New Mexico Fishing and Stocking Reports for Oct. 23

This fishing report, provided by Bill Dunn and the Department of Game and Fish, has been generated from the best information available from area officers and anglers. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.
Check out the latest stocking report.

CATCHES OF THE WEEK:

Chama River: Oct. 19, Yolany Sanchez of Edgewood caught a 22-inch brown trout. She was using salmon eggs. Oct. 21,
Dustin Duerre of Los Alamos caught a 20-inch brown trout. He was using a Rapala.

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 fishforfun2@hotmail.com. We may include your story in our next report. For catches of the week, include name, date, and location, type of fish, length and weight if possible and bait, lure or fly used.

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. The lakes close to fishing Oct. 31 and will reopen next spring.
Cimarron River: Water flow below Eagle Nest Lake on Monday was 10 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Clayton Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait and worms. Fishing for all other species was slow. The lake closes to fishing Oct. 31 and will reopen next spring.
Conchas Lake: The Cannon Cove Campground boat ramp is open and fully functional. Other ramps remain closed. Fishing was slow to fair using slab spoon, blade baits and minnows for a mix of white bass and walleye. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good using jigs, worms and crank baits. Last week, Daniel Hayden and Carissa Malanowski of Albuquerque had a great time fishing from the bank on the north side of the lake. They were using Strike King black and blue bitsy jigs and wacky rigged black and blue worms and caught several smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species.
Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was slow to fair using salmon eggs, brassies and small copper John Barrs.
Eagle Nest Lake: Kokanee snagging still hasn’t come on strong but anglers are picking up a few in the early morning hours. Most of the fish snagged were taken near the boat ramp. Bank fishing for trout was good using Power Bait, spinners, salmon eggs and roe sacs. Fishing for perch was fair using worms. We had no reports on other species.
Hopewell Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Maloya: Fishing was fair to good using Pistol Petes, Power Bait and spinners for rainbow trout up to 20 inches.
Los Pinos: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Maxwell Lake 13: We had no reports from anglers. The lake closes for fishing Oct. 31 and will reopen next spring.
Monastery Lake: Trout fishing was slow to fair using salmon peach Power Bait and salmon eggs.
Morphy Lake: The lake closes for fishing Oct. 31 and will reopen next spring.
Pecos River: Water flow near the town of Pecos on Monday was 27 cfs. Trout fishing was fair to good using single salmon eggs on a small hook, small flashback pheasant tails and small copper John Barrs.
Red River: Water flow below the hatchery was 33 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using copper John Barrs, San Juan worms, Power Bait and salmon eggs.
Rio Grande: The water flow Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 228 cfs. Trout fishing was very good using parachute adams, copper John Barrs, Pistol Petes, bead-head pheasant tails, small wooly buggers, Power Bait, worms and spinners. Fishing was slow to fair using large bunny leeches for northern pike. We had no reports on other species.
Rio Hondo: Water flow near Valdez on Monday was 12 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Mora: Water flow near Terrero on Monday was 7.5 cfs. Trout fishing was slow with just a few fish taken on worms and small copper John Barrs.
Rio Pueblo: Trout fishing was slow.
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 fair to good using Power Bait, cheese, salmon eggs, corn salmon egg combinations and spinners. We had no reports on other species.
Stubblefield Lake: The lake has reopened with a new agreement reached with the Vermejo Conservancy District. However, with the current low water conditions, fishing is discouraged at this time.
Ute Lake: Fishing for walleye picked up considerably this past week as several limits were caught during the week and over the weekend. Best action was reported by anglers using blade baits in 30 to 40 feet of water. Fishing for white bass was fair to good using slab spoons at 20 to 25 feet. Fishing for catfish was good using stink bait. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow with just a few taken by anglers using worms, jigs and crank baits. The surface water temp was in the low 60s.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using jigs, worms, senkos and crank baits for smallmouth bass. A few walleye were taken by anglers using jigs and spoons. We had no reports on other species.
Albuquerque Area Drains: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Animas River: As of Monday morning flow near Aztec was 119 cfs. Fishing was slow.
Bluewater Lake: Fishing was generally slow but there were a few catfish taken on worms and cut bait and a few tiger musky taken of large swim baits and crank baits.
Canjilon Lakes: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait.
Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 53 cfs and 168 cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was very good using night salmon eggs, worms, Power Bait, copper John Barrs and spinners for a mix of brown and rainbow trout. We had no reports from below Abiquiu. A section of the river from El Vado Lake to the west boundary of the Rio Chama Wildlife and Fishing Area opened to salmon snagging Oct. 1 but we had no reports from anglers working this area.
Cochiti Lake: Fishing was generally slow but there were a few northern pike caught by anglers fishing near the dam and using crank baits.
El Vado Lake: Kokanee snagging opened Oct. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. Snagging was slow again this week with just a few taken by anglers working the west side of the dam. We had no reports on other species.
Fenton Lake: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs, worms and Pistol Petes.
Heron Lake: From Oct. 1 through Nov. 8 it is unlawful to possess kokanee from here or from Willow Creek. Any kokanee caught while fishing for other species must be immediately released. These waters are also closed to kokanee snagging during this time period. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Jackson Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week but the lake was recently stocked with trout.
Jemez Waters: Water flow on the Jemez as of Monday morning was 10 cfs. Trout fishing on the Jemez River was fair using salmon eggs and small copper John Barrs. We had no reports from the other streams.
Laguna del Campo: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs and spinners. 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 and closes for the season Oct. 31.
Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Manzano Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Navajo Lake: Kokanee snagging opened here and on the Pine River Oct. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. There is an off-limits fishing and snagging area at the Pine boat ramp. For more information contact the State Park office at 505-632-2278 or visit www.nmparks.com. Snagging was very good near the dam outlet and in the Sims Mesa and Frances Canyon areas. Be sure and check regulations regarding catch and possession limits. Rainbow trout fishing was slow to fair for anglers using roe sacs and salmon eggs. Bass fishing was slow but there were a few smallmouth bass taken by anglers using craws, jigs and creature baits. Fishing for northern pike was fair using crank baits and spinner baits. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low 60s.
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 on Monday morning was 659 cfs. Trout fishing in the Quality Waters was good using red and cream larva, chocolate foam wing emergers, Griffith’s gnats, flashback pheasant tails and parachute adams. Fishing through the bait waters was good using nightcrawlers, jerk baits and spinners.
Santa Cruz Lake: The boat ramp has been closed due to low water conditions. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Seven Springs Brood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week. 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: Trout fishing at the main pond was slow but there were a few taken by anglers using worms and Power Bait. Last Friday, George with the Washington Middle School fishing club caught his very first largemouth bass. It was a 16-inch fish and he was using a Mister Twister chartreuse double-tail grub on a brown football jig. We had no reports on other species. Fishing at the catch and release pond was slow.

Southwest

Bear Canyon: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes.
Bill Evans Lake: The lake level is currently 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. Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs and cheese. We had no reports on other species.
Caballo Lake: All boat ramps have been closed and will remain closed until water levels rise and are deemed safe for launching. The lake will remain open to canoes, kayaks and other nonmotorized boats. Fishing was slow to fair using spoons, spinners and minnows for a mix of walleye and white bass. Fishing was fair using stink bait and nightcrawlers fro catfish. We had no reports on other species.
Elephant Butte: Fishing was fair using slab spoons, blade baits and spinners for white bass. Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits, jigs, senkos, creature baits and worms for a mix of smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. We had no reports on other species. Surface water temps were in the low to mid 60s. The Monticello, Dam Site and Rock Canyon boat ramps remain closed due to low water conditions.
Escondida Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 32 cfs. 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. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Glenwood Pond: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait and salmon eggs.
Lake Roberts: Trout fishing was good to excellent for anglers using Power Bait, salmon eggs, cheese and spinners. We had no reports on other species.
Percha Dam: The water was low and fishing was slow for all species.
Quemado Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.
Rio Grande: Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 0 cfs. We had no reports from anglers.
Snow Lake: With access roads open and a recent double stocking of rainbow trout, put this lake high on your list for some fall fishing from the bank. The roads in are a little bumpy and the water is low but fishing should be great. Trout fishing was good using Power Bait.

Southeast

Bataan Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Blue Hole Park Pond: This water was recently stocked with rainbow trout but we had no reports from anglers this week.
Bonito Lake: Closed.
Bosque Redondo: Fishing was slow for all species.
Bottomless Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
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.
El Rito Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Grindstone Reservoir: Trout fishing was good using salmon peach and chartreuse Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms.
Jal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Van: Fishing was slow for all species.
Oasis Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Pecos River: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 80 cfs. Fishing was slow for all species and fishing pressure was very light.
Perch Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Ruidoso River: Water flow at Hollywood on Monday was 5.7cfs. Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs.
Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing pressure continued to be very light and fishing was generally slow for all species. However, there were a few smallmouth bass and catfish caught by anglers fishing from the bank and using spinner baits, jigs, liver and nightcrawlers. 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 pressure was very light again this past week and fishing continued slow for all species with just a few white bass taken by anglers using crank baits and jigs. The boat ramps have reopened and will remain open as long as lake levels permit.

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