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.
Lake Alice: Nancy Sanchez of Raton caught a 21.75-inch rainbow trout April 19. She was using rainbow PowerBait.
Eagle Nest Lake: Ron Sedall from Taos Fly Shop caught a 43-inch northern pike April 17. He was using a black streamer.
Fenton Lake: Sophia Padilla, 6, of Albuquerque, caught a limit of trout April 22. She was using Pautzke’s fire balls and green PowerBait.
Lake Roberts: Lillianna Barraza, 8, of Las Cruces, caught two rainbow trout April 23. The big one weighed 2.1 pounds and she was using garlic PowerBait.
Seven Springs Brood Pond: Sarah Witzke, 5, and Haley Witzke, 3, both of Rio Rancho, took their first fishing trip April 19 and both caught their limits of trout. They were using fluorescent red PowerBait. Maizie Blue Kostrubala, 8, of Espanola, caught a 20-inch, 4-pound rainbow trout April 23. She was using a Panther Martin spinner.
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.
April 25
Northeast
Charette Lakes: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait for trout up to 19 inches. Matt Bonney reported fishing as slow as he only managed two fish in two days. However, they were nice 18-inch rainbows caught on pink PowerBait. We had no other reports.
Clayton Lake: Fishing was good using worms and PowerBait for rainbow trout with several limits reported. Fishing was fair using worms for bluegill and catfish. 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 12 cfs. Trout fishing was good using worms, salmon peach PowerBait, Panther Martin spinners, San Juan worms and copper John Barrs. Rick Aguilar caught a mixed bag limit of trout April 21. He was using a black body, gold blade Panther Martin. 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 fair using garlic PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs.
Conchas Lake: Fishing was very good using crank baits, jerk baits, sweet beavers, senkos and curly tail grubs for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, swim baits, jig and minnow combinations and spinner minnow combinations for walleye. Fishing was good using night crawlers, stink bait and cut bait for catfish. Fishing was good using minnows, grubs and small tubes for crappie. The surface water temp was in the low 60s.
Cowles Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was very good using small bead-head nymphs, worms and salmon eggs.
Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait for rainbow trout up to 20 inches. A few trout were also caught by anglers trolling spinners on light tackle. Fishing was fair to good using big streamers, jointed Rapalas and spinners for northern pike. We had no other reports. The lake has opened to boating and one of the courtesy boat docks is partially installed and useable.
Gallinas River: Fishing was fair using worms for trout.
Hopewell Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Alice: Trout fishing was very good using garlic and rainbow PowerBait, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes and Panther Martin spinners.
Lake Maloya: Trout fishing was very good using salmon peach and garlic PowerBait, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes, Joe’s flies, spinners and spoons.
Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was slow for all species.
Monastery Lake: Fishing was very good using Pistol Petes, San Juan worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.
Morphy Lake: Fishing was good using wooly buggers, Pistol Petes, spinners, PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for trout.
Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos on Monday was 351 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using San Juan worms, corn, salmon eggs and worms for trout. Amanda Callantine and Christopher Trujillo caught limits of fish over the weekend. They were using orange PowerBait, corn and salmon eggs.
Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday was 212 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
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 1,960 cfs. Fishing in the Taos area was slow.
Rio Hondo: Stream flow near Valdez on Monday was 106 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Mora: As of Monday, stream flow near Terrero was 106 cfs. Fishing was fair using worms and salmon eggs for trout.
Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco on Monday was 126 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 fair using small crank baits, Fisher Chick spinners, Panther Martin spinners, PowerBait and Gulp eggs 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. Fishing was slow to fair using cut bait and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.
Storrie Lake: Fishing was sporadic at best with just a few trout caught by anglers using PowerBait and salmon eggs. We had no other reports.
Ute Lake: Fishing was fair to good using Model A Bombers, Flicker Shad and Strike King crank baits on the Canadian arm for walleye. Fishing was fair using senkos, curly tail grubs, swim baits and spinner baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was fair using stink bait for catfish. Fishing for crappie was slow to fair using minnows. The surface water temp stayed in the low 60s.
Winsor Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Northwest
Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was fair using grubs, swim baits, senkos and tubes for smallmouth bass. Fishing for walleye was slow to fair using crank baits, swim baits and grubs. We had no other reports.
Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 1,800 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Albuquerque Area Drains: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Bluewater Lake: Trout fishing was slow with just a few caught by anglers using PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for trout. 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 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 1,640 cfs and 1,490 cfs respectively. Fishing has been slow with the high-water release. Fishing was slow to fair using worms and salmon eggs for trout. 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 using jigs, crank baits, swim baits and spinner baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. We had no other reports.
El VadoLake: Fishing was good using tubes, craws and swim baits for smallmouth bass. Carl Stanley of Albuquerque had a great time bass fishing here on April 23. He caught several while using a green pumpkin Berkley Power chigger craw.
Fenton Lake: Fishing was good using garlic PowerBait, a wide assortment of flies, Panther Martins and Pistol Petes for trout.
Heron Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms from the bank for rainbow trout. We had no reports from boaters. Both boat ramps are now open.
Jackson Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.
Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez River near Jemez Springs on Monday morning was 304 cfs and fishing was fair to good using worms and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing on the East Fork was fair to good using bead-head hare’s ear nymphs and worms for brown trout. Fishing on the San Antonio was good using salmon eggs, worms, bead-head pheasant tail nymphs and San Juan worms for a mixed bag of brown and rainbow trout. Trout fishing on the Cebolla was good using worms, salmon eggs, San Juan worms and small red copper John Barrs. We had no other reports.
Laguna del Campo: Opens for the season May 1.
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 baby brush hawgs, senkos, grubs, swim baits and crank baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was slow to fair using swim baits and spinner baits for northern pike. Fishing for crappie was fair for anglers using small tubes and grubs. We had no other reports.
San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers.
Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, worms, Panther Martin spinners and salmon eggs for trout.
San Juan River: Stream flow from Navajo Reservoir on Monday was 479 cfs and scheduled to increase to 1,000 cfs on Thursday, April 27. It is expected to stay at this level until the spring release begins on May 3. At that time, the ramp up to 5,000 cfs will begin and may take up to 16 days. This flow is scheduled to last about 35 days and then ramp back down to 500 cfs. Trout fishing through the quality waters was fair to good using fluff baetis, root beers, red annelids, bead-head pheasant tail nymphs, RS2s and small streamers. Fishing through the bait waters was good using night crawlers, PowerBait, salmon eggs, copper John Barrs and jerk baits.
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 good using PowerBait, salmon eggs, homemade dough bait, worms under a bobber, small spoons and Pistol Petes. We had no other reports.
Trout Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Southwest
Alumni Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Bear Canyon Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, marshmallows, salmon eggs and worms for rainbow trout. Fishing was fair using tubes, crank baits and swim baits for largemouth bass. We had no other reports.
Caballo Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits and minnows for a mixed bag of walleye, white bass and crappie. Fishing was fair using liver and worms for catfish. We had no other reports.
Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was good using Kastmasters, crank baits, jerk baits and grubs for white bass. Fishing was good using crank baits and orange tubes and grubs for walleye. Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, jerk baits, senkos, sassy shad and sweet beavers for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was good using cut bait, prepared baits and liver for catfish. Jennifer Jimenez reported some great fishing with the family this past Saturday which resulted in a mixed bag of crappie, walleye and white bass. All the fish were caught on white Model A Bombers. They found the walleye off points in 5 to 10 feet of water. We had no other reports.
Escondida Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Gila River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 179 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 worms, tubes, leech patterns and crank baits for largemouth bass. Fishing was good using worms and PowerBait for trout. Fishing was fair using worms and liver for catfish. A big crappie was caught by an angler using a 3-inch watermelon seed leech. We had no other reports.
Percha Dam: Fishing was fair to good using night crawlers, cut bait and liver for catfish. We had no other reports.
Quemado Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 1,340 cfs. Fishing was good using night crawlers, liver, homemade dough bait and cut bait for catfish. 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: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms for trout. We had no other reports.
Bataan Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 4.4 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was fair using garlic, rainbow and salmon peach PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for trout.
Bonito Lake: Closed until further notice by the city of Alamogordo due to fire damage.
Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing was fair using night crawlers and liver 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 good using crank baits, swim baits, spinners, Big Ned rigs, senkos, flukes, tubes, grubs 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 slow to fair using salmon eggs and PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.
El Rito Creek: Fishing was good using PowerBait, salmon eggs, small spoons and Pistol Petes 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was fair to good using worms under a bobber, PowerBait, Pistol Petes and spoons for trout. We had no other reports.
Jal Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.
Lake Van: Fishing was slow but there were a few trout caught by anglers using spinners and PowerBait. 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 114 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, worms and spinners for trout. We had no other reports.
Perch Lake: Fishing was good using Pistol Petes, worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.
Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 16 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using salmon eggs for trout.
Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was good using swim baits, sweet beavers, flukes, tubes, jigs and crank baits for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing for walleye was fair using minnows, crank baits and curly tail grubs. We had no other reports.
Sumner Lake: Fishing was fair using curly tail grubs, crank baits and bottom bouncer spinner minnow combinations for walleye. Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, jerk baits, tubes, grubs and senkos for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was slow to fair using stink bait for catfish. We had no other reports.
