New Mexico fishing and stocking reports for March 27, 2018

Catches of the week

• Alto Lake: Ryder Archer, age 5, of Albuquerque, caught his first limit of trout Mar. 23. He was using salmon eggs and PowerBait.
• Bill Evans Lake: Robbie Hewitt, age 7, of Las Cruces, caught his first fish, an 11-inch rainbow trout, March 22. He was using garlic-scented PowerBait.
• Elephant Butte Lake: Alex Rigg of Las Cruces caught and released a 5.14-pound largemouth bass March 24. John Hayes caught and released a 4.37-pound largemouth bass March 24. He was using a jerk bait.
• Fenton Lake: Cutler Ortiz, age 6, of Rio Rancho, caught and released six rainbow trout, including one that measured 14 inches March 26. He was using Pistol Petes.
• Seven Springs Brood Pond: Preston Lawson, age 7, and Parker Lawson, age 8, of Albuquerque, each caught three rainbow trout March 25. The fish ranged in size from 11 to 15 inches and they were using Fire Balls.
• Tingley Beach: Elijah Garcia, age 3, of Santo Domingo Pueblo, caught his limit of trout, with the biggest being 16.5 inches, March 25. He was using Fire Balls and salmon peach PowerBait.
• Ute Lake: Laura Elkins of Amarillo caught and released a 4.60-pound largemouth bass.

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 27 

Northeast

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

Charette Lakes: Fishing was slow for all species.

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

Cimarron River: Stream flow below Eagle Nest on Monday was 5.27 cfs. Fishing for trout was good drifting worms and using San Juan worms and black and gold Panther Martins. Fishing at the Gravel Pit Lakes was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using PowerBait and worms.

Conchas Lake: Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was slow with just a few caught by anglers using swim baits, jigs, tubes and crank baits. Fishing for catfish was fair using stink bait and liver. Fishing for white bass and walleye was slow. We had no other reports. The surface water temp was in the low to mid 50s.

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 salmon eggs, worms, PowerBait and copper John Barrs. Fishing pressure was light.

Eagle Nest Lake: Bank fishing was fair to good using PowerBait for rainbow trout. 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: Fishing was excellent using salmon peach PowerBait for rainbow trout. A few were also caught by anglers using Fire Balls.

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

Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was slow with just one trout caught on PowerBait reported this past week.

Monastery Lake: Fishing was excellent using PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout.

Morphy Lake:  Fishing was fair using PowerBait, worms and spoons for cutthroat and rainbow trout.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos on Monday was 30.0 cfs. Trout fishing in the Villanueva area was good for anglers using salmon eggs. A few trout were also caught with PowerBait and spinners.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday was 46.1 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 423 cfs. Fishing in the Taos area was fair using Kastmasters, night crawlers and a variety of nymphs for trout. There had been some rising trout on the cloudy days that were caught and released by anglers using 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. Joseph Lueras of Albuquerque caught a northern pike while fishing the river south of Rio Bravo Blvd. He was using a jig and rubber worm combination.

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 20.3 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Shuree Ponds:  Closed for the season.

Springer Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

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 for walleye was slow. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow to fair for anglers using spinner baits, swim baits and crank baits. Fishing for catfish was fair to good using punch baits and homemade dough baits. The best reports came from anglers fishing up the Canadian arm of the lake. Fishing for white bass was fair to good trolling crank baits. We had no other reports. The surface water temp was in the low to mid 50s and the water was a bit murky.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for walleye was slow but a few were caught by anglers using jigging spoons and blade baits at 25 feet. Smallmouth bass fishing was slow with a few caught by anglers using tubes, grubs and jigs. The best reports came from anglers fishing from boats.

Animas River: Water flow below Aztec on Monday morning was 154 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Trout fishing was good in the Albuquerque, Albuquerque (South), Belen, Corrales and Peralta drains using PowerBait, worms, copper John Barrs, custom tied nymphs and wooly buggers. Fishing in the Albuquerque and Peralta Drains was good using worms and plastic grubs for largemouth bass and bluegill. We had no other reports.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, worms, spoons and spinners for trout. Fishing for tiger musky was slow.

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 75.0 cfs and 72.1 cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was fair for anglers using small black zebra midges, Fire Balls and worms for trout. Trout fishing below Abiquiu was good using small midge patterns, San Juan worms, earth worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using swim baits, tubes, senkos, jigs, jerk baits and worms for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. A few walleye and northern pike were hooked by anglers using swim baits and spinner baits. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from the high 40s to the low 50s.

El Vado Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light.

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

Heron Lake: Fishing from the bank was fair to good using roe sacs and yellow and salmon peach PowerBait for rainbow trout. We had no reports on other species.

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 28.8 cfs. Fishing on the Jemez was fair to good using worms and salmon eggs for trout.  Dave Menicucci reported very good fishing on the East Fork. He was using worms and copper John Barrs and caught three brown trout and a cutthroat trout in just a short time. Fishing on the Rio Cebolla above Fenton Lake was good using salmon eggs for stocked 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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, senkos, jerk baits, 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 ranged from the high 40s to the low 50s.

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

San Juan River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 322 cfs and was schedule to be increased to 400 cfs in the afternoon hours. Fly fishing action through the Quality waters was good using red annelids, WD40s, zebra midges, bead-head pheasant tail nymphs, San Juan worms, scintillas, BWOs, rootbeers and 1/16-ounce marabou jigs. Trout fishing through the bait waters was fair to good using marabou jigs, copper John Barrs, wooly buggers, BWOs, night crawlers and Fire Balls. There have been some decent BWO hatches on the lower river.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing was very good using Fire Balls and PowerBait for rainbow trout.

Tingley Beach: Trout fishing at the Youth and Central ponds was excellent for anglers using garlic and salmon peach PowerBait, Velveeta cheese, Panther Martins, homemade dough bait, Pistol Petes, worms and Fire Balls. A few catfish were caught by anglers using worms and homemade dough bait. We had no other reports.

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

Southwest

Alumni Pond: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, salmon eggs, worms, Pistol Petes and zebra and black gnat midge patterns.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms, and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing for catfish was slow with just a few caught by anglers using worms and homemade dough bait. We had no other reports.

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

Caballo Lake: Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, curly tail grubs and swim baits for white bass. Fishing for walleye was fair using swim baits, minnows and jig and grub combinations. We had no other reports.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was good using curly tail grubs, white and chartreuse slab spoons, live shiners and Kastmasters for white bass. Fishing was slow to fair using shiners, curly tail grubs, Wally Divers and Flicker Shad for walleye. Fishing was fair to good using shiners, cut bait and dough bait for catfish. Fishing was good using senkos, sweet beavers, tubes, chigger craws and jerk baits for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. A few were also caught by anglers using swim baits and working them slow. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from 53 to 57 degrees and the water was still looking a little green.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, Fire Balls, black mosquitoes, green and olive Pistol Petes and worms for trout. Fishing for catfish and bass was slow but a few were caught by anglers using worms.

Gila River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 91.3 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

Percha Dam: Fishing was fair using grubs and minnows for white bass. We had no other reports.

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

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

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 1,220 cfs. Fishing was good using liver, worms and stink bait for catfish. Fishing was good using live shiners, curly tail grubs and worms for walleye and white bass. We had no other reports.

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

Young Pond: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, salmon eggs and marshmallows for trout. We had no other reports.

Southeast

Alto Lake: Fishing was very good using salmon eggs, worms, PowerBait and Pistol Petes for trout. We had no reports on other species.

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

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 15.3cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was very good using salmon peach and garlic PowerBait, salmon eggs 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 fair using PowerBait and worms for trout. We had no other reports.

Bottomless Lakes: Fishing was fair using PowerBait for trout.

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 very good using PowerBait, Fire Balls and worms for trout. Fishing was fair using spinner baits, jerk baits and curly tail grubs for spotted bass and largemouth bass. We had no other reports.

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

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

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

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using PowerBait.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was fair to good using salmon eggs, worms and PowerBait for trout. A few small smallmouth bass and catfish were caught by anglers using worms. We had no other reports.

Jal Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using worms and PowerBait for trout.

Lake Van: Fishing was fair to good using spoons, PowerBait and Pistol Petes for trout. We had no other reports.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, hot dogs, salmon eggs and homemade dough bait for trout. We had no other reports.

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, worms, Pistol Petes and wooly buggers for trout. We had no other reports.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood was 18.3 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using curly tail grubs, spoons and swim baits for walleye. Fishing was slow for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, but a few were caught by anglers using senkos, Ned rigs and swim baits. We had no other reports.

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