New Mexico Fishing Report for Oct. 30
OutdoorHub 10.30.12
CATCHES OF THE WEEK:
- Chama River: Oct. 24, Andrew Pilgrim of Santa Fe caught a 20-inch brown trout. He was fishing below Abiquiu Lake and using a hook and a worm. Oct. 26, Dustin Duerre of Los Alamos caught a 22-inch brown trout. He was fishing below El Vado Lake and using a Rapala.
- Bluewater Lake: Oct. 26, Thomas Murphey of Albuquerque caught and released a 44.1-inch, 20-pound tiger musky. He was using a custom-tied deep clouser minnow.
- Rio Grande: Oct. 27, Gino Koroneas of Santa Fe caught a 37-inch, 10-pound northern pike. He was fishing in the Pilar area and using a Rapala crank bait.
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 while the dam is being rebuilt.
- Charette Lakes: 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. Trout fishing was slow to fair using an assortment of small bead-head nymphs.
- Clayton Lake: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait and worms. 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 spoons and blade baits for a mix of white bass and walleye. A few white bass were taken on crank baits. Fishing for smallmouth bass slowed considerably but a few were taken by anglers using jigs and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.
- Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was slow to fair using salmon eggs.
- Eagle Nest Lake: Kokanee snagging was rated as sporadic by anglers working the boat ramp area. We had no reports from the neck area or from the Six Mile area. Trout fishing from the bank was fair to good for anglers using salmon peach Power Bait. They reported catching trout up to 4 pounds. Fishing for perch was fair using worms. Fishing for northern pike was slow.
- Hopewell Lake: Trout fishing was very good using Power Bait, salmon eggs and spinners.
- Lake Maloya: Fishing was fair using Pistol Petes, Power Bait, worms and spinners for rainbow trout.
- Los Pinos: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Manzano Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs, corn and worms.
- Maxwell Lake 13: The lake closes for fishing Oct. 31 and will reopen next spring.
- Monastery Lake: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait, corn 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 28 cfs. Trout fishing was fair to good using single salmon eggs on a small hook, bead-head hare’s ears, small flashback pheasant tails and small copper John Barrs.
- Red River: Water flow below the hatchery was 30 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using copper John Barrs, San Juan worms, bead-head pheasant tails, wooly buggers, Power Bait and salmon eggs.
- Rio Grande: The water flow Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 228 cfs. Trout fishing was good using copper John Barrs, bead-head pheasant tails, wooly worms, Power Bait, worms and Panther Martin spinners. Fishing for pike was slow but there was one good size fish taken on a crank bait. We had no reports on other species.
- Rio Hondo: Water flow near Valdez on Monday was 12 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using bead-head pheasant tails and egg patterns.
- Rio Mora: Water flow near Terrero on Monday was 6.6 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Rio Pueblo: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- 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 using Power Bait, cheese, corn and salmon eggs. 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 was good as anglers reported catching several limits. They were using spoons and bladed baits at 35 to 40 feet. Fishing for white bass was good using slab spoons at 30 to 35 feet. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low 60s.
Northwest
- Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was generally slow for all species but there were a few small walleye and an occasional smallmouth caught by anglers using jigs, grubs and spinner-worm rigs.
- Albuquerque Area Drains: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Animas River: Monday morning flow near Aztec was 150 cfs. Fishing was slow.
- Bluewater Lake: Trout fishing picked up considerably this past week. Anglers did well using corn and yellow and white Power Bait. Fishing for tiger musky was a bit slow but there were a few taken by anglers using clouser minnows, swim baits and large spinners. We had no reports on other species.
- Canjilon Lakes: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait.
- Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 55 cfs and 135 cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was very good again this week for a mix of browns and rainbows. Anglers did well using nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, worms, Rapalas, Power Bait, copper John Barrs and Panther Martins. Below Abiquiu trout fishing was fair to good using worms, prince nymphs, copper John Barrs and Panther Martins. 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 as with last week 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. We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Fenton Lake: Trout fishing was slow with just a few fish taken on worms and salmon eggs.
- 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: Fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait and salmon eggs for trout. We had no reports on other species.
Jemez Waters: Water flow on the Jemez on Monday morning was 18 cfs. Trout fishing on the Jemez River was fair using salmon eggs, worms and small copper John Barrs. We had no reports from the other streams.
Laguna del Campo: 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.
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 fair near the dam outlet and in the Sims Mesa and Frances Canyon areas. Be sure and check regulations regarding catch and possession limits. Some of the kokanee were starting to get a bit soft. Fishing for smallmouth bass was slow with just a few taken by anglers using jigs, creature baits and worms. Fishing for northern pike was slow to fair using crank baits, swim baits and spinner baits. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from the high 50s to 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 as of Monday morning was 522 cfs. With baetis coming off in the afternoon hours fishing through the Quality Waters was good using size 18 to 22 parachute adams or para baetis. Through the morning hours best flies were flashback pheasant tails, pink egg patterns, fluff baetis, chocolate foam wing emergers and dark colored streamers. Fishing through the bait waters was good using nightcrawlers, wooly buggers, copper John Barrs and Panther Martin and Mepps 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 fair to good using worms, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes and Power Bait. We had no reports on other species. Fishing at the catch and release pond was slow.
Southwest
- Bear Canyon: Trout fishing was fair 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 good 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 described as slow by some and sporadic by others as a few white bass and catfish were taken by anglers fishing from the bank and using nightcrawlers, stink baits and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.
- Elephant Butte: Fishing was slow for white bass but there were a few taken by anglers using slab spoons and blade baits for white bass. Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was slow with just a few taken on creature baits crank baits, spoons and worms. A few small catfish were taken on worms and nightcrawlers. We had no reports on other species. Surface water temps ranged from 63 to 66 degrees. The Monticello, Dam Site and Rock Canyon boat ramps remain closed due to low water conditions.
- Escondida Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.
- Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 39 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. Fishing was slow for all species.
- Glenwood Pond: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait and salmon eggs.
- Lake Roberts: Trout fishing was fair to good for anglers using Power Bait, worms, 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 fair using Power Bait.
Southeast
- Bataan Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Blue Hole Park Pond: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs and spinners.
- 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: Trout fishing was fair using copper John Barrs, egg patterns, salmon eggs and Power Bait.
- Grindstone Reservoir: Trout fishing was fair to good using yellow 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 72 cfs. Fishing was slow for all species and fishing pressure was very light.
- Perch Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Pistol Petes and Power Bait.
- Ruidoso River: Water flow at Hollywood on Monday was 6.6 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using small bead-head hare’s ears and salmon eggs.
- Santa Rosa Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. 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 to be slow for all species with just a few white bass taken by anglers using crank baits, spoons and jigs. The boat ramps have reopened and will remain open as long as lake levels permit.
