SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By N.M. Game and Fish
Catches of the week
- Conchas Lake: Jackson Nee, age 11, and Michael Nee, age 10, of Edgewood, each caught nice catfish April 20. They were using chicken liver.
- Cochiti Lake: Hugo Miramontes, age 13, of Pena Blanca caught three white bass April 23. They were his first fish caught on this lake and he was trolling a Cotton Cordell crank bait.
- Elephant Butte Lake: Richard Saenz of Elephant Butte caught and released a 9-pound largemouth bass April 22.
- Grindstone Reservoir: Dominga Tavarez, 81, of Hobbs, landed a rainbow trout April 22. She was using a plastic trout worm.
- Maxwell Lake 13: Danny Cruz of Springer caught a 20-inch and a 21-inch rainbow trout April 21. He was using worms.
- Navajo Lake: Chris Jarvis of Albuquerque caught and released a northern pike estimated to be between 38 and 40 inches in length. He was using a deep-running crank bait. Dave Smith Jr. of Albuquerque caught and released a 5-pound smallmouth bass April 21. He was using a jerk bait. Derrick Sandoval of Rio Rancho caught a 27-inch, 4.2-pound, brown trout April 21. He was using a senko. Davin Leboeuf of Farmington caught and released a 6.22-pound largemouth bass April 21. He was using a craw style bait.
- Pecos River: David Amador, age 8, of Albuquerque, caught a 12-inch brown trout April 20. He was fishing with his Dad near the Upper Dalton fishing access and using a red worm.
- Red River: Rico Orozco of Roswell landed a 26-inch rainbow trout April 20. He was using a chartreuse streamer on a 3-weight fly rod.
- Ute Lake: Dan Brooks of Hereford, Texas, caught and released a 5.20-pound largemouth bass April 22. He was using plastics.
The following catches came in late but deserve a mention:
- Eagle Nest Lake: Cordero Bachicha of Santa Rosa caught a 22-inch rainbow trout April 15. He was using a black wooly bugger.
- Navajo Lake: Chris Jarvis of Albuquerque caught and released a 4.8-pound smallmouth bass April 15. He was using a green jig.
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 24
Northeast
Cabresto Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Charette Lakes: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait for trout. We had no reports on perch.
Clayton Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait and worms for trout. Fishing for walleye was slow but a few were caught by anglers using spinner/night crawler combinations. We had no other reports.
Cimarron River: Stream flow below Eagle Nest on Monday morning was 9.14 cfs. Fishing was fair using bead-head hare’s ears, copper John Barrs, Fire Balls and worms for trout. We had no reports from the Gravel Pit lakes.
Conchas Lake: Fishing was good using jerk baits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, chatter baits, tubes and senkos. Fishing for walleye was fair using crankbaits, spinner minnow combinations and curly tail grubs. Fishing was fair using chicken liver, homemade dough bait and worms for catfish. We had no other reports. The surface water temp was in the mid to high 50s.
Costilla Creek: We had no reports from anglers.
Cowles Ponds: Fishing was very good using red worms, PowerBait, Fire Balls and spinners for trout.
Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was good for anglers using elk hair caddis, Fire Balls, and worms.
Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing was good using worms and PowerBait for rainbow trout with the biggest one caught on worms and measuring 21.5 inches. Fishing was fair to good using big streamers and PowerBait for northern pike. Two pike well over 20 inches were caught by anglers using PowerBait. We had no reports on other species. The courtesy docks are not yet in place but are expected to be soon. 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 good using PowerBait, bead-head prince nymphs, and Fire Balls for rainbow trout.
Los Pinos River: Trout fishing was good using worms, bead-head hare’s ears, prince nymphs and Green Drakes.
Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was very good using worms and PowerBait for trout. We had no reports on other species.
Monastery Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms and Pistol Petes for trout.
Morphy Lake: Fishing was good using Panther Martins, PowerBait, Fire Balls and wooly buggers for trout.
Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos on Monday morning was 27.2 cfs. Trout fishing was very good using red worms, night crawlers, prince nymphs, bead-head hare’s ears, wooly buggers and spinners for trout.
Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday morning was 41.9 cfs. Trout fishing was good using PMDs, micro mays, streamers, wooly worms, Fire Balls and worms. Trout fishing at the hatchery pond was very good using Warden’s Worry streamers, micro mays, worms and PowerBait.
Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 252 cfs. Fishing in the Taos area was very good using elk hair caddis, green weenies, bead-head hare’s ear nymphs, bead-head pheasant tail nymphs, copper John Barrs, night crawlers and spinners for trout. We had no other reports.
Rio Hondo: Stream flow on Monday morning near Valdez was 14.1 cfs. We had no reports from anglers.
Rio Mora: Fishing was good using prince nymphs and custom-tied mop flies for trout.
Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco on Monday morning was 21.0 cfs. We had no reports from anglers.
Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing was very good using Kastmasters, Fisher-Chick spinners, Pistol Petes, worms, PowerBait and wooly buggers for rainbow and brown trout. Anglers did well again this past week from the bank and from boats. Lucus Herrera reported that he and his group caught limits of rainbow trout while using PowerBait.
Shuree Ponds: Closed for the season.
Springer Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Storrie Lake: Fishing was fair 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 largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was very good using crank baits, spinner baits, chatter baits and jerk baits, senkos and tubes. Fishing for white bass was a bit slow but a few were caught by anglers trolling crank baits. The best reports came from anglers fishing up the Canadian arm of the lake. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the mid to high 50s.
Northwest
Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was slow to fair to good using tubes, senkos, jerk baits, crank baits, spinner baits and swim baits for smallmouth bass. Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits, jig and minnow combinations and curly tail grubs for walleye. We had no other reports.
Animas River: Water flow below Aztec on Monday morning was 15.3 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Albuquerque Area Drains: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Bluewater Lake: The park and lake remain closed due to fire in the area. For updates, contact the State Park office at (505) 876-2391.
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 621 cfs and 739 cfs respectively. The increase in flow slowed fishing dramatically at both locations. There were a few trout caught by anglers fishing below El Vado and using worms, salmon eggs and night crawlers.
Cochiti Lake: Fishing was fair trolling crank baits for white bass. Fishing was fair using crank baits, jerk baits, tubes, senkos and grubs for smallmouth bass. A few perch were caught by anglers using worms and grubs. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from the mid 50s to the low 60s.
El Vado Lake: Hot spot for smallmouth bass: Fishing was very good using crank baits for smallmouth bass. Anglers fishing for smallmouth also reported catching other species including brown trout, perch and one 6-pound largemouth bass.
Fenton Lake: Fishing was very good using worms, Pistol Petes, white garlic and salmon peach PowerBait, salmon eggs, wooly buggers, mop flies and spinners for brown and rainbow trout.
Heron Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, garlic cheese and Fire Balls for rainbow trout. Anglers fishing for trout also caught one small lake trout. The best reports came from anglers fishing between La Laja and the Ridge Rock area. We had no reports on other species.
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 21.1 cfs. Fishing on the Jemez was good using mop flies, copper John Barrs, small spinners, Fire Balls and worms for trout. Trout fishing on the East Fork was good using elk hair caddis, copper John Barrs, worms and Fire Balls. Fishing on the San Antonio was fair to good using parachute Adams, elk hair caddis and worms. Trout fishing on the Rio Cebolla above and below Fenton Lake was good using Fire Balls and worms. Browns and rainbows are rising to dry flies in the afternoon hours on most of the streams in the area.
Laguna del Campo: Opens for the season May 1.
Lagunitas Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Farmington: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout. We had no other reports.
Manzano Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Navajo Lake: Fishing was good using swim baits, crank baits, jerk baits, tubes, senkos, curly tail grubs, jigs and chatter baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was good using swim baits, jerk baits, spinner baits and crank baits for northern pike. Fishing for brown and rainbow trout was fair to good using jerk baits and crank baits. A few rainbow trout were also caught by anglers using PowerBait. We had no other reports. The surface water temp ranged from the low to mid-50s.
San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
San Juan River: Stream flow on Monday morning was at 601 cfs. Fly fishing action through the Quality waters was fair to good using parachute Adams, bead-head pheasant tail nymphs, fore and afts, Chernobyl ants, hoppers, red larva and San Juan worms. Trout fishing through the bait waters was fair to good using jerk baits, wooly buggers, night crawlers and Fire Balls.
Seven Springs Kids Pond: Fishing was very good using Fire Balls, PowerBait, Pistol Petes, worms and wooly buggers for rainbow trout.
Tingley Beach: Trout fishing at the Youth and Central ponds was good using PowerBait, Zeke’s trout bait, Velveeta cheese, worms, Pistol Petes, Kastmasters and wooly buggers. A few catfish and panfish were caught by anglers using worms. We had no other reports.
Trout Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Southwest
Alumni Pond: Fishing was slow for all species.
Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using worms, homemade dough bait and liver for catfish. We had no other reports.
Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was very good using Kastmasters, Super Dupers, Pistol Petes, black wooly buggers and black and olive wooly worms for trout. Fishing was fair to good using worms and liver for catfish. A few largemouth bass were caught by anglers using crank baits and senkos.
Caballo Lake: Fishing for walleye and white bass was good using minnow spinner combinations, curly tail grubs, Wally Divers, Flicker Shad and Bomber crank baits. We had no other reports.
Elephant Butte Lake: Hot spot for white bass! Fishing continued to be very good using white and chartreuse slab spoons, crank baits, jerk baits, Kastmasters, curly tail grubs, plastic worms and minnows for white bass. Fishing for walleye was good using jig and minnow combinations, Kastmasters, Wally Divers and Flicker Shad. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was good using jerk baits, senkos, chigger craws, tubes, chatter baits, crank baits and spinner baits. Fishing was good using cut bait, shiners, homemade dough baits and liver for catfish. The surface water temp ranged from the high 50s to the low 60s.
Escondida Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week
Gila River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 61.2 cfs. Fishing on the East Fork was good using olive and chartreuse wooly buggers and small red and gold streamers for smallmouth bass. We had no other reports.
Glenwood Pond: Fishing was good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.
Lake Roberts: Fishing was very good using worms, liver and homemade dough baits for catfish. Fishing was good using elk hair caddis, parachute Adams, wooly worms, wooly buggers, prince nymphs, PowerBait, red wigglers and Fire Balls for trout. Anglers using flies and worms also caught several panfish. Fishing was good using lizards, plastic worms, jigs and jerk baits for largemouth bass. Action slowed considerably on the high wind days.
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 fair to good using PowerBait for trout.
Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 719 cfs. Fishing was good using liver, night crawlers, homemade dough baits and stink bait for catfish. Fishing was good using minnows, curly tail grubs and worms for walleye and white bass. We had no other reports.
Snow Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait and worms for trout.
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 morning was 21.6 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was fair to good using salmon peach and garlic PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout.
Bonito Lake: Closed until further notice by the city of Alamogordo due to fire damage. The lake is scheduled to reopen in August 2018.
Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using worms and salmon eggs.
Bottomless Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Brantley Lake: Fishing was good using chatter baits, jerk baits, spinner baits, crank baits, tubes and senkos for largemouth bass and white bass. Fishing was good using night crawlers, liver and cut bait for catfish. We had no other reports.
Carlsbad Municipal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Chaparral Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
El Rito Creek: Fishing was fair using Fire Balls 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 with just a few trout caught by anglers using PowerBait and worms for trout. We had no other reports.
Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was fair using worms, PowerBait, Fire Balls, wooly buggers, Kastmasters and worms for trout. A few smallmouth bass were caught by anglers using worms and wooly buggers.
Jal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Van: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Oasis Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was increased to 1,780 cfs. The fishing access below Sumner Lake has been closed and will remain so through the high flow period which is expected to last for about one week. Fishing below Sumner and through the Carlsbad area was fair to good using liver, night crawlers and homemade dough bait for catfish. The area below Sumner is expected to close for a few days while flows are increased. We had no other reports.
Perch Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Ruidoso River: Stream flow on Monday morning at Hollywood was 9.22 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was fair using curly tail grubs and crank baits for walleye. Fishing was fair using crank baits, jerk baits, worms, senkos and tubes for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. We had no other reports.
Sumner Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair to good using curly tail grubs, crank baits, jig and minnow combinations and small swim baits. Fishing for crappie was slow but a few were caught by anglers using curly tail grubs and minnows. Fishing was fair using swim baits, jerk baits, crank baits and worms for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and white bass. We had no reports on other species.
