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Fishing Report

By NM Game and Fiah

Catches of the week

Catch of the Week

Albuquerque Area Drains: Ever Barraza of Bernalillo caught his limit of trout in the town of Bernalillo, including a 21-incher, using PowerBait March 22.

Bear Canyon Lake: Anthony Close and Adrian Loya of Deming caught their limits of trout using rainbow PowerBait March 22.

Cochiti Lake: Brandon Smith, age 15, of Albuquerque caught four pike using a small jerkbait March 26.

Conchas Lake: Ladd Johnson of Albuquerque caught a 7-pound, 10-ounce smallmouth bass using a 5-inch shallow diving jerkbait March 27.

Elephant Butte Lake: Sarah Owen of Socorro caught a 13-inch white bass using a white crankbait March 27. Andy Hanzlik of Charleston, South Carolina caught a 12-pound blue catfish using cut shad bait March 26. David Zamora of El Paso, Texas caught a 4.2-pound largemouth bass using a pearl swimbait with a chartreuse tail March 18.

Gila River: Grace Longwell, age 16, of Las Cruces caught a 19-inch, 3-pound Gila trout on Whitewater Creek near the Catwalk using a worm March 25. Joseph Molina, age 11, of Bayard caught a 12-inch Gila trout in Whitewater Creek near Glenwood using a beaded prince nymph March 19.

Grindstone Reservoir: Aubrey Dent, age 10, of Albuquerque caught her very first rainbow trout, measuring 13 inches, using salmon peach PowerBait March 26. Damani Perea, age 10, of Acoma Pueblo caught four 11.5-inch trout using salmon eggs March 19.

Morphy Lake: Lilly May Lovato, age 5, of Las Vegas caught an 11.5-inch rainbow trout using yellow garlic PowerBait March 25. Sally Lopez of Las Vegas caught two cutbow trout – an 18-incher and a 20-incher – using a green and chartreuse plastic worm March 21. Meghann Newman of Lantana, Texas caught her first rainbow trout using a rubber worm March 21.

Navajo Lake: Cody Longley of Placitas caught and released a 34-inch brown trout using a trout pattern lure March 26.

Pecos River: Micah Tapia, age 7, of Las Vegas caught a 16-inch brown trout using PowerBait March 24.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Owen Middagh, age 10, of Albuquerque caught his limit of rainbow trout ranging in size from 13-15 inches using orange PowerBait March 21 and March 22.

Tingley Beach: Noah Fisher Novotny, age 2, of Rio Rancho caught his first fish ever, and a total of five rainbow trout, using small pea-sized pink Berkley Gulp trout bait March 24. Archie Sanchez of Albuquerque caught a 33-inch, 19-pound carp using a Pistol Pete spinner March 13.

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: Fishing for trout was good when using garlic PowerBait, salmon peach PowerBait and black spinners.

Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Monday morning was 8.75 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Clayton Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using various PowerBaits and nightcrawler worms.

Conchas Lake: Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was fair to good when using shallow diving jerkbaits. Fishing for walleye was fair to good when using crawdad pattern swimbaits.

Costilla Creek: The Department is implementing 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 involves 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 2023. 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Temporarily closed to ice fishing due to unsafe ice conditions. For updated lake conditions visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at (575) 377-1594.

Eagle Rock Lake: 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: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using PowerBait and Panther Martin spinners.

Lake Maloya: Temporarily closed due to unsafe ice conditions. For updated lake conditions visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at (575) 445-5607.

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

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

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

Morphy Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using yellow garlic PowerBait, rubber worms and Thomas spoons.

Pecos River: Streamflow near the town of Pecos Monday morning was 70.7 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using beadhead pheasant tail nymph flies, PowerBait and salmon eggs.

Red River: Streamflow below the hatchery Monday morning was 41.2 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using beadhead nymph flies.

Rio Grande: Streamflow at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 543 cfs. Fishing for trout was good when using Blue Wing Olive dry flies.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow Monday morning near Valdez was not measured due to ice.

Rio Mora: Streamflow Monday morning near Tererro was not measured due to ice.

Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Monday morning was not measured due to ice.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using garlic PowerBait, Rapala lures and red or chartreuse spoons.

Shuree Ponds: Closed for the season. The ponds will reopen in July.

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 walleye was fair to good when using suspending jerkbaits and jigging live minnows in 8-12 feet of water. Fishing for white bass was fair when trolling various crankbaits. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good when using jerkbaits, swimbaits and various soft plastic lures in 10-15 feet of water. Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using trot lines. The main lake water surface temperature was in the low 40-degrees Fahrenheit and the water clarity was stained.


Northwest Fishing Report

Northwest

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

Animas River: Waterflow below Aztec Monday morning was 399 cfs.

Albuquerque Area Drains:Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait. Fishing for bass was fair when using jigs and swimbaits.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger muskie was slow when using spinners.

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 100 cfs and 90.3 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was fair when using beadhead nymph flies. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was fair when using beadhead Woolly Bugger 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 pike was good when using small jerkbaits. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair when using soft plastic lures. Fishing for catfish was good when using cut bait and nightcrawler worms.

El Vado Lake: Temporarily closed to ice fishing due to unsafe ice conditions.

Fenton Lake: There was no fishing due to thin ice covering the lake. Please remember, only two cutthroat trout are allowed to be harvested per day within the regular five-fish limit.

Heron Lake: Temporarily closed to ice fishing due to unsafe ice conditions.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez Monday morning was 81.7 cfs.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season. The lake will reopen in May.

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

Lake Farmington: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.

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 pike was fair when using crankbait lures. Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using trout pattern lures. Fishing for smallmouth bass was slow using crankbaits.

Rio Grande: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

San Juan River: Streamflow Monday morning was 333 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good when using chocolate foam wing emerger midge flies, midge cluster dry flies and red annelid flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was fair to good when using PowerBait and worms.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using orange PowerBait. Parking is limited and four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended due to snow.

Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon eggs, flies, pink Berkely Gulp trout bait and garlic PowerBait.

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


Southwest Fishing Report

Southwest

Alumni Pond: Fishing for trout was good when using dry flies and white beadhead hare ear flies.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using rainbow PowerBait.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using streamer flies, Flicker Shad lures, garlic PowerBait, PowerBait worms and live worms.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair when using white and chartreuse curly tail grubs.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for catfish was good when using cut shad bait. Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was fair when using swimbaits, jigs and plastic worms. Fishing for white bass was fair when using white crankbaits. Fishing for crappie was good when using small jigs and live minnows.

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

Gila River: Streamflow Monday morning was 59.9 cfs. Fishing for trout on Whitewater Creek was fair to good when using beadhead prince nymph flies and worms.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good when using maroon colored plastic worms and silver spoons. Fishing for trout was fair to good when using spinners and dry flies.

Percha Dam: Fishing for trout was good when using yellow and orange PowerBait.

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

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

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 0.10 cfs.

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

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

Young Pond: Fishing for trout was slow when using PowerBait and Velveeta cheese.


Southeast Fishing Report

Southeast

Alto Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using silver Kastmaster lures and PowerBait.

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

Berrendo Creek: Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property.

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Monday morning was 3.22 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 later this year.

Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using hare’s ear nymph flies and Trout Magnet lures.

Bottomless Lakes: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using orange PowerBait.

Brantley Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good using black and silver 2-inch grubs, pumpkin brown and black pepper plastic worms and crawdad imitation lures.

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: Fishing for trout was good when using orange and garlic PowerBait.

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using salmon peach PowerBait. Fishing for bass was fair when using chartreuse spoons.

Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was good when using salmon eggs and salmon peach PowerBait.

Jal Lake: Fishing for trout was fair when using homemade dough bait.

Lake Van: Fishing for trout was fair when using salmon peach PowerBait.

Oasis Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Monday morning was 60.2 cfs.

Perch Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using yellow and orange PowerBait.

Ruidoso River: Streamflow Monday morning at Hollywood was 5.82 cfs.

Santa Rosa Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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


Tips and Tricks – Cody Longley’s Big Brown Trout

Tips and Tricks 1

Watching other people catch fish can be just as rewarding, if not more so, than catching the fish yourself. This past weekend, I was at Navajo Lake with Cody Longley, prepping the GO Unlimited boat for adaptive fishing trips with disabled participants this upcoming season. Cody has volunteered countless hours to the cause and a little bit of good karma came his way this past Saturday.

After seeing that the boat was in good working order, we went out to fish for a while, hoping we could find some successful techniques to implement with participants in the near future. After a couple of hours fishing with no luck, Cody hooked into something big. The fish stayed at a depth of 50 feet and did not reveal itself. The fight lasted about 14 intense minutes before the fish finally surfaced. We were in awe at the sight of what was a huge brown trout! After a quick high-five and a couple pictures, the beautiful brown was released back into the lake. It was great to see her dive back into the depths with vigor and charge to continue her journey.

Tips and Tricks 2

Cody released his brown trout and said that trout this size produce thousands of eggs that are super important to the future population of brown trout.

Let us know how your fishing trip goes! Share your tips and tricks with your fellow anglers by emailing us atfunfishingnm@gmail.com and let’s help the next generation of

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