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Fishing report

By NM Game and Fish

Catches of the week

Catch of the Week

Bluewater Lake: John Luna of Albuquerque caught a 42-inch tiger muskie using a crankbait lure Oct. 1.

Eagle Nest Lake: David Moreno of Las Vegas caught a 22-inch rainbow trout using homemade dough bait Oct. 2.

Grindstone Reservoir: Evan Torres of Albuquerque caught and released a 16-inch golden rainbow trout using a bunny leech fly Oct. 2.

Navajo Lake: Matthew Medina of Albuquerque caught his limit of kokanee salmon using snagging hooks near the dam Oct. 5. Isaac Cordova of Albuquerque caught four salmon using snagging hooks Oct. 2.

Pecos River: Jude Buenviaje, age 13, of Santa Fe caught a 21-inch rainbow trout using a Blue Fox spinner Oct. 4.

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

Northeast

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

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

Cimarron River: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and spinners.

Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using nightcrawler worms and PowerBait. Fishing for catfish was fair to good when 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 bass was fair to good when using shad pattern crankbaits.

Costilla Creek: Fishing for trout was good when using caddis dry flies. 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. Please check the Department website for additional information on the project and to identify alternative angling opportunities in the interim.

Cowles Ponds: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using garlic peach PowerBait.

Coyote Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using PowerBait. Fishing for kokanee salmon was fair using red Dardevle spoons. Fishing for pike was good when using perch colored spoons.

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

Gallinas River: Fishing for trout was fair when using nightcrawler worms.

Hopewell Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using black Pistol Pete spinner flies and grey bunny leech flies.

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

Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Pistol Pete spinner flies, PowerBait and dry flies.

Los Pinos River: Fishing for trout was good when using small beadhead nymph flies.

Maxwell Lake 13: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Morphy Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using silver spinners, Pistol Pete spinner flies and PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 50.3 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using Blue Fox spinners and nightcrawler worms.

Red River: Fishing for trout was good when using brown Pistol Pete spinner flies, small streamer flies and tungsten nymph flies.

Rio Grande: Fishing for trout was very good when using streamer flies, Barely Legal flies and dry fly with dropper nymph fly setups.

Rio Hondo: Fishing for trout was good when using attractor dry flies.

Rio Mora: Fishing for trout was fair.

Rio Pueblo: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using dry flies. Anglers reported that the water level is very low and the water is clear.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using worms and PowerBait.

Shuree Ponds: Fishing for trout was good when using zebra midge pattern flies.

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 to good when using Whopper Plopper topwater lures. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using drop shot rigs with Berkley Gulp minnows, Senko worms and crankbaits. Fishing for walleye was slow. Fishing for catfish was fair using Berkley Gulp minnows. Fishing for bluegill was good when using bug pattern flies. The water surface temperature was in the upper 60 degrees Fahrenheit and the main lake color was clear.


Northwest Fishing Report

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawler worms and shrimp. Fishing for carp was fair when using corn.

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

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was good when using chartreuse lipless crankbait lures, swimbaits, hotdogs and silver spoons.

Brazos River: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using beadhead nymph flies.

Canjilon Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using dry flies and pink PowerBait worms.

Chama River: Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was good when using nightcrawler worms and brown Rooster Tail spinners. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was fair to good when using bead head nymph flies. Please remember, from the river-crossing bridge on U.S. Highway 84 at Abiquiu upstream 7 miles to the base of Abiquiu Dam is special trout waters with a bag limit of two trout only.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing for walleye, pike and bass was good when using white and silver crankbaits near the dam.

El Vado Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good using PowerBait at the North El Vado Day Use Area off State Road 95. Fishing for smallmouth bass, perch and trout was fair to good near the Dam Day Use Area.

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

Heron Lake: Willow, Sierra Vista and La Laja boat launches are closed. The primitive boat launch is open. Shoreline fishing is available between Sierra Vista and the spillway or in Rincon. Fishing for trout was slow. The Quality Waters of the Rio Chama can be accessed at the Rio Chama Trailhead. The stairs are closed so use the road to the spillway. Non-quality waters can be accessed at the North El Vado Day Use Area located on State Road 95, 13 miles west of U.S. Highway 84.

Jemez Waters: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using nymph flies and salmon eggs.

Laguna del Campo: Fishing for trout was good when using orange PowerBait.

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

Lake Farmington: Fishing for bass was good when using nightcrawler worms and Senko worms.

McGaffey Lake: Due to extremely low water levels and unstable ground conditions, stocking efforts have been suspended. Lake conditions will be monitored and stockings will resume once conditions improve.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using crankbait lures and green with red flake Senko worms. Fishing for pike was good when using crankbait lures. Snagging for kokanee salmon was good when using snagging hooks near the dam.

Rio Grande: Fishing for catfish was fair when using worms and shrimp near Albuquerque.

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

San Juan River: Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using olive, brown and grey midge emerger pattern flies, Baetis flies and leech pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was good when using PowerBait and nightcrawler worms.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait and flies.

Tingley Beach: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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: The water level is extremely low and will remain low through October for dam repairs.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for all species was slow.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using cut carp bait and shad. Fishing for carp was good when using strawberry marinade with sweet corn and Panko.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was good when using medium depth diving white crankbaits, topwater lures, Whopper Ploppers, white slab spoons and chartreuse slab spoons. Fishing for largemouth bass was slow to fair when using live shad and crawdads. Fishing for crappie was good when using live shiners. Fishing for catfish was good when using beef liver, chicken liver, fresh cut bluegill, fresh cut carp, dough bait, shad and live worms.

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

Gila River: Fishing for catfish was fair when using cut bait.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was slow using PowerBait and Pistol Pete spinner flies.

Percha Dam: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon peach PowerBait.

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

Rio Grande: Fishing for catfish north of Elephant Butte Lake was good when 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.


Southeast Fishing Report

Southeast

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using nightcrawler worms. Fishing for bass was good when using nightcrawler worms.

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

Berrendo Creek: Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property. Fishing for bass was fair to good when using nightcrawler worms.

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

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawler worms.

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using shrimp and hotdogs.

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 catfish was good when using nightcrawler worms 24 inches beneath a bobber.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using hotdogs and shrimp.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using bunny leech pattern flies and garlic PowerBait. Fishing for catfish was good when using shrimp, nightcrawler worms and hotdogs.

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

Lake Van: Fishing for catfish was good when using worms.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using cut bait and worms.

Pecos River: Fishing for catfish was fair when using nightcrawler worms.

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

Ruidoso River: Fishing for trout was fair when using worms.

Santa Rosa Lake: The boat ramp has opened as water levels have increased due to recent rains. Due to low lake levels, Santa Rosa Lake State Park will operate as a no-wake lake until conditions improve.

Sumner Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using chicken liver and cut bait.


Tips and Tricks – Are You Prepared for the Worst When You Go Fishing?

Tips and Tricks

By Storm W. Usrey, conservation education manager with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish

Whenever outdoor enthusiasts head to the wilds in search of exploring, learning and recreation, you need to be prepared for the worst. On fishing trips, just like hunting trips, one should have everything they need to survive. If you have told someone where you are going, how long you will be gone and you don’t make it back, law enforcement and search and rescue will have a good idea of where to start looking.

When you develop a safety plan, make sure to stick to it. If you deviate from it, make sure to have a way to communicate with loved ones and friends who have your original plan. I recommend obtaining a point from Google Earth, which shows the location you want to camp. You can easily share this point with others.

If you are going to be doing any remote backcountry fishing, make sure to have a survival pack and know how to use the gear in this pack.  Some items, such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit, should be used for your entire trip.

Here are some items to include: map of area and compass, GPS unit (with spare batteries), flashlight, cordage, rain gear, sharp knife, fire making material, water purification system of your choice, water, high energy snacks, first aid kit, space blanket, any medication you require, sunscreen, a mirror for signaling, small packable saw, insect repellant and maybe even a SPOT device. Your pack is a personal choice and can include any of the above items and more that may not be listed. And don’t forget to put your fishing license and stamps in this pack too!

There are several other questions you should ask yourself before heading out. Are your vehicles and boats in good running order? Check the condition of tires on vehicles, trailers and campers.

Have you recently had the oil checked or changed? How are the levels of all liquids in your vehicles, boats and equipment like generators? Do you have a means of changing your tires? Do you have a spare tire and tire changing tools? Do you have extra oil and liquids for vehicles, boats or generators? Do you have a shovel, tow strap and ax? These are all questions you should be asking yourself.

Make sure your equipment is maintained and that you have a means to make minor repairs in the field, such as changing flats. Having a small trolling motor for a backup motor can be useful and make sure to have all the required gear on your boat. Knowing how your equipment works is imperative!

Always carry extra water with you while in the outdoors. Water is life and having clean drinking water is imperative, especially in the summer when temperatures in the Land of Enchantment can soar. In the winter months, make sure ice is thick enough to fish safely.

Think of safety and the million scenarios that can happen and be prepared for the worst to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience while fishing. Lastly, being trained in CPR and First Aid can be a great “Ace in the Hole” to have when you are outdoors! Be safe and enjoy your next fishing trip.

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.

Thanks for reading and supporting our angling community!

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