair using poundmeisters, worms and salmon eggs for trout.

Red River City Ponds: Fishing was good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 1,770 cfs. Trout fishing in the Taos area was fair despite high flows. Anglers did best using caddis nymphs. Fishing in Albuquerque area was fair using cut bait and liver for catfish. We had no other reports.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow near Valdez on Monday was 134 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Mora: As of Monday, stream flow near Terrero was 106 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using worms and salmon eggs for trout.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco on Monday was 196 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing was good using Fisher Chick spinners, Panther Martin spinners, Kastmasters, PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout. We had no other reports.

Shuree Ponds: Open for the season July 1.

Springer Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using cut bait and large Mepps spinners for northern pike to 36 inches. We had no reports on other species.

Storrie Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, corn and Fire Balls for trout. Fishing was fair to good using liver and stink bait for catfish. We had no other reports.

Ute Lake: Fishing was good using crank baits, jigs and minnows for walleye. The best reports came from anglers trolling crank baits. Fishing for white bass picked up a bit this past week. Best baits were crank baits, Kastmasters and grubs. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was very good using tubes, senkos, crank baits, jerk baits and spinner baits. Anglers finding the right brush did very well using minnows and small plastics for crappie. We had no other reports.

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

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was good using green and olive grubs, swim baits, crank baits and tubes for smallmouth bass. Fishing for walleye was very good using minnows, crank baits, jigs, swim baits and grubs. Richard Goke of Albuquerque reported catching a limit of walleye and catching and releasing several smallmouth bass over the weekend. He was using jigs and swim baits. We had no other reports.

Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 2,250 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing in the Albuquerque and Corrales drains was good using jigs for largemouth bass. Fishing for carp was fair using corn. Fishing for trout was slow. We had no other reports.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing was fair using spoons, large crank baits and large flies for tiger muskies. Fishing for trout was slow. A few were caught by anglers using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

Brazos River: Fishing was fair using worms for trout.

Canjilon Lakes: Closed by the U.S. Forest Service until further notice due to danger from falling trees. They are not expected to open in 2017.

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 521 cfs and 1,450 cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was good using pheasant tail nymphs, prince nymphs, PowerBait and worms for a mixed bag of brown and rainbow trout. We had no reports from below Abiquiu. NEW SPECIAL TROUT WATER: The river from the USGS gauging station to the confluence of the Rio Nutrias is now catch and release only using single barbless hook artificial flies and lures.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was fair to good using jerk baits, crank baits, swim baits and tubes for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass.

El Vado Lake: Fishing was good using grubs, tubes and crank baits for smallmouth bass. We had no other reports.

Fenton Lake: Fishing was very good using garlic PowerBait, Fire Balls, Kastmasters, Panther Martins and Pistol Petes for trout. Angela Reynolds and Marcus Sanchez of Rio Rancho caught limits on Sunday. They were using yellow garlic and red salmon egg PowerBait.

Heron Lake: Fishing was good trolling spinners and bait fishing with PowerBait and Fire Balls for a mixed bag of rainbow trout and kokanee. We had no other reports.

Jackson Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez River near Jemez Springs on Monday morning was 312 cfs and fishing was good until the water levels came up. Anglers did well using worms, stone flies, bead-head hare’s ears and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing on the East Fork was good using bead-head hare’s ears, flash back pheasant tail nymphs, bead-head prince nymphs and worms for brown trout. The Gilman Tunnel access to the Rio Guadalupe will be closed for construction for approximately 45 days. The river can still be accessed from the north via Hwy 126 during this time. We had no other reports.

Laguna del Campo: Opened for the season May 1. Fishing was very good using PowerBait, Pistol Petes and spoons for trout.

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

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

Navajo Lake: Fishing was fair to good using tubes, brush hogs, senkos, grubs, swim baits and crank baits for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing for crappie was fair to good for anglers using small tubes and grubs. Fishing was fair to good using swim baits for northern pike. We had no reports on kokanee.

San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, Pistol Petes, Panther Martins, Kastmasters and worms for trout.

San Juan River: Stream flow from Navajo Reservoir on Monday was 3,600 cfs. The next changes in flow are as follows: Wednesday, May 10 the flow will increase to 4,000 cfs and on Friday, May 12 to 4,400 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms for trout.

Tingley Beach: Trout fishing at the Central and Youth ponds was fair using PowerBait, worms under a bobber, Carolina rigged worms and plastic worms, small spoons and Pistol Petes. Fishing was good using jigs and worms for bluegill and jigs for largemouth bass. Fishing was very good using worms, blood bait and wax worms for catfish. We had no other reports.

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

Southwest

Alumni Pond: Fishing was very good using worms for catfish. We had no other reports.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait and garlic cheese for trout. Fishing was fair using worms and liver for catfish. We had no other reports.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, marshmallows, salmon eggs and worms for rainbow trout. Fishing was fair using tubes, crank baits, spinner baits and swim baits for largemouth bass. We had no other reports.

Caballo Lake: Fishing was good using crank baits, jerk baits, grubs and minnows for white bass. Fishing was fair using crank baits, leeches and grubs for walleye. We had no other reports.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was very good using Kastmasters, crank baits, jerk baits, minnows, spoons and grubs for white bass. Fishing was fair to good using crank baits and orange tubes and grubs for walleye. Fishing was good using tubes, grubs, crank baits, jerk baits, top water lures, senkos, jigs and sweet beavers for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was good using cut bait, minnows and chicken liver for catfish. Fishing was fair using grubs and minnows for crappie. Dave Baca reported a great day at the Butte fishing in the Rock Canyon area Sunday. He was using jerk baits and grubs and caught and released several white bass and largemouth bass. We had no other reports.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was very good using night crawlers, liver and blood baits for catfish. We had no other reports.

Gila River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 100 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing was good using worms, tubes, swim baits and crank baits for largemouth bass. Fishing was very good using Kastmasters, worms and PowerBait for trout. David Medina reported trout fishing as excellent over the past weekend. They caught limits of fish while trolling Kastmasters and using salmon peach and garlic PowerBait from the bank. Fishing was fair using liver and night crawlers for catfish. We had no other reports.

Percha Dam: Fishing was good using night crawlers, cut bait and liver for catfish. We had no other reports.

Quemado Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 1,600 cfs. Fishing was good using night crawlers, liver, and cut bait for catfish. Fishing was fair to good using tubes, minnow and curly tail grubs for walleye. We had no other reports.

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

Young Pond: Fishing for catfish was reported as good on Friday but slower over the weekend. The best reports came from anglers using worms.

Southeast

Alto Lake: Fishing was fair using worms and prepared baits for catfish. A few trout were caught by anglers using worms and PowerBait. We had no other reports.

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

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 41 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was good using garlic and salmon peach PowerBait, garlic cheese, worms and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing was good using night crawlers and blood bait for catfish.

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

Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using stink baits and worms for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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 was very good using crank baits, jerk baits, senkos, spoons, tubes, grubs, worms and jerk baits for a mixed bag of white bass and largemouth bass.

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

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing was good using liver, worms and homemade dough baits for catfish. We had no other reports.

El Rito Creek: Fishing was good using PowerBait, salmon eggs, worms and Pistol Petes for trout. We had no other reports.

Eunice Lake: Fishing was good using liver, worms and prepared baits for catfish. We had no other reports.

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was good using liver and homemade dough baits for catfish. We had no other reports.

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

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

Jal Lake: Fishing was fair to good using worms and prepared baits for catfish. We had no other reports.

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

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was fair to good using blood baits for channel catfish. We had no other reports.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 119 cfs. Fishing was fair using PowerBait for trout. Fishing was fair using liver, cut bait and worms for catfish. We had no other reports.

Perch Lake: Fishing was fair using Pistol Petes and PowerBait for trout. Fishing was very good using worms and liver for catfish. We had no other reports.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 14 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was good using swim baits, spinner baits, senkos, sweet beavers, tubes, jerk baits and crank baits for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was good using minnows and small tubes and jigs for crappie. Fishing was fair to good using tubes, minnows, crank baits, curly tail grubs and spinner night crawler combinations for walleye. We had no other reports.

Sumner Lake: Fishing was fair to good using curly tail grubs, crank baits and minnows for walleye. Fishing was good using crank baits, jerk baits, tubes, worms, minnows and senkos for white bass, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. We had no other reports.