SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By NM Game and Fish
Catches of the week
Caballo Lake: Tim Wingfield of Las Cruces caught a 16-pound 5-ounce catfish using cut carp bait Feb. 13. Elephant Butte Lake: Marie Cadieux of Los Lunas caught a 3.5-pound white bass trolling a crankbait lure Feb. 20. Grindstone Reservoir: Eric Aguilar caught a 23-inch 9.5-pound rainbow trout using a Kastmaster lure Feb. 12. San Juan River: Andy Kim of Navajo Dam Community caught a 23-inch brown trout using a size 22 Yong Special midge fly Feb. 17.
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 funfishingnm@gmail.com. We may include your story in our next report. For catches of the week, include name, age, hometown, date, location, type of fish, length, and weight if possible, and bait, lure or fly used. |
Northeast Fishing Report
Cabresto Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Charette Lakes: Closed for the season.
Cimarron River: Stream flow near Cimarron Monday morning was not measured due to ice. In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for trout was good using worms and spinners. Maverick (gravel pits) was ice-covered and closed to ice fishing.
Clayton Lake: Closed until March 2021.
Conchas Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Conchas Lake State Park has closed access to all boat ramps due to dropping water levels. The boat ramps on the south side of the lake managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers are open.
Costilla Creek: The Department has implemented the final phase of a project to expand Rio Grande cutthroat trout in 120 miles of the Costilla watershed in northern New Mexico. The final phase involved removal of fish within a designated area (Rio Costilla from Costilla Dam downstream to the Valle Vidal Boundary including all tributaries and Comanche Creek from the road culvert crossing on FR 1950 downstream to its confluence with Rio Costilla and all tributaries) with a tentative restocking of Rio Grande cutthroat in spring 2022. Places to fish nearby include Costilla Creek below the fish barrier, Upper Comanche Creek, Shuree Ponds, Middle Ponil Creek, Upper Powderhouse Creek, Little Costilla Creek, Vidal Creek and McCrystal Creek. The Department anticipates completion of this final phase in the fall of 2021. Please check the Department website for additional information on the project and to identify alternative angling opportunities in the interim.
Cowles Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Coyote Creek: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.
Eagle Nest Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake is closed to ice fishing due to deteriorating ice conditions.
Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Fawn Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Gallinas River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Hopewell Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Alice: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake is closed to ice fishing due to deteriorating ice conditions.
Lake Maloya: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake is open for ice fishing. Fishing for trout was good using corn and PowerBait.
Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Maxwell Lake 13: Closed for the season.
Monastery Lake: Closed due to COVID-19 health concerns. Check the Open Gate webpage for future updates.
Morphy Lake: Closed for a renovation project on the dam. No firm opening date is set.
Pecos River: Stream flow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was not measured due to ice.
Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery Monday morning was 35.1 cfs. Fishing for trout near the hatchery was fair using small nymph and egg pattern flies.
Rio Grande: Stream flow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 411 cfs.
Rio Hondo: Stream flow Monday morning near Valdez was not measured due to ice.
Rio Mora: Stream flow Monday morning was not measured due to ice.
Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco Monday morning was not measured due to ice.
Santa Cruz Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Shuree Ponds: Closed until Jul. 1, 2021.
Springer Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Storrie Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.
Stubblefield Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good using green worms.
Ute Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for all species was slow.
Northwest Fishing Report
Abiquiu Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Animas River: Water flow below Aztec Monday morning was 159 cfs. Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing for trout was fair to good using dough bait, gold Mepps spinners and grub worms. Anglers reported locating trout near the bridges in Albuquerque. Bluewater Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. It is closed to boating and ice-fishing due to recent weather conditions that have led to unsafe lake surface conditions. The lake is currently closed to all watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, inflatables and all types of motorboats. Brazos River: We had no reports from anglers this week. Canjilon Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week. Chama River: Monday morning flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 108 cfs and 36.2 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was good using black balanced leeches, orange zebra midges, Warden’s Worry flies and salmon eggs. Cochiti Lake: Visitors to the lake will need to make a reservation by purchasing a ticket at least 24 hours in advance through www.recreation.gov. Tickets and reservations will NOT be sold at the lake. Anglers reported that the lake was mostly iced over. El Vado Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake is closed to ice fishing due to deteriorating ice conditions. Fenton Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake is closed to ice fishing due to deteriorating ice conditions. Heron Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Heron Lake is open for ice fishing. Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 17.4 cfs. Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season. Opens May 1, 2021. Lagunitas Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week. Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week. Manzano Lake: Closed until further notice. McGaffey Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Navajo Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Rio Grande: We had no reports from anglers this week. San Gregorio Lake: Anglers reported that the lake is frozen. San Juan River: Stream flow Monday morning was 397 cfs. In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good using size 22 midge nymphs, streamer flies and egg pattern flies. Seven Springs Brood Pond: Closed due to COVID-19 health concerns. Check the Department’s Alerts page for future updates. Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout was fair to good using green PowerBait and PowerBait Power Eggs. Trout Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week. |
Southwest Fishing Report
Alumni Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week. Bear Canyon Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Bill Evans Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Caballo Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for catfish was good using cut carp bait. Elephant Butte Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for white bass was good trolling crankbait lures. Fishing for catfish was fair to good using cut bait and shad. Escondida Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using black leech flies and purple nymph scented PowerBait. Gila River: Stream flow Monday morning was 62.6 cfs. Glenwood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week. Lake Roberts: We had no reports from anglers this week. Percha Dam: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. 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 .17 cfs. Fishing for catfish near Radium Springs was fair to good using cut carp bait. Snow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Trees Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Young Pond: Fishing for trout was fair to good using marshmallows, cheese scented PowerBait, garlic-scented PowerBait and corn. |
Southeast Fishing Report
Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good using worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs. Bataan Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using dough bait and PowerBait. Black River: Stream flow at Malaga Monday morning was 4.58 cfs. Blue Hole Park Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week. Bonito Lake: Closed until further notice by the city of Alamogordo due to fire damage. It appears now that the lake will be out of commission until 2022. Bosque Redondo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Bottomless Lakes: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for trout was good in the mornings using yellow garlic PowerBait. Brantley Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for trout was fair using dough bait and PowerBait. Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using dough bait, earthworms and PowerBait. Corona Pond: Anglers reported that the lake was frozen. Eunice Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Green Meadow Lake: Fishing for trout was good using bait dipped in hatchery dust. Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good using Kastmaster lures and green PowerBait. Jal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Lake Van: Fishing for trout was good in the mornings using yellow garlic PowerBait. Oasis Park Lake In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 20.1 cfs. Fishing for white bass near the state line was good using live minnows and white spinners. Perch Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Ruidoso River: Stream flow Monday morning at Hollywood was 3.87 cfs. Anglers reported fishing for trout was slow. Santa Rosa Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Sumner Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Jan. 29, NM State Parks are open to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. |
Tips and Tricks – Fishing plastic tubes with a twist
Every summer, I team up with my friend Justin Allen who runs a fishing program for kids out of Albuquerque called Kids Hooked on Fishing. We gladly volunteer our time and have more fun watching the kids catch fish than catching fish ourselves. On one of our expeditions to Navajo Lake, Justin taught me a trick that he uses to catch bass with a modified plastic tube bait. It works! Justin was kind enough to let me share his trick with his fellow New Mexico anglers. Justin likes to use watermelon smoke Gitzit tubes. The pack of tubes comes with lead jig heads designed to be used with the tubes. Instead, Justin uses round 1/8-ounce chartreuse jig heads. The tubes are a bit translucent, so when the round chartreuse jig head is inserted into the tube you can see the jig head through the tube. The smallmouth bass seem to like this slight color change and gobble these tubes up at Navajo Lake. If you are a bass fisherman with any tips and tricks to share with your fellow anglers, or any other angling tips for that matter, please email us at funfishingnm@gmail.com and let us help the next generation of anglers find success. Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community! |
