SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By NM Game and Fish
Catches of the week
Abiquiu Lake: Adam Ullom of Espanola caught a 28-inch 7-pound 4-ounce walleye using a Rene Carter custom jig March 27. Bluewater Lake: Kyle Lucero of Laguna Pueblo caught an 18-inch rainbow trout using green and yellow PowerBait March 27. Cochiti Lake: Dathan Archuleta of Los Lunas caught a 35-inch pike using a Rapala jerk bait March 28. Jeremiah Baros, age 17, of Rio Rancho caught a 2-pound and 2.5-pound smallmouth bass using a watermelon salt craw March 27. Navajo Lake: Justin Moquino, age 9, of Albuquerque caught a 28-inch brown trout trolling a fire tiger lure March 27. San Juan River: Edwin Mora of Albuquerque caught a 24-inch rainbow trout using a leech pattern fly March 27. Rhese Fine, age 13, of Albuquerque caught a 26.5-inch rainbow trout using a size 18 Griffith’s gnat March 25. Joseph Lingnau of Albuquerque caught a 20-inch rainbow trout using hominy corn in the bait waters March 25. Santa Rosa Lake: Ricky Chavez of Santa Rosa caught and released a 28.75-inch walleye using a large white sassy shad March 27. Tingley Beach: Marcus Sanchez, age 7, of Rio Rancho caught his limit of trout using yellow garlic-scented PowerBait March 27. Brandon Ruybal-Fink, age 3, of Albuquerque caught his first fish, a 13-inch rainbow trout using corn in the Kids Pond March 19. Gabriel Mason Romancito, age 11, of Albuquerque caught a 16-inch rainbow trout using salmon eggs March 22.
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: Fishing for trout was good using PowerBait and Kastmaster lures.
Cimarron River: Stream flow near Cimarron Monday morning was not measured due to ice. Fishing for trout was good using worms, salmon eggs and peach PowerBait. Maverick campground (gravel pit) was clear of most ice and fishable.
Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was fair using PowerBait. Fishing for catfish was fair using chicken liver.
Conchas Lake: 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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are open. Fishing for walleye and white bass was good using silver and blue crankbait lures. Fishing for bass was good using square bill crankbait lures.
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: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Eagle Nest Lake: 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: Open to bank fishing only. Anglers reported fishing was slow.
Lake Maloya: The lake is closed to ice fishing due to deteriorating ice conditions.
Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Maxwell Lake 13: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Monastery Lake: Closed due to COVID-19 health concerns. Check the Open Gate webpage for future updates.
Morphy Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using PowerBait.
Pecos River: Stream flow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 27.4 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using bright red trout magnet lures and San Juan Worm flies.
Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery Monday morning was 37.5 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair using small beadhead nymph flies.
Rio Grande: Stream flow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 503 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good using PowerBait, salmon eggs, Panther Martin spinners and Woolly Buggers.
Rio Hondo: Stream flow Monday morning near Valdez was 16.6 cfs.
Rio Mora: Stream flow Monday morning was not measured due to ice. Fishing for trout was fair to good using worms.
Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco Monday morning was not measured due to ice.
Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good using green PowerBait.
Shuree Ponds: Closed until July 1, 2021.
Springer Lake: Fishing for pike was fair to good using chicken hotdogs and chicken liver.
Storrie Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Stubblefield Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Ute Lake: Fishing for white bass was fair using small white swimbaits and curly tail grubs. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair using square bill crankbaits. The water surface temperature was in the upper 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the main lake color was stained.
Northwest Fishing Report
Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for walleye was good using jigs. Animas River: Water flow below Aztec Monday morning was 166 cfs. Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing for trout was fair to good using beadhead nymph flies, salmon eggs and PowerBait. Bluewater Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using green and yellow PowerBait. 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 96.7 cfs and 62.0 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was fair to good using nightcrawlers and Black Bunny Leech flies. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was good using salmon eggs, PowerBait and beadhead nymph flies. Please remember, from the river-crossing bridge on U.S. Highway 84 at Abiquiu upstream seven miles to the base of Abiquiu Dam is special trout waters with a bag limit of two trout only. Cochiti Lake: Visitors to the lake 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. Fishing for pike was fair using Rapala jerk baits. Fishing for bass was fair using watermelon salt craw baits. El Vado Lake: El Vado Lake Dam Day Use area is open. The main lake area, boat launch and campground will open April 1. Camping by reservation only. Fenton Lake: The lake is closed to ice fishing due to deteriorating ice conditions. Anglers reported about 10-percent open water. Fishing from the bank was good using PowerBait, worms, salmon eggs and Woolly Buggers. Heron Lake: The lake is open for fishing. All boat ramps are closed due to low water levels. Paddle craft can be launched from the shoreline. Limited campgrounds are open and camping is by reservation only. Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 36.3 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using spinners, PowerBait and worms. Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season; will open May 1, 2021. Lagunitas Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week. Lake Farmington: Fishing for trout was good using garlic PowerBait. Manzano Lake: Closed until further notice. McGaffey Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Navajo Lake: Fishing for trout was slow to fair using spinners and jointed lures. 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 403 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good using black leech pattern flies, chamois worms, crystal flash midges and red larva flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good using corn and worms. 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 good using corn, salmon eggs and yellow garlic-scented PowerBait. Trout Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week. |
Southwest Fishing Report
Alumni Pond: Fishing for trout was good using flies, pink marshmallows, garlic-scented PowerBait, live grubs and worms.
Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for trout was good using yellow corn-flavored PowerBait, yellow cheese-flavored PowerBait and yellow and tan wet flies.
Bill Evans Lake: Anglers reported fishing for trout was slow.
Caballo Lake: Fishing for white bass was good using small deep diving Bandit crankbaits. Fishing for bass was fair using white jigs.
Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was good trolling white crankbaits. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good using crankbaits. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good using drop shot worms. Fishing for catfish was good using lime green leeches, cut carp bait and worms. The water surface temperature was in the low 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Escondida Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Gila River: Stream flow Monday morning was 58.6 cfs. Fishing for catfish was fair using cut carp bait.
Glenwood Pond: Anglers reported fishing for trout was slow.
Lake Roberts: Anglers reported fishing for trout was slow.
Percha Dam: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Quemado Lake: Anglers reported fishing for trout was slow.
Rancho Grande Ponds: Fishing for trout was good using rainbow colored PowerBait.
Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was .31 cfs. Fishing for catfish north of Elephant Butte Lake was good using cut 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 good using brown winged dry flies, garlic-scented salmon peach PowerBait and corn.
Southeast Fishing Report
Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good using PowerBait. Bataan Lake: Fishing for trout was good using salmon peach Powerbait with glitter. Black River: Stream flow at Malaga Monday morning was 3.10 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 that the lake will be out of commission until 2022. Bosque Redondo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Bottomless Lakes: Fishing for trout was fair using yellow garlic PowerBait. Brantley Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Carlsbad Municipal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Chaparral Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Corona Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week. Eunice Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Green Meadow Lake: Fishing for trout was good using green PowerBait. Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good using salmon peach PowerBait, green PowerBait and yellow PowerBait. Jal Lake: Fishing for trout was good using rainbow-colored PowerBait. Lake Van: We had no reports from anglers this week. Oasis Park Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using PowerBait and worms. Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 65.0 cfs. Perch Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Ruidoso River: Stream flow Monday morning at Hollywood was 3.87 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair using salmon eggs. Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair to good using shad swimbaits. Sumner Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. |
Tips and Tricks – Trolling by Justin Moquino
Patience is the key to trolling. You must vary the boat’s speed and choose a type of lure that will dive to the depth where you want to fish. Sometimes it takes a while to find the fish. When I go trolling, I like to use a bait casting rod with braided line and a 10-pound fluorocarbon leader. On this trip, I was using a fire tiger pattern crankbait. I choose that crankbait because it was the deepest diving type of lure I had in my tackle box. While trolling at Navajo lake, it felt like forever waiting for a fish to bite. We fished for an hour without even one bite. It was hard to be patient, but I knew eventually it would pay off. Then it happened, I felt my line pulling really hard! I brought up the rod tip and started reeling. The fish jumped up behind the boat and I got really nervous. This looked like the biggest fish I had ever caught! I wanted to catch it so bad! I knew I had to slow down and be careful while reeling it in, even though I was so excited! I had to play the fish. Luckily, I had made sure my drag was set right so the fish would not break my line. I knew that if I kept playing the fish, he would eventually get tired, and I would bring him in. When I finally got him close enough to net him, he bolted under the boat and started to strip line! I was so worried that he would be gone forever. I started to panic, but my dad reminded me that I could do this. He told me to take my time and to let him tire himself out. This made me slow down and gave me the perseverance I needed to keep going. After five minutes, I had him in the boat. I had never seen such a big trout in my life! It was a long fight, and I am proud that I was able to catch him by myself. It was an amazing trip and something that I will remember forever! Share your tips and tricks with your fellow anglers by emailing us at funfishingnm@gmail.com and let’s help the next generation of anglers find success. Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community! |
