Catches of the week

• Bear Canyon Reservoir: Makayla Dalton, age 8, of Goodyear, Ariz., caught her first fish, a rainbow trout, and her first limit of fish Mar.12. She was using worms.
• Cochiti Lake: Ricky Soto of Santa Fe, caught and released a 19.75-inch, 4-pound 6-ounce smallmouth bass Mar. 17. He was using a medium size fathead minnow.
  
• Coyote Creek: Reese Barba, age 3, of Belen, reeled in her very first fish, an 11-inch rainbow trout on Mar.14. She was using night crawlers.
• Fenton Lake: Marcus Lucero, age 7, of Albuquerque, caught his first 15-inch rainbow trout Mar. 17. He was using worms.
  
• Tingley Beach: Diego Dominguez, age 11 and Dominic Dominguez, age 5, of Albuquerque, teamed up to catch five rainbow trout between 12 and 16 inches Mar. 16. They were using garlic PowerBait. “Pop” Chaves, age 11, of Albuquerque, caught an 18-inch rainbow trout Mar.17. He was using orange PowerBait. Lily Davidson, age 8, of Las Cruces, and Elias Chavez, age 8, of Albuquerque, both caught limits of trout Mar. 17. They were using orange PowerBait.
  
• Rio Grande River: Sara Armstrong of Rio Rancho caught and released a 24-inch northern pike Mar. 15. She was using a swivel hip grub.
  
• Ute Lake: Anthony Navarrette of Dumas, TX caught a 21-inch, 5.36-pound smallmouth bass Mar. 17. He was using a Gulp! Alive! Minnow.

The following report came in late but deserves a mention:

• Fenton Lake: Destiny Sandoval, age 15, of Rio Rancho, caught a 10-inch rainbow trout Mar. 10. She was using night crawlers. Denise Sandoval, age 14, of Rio Rancho caught an 11-inch rainbow trout Mar. 10. She was using night crawlers. Jory Gamboa, age 5, of Rio Rancho, caught a 10-inch rainbow trout Mar. 10. He was using a night crawler.
• San Juan River: Mike Thomason of Albuquerque caught and released a 22-inch rainbow trout Feb. 28. He was using a Krystal flash emerger.

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.

March 20

Northeast

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

Charette Lakes: Fishing was fair using salmon peach and garlic PowerBait for rainbow trout.

Clayton Lake:  Fishing was fair using PowerBait and worms for trout. We had no reports on other species. The boat ramp is open.

Cimarron River: Stream flow below Eagle Nest on Monday was 8.77 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Conchas Lake: Bank fishing was slow for all species. We had no reports from boaters.

Costilla Creek: We had no reports from anglers.

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

Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was slow to fair using night crawlers and salmon eggs. Fishing pressure was very light.

Eagle Nest Lake: Bank fishing was fair to good using PowerBait for rainbow trout. Fishing for northern pike was fair using in line spinners. We had no reports on other species. Fishing pressure was light. At present, the lake is closed to all types of boating. For updated conditions, contact the state park office at (575) 377-1594.

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

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

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

Lake Maloya: The lake was completely free of ice and trout fishing was rated as good. Anglers did well using assorted colors of PowerBait with salmon peach reported as working best.

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

Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was good using PowerBait for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Monastery Lake: Fishing was good using Pistol Petes, small streamers, PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout.

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

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos on Monday was 20.0 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday was 45.1 cfs. Fishing was fair using PowerBait, red copper John Barrs and Fire Balls for trout.

Red River City Ponds: As of this past weekend, the ponds were still iced over.

Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 636 cfs. Fishing in the Taos area was slow to fair using a variety of nymphs for trout. There had been some rising trout on the cloudy days that were caught and released by anglers using size 16 Parachute Adams. Fishing for smallmouth bass and Northern Pike was slow. Fishing through the Albuquerque area was fair using liver and cut bait for catfish.

Rio Hondo: Fishing was fair using stimulators and copper John Barrs for trout.

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

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco was 10.2 cfs. Trout fishing was slow.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, Pistol Petes, Kastmasters and Panther Martins for trout. We had no other reports. 

Shuree Ponds:  Closed for the season.

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

Storrie Lake: Fishing was 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 was fair using live minnows for walleye in 15 to 18 feet of water. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow with just a few caught by anglers using spinner baits and plastics. Fishing for catfish was slow. We had no other reports. The surface water temp was in the high 40s to right at 50 degrees and the water was a bit murky.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was slow but there were a few smallmouth bass caught by anglers using jerk baits. We had no other reports.

Animas River: Water flow below Aztec on Monday morning was 122 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing for trout in the Albuquerque, Albuquerque (South), Corrales and Peralta drains was good using PowerBait, worms, copper John Barrs, zebra midges, elk hair caddis and wooly buggers. We had no other reports.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, worms and spinners for trout. 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. The area may reopen later this year.

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 72.4 cfs and 48.9 cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was fair for anglers using small black zebra midges and worms for trout. There were a few hatches coming off in the afternoon hours. Trout fishing below Abiquiu was fair using earthworms, PowerBait, salmon eggs and a variety of small bead-head nymphs.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was fair to good using spinner baits, swim baits, fathead minnows and Texas rigged worms for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Brian Hotchkiss of Pena Blanca caught and released a 17.5-inch, 3.78-pound smallmouth March 14. He was using a Texas rigged worm. Ricky Soto of Santa Fe caught and released several bass on March 17. He was using swim baits, spinner baits and fathead minnows. The surface water temp ranged from the high 40s to 50 degrees.

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

Fenton Lake: Fishing was very good using worms, Panther Martins, Pistol Petes, PowerBait, salmon eggs and leech patterns for brown and rainbow trout.

Heron Lake: Fishing was good using and chartreuse and green PowerBait for rainbow trout ranging in size from 12 to 18 inches. We had no other reports.

Jackson Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait and worms for trout. We had no other reports.

Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez River near Jemez Springs on Monday morning was 29.6 cfs. Fishing on the Jemez was fair using worms for trout.  We had no reports on other streams.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.

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

Lake Farmington: Fishing was good using Kastmasters, Pistol Petes, PowerBait and worms for trout. We had no other reports.

Manzano Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using garlic PowerBait, Pistol Petes and wooly buggers for trout.

Navajo Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using swim baits, tubes, curly tail grubs and jigs for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. A few northern pike were caught and released by anglers using swim baits. No reports on crappie. The surface water temp was in the high 40s.

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

San Juan River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 343 cfs. Fly fishing action through the Quality waters was good using red annelids, rootbeers, zebra midges, bead-head pheasant tail nymphs, San Juan worms, scintillas, BWOs and 1/16-ounce white and olive marabou jigs. Trout fishing through the bait waters was fair to good using Panther Martins, marabou jigs, night crawlers and Fire Balls. There have been some decent BWO hatches on the lower river.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing was good using salmon peach and garlic PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Tingley Beach: Trout fishing at the Youth and Central ponds was rated as excellent by anglers using garlic and salmon peach PowerBait, Panther Martins, homemade dough Bait, Pistol Petes, worms and Fire Balls. Anglers using worms and homemade dough bait caught a few catfish. Fishing at the Bob Gerding Catch and Release Pond was fair to good using zebra midges and small leech patterns for trout. We had no other reports.

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

Southwest

Alumni Pond: Fishing was fair to good using a variety of dry flies including x-caddis, elk hair caddis and parachute Adams for trout. Anglers using garlic PowerBait and Velveeta cheese also caught a few fish. We had no other reports. A free fishing clinic for children and their parents will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 24. The clinic is open to all children but is geared toward kids age 6 to 11 with little or no fishing experience.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms, and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was very good using PowerBait for trout.

Caballo Lake: Fishing was good using crank baits and swim bait for white bass. Fishing for walleye was fair using crank baits and jig and grub combinations. We had no other reports. The lake level had risen quite a bit this past week.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was good using white and chartreuse crank baits, white slab spoons, live shiners and Kastmasters for white bass. Fishing was fair using shiners, Wally Divers and Flicker Shad for walleye. Fishing was fair to good using bluegills, shiners, cut bait and dough bait for catfish. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was rated as slow to fair by anglers using tubes, jigs, plastic worms, crank baits, live shiners and swim baits. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from 50 to 54 degrees and in some areas had a pea soup color.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait, Fire Balls and worms for trout. Anglers using Pistol Petes also caught a few. The First Annual Veterans Fishing Derby will be held Sunday, March 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, contact Ron Gilworth at (575) 835-8123.

Gila River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 107 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing was good using PowerBait and worms for rainbow trout. Fishing was slow to fair using homemade dough bait and liver for catfish. We had no other reports.

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

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

Rancho Grande Ponds: Fishing was good using garlic PowerBait for trout.

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 1,580 cfs. Fishing was fair using PowerBait and worms for trout. Fishing was good using liver and stink bait for catfish. Fishing was good using live shiners, curly tail grubs and worms for walleye. We had no other reports.

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

Young Pond: Fishing was good for using Velveeta cheese, PowerBait, black midges, orange wooly worms and beige caddis patterns. Fishing was good using hot dogs and beef liver for carp. We had no other reports.

Southeast

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

Bataan Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, Pistol Petes and worms for trout. We had no other reports.

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 13.4 cfs. Fishing was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using PowerBait.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was good using salmon peach, rainbow and garlic PowerBait and Velveeta cheese for trout.

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

Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing was good using Kastmasters, Pistol Petes, PowerBait and worms for trout. 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. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, Fire Balls, Gulp eggs and worms for trout. Fishing was fair using swim baits, spinner baits and curly tail grubs for spotted bass and largemouth bass. We had no other reports.

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

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

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

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was good using worms, PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout. Anglers using spinner also caught a few. We had no other reports.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait for trout.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was good using Pistol Petes, salmon eggs, worms and PowerBait for trout. Anglers using worms caught a few small smallmouth bass. We had no other reports.

Jal Lake: Fishing was good using worms and PowerBait for trout.

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

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait and homemade dough bait for trout. We had no other reports. The ninth Annual Spring Trout Derby, made possible with the help of the Friends of Oasis State Park, will be held March 24. For more information, contact the State Park office at (575) 356-5331.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 78.2 cfs. Fishing below Sumner Lake was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using PowerBait and worms. We had no other reports.

Perch Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, Gulp eggs, worms and wooly buggers for trout. We had no other reports.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood was 8.52 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Sumner Lake: Fishing for walleye, white bass and crappie were rated as slow to fair for anglers using spoons, crank baits, jig and minnow and jig and grub combinations. We had reports on other species.