NORTHEAST

NORTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Monastery Lake: Maxx Dennis, age 5, of Santa Fe, caught his personal-best trout using a Pistol Pete on Aug. 8.

NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Cabresto Lake: The most recent report was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using a variety of dry flies.

Charette Lakes: The most recent report was received July 24. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using Garlic PowerBait and silver spinners.

Cimarron River: Water levels are extremely low. Streamflow near Cimarron Wednesday morning was 3.75 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Conchas Lake: Fishing for smallmouth bass was slow when using green-and-yellow spoons.

Cowles Ponds: The most recent report was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for trout was slow when using PowerBait.

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for kokanee was slow when using Kokanee Killers. For updated lake conditions and potential hazards, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594.

Gallinas River: The river was recently stocked the first time since the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.

Harris Pond: The most recent report was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for catfish was good when using dough balls.

Hopewell Lake: The most recent report was received July 31. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using Pistol Petes and PowerBait.

Lake Maloya: The most recent report was received July 24. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using lures.

Monastery Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using Pistol Petes and natural bait. The lake is part of the Department’s Open Gate Program. Please visit our website for more information about this property.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos Wednesday morning was 77.1 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow when using a variety of dry flies.

Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 26.3 cfs.

Red River City Ponds: The most recent report was received July 31. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using Velveeta cheese.

Red River Hatchery: The most recent report was received July 24. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was good when using Green PowerBait.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 220 cfs.

Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Wednesday morning was 10.2 cfs.

Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 27.3 cfs.

Rio Pueblo: Fishing for trout was slow to fair when using dry flies. Streamflow near Peñasco Wednesday morning was 12.1 cfs.

Santa Barbara River: Fishing for trout was slow when using Trout Magnet grubs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: The most recent report was received July 31. At that time, fishing for trout was slow when using PowerBait and spinners.

Shuree Ponds: The most recent report was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using elk-hair caddis flies and red and olive zebra midges.

Storrie Lake: The most recent report was received July 24. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using Panther Martin spinners.

Stubblefield Lake: The most recent report was received July 24. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut bait.

Ute Lake: The most recent report was received July 24. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good when using Berkley Stunner jerkbaits.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Clayton Lake, Costilla Creek, Coyote Creek, Eagle Rock Lake, Lake Alice, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Morphy Lake and Springer Lake.

NORTHWEST

NORTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Fenton Lake: Ashley Gonzales caught a trout – her first fish – using a worm on Aug. 9.

NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing for walleye was good when using spinners. Contact the Abiquiu Lake Main Office at 505-685-4371 for updated lake conditions and closure information.

Animas River: Streamflow below Aztec Wednesday morning was 5.98 cfs.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing for trout was slow when using worms, PowerBait, chicken liver, hot dogs and shrimp. Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information.

Canjilon Lakes: Fishing for trout was good when using dry flies.

Cochiti Lake: The most recent report was received July 31. At that time, fishing for smallmouth bass was slow when using red-and-white Dardevle lures. Fishing for northern pike was fair to good when using white crankbaits.

El Vado Lake: The lake is open to boating and angling with a primitive boat ramp available at the Dam Day Use Area, as well as the main (concrete) boat ramp and courtesy dock at El Vado Lake State Park. For more information, visit El Vado Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-588-7247.

Fenton Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using worms and slow when using Garlic PowerBait. Visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-829-3630 for updates.

Jemez Waters: Streamflow near Jemez Wednesday morning was 3.89 cfs.

Lagunitas Lakes: The most recent report was received July 31. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using Rainbow PowerBait and worms.

Navajo Lake: The most recent report was received July 31. At that time, fishing for northern pike was fair to good when using green Rooster Tails, spinners, stuffed rat topwater lures and shallow-diving crankbaits.

Rio Chama: The most recent report was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for trout was very good when using black nymph flies above El Vado Lake.Streamflow below El Vado Lake Wednesday morning was 103 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Wednesday morning was 196 cfs. 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 only two trout.

Rio Grande: The river is currently dry through Albuquerque.

San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Wednesday morning was 1,030 cfs.

Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Peach PowerBait. If you catch a native Rio Grande chub in the Kid’s Pond, please do not leave it on the bank; return it to the water where it can survive as part of our native ecosystem.

Tingley Beach: The most recent report was received July 31. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using magic bait, chicken liver and dough bait.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Albuquerque Area Drains, Brazos River, Grants Riverwalk Pond, Heron Lake, Jackson Lake, Laguna del Campo, Lake Farmington, Liam Knight Pond, McGaffey Lake, Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1), San Gregorio Lake, Tiger Park Reservoir and Trout Lakes.

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Elephant Butte Lake: Angelo caught his first catfish using blood bait on Aug. 8.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing conditions have been adversely affected in the aftermath of the Trout Fire.

Caballo Lake: The most recent report was received July 31. Fishing for white bass was fair to good when using shad, shallow-diving minnows and worms.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass was very good when using topwater Whopper Ploppers. Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using blood bait.

Escondida Lake: Fishing for catfish was slow when using chicken liver, shrimp, worms and stink bait.

Gila River: The most recent report was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for Gila trout was very good when using elk-hair caddis flies near the Catwalk. Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 20.7 cfs.

Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 37.2 cfs.

Lake Roberts: The most recent report was received July 31. At that time, fishing for catfish was good when using stink bait.

Rancho Grande Ponds: Fishing for catfish was good when using chicken liver and worms.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0 cfs.

Trees Lake: The most recent report was received July 24. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good when using chicken liver.

Young Pond: The most recent report was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for bluegill was very good when using hot dogs and shrimp.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Bill Evans Lake, Glenwood Pond, Percha Dam, Quemado Lake and Snow Lake.

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Grindstone Reservoir: Robert Holcomb and his group caught 11 trout using Rainbow PowerBait and Pistol Pete red tails on Aug. 9. “A successful day at Grindstone with Pops and the boys,” he said.

SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT

Bataan Lake: The most recent report was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good when using special-made bait.

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

Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Wednesday morning was 103 cfs.

Bonito Lake: Fishing for brook trout was good when using PowerBait. Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake.

Brantley Lake: The most recent report was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was good when using nightcrawlers.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: The most recent report was received Aug. 7. At that time, fishing for catfish was good when using nightcrawlers.

Chaparral Park Lake: The most recent report was received July 24. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cut chicken breasts covered in Kool-Aid.

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing for bass was fair to good when using lures.

Greene Acres Lake: The most recent report was received July 24. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good when using shrimp.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was very good when using Rainbow PowerBait and Pistol Pete red tails.Grindstone Reservoir is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildlife impact closures, please see the Grindstone Reservoir Webpage before planning a visit.

Lake Van: Fishing for catfish was good when using hot dogs.

Lower Transill Reservoir: The most recent report was received July 24. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was good when using small crankbaits in the pool below the dam.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using stink bait.

Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Wednesday morning was 107 cfs.

Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 25.7 cfs. Fishing conditions will be adversely affected for an extended period of time due to recent flooding in the area.

Sumner Lake: The most recent report was received Aug. 7. At that time, anglers reported good conditions for carp fishing.

We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Alto Lake, Blue Hole Park Pond, Bosque Redondo Lake, Bottomless Lakes, Corona Pond, Dennis Chavez Pond, Estancia Park Lake, Eunice Lake, Green Meadow Lake, Greene Acres Lake, Harry McAdams Park Pond, Jal Lake, Ned Houk Ponds, Perch Lake, Rio Bonito, Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond, Santa Rosa Lake, Spring River Pond and Timberon Ponds.

TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES

Summer trout fishing is a relaxing experience at Trout Lakes in northern New Mexico. (Photo by Dan Williams)

No Such Thing as a Bad Day Fishing

By Dan Williams

Editor’s Note: We are digging into our archives to bring you some tips and tricks from the past. This week, we’re going back to the Spring 2010 edition of New Mexico Wildlife for a look back at some of our staff’s favorite fishing spots. Many of the employees in this article have since retired, though some have gone on to take on greater roles here at the Department. They are listed here with their 2010 job titles.

New Mexicans are blessed with some of the most diverse fishing opportunities in the West. Often, you never know what you’ll catch from one water – or one cast – to the next.

“That’s the beauty of it,” said Eric Frey, fisheries biologist for the Northeast Area. “In some places, it’s almost like saltwater fishing: You don’t know what you’re going to get, and something’s always biting.”

Whether you’re after natives or stockers, pan-sized or trophies, or just a quiet getaway, chances are there’s a spot not too far from home. The hard part is deciding exactly where to go, when, and of course, what to use for bait.

Most anglers have favorite fishing spots where they return year after year. Like comfort food, we never get tired of them. There are days, however, when we have a hankering to break the cycle and try something new. That’s when we can use a little advice.

Five-year-old Augustus Guikema was mighty pleased with the smallmouth bass he caught at Navajo Lake. (Photo by Chris Guikema)

For answers to these all- important questions, we went to the experts at the Department of Game and Fish. We asked the “fish squeezers” who work the spawns and conduct the surveys. We sought out people who oversee hatcheries and stocking schedules, and those who rub shoulders with other anglers and fisheries biologists day-in and day-out. We asked them to share their personal favorite fishing spots – and they were happy to oblige.

As Frey put it, “Just get me started and I can talk about fishing all day long.”

Rick Castell

Northwest Area fisheries biologist

“My favorite, if you have a boat, is Navajo Lake,” Castell said. “Hands-down, it’s the best fishery in the state. It’s chock-full of fish; about the only thing it doesn’t have is walleye. The catching is always good, and if by chance, it isn’t, you can trailer the boat and fish the tailwater.”

Native Rio Grande cutthroat trout and some of New Mexico’s most spectacular scenery lure anglers to Costilla and Comanche creeks in the Valle Vidal Unit of the Carson National Forest. (Photo by Dan Williams)

The tailwater, of course, is the world-famous San Juan River quality waters, where trophy-sized trout are always willing to bite.

If you plan to fish the lake, springtime is the very best. That’s when the crappie are running, the bass are spawning and the northern pike and trout are most active.

“Just start throwing little skirt jigs,” Castell said. “You don’t even have to know what you’re doing.”

If you’re looking for good trout fishing, scenery and solitude, Castell said the streams in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness are hard to beat.

The Pecos River and Maxwell Lakes are excellent places to get kids hooked on fishing. (Photo by Mike Sloane)

His favorite stream, the Rio Las Vacas, is full of Rio Grande cutthroats.

“You have to walk in one to five miles and that makes it very secluded,” he said. “There’s wildlife everywhere and the cutthroats are easy to catch. I like to use small spinners or flies and hit it in May or early June, after the snowmelt.”

His favorite family fishing spot is a lot closer to home.

“If I’m taking my two boys and just wanting to get them exposed to fishing, I’ll just drop in to Tingley Beach,” he said. “It’s heavily stocked in the winter. I like to take them to the central pond so I can fish along with them and just let them have a good time.”

Shawn Denny
Southeast Area fisheries biologist

Largemouth and smallmouth bass and walleye call out to Denny from Sumner Lake every year from mid- to late-April through Memorial Day.

“It’s an excellent place to fish from the shore because of the access,” Denny said. “You can reach the dropoffs and work the fish when they get up shallow, especially on the east side of the lake.”

He suggested driving around the lake and trying different spots until you find a hot one. Live bait, crayfish imitations, diving crankbaits and jigs can be productive. Or try a three-inch brown or green pumpkin tube.

Santa Rosa Lake can be a good place to fish in the spring, when the walleye move into shallow water and the bass are spawning. Denny said surveys have been turning up some large crappie. He suggested fishing for them in May after the walleye spawn.

For the kids, Denny said Chaparral Lake in Lovington is one of the state’s best because it’s full of bluegills. The lake’s irregular shape gives it a long shoreline, providing the kids plenty of space to toss out a worm under a bobber for plenty of fun all year.

Joey Vega
Southwest Area fisheries biologist

“My favorite is Quemado Lake because of the aesthetics of the area, its easy access and it grows phenomenal trout,” Vega said. He likes to fish the lake in the springtime from the shore using PowerBait, worms or corn.

“A bubble-and-fly rig also is awesome at times,” he said.

The Department stocks 10,000 trout in Quemado every September. By the time the lake thaws in the spring, those fish are 12 inches of longer. Add them to another 10,000 trout stocked in April and May, and the trout fishing can be great.

If you’re looking for some real action at Quemado, rig up a large lure. Be prepared to hang on – you might hook into one of the monster tiger muskies stocked in the lake to control goldfish. This year, there’s a one-fish bag limit for muskies. A keeper must be longer than 40 inches.

Navajo and Elephant Butte lakes are great for springtime crappie. (Photo by Marti Niman)

Vega said one of the state’s best walleye lakes is often overlooked. Caballo Lake holds some surprisingly large numbers of walleye, and springtime is the best time to catch them.

“Try throwing different lures along the riprap by the dam or all the way up the river to the Butte from March through May,” he said. “In the summer or winter, they’ll start hitting crankbaits trolled in the main part of the lake.”

Elephant Butte should have good water levels again this year, which means the recent crappie explosion should continue, Vega said.

“All that vegetation that grew up when it was low became prime crappie habitat when the lake came back up,” he said. “Fish the brushy areas with some kind of minnow from a boat, or they’ve also been catching the heck out of them off the marina.”

Vega said Butte anglers should see larger largemouth and smallmouth bass this year, but fewer white bass. Walleye and catfish populations are stable. Striped bass fishing could be slow, but antlers may see larger fish than in the past two years.

Some of southwestern New Mexico’s best bass fishing is at Lake Roberts north of Silver City. (Photo by Dan Williams)

New Mexico offers anglers a wide variety of trout fishing opportunities, whether they prefer fishing for smaller trout in backcountry waters such as Goose Lake, above, or casting for trophy browns in the Rio Grande. (Photo by Marty Frentzel)

Eric Frey
Fisheries biologist, Northeast Area

When Frey wants a quick hike to get away from it all and catch lots of brown trout, he heads for the Rio Embudo above Dixon.

“The brown trout population has gone nuts there, and it’s such a cool place to go,” he said. “It’s only a half-mile hike in there, then you kind of step away from the world. It’s a good-sized creek — about the size of the Red River — with open areas for casting and lots of good pools.”

He likes to fish the Embudo with flies, but almost any bait will work for small to medium- sized browns.

For variety, scenery and big fish, the Rio Grande from Pilar to the Taos Junction Bridge is Frey’s favorite.

“I like the diversity of the fish there,” he said. “You can catch pike, smallmouth bass, brown and rainbow trout and nice Rio Grande chubs — up to 10 inches. And there’s always deer and ducks around, migratory birds, wild hops — the complete package.”

He suggested fishing in the fall or just after the spring runoff after the water has cleared. That’s when the pike can see your lures and the trout are moving. Hit it in October for a color blast when the browns are active and the cottonwoods are turning. Spinners and lures work well for all species. Try big Dardevles or Rapalas for northern pike.

Summertime is when anglers seek some cooler waters, and there are few places that beat the Valle Vidal.

“There are wild trout in the creeks and big fish in Shuree Ponds,” Frey said. Costilla Creek and Comanche Creek are favorites with locals and visitors because of the spectacular scenery and relative solitude.

For kids, Frey likes to head to Maxwell Lakes for a variety of species, including some large trout, walleye, bass and yellow perch. “Maxwell
13 is perfect for kids,” he said. “In the spring, the trout are hungry and going crazy.”

Fisheries Biologist Eric Frey shows off an impressive Rio Grande brown that turned up during a fish survey below the Taos Junction bridge. (Department file photo)

Lake Maloya and Lake Alice are gems in Sugarite Canyon State Park — ideal for family fishing from small boats or from the bank. “In the winter, my 3-year-old daughter has a blast ice-fishing at Maloya and Alice,” Frey said.

Marty Frentzel
Chief, Public Information and Outreach

Nothing beats a good fishing hole near home, and if you live in the Albuquerque area like Frentzel, the Corrales Riverside Drain fits the bill.

“I used to take my kid down there every morning,” Frentzel said. “They do a good job stocking that ditch; it’s not as crowded as Tingley Beach, and there’s a lot of things to see and do.”

The Department stocks the ditch with more than 500 rainbow trout twice a month from January through March and November through December. The ditch also contains smallmouth bass, brown trout and bullfrogs. “We caught a turtle once,” Frentzel said.
Popular baits include salmon eggs, worms, PowerBait, spinners and flies.

Richard Hansen
Fisheries biologist

For Hansen, there’s no place like Abiquiu Lake in May, when the water starts warming up and the fish get active.

“It’s close to home and has a lot of different fish,” he said. “Plus, it’s where my Dad used to take me when I was a kid.”

Hansen suggested fishing from the bank with live bait or various spinners and lures for crappie, smallmouth bass, walleye, trout and catfish. Trolling for walleye in the upper end of the lake with a spinner-worm combo works well, too.

Kirk Patten
Fisheries biologist

“My favorite place to fish is the Rio Grande Box in the fall,” said Patten, who oversees the Department’s Rio Grande cutthroat restoration program. “There’s a chance of catching a big fish, and it’s not packed with people like the San Juan.”

Patten likes to fish the Wild and Scenic Rivers area north of Pilar to the Colorado border. He prefers to use a fly rod rigged with something like a bead-head nymph and a midge for large rainbows and browns.

Mike Sloane
Chief, Fisheries Management Division

Sloane looks for a quiet, family friendly spot when he takes his 5-year-old daughter fishing, and often ends up at Charette or Clayton lakes.

“They have pretty scenery and there’s not a lot of people,” he said. “Plus, there are plenty of good chances for her to catch something, even if it’s a yellow perch or a bullhead.”

The Department of Game and Fish publishes statewide fishing waters maps and distributes weekly fishing reports to newspapers statewide. Visit the Department Web site, wildlife.dgf.nm.gov, or call (505) 476-8000 for more information.

Higher water levels at Elephant Butte Lake in 2010 created an ideal habitat for crappie and spawning bass. Good fishing was anticipated for both species that spring, with slower-than-normal fishing for striped and white bass. (Photo by Marti Niman)