New Mexico Fishing and Stocking Reports
OutdoorHub 08.28.12
Northeast
Cabresto Lake: The lake and campground closed May 14 and will stay closed for about six months while the dam is being rebuilt.
Charette Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Cimarron River: Trout fishing was fair to good using BWOs, midges, caddis, tricos, spinners and worms. Water flow below Eagle Nest Lake as of Monday was 35 cfs. From now to Aug. 30, anglers may experience restricted access to Cimarron Canyon State Park between the Perryville Fishing Access and the eastern boundary of the park. Crews filming “The Lone Ranger” will be shooting a scene on U.S. 64 between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Fishing at the Gravel Pit lakes was fair using salmon eggs.
Clayton Lake: The water was mossy green and fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light. Due to low water conditions, only small boats, kayaks and canoes can be launched.
Conchas Lake: The boat ramps are closed and will remain closed until water levels come up and are deemed safe for launching boats. Anglers may still launch non motorized craft such as canoes and kayaks. Fishing from the bank was good using liver, cut bait, dough bait and nightcrawlers for catfish. A few walleye and white bass were taken by anglers using minnows and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.
Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was slow.
Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for northern pike picked up a bit this past week. Anglers caught pike while trolling for kokanee and by trolling and casting big spoons and swim baits. Fishing was fair to good trolling Arnies, Panther Martins, double whammies and wedding rings from just under the surface to a depth of 15 feet for a mixed bag of kokanee, rainbow trout and an occasional northern pike. Fishing was good using worms for perch.
Hopewell Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Maloya: Trout fishing was fair using Pistol Petes under a bubble.
Los Pinos: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was slow for all species.
Monastery Lake: Trout fishing was slow. A few fish were taken by anglers using worms and Power Bait.
Morphy Lake: Trout fishing was slow.
Pecos River: Water flow near the town of Pecos on Monday was 37 cfs. Trout fishing was fair to good using stimulators, prince nymphs, copper John Barrs and worms.
Red River: Water flow below the hatchery was 34 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using San Juan worms, copper John Barrs, Power Bait and worms
Rio Costilla: Trout fishing was good using parachute adams, elk hair caddis and small midges. The water was low.
Rio Grande: The water flow Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 215 cfs. Trout fishing was fair to good using stimulators, copper John Barrs, San Juan worms, poundmeisters and worms. Micro mays were working well through the wild river area. We had no reports on other species.
Rio Hondo: Water flow near Valdez on Monday was 18 cfs. Trout fishing was good using elk hair caddis, bead-head pheasant tails, bead-head hares ears and San Juan worms.
Rio Mora: Water flow near Terrero on Monday was 16 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using bead-head hares ears, copper John Barrs and worms.
Santa Barbara: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Shuree Ponds: The water level on the ponds has been quite low and fishing was reported as slow.
Springer Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.
Storrie Lake: Trout fishing was slow but there were a few fish taken by anglers using Power Bait, salmon egg corn combinations and cheese. We had no reports on other species.
Ute Lake: Hot spot for white bass: Fishing was very good using slab spoons over 50 feet of water for suspended white bass. A few were also taken on minnows. Fishing continued to be good using chicken liver, dough bait and nightcrawlers for catfish. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow to fair using crank baits, jerk baits and jigs. Fishing for walleye was slow. The surface water temp was in the low 80s.
Northwest
Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was fair to good using tubes, wooly buggers, jigs, crank baits and jerk baits for smallmouth bass. The difficulty with the smallmouth was finding keepers. Fishing was good using chicken, liver and dough baits in the evening hours for catfish. Fishing was slow to fair using jigs, crank baits and spinner/minnow combinations for walleye. Fishing was fair using worms for bluegill. We had no reports on other species.
Animas River: As of Monday morning flow near Aztec was 104 cfs. Trout fishing was slow.
Bluewater Lake: Fishing was fair to good using swim baits, crank baits, jerk baits and big spinners for tiger musky. Recommend releasing short fish as soon as possible to keep them healthy and a big catch for the future. We had no reports on other species.
Canjilon Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 598 cfs and 440 cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was fair using nightcrawlers and salmon eggs for a mix of brown and rainbow trout. Austin Wetsch fished the river above El Vado and south of the town of Chama and reported conditions as fair using nymphs and midges. He reported the water as a bit murky from recent rains. Trout fishing below Abiquiu was slow to fair using worms.
Cochiti Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using nightcrawlers and liver for catfish. Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits, minnows and jigs for white bass. Fishing was fair using worms for bluegill. We had no reports on other species.
El Vado Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. The lake level continues to drop but the main park boat ramp is still open.
El Rito Creek: Fishing was fair using copper John Barrs, worms and salmon eggs for trout.
Fenton Lake: Trout fishing was fair to good using worms, Pistol Petes, Power Bait and wooly buggers.
Heron Lake: Kokanee fishing was slow but there were a few limits taken by anglers trolling an assortment of spinners behind flashers and Christmas trees tipped with corn at depths of 30 to 40 feet. Anglers trolling for kokanee are also picking up a few small rainbows. Fishing from the bank was slow.
Jackson Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week
Jemez Waters: Water flow on the Jemez as of Monday morning was 16 cfs. Trout fishing on the Cebolla above and below Fenton Lake was very good this past week. Anglers did well using elk hair caddis, copper John Barrs, nightcrawlers and salmon eggs. Last Thursday a young angler caught a 21-inch brown trout while using worms and fishing above Fenton Lake. On the East Fork fishing was fair using elk hair caddis and salmon eggs. Fishing on the San Antonio was a bit slow due to murky water conditions. If you are interested in fishing on the Valles Caldera, please visit www.vallescaldera.gov.
Laguna del Campo: Fishing was fair using Pistol Petes and Power Bait for trout. This is a special trout water open to anglers age 14 years or under, 65 years and older, handicapped anglers or up to 2 parents/guardians in direct supervision of a child or children age 14 years or younger who is fishing. This water was formerly known as Burn’s Canyon Lake.
Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Manzano Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.
Navajo Lake: Fishing was fair to good trolling Arnies, Fish Catchers, Z Rays and Panther Martins tipped with corn behind Christmas trees at 30 to 43 feet. Fishing was good using tubes, grubs, clousers, wooly buggers, crank baits and jigs for smallmouth bass and an occasional largemouth bass. Fishing was good using worms for perch. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from 73 to 80 degrees on the main lake.
Ramah Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
San Juan: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 1,060 cfs. Trout fishing in the Quality Waters was good using RS2s, fluff baetis, chocolate foam wing emergers, bright hot pink eggs and size 18 midge larvae. Bright orange or red larva worked great as attractors. The best action was early and late in the day. Big fish in the previous weekend’s bi fly competition was a 24-inch carp caught on a red larva on 6x tippet. Fishing through the bait waters was fair to good using nightcrawlers, wooly buggers, red and orange sparkle worms, spinners, jerk baits and Power Bait. Back on the 17th, Jerry Hernandez of Albuquerque caught a nice 19.5-inch brown trout. He was fishing below the bridge and using worms.
Santa Cruz Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. The boat ramp has been closed due to low water conditions.
Seven Springs Brood Pond: A.J. Armijo III caught four trout here and now loves fishing according to dad, Tony. A.J. is 2 years old. Great job! This water is open to fishing for youth under the age of 12 and an excellent place to take youngsters and get them interested in fishing. The pond is well stocked to offer youngsters a great fishing experience.
Tingley Beach: Fishing was slow for all species.
Southwest
Bear Canyon: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Bill Evans Lake: The lake level is currently being drawn down due to water quality issues on the Gila since the big fire. The lake will remain open to fishing and camping but boat ramps will be inaccessible. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Caballo Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. The surface water temp was in the 80s and the lake level was dropping. The main boat ramp was down to two lanes.
Elephant Butte: Hot spot for white bass: With the falling water the fish are concentrated and white bass fishing continued to be very good this past week. Anglers were doing well using slab spoons, curly tail grubs, Bombers, flicker shad, minnows and spinners. There was also some occasional topwater action. Fishing was fair to good using worms, nightcrawlers, liver, cut bait and shrimp for catfish. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow to fair using live minnows, grubs, tubes, crank baits and topwater lures. We had no reports on other species. The surface temps were in the low to mid 80s.The Monticello and Dam Site boat ramps remain closed.
Escondida Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.
Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 124 cfs. Water rose again this past week from locally heavy rainfall. Fishing was slow with a few catfish taken by anglers using stink bait and nightcrawlers. Although the Middle and West Forks and their tributaries are and will continue to be affected by the ash, the East Fork is unaffected and the smallmouth population is strong. Give it a try with wooly buggers, small grubs and worms.
Glenwood Pond: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait.
Lake Roberts: Fishing was slow for all species.
Percha Dam: Fishing was fair using minnows, grubs and nightcrawlers for white bass, walleye and catfish.
Quemado Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Grande: Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 1,030 cfs. Fishing below Elephant Butte was slow to fair using minnows, wooly buggers, grubs and worms for a mixed bag of catfish, walleye and white bass. Fishing below Caballo was fair using liver for catfish and minnows and grubs for walleye.
Snow Lake: Some access roads have been cleared and the lake is now open. From Reserve you can access the lake by taking FR 141 to FR 128. From Beaverhead, take FR 159 to FR 142. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Southeast
Bataan Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.
Bonito Lake: Closed.
Bosque Redondo: Fishing was slow for all species.
Bottomless Lakes: Fishing was slow for all species.
Brantley Lake: Anglers are to practice catch-and-release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish.
Carlsbad Municipal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was good using Power Bait for trout and an occasional catfish. Austin Schmidt was fishing here on the 21st and caught his limit of trout and one catfish while using salmon peach Power Bait.
Jal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Van: Fishing was slow to fair using liver, dough bait and nightcrawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.
Oasis Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Pecos River: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 60 cfs. Fishing was fair using nightcrawlers and liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species.
Perch Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Ruidoso River: Water flow at Hollywood on Monday was .38 cfs. Fishing was slow.
Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was fair using liver, nightcrawlers and dough bait for catfish. Fishing was slow to fair using minnows from the bank for walleye. We had no reports on other species. The boat ramp has been closed but the lake is accessible for canoes and kayaks.
Sumner Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. The east side boat ramp has reopened and will remain open as long as lake levels permit.
