SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
NORTHEAST |
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NORTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK |
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Eagle Nest Lake: Kaylee Canales caught this northern pike using worms and salmon eggs. |
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Hopewell Lake: Cooper Luke Sanchez caught this 20-inch, 5-pound rainbow trout using grey bunny leeches on his fly rod. |
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Hopewell Lake: John Smith caught four trout, including this 18-inch, 2.5-pounder, using green PowerBait. |
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Hopewell Lake: Thomas E. Chrobocinski caught and released 35 trout using gold spinnerbaits. He reported that he “caught lots of quality fish, including a 21-in and a 22-in. Checked with several other fishermen that were there, and it seems like gold was the magic lure.” |
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Lake Maloya: Isabel Abeyta caught a rainbow trout using PowerBait with extra scent. “Successful catch thanks to the nearby Samaritan who didn’t hesitate to get water with her net,” she said. |
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NORTHEAST FISHING REPORT |
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Cimarron River: Streamflow near Cimarron Wednesday morning was 13.4 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was good when using a small black midge fly. Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for Northern pike was slow using worms and salmon eggs. For updated lake conditions, visit the park’s webpage or call the park office at 575-377-1594. Harris Pond: The most recent report was received Oct. 9. At that time, fishing for catfish was good when using roast beef. Hopewell Lake: Fishing for trout was good to very good when using grey bunny leeches, Joe’s fly, and green PowerBait. Lake Maloya: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait with extra scent. Monastery Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using nightcrawlers. 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 116 cfs. Fishing for trout was very good when using salmon peach PowerBait. Red River: Streamflow below the Red River Hatchery on Wednesday morning was 41.2 cfs. The most recent report was received on Oct. 14. At that time, fishing for rainbow trout was slow below the Red River Hatchery when using worms. Red River City Ponds: The mishing for trout was very good when using beadhead nymphs and homemade dough bait. Rio Grande: Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge on Wednesday morning was 207 cfs. The most recent report was received on Oct. 14. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using worms and Panther Martin spinners. Rio Hondo: Streamflow near Valdez Wednesday morning was 17 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for trout was slow to fair when using black and gold Panther Martin spinners. Rio Mora: Streamflow near Terrero Wednesday morning was 38.2 cfs. Rio Pueblo: Streamflow near Peñasco Wednesday morning was 14.4 cfs. Shuree Ponds: The most recent report was received on Oct. 14. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using grasshopper-pattern and blowtorch flies. Ute Lake: Fishing for white bass, smallmouth bass, and walleye was fair to good when using 3- and 4-inch Gulp minnows and Flicker Shad.
We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks: Cabresto Lake, Clayton Lake, Charette Lakes, Conchas Lake, Cowles Ponds, Coyote Creek, Eagle Rock Lake, Gallinas River, Lake Alice, Los Pinos River, Maxwell Lake 13, Morphy Lake, Red River Hatchery, Rio Costilla, Santa Cruz Reservoir, Springer Lake, Storrie Lake and Stubblefield Lake. |
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NORTHWEST |
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NORTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK |
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Bluewater Lake: Isaiah Gurule caught his limit of trout within one hour using PowerBait. He said the “trout were biting great.” |
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Canjilon Lake: Thomas E. Chrobocinski caught two trout using a Joe’s fly. |
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Canjilon Lake: Madanok, from Kewa Pueblo, caught five trout, including this 20-inch rainbow. |
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Canjilon Lake: Nicholas, from Tesuque Pueblo, caught an 18-inch rainbow trout using night crawlers. |
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Cochiti Lake: Eli caught three catfish using cheese-filled hot dogs. |
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Fenton Lake: Mapiya Rakestraw and his wife caught several trout using cheese power bait. He said that he caught his “personal best at 17.5 inches long on the first cast.” |
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San Juan River: Michael Trujillo caught and released nine trout in an hour and a half using Lime Green PowerBait. |
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NORTHWEST FISHING REPORT |
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Abiquiu Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for brown trout was fair to good when using flies. 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 4,430 cfs. Bluewater Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait. Visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s webpage or call 505-876-2391 for more information. Canjilon Lakes: Fishing for trout was very good with nightcrawlers. Fishing for trout at the middle lake was slow when using Joe’s Fly. Cochiti Lake: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using cheese filled hot dogs. 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 various flies, dough and cheese 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 31.4 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow when using worms and salmon eggs. Navajo Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 14. At that time, fishing for northern pike was good when using crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Rio Chama: Streamflow below El Vado Lake Wednesday morning was 501 cfs; streamflow below Abiquiu Lake Wednesday morning was 150 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 14. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using flies below Abiquiu Lake. 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: Streamflow at Albuquerque Wednesday morning was 106 cfs. San Juan River: Streamflow near Archuleta Wednesday morning was 418 cfs. Fishing for trout was good in the bait waters using lime green PowerBait. Seven Springs Kids’ Pond: 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.
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,Lagunitas Lakes, Lake Farmington, Liam Knight Pond, McGaffey Lake, Rio Cebolla, Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1), San Gregorio Lake, Tiger Park Reservoir, Tingley Beach and Trout Lakes. |
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SOUTHWEST |
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SOUTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK |
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Elephant Butte Lake: Stephen C. Dail caught this largemouth bass using a black back silver bomber. |
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SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT |
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Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing conditions have been adversely affected in the aftermath of the Trout Fire. Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using minnows from the bank. Fishing for white bass, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was fair to good when using black bait silver bombers, worms and minnows from the bank. Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 131 cfs. Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 38.7 cfs. Quemado Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 9. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using Pautzke Fire Balls. Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0 cfs. The most recent report was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good when using worms in the San Marcial area. Young Pond: The most recent report was received Oct. 9. 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, Caballo Lake, Escondida Lake, Glenwood Pond, Lake Roberts, Percha Dam, Rancho Grande Ponds, Snow Lake and Trees Lake. |
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SOUTHEAST |
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SOUTHEAST CATCHES OF THE WEEK |
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Blue Hole Park: Eli caught a small bass using a Whopper Plopper. He caught it at dusk as his family was passing through town. |
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Eunice Lake: Nielah Charo caught two catfish using cherry Kool-Aid chicken. |
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Santa Rosa Lake: Alex Puskar of Albuquerque caught 15 bass. He reported caughing two nice smallmouth bass at the same time (one on each treble hook) using a shad-colored Rapala Shad Rap. |
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Sumner Lake: John Childress caught two largemouth bass and seven white bass using lures. |
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SOUTHEAST FISHING REPORT |
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Alto Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 9. At that time, fishing for trout was fair to good when using Green PowerBait. Berrendo Creek: Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property. Black River: Streamflow at Malaga Wednesday morning was 13.9 cfs. Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing for trout was slow to fair using whopper ploppers. Bonito Lake: Only fishing activities are permitted at Bonito Lake. Brantley Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was fair to good when using plastic crawdads. Chaparral Park Lake: The most recent report was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good when using chicken livers. Eunice Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using cherry Kool-Aid chicken breast. Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was very good when using PowerBait. Grindstone Reservoir is currently open for fishing. Due to changing wildlife impact closures, please see the Grindstone Reservoir Webpagebefore planning a visit. Lake Van: The most recent report was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for catfish was good when using Cherry Kool-Aid-soaked gizzards. Pecos River: Streamflow below Sumner Lake Wednesday morning was 61.6 cfs.The most recent report was received Oct. 2. At that time, fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using hot dogs at Pecos River Park in Carlsbad. Rio Ruidoso: Streamflow at Hollywood on Wednesday morning was 38.6 cfs. Fishing conditions will be adversely affected for an extended period of time due to recent flooding in the area. Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good when using crankbait. Sumner Lake: Fishing for white bass was slow using lures.
We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks:Bataan Lake, Bosque Redondo Lake, Bottomless Lakes, Brantley Lake, Carlsbad Municipal Lake, Chaparral Park Lake, Corona Pond, Dennis Chavez Pond, Estancia Park Lake, Green Meadow Lake, Greene Acres Lake, Harry McAdams Park Pond, Jal Lake, Lake Van, Ned Houk Ponds, Oasis Park Lake, Perch Lake, Rio Bonito, Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond, Spring River Pond and Timberon Ponds. |
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TIPS, TRICKS AND STORIES |
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World-Class Tiger Muskie Fishing at Bluewater Lake
By Darren Vaughan |
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Jeremy Pitts has a feeling that there’s a world-record tiger muskie lurking underneath the surface of Bluewater Lake, and he wants to be the one to catch it. That’s why he spent most of September on his fishing boat, hoping to reel in that elusive monster.
“I’m in a unique position right now, where I’m semi-retired and I can spend a lot of time out there,” he said. “I’m finding myself as about the only guy on the lake four or five days a week. I’m really trying to see how big a muskie we can produce out of that lake, but it takes a lot of time and patience.” |
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Jeremy Pitts caught this 46½-inch, 30-plus-pound tiger muskie using a chartreuse spinnerbait on Sept. 30 at Bluewater Lake. Pitts’ catch nearly matched the state record, set by Justin Easley in 2012 with a 46-inch, 31-pound, 14-ounce fish. |
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On Sept. 30, Pitts nearly matched the New Mexico state record by reeling in a 46½-inch, 30-plus-pound behemoth using a chartreuse spinner bait at Bluewater Lake State Park, located 25 miles west of Grants in Cibola County. The current state record was set in 2012 at Bluewater Lake by Justin Easley, whose catch weighed in at 31 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 46 inches in length. The world record was set in 1919 by John Knobla, who caught a 51-pound, 3-ounce fish at Lac Vieux-Desert in Michigan.
“It took about 20 minutes to get the fish into the boat,” Pitts said. “I was by myself, I did not have a steel leader and my line was wrapped around its jaw, so I had to really finesse that fish.”
As soon as the fish surfaced, Pitts knew it might be a state record – and he got such a thrill out of reeling it in, he wanted others to have that same opportunity. “As soon as I saw the width of its back and the distance from the nose to the tail, I knew as hard as those fish are to catch, that whether that fish was a record or not, I wanted it to live,” he said. “They literally poke their heads up and look me in the eye while I’m fishing – they laugh at me.
“The funny thing, I told my wife, that 46½(-inch fish), when it first surfaced, there was a palpable anger in its eyes, like it wanted to fight me,” he added. “And it fought me. Even once I got it in the boat, it fought me. I’m a big guy. I’m 6(-foot)-3, 270 (pounds). I was having to wrestle with that fish to get the pictures I got. And, so, there’s just something about that. There’s a visceral experience there. And that is why I wanted that fish to live. That fish was fighting to live, and I was going to let it live, whether it was a record or not.” |
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Jeremy Pitts caught a 37-inch tiger muskie using a jointed minnow lure on Sept. 20, following several weeks of slow fishing at Bluewater Lake. |
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Pitts’ big catch came just 10 days after he caught a 37-inch tiger muskie using a jointed minnow lure, also at Bluewater Lake. As for any secrets to catching these giants, Pitts had some simple advice for his fellow anglers.
“Most people go out and thing they need a 12-inch-long lure – you know, something huge and massive, and that can work,” he said. “But, generally, the trick out here, I think, is fish with something that the trout might actually bite as well, and you have just as much of a chance of hooking into a really world-class tiger muskie.”
For more information about Bluewater Lake, visit Bluewater Lake State Park’s website. |
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Remember to let us know how your fishing trip goes! Share your tips, tricks and stories with your fellow anglers by filling out the iFish form and let’s help the next generation of anglers find success. If you would like to submit a story for Tips, Tricks and Stories, please email Communications Director Darren Vaughan atDarren.Vaughan@dgf.nm.gov. |
