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Fishing Report

By NM Game and Fish

Catches of the week

LP

Cimarron River: Seth Garcia of Raton caught a 20-inch rainbow trout using worms May 8.

Conchas Lake: David Whitener of Clovis caught a 9-pound walleye using a crappie jig May 6.

Eagle Nest Lake: Mark Haber of Santa Fe caught a 21-inch kokanee salmon trolling a Pistol Pete May 5. Evangeline Tenorio, age 8, of Anton Chico caught her first fish, a 20.25-inch rainbow trout using green and white glitter PowerBait Turbo Dough May 1.

Elephant Butte Lake: Guy Poland of Santa Fe caught and released a 7-pound walleye using a bottom bouncer worm harness rig May 10. Charlie Maldonado of Las Cruces caught a 27.5-inch walleye using a Bandit crankbait May 9. Ryan Medina, age 15, of Albuquerque caught a 27.75-inch 7-pound walleye using a green and white Cotton Cordell Wally Diver near Mitchell Point May 8. Moises Bear Echavarria, age 14, of Las Cruces caught and released a 3-pound largemouth bass using a white crankbait May 6. DaL Padilla of Belen caught a 16-inch largemouth bass using a PowerBait shad swimbait May 5. John Lucero of Hatch caught a 16-inch walleye using minnows May 4.

Fenton Lake: Alicia Sapien, age 13, of Albuquerque caught her first fish, a 12-inch trout using a black Pistol Pete May 8.

Laguna del Campo: Braxton Groff, age 4, of Albuquerque caught a 22-inch rainbow trout using worms May 9.

Lake Roberts: Sophia Gabaldon, age 6, of Las Cruces caught a 13-inch rainbow trout using PowerBait Power Eggs April 17.

Lake Van: Valerie Wyatt of Roswell caught a 24-inch catfish using hotdogs May 7.

McGaffey Lake: Annette Gabaldon of Bernalillo caught an 18-inch rainbow trout using PowerBait May 8.

Percha Dam: Kenneth Haynes of Las Cruces caught an approximate 40-pound catfish using chicken breast May 6.

Rio Grande: Cainaan Salido of Rio Ranch caught a 34-inch 11-pound catfish using hotdogs near Corrales May 7.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Angelica Marie McKinney of La Puebla caught a 16-inch rainbow trout using salmon-peach PowerBait May 9.

Sumner Lake: Charles Bussey of Los Lunas caught a 22-pound flathead catfish using a gold crankbait May 7.

Ute Lake: Bryan Hages of Amarillo, Texas caught and released a 5.10-pound smallmouth bass using a Berkley Champ Craw May 8.

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

NE

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

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

Cimarron River: Stream flow near Cimarron Monday morning was 40.3 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using salmon eggs, worms and Panther Martin spinners.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was good using PowerBait. Fishing for walleye was good using swimbaits.

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 bass was good using shallow-diving crankbait lures. Fishing for white bass was good using chartreuse lipless and medium-diving crankbait lures. Fishing for crappie and walleye was fair to good using crappie jigs. Fishing for catfish was good using nightcrawlers.

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 the 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: Fishing for trout and perch was good using black Woolly Buggers, salmon peach PowerBait, chartreuse glitter PowerBait, nymph grape PowerBait, cheese PowerBait and worms. Fishing for pike was good using Rapala lures, Mepps Aglia spinners, Panther Martin double blade spinners and the Pot-o-Gold spoons.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using orange and pink PowerBait.

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

Gallinas River: Fishing for trout was good using beadhead nymph flies.

Hopewell Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using Pistol Pete spinners and beadhead nymph flies.

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

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

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

Maxwell Lake 13: Anglers reported the lake had little to no water.

Monastery Lake: Fishing for trout was good using green garlic PowerBait, red spinners and salmon eggs.

Morphy Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using silver spinners.

Pecos River: Stream flow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 110 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using salmon eggs, worms, dry flies and pheasant tail nymph flies.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery Monday morning was 94.5 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow to fair using salmon eggs and beadhead nymph flies.

Rio Grande: Stream flow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 700 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow to fair using large beadhead nymph flies.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow Monday morning near Valdez was 36.8 cfs.

Rio Mora: Stream flow Monday morning near Terrero was 54.7 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco Monday morning was 63.0 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good using gold Panther Martin spinners, salmon eggs and salmon-peach PowerBait.

Shuree Ponds: Closed until July 1, 2021.

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

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 trolling 12-foot-deep diving crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was fair using Berkley Gulp minnows in 20 to 25-feet of water and Rapala Shad Raps fished shallow. Fishing for bass was good using chigger craws, Berkley Generals and various bass jigs in shallow water. Fishing for catfish was good using punch bait and chicken liver. Fishing for crappie was good using live minnows and Road Runner jigs. The water surface temperature was in the low 60 degrees Fahrenheit and the main lake color was clear.


Northwest Fishing Report

NW

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair using bottom bouncers with nightcrawler worm harness rigs.

Animas River: Water flow below Aztec Monday morning was 680 cfs.

Albuquerque Area Drains: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for all species was slow using nightcrawlers. Anglers reported that the boat ramp was closed due to low water levels.

Brazos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Chama River: Monday morningflows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 1480 cfs and 1620 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was slow to fair using streamers. Anglers reported high water flows below Abiquiu Lake and poor fishing conditions. 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 bass was good using shallow-diving lipless crankbaits. Fishing for pike was good using swim baits and spinners.

El Vado Lake: El Vado Lake Dam Day Use area is open. Camping by reservation only.

Fenton Lake: Fishing for trout was good using dry flies, Pistol Pete spinners, PowerBait, grubs and worms. Please remember, only two cutthroat trout are allowed to be harvested per day within the regular five fish limit.

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 52.7 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good using worms.

Laguna del Campo: Fishing for trout was good using worms and PowerBait.

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

Lake Farmington: Fishing for trout was fair to good using PowerBait mice tails and worms.

McGaffey Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using PowerBait.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for bass was good using jerk baits, Ned Rigs, watermelon-green and white tubes. Fishing for pike was fair using joined Rapala lures. Fishing for crappie was good when jigging 20-feet deep. Fishing for trout trolling was slow.

Rio Grande: Fishing for catfish was fair to good using hotdogs and chicken liver between Bernalillo and Albuquerque.

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

San Juan River: Stream flow Monday morning was 387 cfs. The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled a temporary increase in flow from 400 cfs to 600 cfs May 11. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good using Baetis flies, midge emergers, crystal flash midges and streamer flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good using PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs.

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 slow using PowerBait. Fishing for catfish was fair using hotdogs.

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


Southwest Fishing Report

SW

Alumni Pond: Fishing for catfish was fair to good using cut carp bait and beef liver.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for trout was good using corn and cheese-flavored PowerBait. Fishing for crappie was good using golden hare’s ear flies.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for trout was good using dark-colored dry flies and garlic PowerBait. Fishing for catfish was fair to good using cut carp bait and live worms.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was good using soft white plastic grubs. Fishing for white bass was good using minnows and crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was fair to good using minnows and crankbaits. Fishing for crappie was very good using minnows and jigs. Fishing for catfish was good using chicken breast marinated in Jell-O.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was good using white crankbaits, jerk baits and swimbaits. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good using white crankbaits and swimbaits. Fishing for walleye was good using minnows, Cotton Cordell lures, Bandit crankbaits and bottom bouncer worm harness rigs. Fishing for crappie was good using artificial shad baits over weed beds. Fishing for catfish was good using shad.

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

Gila River: Stream flow Monday morning was 39.2 cfs. Fishing for Gila trout was fair using small worm and nymph pattern flies.

Glenwood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was good using PowerBait Power Eggs.

Percha Dam: Fishing for catfish was good using chicken breast.

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was good using flies.

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

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 0.10 cfs. Fishing for catfish north of Elephant Butte Lake was good using cut bait and nightcrawlers.

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

Trees Lake: Fishing for all species was slow.

Young Pond: Fishing for trout was slow to fair using corn, pink marshmallows and gold-colored nymph flies. Fishing for catfish was fair using hotdogs.


Southeast Fishing Report

SE

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good using green PowerBait and nightcrawlers. Fishing for bass was fair using nightcrawlers.

Bataan Lake: Fishing for trout was slow to fair using worms. Fishing for catfish was slow to fair using worms and dough bait. Fishing for bass was fair using plastic jigs. Fishing for bluegill was good using worms.

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga Monday morning was 4.16 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Brantley Lake: Fishing for crappie was fair to good using small yellow jigs.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for bass was fair using worms. Fishing for all other species was slow.

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 largemouth bass was good using Texas rigged purple Zoom worms.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing for trout was fair using PowerBait.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good using spinners, worms and PowerBait.

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

Lake Van: Fishing for catfish was fair to good using hotdogs. Fishing for trout was fair using PowerBait.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing for trout was fair using PowerBait.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 82.0 cfs. Fishing for bass was fair to good using River2Sea Whopper Plopper lures.

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

Ruidoso River: Stream flow Monday morning at Hollywood was 4.31 cfs.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing for crappie was fair using minnows. Fishing for catfish was fair to good using minnows and worms.

Sumner Lake: Fishing for catfish was good using cut bait and crankbaits.


Tips and Tricks – Walleye are biting at the Butte! Tips and tricks by David di Bartolomeo

TNT

David has been catching limits of walleye at Elephant Butte Lake. This week he shares some tactics that he has been using.

Currently, walleye at Elephant Buttle Lake are spawning, so David focuses his efforts on the north end of the lake, looking for gravel banks and points. He says that the walleye like to lay their eggs this time of year on those grave stretches of shoreline.

He has been catching walleye in 6 to 10-feet of water. Once you have located an area of the lake with these promising features, here are a couple of fishing methods to try.

1. 1-ounce bottom bouncer with a chartreuse curly tail grub on a 3/8-ounce jig head. Tip the hook of the jig head with a couple of inches of worm. Slowly bounce along the bottom of the lake. If David is fishing 10-feet of water, he lets about 15-feet of line out and drifts about .8 to 1 mph.

2. 3/8-ounce jig head with just a worm. Bounce the jig head with worm along the bottom of the lake.

3. Try bright-colored crankbaits such as chartreuse, Firetiger and white. Trolling 2 to 2.5 miles per hour, drag your crankbaits along gravel banks, allowing your crankbait to bounce off of the rocks.

Fingerling Stripped Bass

Notice: Last year the Department stocked fingerling striped bass at Elephant Butte Lake. Striped bass, or stripers, can grow to be over 50-pounds and provide excellent sport fishing opportunities. Right now, they are about 10 to 12-inches long and can be mistaken for white bass. Letting the stripers continue to grow by catch-and-release fishing can help improve the overall fishery. Here is what to look for to determine if your catch is a striper or white bass: juvenile stripers are slenderer in shape compared to white bass, stripers have solid, darker horizontal lines on their tails in comparison to white bass and striper have two parallel tooth patches on the back of the tongue whereas white bass only have one. If you are catching a lot of white bass and happen to catch a funny, skinny, darker-lined one, consider letting it go because there is a good chance it is a baby striper.

Hopefully, these tips help you bass fish at Elephant Butte Lake!

Share your tips and tricks with your fellow anglers by emailing us at funfishingnm@gmail.comand let’s help the next generation of anglers find success.

  1. Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community!

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