New Mexico Fishing and Stocking Reports for March 12
OutdoorHub 03.12.13
Catches of the week:
- Navajo Lake: March 5, Ray Hawkins caught a 28.5-inch, 10-pound, 3-ounce brown trout. He was using a rainbow Rapala. March 4 he caught a 24-inch, 5-pound, 13-ounce brown using the same lure. March 6, Terry Hawkins of Aztec caught a 26-inch, 6-pound, 10-ounce rainbow. He was also using a rainbow Rapala.
- Tingley Beach: March 9, Louie Ortiz of Albuquerque caught and released a 27-inch rainbow trout. He was fishing the south Catch and Release pond and using a size 22 zebra midge.
The following came in too late for last week’s report but we felt it was definitely worth mentioning:
- Santa Rosa Lake: March 2, Andrew Orlicky of Albuquerque caught a 26-inch walleye. He was using a nightcrawler.
- 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: Work on the dam has been completed and the area has reopened to the public. However, the area received about a foot of new snow this past week making access a bit difficult at this time.
- Charette Lakes: Fishing was slow for all species.
- Cimarron River: Water flow near Cimarron on Monday was 9cfs. We had no reports from anglers.
- Clayton Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was light.
- Conchas Lake: Fishing pressure was light again this past week. The surface water temp was in the mid to upper 40s. Fishing was slow for all species. Anglers who wish to do so can still launch boats from the Cannon Cove area but should use extreme caution.
- Coyote Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Eagle Nest Lake: Due to rapidly deteriorating ice conditions the lake has been closed to fishing and other activities. It will reopen to fishing from the bank when there is sufficient open water. For updated conditions contact the State Park office at (575) 377-1594.
- Lake Alice: Closed to fishing at this time.
- Lake Maloya: With the warm temperatures, there is a good chance that this lake will close to ice fishing this week. For updated conditions contact the State Park office at (575) 445-5607.
- Los Pinos: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Manzano Lake: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait, homemade dough bait, Pistol Petes and salmon eggs.
- Maxwell Lake 13: The water level is down and fishing was slow for all species.
- Monastery Lake: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait, garlic cheese and homemade dough bait.
- Morphy Lake: Closed for the season.
- Pecos River: Trout fishing was slow to fair using salmon eggs and Power Bait.
- Red River: Water flow below the hatchery was 31cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Rio Grande: Water flow Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 501cfs. Fishing was slow to fair using streamers, copper John Barrs, worms and Power Bait for trout. We had no reports on other species.
- Rio Hondo: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Rio Mora: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Santa Barbara: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Springer Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.
- Storrie Lake: Fishing pressure was light and fishing was slow for all species.
- Stubblefield Lake: Water levels are extremely low and not fishable at this time.
- Ute Lake: Windy weather kept most anglers off the lake this past week. Anglers who braved the weather picked up a few walleye and largemouth bass. They were using jerk baits. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the upper 40s to low 50s.
Northwest
- Abiquiu Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Animas River: Monday morning water flow at Aztec was 182cfs. Trout fishing was fair to good using salmon eggs, worms, San Juan worms and egg patterns.
- Albuquerque Area Drains: Trout fishing was fair to good using copper John Barrs, San Juan worms, small emergers, Power Bait, wax worms and salmon eggs. Best reports were from the Albuquerque Drain, Bernalillo, Belen and the Corrales Drain.
- Bluewater Lake: The lake is now free of ice and the boat ramp is open. Fishing pressure this past week was very light and fishing was slow for all species.
- Canjilon Lakes: We had no reports from anglers.
- Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 104cfs and 53cfs respectively. Trout fishing below Abiquiu was slow to fair using copper John Barrs, worms and Power Bait. We had no reports from below El Vado.
- Cochiti Lake: The ice is off the lake and the boat ramp is open. This is a good time to get up here and start looking for big northern pike. Check the shallows with jerk baits, slow rolled spinner baits and swim baits.
- El Vado Lake: There is a layer of ice on the entire lake reported as unsafe for ice fishing. For updated information, contact the State Park office at (575) 588-7247.
- Fenton Lake: This lake is off limits to fishing at this time but may open by the end of the month. For ice-out updates contact the State Park office at (575) 829-3630.
- Heron Lake: As of this past Sunday the lake has been closed to ice fishing due to thinning ice conditions. For ice-out conditions contact the State Park office at (575) 588-7470.
- Jackson Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Jemez Waters: Water flow on the Jemez River as of Monday morning was 42cfs. Trout fishing here and on the Cebolla was good for anglers using salmon eggs, Power Bait, egg patterns and small copper John Barrs.
- Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.
- Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Navajo Lake: Fishing was fair trolling large crank baits for brown trout. A few northern pike were taken by anglers using swim baits and jerk baits. We had no reports on other species.
- Ramah Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- San Juan: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 345cfs. Fishing in the Quality Water section was good using small streamers, midge larva, egg patterns, San Juan worms, Griffith’s gnats and olive and black leeches. Fishing through the bait waters was fair using salmon eggs, copper John Barrs, San Juan worms and night crawlers.
- Santa Cruz Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Tingley Beach: Trout fishing at the Children’s Pond and the Central Pond was very good using Pistol Petes, Panther Martins, Kastmasters, Power Bait, salmon eggs, homemade dough baits and worms. Fishing at the Catch and Release Pond was slow to fair using egg patterns, zebra midges, leeches and Pistol Petes.
Southwest
- Bear Canyon: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Bill Evans Lake: Trout fishing was very good using homemade dough bait, worms, small spoons and salmon eggs. A few catfish were taken on worms. We had no reports on other species.
- Caballo Lake: The west-side main boat ramp has reopened and is expected to remain open as the water level is rising. The east-side ramp remains closed. Fishing pressure was very light this past week and fishing was reported as slow for all species. There were a few catfish caught by anglers using stink bait and nightcrawlers.
- Elephant Butte: The surface water temp ranged from the high 40s to the low 50s. Fishing was slow to fair using jerk baits, swim baits and jigs for largemouth bass. A few white bass were taken by anglers using jerk bait, shiners and crank baits. We had no reports on other species. The Monticello and Dam Site boat ramps remain closed due to low water conditions. The Rock Canyon ramp has reopened.
- Escondida Lake: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait, corn and homemade dough bait. We had no reports on other species.
- Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 165cfs. Fishing was slow to fair using night crawlers and stink bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species.
- Glenwood Pond: Fishing was good using Power Bait and salmon eggs for trout.
- Lake Roberts: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Percha Dam: The water was low and fishing was slow for all species.
- Quemado Lake: Fishing was a bit slow but there were a few rainbow trout caught by anglers using Power Bait. We had no reports on tiger musky.
- Rio Grande: Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 17cfs. Fishing here and below Caballo was slow for all species.
- Snow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Southeast
- Bataan Lake: Trout fishing was good using Kastmasters, Power Bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.
- Black River: As of Monday stream flow above Malaga was 4.9cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Blue Hole Park Pond: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait.
- Bonito Lake: Closed.
- Bosque Redondo: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait, corn and salmon eggs.
- Bottomless Lakes: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait and salmon eggs.
- 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: Trout fishing was good using worms, Power Bait and salmon eggs.
- El Rito Creek: Trout fishing was good using salmon eggs.
- Greene Acres Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait, homemade dough bait and salmon eggs.
- Green Meadow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Grindstone Reservoir: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait, salmon eggs and homemade dough bait.
- Jal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Lake Van: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait, Pistol Petes, small Kastmasters, homemade dough bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.
- Oasis Park Lake: Trout fishing was fair to good using Kastmasters, Power Bait and homemade dough baits.
- Pecos River: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 78cfs. Fishing was slow. The area directly below Sumner Lake will be closed from March 12 through March 18 or 19 as water is released from the lake.
- Perch Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait, Panther Martins and Pistol Petes.
- Ruidoso River: Water flow at Hollywood on Monday was 3.2cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Santa Rosa Lake: Bad weather slowed the fishing activity and the number of anglers over the weekend but a few walleye, crappie and catfish were caught earlier in the week. Best baits were curly tail grubs and nightcrawlers. The lake is closed to boating at this time. A water release is scheduled to begin March 12 and run through March 14. The water level is expected to drop about 7 feet.
- Sumner Lake: Fishing pressure was extremely light and fishing was slow for all species. The surface water temp was in the mid to high 40s. The Violation Canyon boat ramp remains open at this time and will remain open as long as lake levels permit. A water release is scheduled to begin on March 13 and last for several days.
