New Mexico fishing and stocking report for July 24, 2017

Catches of the week: 

• Corrales Riverside Drain: Matt Dalzell of Albuquerque caught and released a 4.2-pound largemouth bass July 22. He was using a green pumpkin chatter bait with a chigger craw trailer.
• Eagle Nest Lake: Ainslee Campanella, 2 1/2, of Angel Fire, caught several perch July 23. She was using worms under a bobber.
• El Vado Lake:  Aaron Suazo of Tierra Amarilla caught and released a 20-inch smallmouth bass July 20. He was using a tube.
• Escondida Lake: Pamela Martinez of Albuquerque caught her first catfish, a 19-inch channel cat, July 22. She was using a Panther Martin with Mike’s glitter mallows.
• Lake Maloya: Nolan Conaster, 3, of Vega, Texas, caught his first fish ever July 19. He was using salmon peach PowerBait.
• Lake Roberts: Antonio Gomez of Santa Clara caught a 26-inch channel catfish July 17. He was using chicken liver.
• Navajo Lake: Daniel Chavez, 14, of Albuquerque, caught a 24-inch northern pike July 18. He was using a jigging spoon.
• Pecos River: Joseph Orona, 6, of Los Lunas, caught a 16-inch rainbow trout July 16. He was fishing near Terrero and using salmon eggs.
• Ute Lake:  Wade McPherson of Hereford, Texas, caught and released a 6.26-pound largemouth bass July 23. He was using a jig.

The following reports came in late but deserve a mention: 

• Conchas Lake: Lucas Padilla, 6, of Bernalillo, caught a 16-inch largemouth bass July 15. He was using a Wally Diver.
• Quemado Lake: Alex Paz of El Paso, Texas, caught and released a 24-inch tiger muskie July 13. He was using a crawfish lure.

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.

July 25  

Northeast

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

Clayton Lake: Trout fishing was slow with just a few caught by anglers using PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms. Fishing was slow to fair using worms and liver for catfish. We had no other reports. Due to low water conditions, the boat ramp remains closed.

Cimarron River: Stream flow below Eagle Nest on Monday was 20.7 cfs. Trout fishing was good using, elk hair caddis, trico spinners, Cimarron specials, worms, salmon eggs and PowerBait. Fishing at the Gravel Pit Lakes was good using Pistol Petes, PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms for trout.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using finesse worms, senkos, swim baits, curly tail grubs and tubes for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Night fishing was fair to good using shrimp, cut bait, hot dogs, and liver for catfish. Fishing was fair using minnows and small grub and leech patterns for crappie. Fishing was good using worms for bluegill. We had no other reports.

Costilla Creek: Stream flow on Monday below Costilla Dam was 55.4 cfs. Fishing was good using a variety of dry flies including green drakes, hoppers and ants.

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

Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was slow to fair using elk hair caddis and salmon eggs. The best action was in the early morning hours.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, Fire Balls, Pistol Petes and Rooster Tail spinners for trout. We fished this one this past week and had a blast. The best action was in the early morning and late evening hours.

Eagle Nest Lake: Trout fishing was good for some but slow for others. Best baits were PowerBait from the bank and PowerBait, Panther Martin spinners, Platte River specials and Arnies from boats. Fishing was very good using worms for perch. Anglers fishing for trout also caught several perch while using salmon eggs and PowerBait and a perch angler caught five trout while using worms under a bubble. Fishing was slow to fair using spoons and spinners for northern pike.

Gallinas River: Trout fishing was fair to good using salmon eggs, worms and copper John Barrs.

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

Lake Alice: Trout fishing was slow.

Lake Maloya: Trout fishing was good using Pistol Petes, elk hair caddis, parachute Adams, bead-head hares ear nymphs, worms, PowerBait and Fire Balls. The best reports this week came from anglers fishing in the evening hours and using Pistol Petes.

Los Pinos River: Fishing was good using prince nymphs, copper John Barrs, salmon eggs and worms for rainbow and brown trout.

Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was slow for all species.

Monastery Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Morphy Lake: Fishing was good using Pistol Petes, hoppers, PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for trout.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos on Monday was 62.9 cfs. Fishing was good using Fire Balls, PowerBait, San Juan worms, prince nymphs, Pecos Specials, elk hair caddis and Panther Martins. Stephen Gutierrez was fishing above Terrero on the 20th and reported catching six brook trout. The largest was about 10 inches. He was using a CDC mayfly.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday was 72.7 cfs. Fishing was good using salmon eggs, worms, copper John Barrs and CDC emergers for trout.

Red River City Ponds: Kids Pond: Fishing was slow. We checked it three different days this past week and only saw one trout caught.

Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 423 cfs. Fishing in the Pilar area was very good using parachute Adams, elk hair caddis, bead-head wooly buggers, Chernobyl ants, Panther Martin spinners, Mepps spinners and night crawlers. A few smallmouth bass were caught by anglers using wooly buggers and spinners. On the lower river through the Albuquerque area, night fishing was very good using chicken liver, worms, shrimp and beef liver for catfish and bullheads. We had no other reports.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow near Valdez on Monday was 38.2 cfs. Fishing was good using hoppers and worms for trout.

Rio Mora: As of Monday, stream flow near Terrero was 17.4 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco on Monday was 17.5cfs. Fishing was good using salmon eggs for trout.

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

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing was slow.

Shuree Ponds: Thick with weeds and algae this week. Nymphs and Pistol Petes were producing more junk than fish. Try dry flies.

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

Storrie Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout. We had no other reports.

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

Ute Lake: Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass slowed a bit this past week. A few were caught by anglers using jigs and grubs in 15 to 20 feet of water. Fishing for catfish was fair to good using cut bait, shrimp and stink bait over baited holes. Fishing for bluegill was very good using worms under a bobber. We had no other reports. The surface water temp was in the high 70s.

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

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using curly tail grubs, tubes, crank baits, wooly buggers, crawdad imitation flies and night crawlers for small smallmouth bass. Fishing for walleye was fair for anglers using crank baits, leeches, minnows and jig and grub combinations. Fishing was slow to fair using jerk baits and PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.

Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 848 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Albuquerque Area Drains:  Matt Dalzell of Albuquerque reported decent fishing in both the Albuquerque and Corrales drains this past week. He caught several using pearl swim baits and white Mepps spinners in Albuquerque and a few nice largemouth bass in Corrales. He was using chatter baits and spinner baits for the largemouth. We had no other reports.

Bluewater Lake:  Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits, swim baits, jerk baits and Derp flies for tiger muskies up to 35 inches. We had no other reports.

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

Canjilon Lakes: Closed by the U.S. Forest Service until further notice.

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 303 cfs and 503 cfs respectively. Fishing above and below El Vado was good using Berkley Power Worms, Chernobyl ants, hoppers, copper John Barrs, wooly buggers, Mepps spinners Panther Martins, night crawlers, salmon eggs and PowerBait for brown and rainbow trout. Fishing below El Vado was good using copper John Barrs, hoppers, wooly buggers, Panther Martins, for rainbow and brown 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

El Vado Lake: Fishing was very good using Mepps spinners, Panther Martins, tubes, grubs and worms for smallmouth bass. The bass ranged in size from 3 to 20 inches. Fishing was fair using worms, PowerBait and hoppers for brown and rainbow trout.

Fenton Lake: Fishing was slow.  A few trout were caught by anglers using worms, Fire Balls and PowerBait.

Heron Lake: Fishing was fair to good using night crawlers for rainbow trout and yellow catfish in the Rincon area. Anglers fishing in the Piedra Cove area and between La Laja and Ridge Rock also picked up several rainbow trout. They were using PowerBait, corn and salmon eggs. Fishing for kokanee salmon was slow to fair trolling at 45 feet with spinners tipped with corn. We had no other reports.

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

Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez River near Jemez Springs on Monday morning was 24 cfs. Trout fishing on the Jemez was slow. Fishing on the Rio De Las Vacas was fair using salmon eggs for trout. Fishing the upper San Antonio on the Valles Caldera was good using ant patterns, elk hair caddis and royal coachmen. We had no other reports.

Laguna del Campo: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

Navajo Lake: Fishing was fair to good using swim baits, finesse worms, tubes, jigs, baby brush hogs, wooly buggers, curly tail grubs, crawdad flies, crank baits and spinners for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Elizabeth Landon of Rio Rancho caught a 15-inch smallmouth bass July 19. She was using a night crawler. Fishing was fair using jigs, swim baits, spoons, jerk baits and crank baits for northern pike. Fishing was fair to good trolling kokanee killers, double whammies and Arnies tipped with PowerBait and corn for kokanee salmon. We had no other reports.

San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

San Juan River: Stream flow from Navajo Reservoir on Monday was 490 cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was very good using red annelids, red larva, foam wing emergers, hoppers, San Juan worms, pink and red egg patterns and chamois leeches. Through the bait waters, anglers did well using San Juan worms, hoppers, copper John Barrs, Fire Balls, PowerBait, night crawlers, small spoons and Yozuri pins minnows.

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

Tingley Beach: Fishing at the Youth and Central ponds was very good using worms for bluegill. Fishing for catfish was slow to fair using homemade dough bait and worms.

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

Southwest

Alumni Pond: Fishing was slow for all species.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing was fair using homemade beef liver bait, cut bait and night crawlers for catfish. Fishing for bluegill was fair using worms. We had no other reports.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Caballo Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using spoons, sassy shad and spinners for white bass. Fishing was fair to good using cut bait and chicken liver for catfish. We had no other reports.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits, spinners, sassy shad, minnows and grubs for white bass. Fishing was slow to fair using jerk baits, creature baits, finesse worms, senkos, sassy shad, tubes and spinners for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Night fishing was fair to good using cut bait, minnows and chicken liver for catfish. We had no other reports.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for catfish was slow but a few were caught by anglers using liver and Mike’s glitter mallows. Fishing for all other species was slow.

Gila River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 155 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing was slow to fair using finesse worms, tubes, crank baits and frog imitations for largemouth bass. Fishing for catfish at night was good using homemade liver baits, night crawlers and shrimp. We had no other reports.

Percha Dam: Fishing was fair to good using minnows, curly tail grubs and jigs for walleye and white bass. A few catfish were caught by anglers using chicken liver and cut bait. We had no other reports.

Quemado Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using top water lures and crank baits for tiger muskie. We had no other reports.

Rancho Grande Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 1,490 cfs. Fishing below Elephant Butte and Caballo and at the Mesilla Valley Dam was fair to good using night crawlers, beef liver, chicken liver and cut bait for catfish. Fishing was good using grubs, minnows and sassy shad for white bass and a few walleye. We had no other reports.

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

Young Pond: Fishing was slow for all 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 14.8 cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was slow to fair using chicken liver and shrimp for catfish. We had no other reports.

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

Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using chicken liver, night crawlers and shrimp for catfish. We had no other reports.

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 fair using crank baits, jerk baits, tubes finesse worms, senkos and spinners for largemouth bass and white bass. We had no other reports.

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

Chaparral Park Lake: Dalton Bell reported decent fishing here this past Wednesday evening. They caught what they estimated to be a 2-pound largemouth bass and some catfish. They were using Gulp earthworms. We had no other reports.

El Rito Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Green Meadow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. Anglers did best early in the day before the swimmers hit the water. We had no other reports.

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

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

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

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 82 cfs. Fishing was slow.

Perch Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 8.25 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits, creature baits, senkos, worms and tubes for largemouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using medium diving crank baits on windy points for walleye. We had no reports on other species

Sumner Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.