Weekly Fishing Report

Feb. 28, 2006
This fishing report has been generated from the best information available from officers and anglers

Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, however, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.

Catch of the week

Heron Lake: Feb. 25, a 13-pound, 34-inch lake trout was taken by an angler using a horsehead jig tipped with cut bait.

If you have a catch of the week story, send it to us at fishnm@hotmail.com. Include date, location, type of fish, length and bait used to catch the fish.

NORTHEAST AREA

CHARETTE LAKES: Open for the season at noon on Wednesday, March 1.

CLAYTON LAKE: Opens for the season at noon on Wednesday, March 1st. The boat ramp is open and the lake was recently stocked with rainbow trout. The surface water temp as of this past Monday was about 40 degrees and the visibility was about one foot.

COCHITI LAKE: Several anglers were on the lake over the past weekend. They reported a surface temp of 40 degrees and tough fishing. They worked shallow and deep with a variety of lures but had no success.

CONCHAS LAKE: There was very light fishing pressure on the lake again this past week. Fishing was reported as slow for all species.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: On colder nights the lake freezes over but opens up again by noon on warmer days. The lake is closed to any ice fishing but anglers fishing from the bank on those warmer days have been doing very well. Lots of good size perch and a few good rainbows have been taken by anglers using worms, power bait, salmon eggs and roe sacs from the bank. For updated conditions call the state park office at 505-377-1594.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: Most of the ice is off Lake Alice and anglers did quite well this past week catching 8-to-12 inch trout. They were using power bait, salmon eggs and corn. Lake Maloya was still covered with ice this past weekend but with the warmer weather it may open up for bank fishing later this week. Anglers should call the Sugarite state park office at 505-445-5607 for updated ice conditions.

MAXWELL LAKES: Open for the season at noon on Wednesday, March 1st.

MCALLISTER LAKE: Opens for the season at noon on Wednesday, March 1st.:

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday morning, water flow was 1.1cfs near Anton Chico. Trout fishing in the Villanueva area slowed a bit this past week. The water was murky as crews were working on a diversion dam upstream. A few trout were taken on power bait, salmon eggs and worms.

RED RIVER: Water flow near Questa was 11cfs and below the hatchery was 37cfs as of Monday. Trout fishing was a bit slow for anglers using worms and salmon eggs and a bit better for those using size 14-to-18 bead head nymphs.

RIO GRANDE: As of Monday, water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge was 482cfs. Fishing was reported as fair by anglers using bead head nymphs, spinners and worms for trout. A few were also taken on dry flies. We had no reports on northern pike this week.

SANTA CRUZ: The water is up and free of ice, the boat ramp is open and fishing is quite good. Anglers fishing from the bank did very well using power bait for trout.

STORRIE LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.

UTE LAKE: There were a few white bass and walleye caught this past week by anglers using jigging spoons tipped with minnows at 50-to-60 feet. They were working the area around Horse Shoe Bend. We had no reports on other species.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

ALBUQUERQUE AREA DRAINS: Good reports came in this past week from the Corrales, Bernalillo and Belen Drains. The best reports came from anglers using prop flies, parachute adams and size 16 and 18 bead head nymphs. A few fish were also taken on salmon eggs and corn. One angler fishing the Belen Drain reported catching several small white bass while using wooly buggers.

BLUEWATER LAKE: Bank fishing this past week slowed quite a bit but should pick up as the lake was recently stocked. A few trout were taken on power bait and salmon eggs.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE: Fishing was good for anglers using wax worms and salmon eggs at the youth only pond and the regular waters. At the catch and release water, anglers did well using egg patterns and small dry flies.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 280cfs and 23cfs below Abiquiu. Trout fishing below Abiquiu was fair for anglers using worms, salmon eggs, wooly buggers, copper john barrs and bead head pheasant tails. Anglers caught a mix of brown and rainbow trout. Below El Vado, fishing was fair for anglers using wooly buggers and night crawlers.

EL VADO LAKE: With the exception of the north boat ramp area, the lake was free of ice this past weekend but we had no reports from anglers. Trout fishing should be good for rainbows and some big browns.  

FENTON LAKE: As of Monday, the lake was still about 98 percent iced over. Anglers should call the state park office at 505-829-3630 for updated ice conditions.

HERON LAKE: Fishing picked up this past week for rainbow trout and lake trout. Anglers fishing from the bank did very well using power bait, salmon eggs and Panther Martins. They caught several good rainbows and a few small lake trout. Anglers trolling Rapalas and spinners caught a few good size rainbows near the dam. Three lake trout over 10 pounds were caught by anglers using horse head jigs tipped with cut bait.

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 25cfs. From Battleship Rock downstream, fishing was good for anglers using size 12-to-16 bead head nymphs. A few fish were also taken on salmon eggs and power bait.

NAVAJO LAKE: Trout fishing up the Pine arm of the lake was good again this past week as anglers caught several brown and rainbow trout. They were trolling Rapalas on light line. A few fish were also taken by anglers trolling the San Juan and Francis Canyon areas but the best action was up the Pine. We had no reports on other species.

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Dam on Monday morning was 366cfs and the water was only slightly off color. Trout fishing in the Quality Waters was good for anglers using size 16-to-22 emergers, red annelids, bead head pheasant tails and San Juan worms. Through the bait waters, anglers did best using salmon eggs, worms, wooly buggers and spinners. A few brown trout were taken on jerk baits.

SOUTHWEST AREA

BEAR CANYON: We had no reports from anglers this week.

BILL EVANS LAKE: Fishing was fair-to-good using salmon eggs, worms, spinners and power bait for trout. We had no reports on other species.

BURN LAKE: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using salmon eggs, corn and power bait.

CABALLO LAKE: Fishing near the dam was fair for anglers using worms and white sassy shad and swim baits for white bass. We had no reports on other species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: The surface temperature this past week ranged from 44-to-50 degrees and the water was still quite murky. Fishing for catfish was good for anglers using shad, shrimp and stink baits. Fishing for all other species was slow.

ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using salmon eggs, prop flies under a bubble, garlic cheese and small spoons for trout.

GILA RIVER: Water on the main river was flowing at 58cfs as of Monday morning. Fishing on the forks was fair for anglers using small bead head nymphs for trout.

GLENWOOD POND: Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs.

LAKE ROBERTS: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using bead head wooly buggers, worms, power bait and salmon eggs. A few were also taken on spinners.

PERCHA DAM: Fishing was slow for all species.

QUEMADO LAKE: As of this past weekend, the majority of the lake was free of ice. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs. Fishing pressure was very light.

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte was 11cfs on Monday. Flows are expected to increase within the next 10-to-15 days. We had no reports from anglers this week.

SOUTHEAST AREA

BATAAN LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

BOSQUE REDONDO: Fishing was good for anglers using power bait, small spoons, prop flies and salmon eggs for trout.

BOTTOMLESS LAKES: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, bead head nymphs and spinners.

BRANTLEY: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure has been very light.

CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR: We had no reports from anglers this week.  

LAKE VAN: We had no reports from anglers this week.

PECOS: Below Sumner Lake , water flow on Monday was 1,410cfs. The flow will be reduced and anglers will be able to access the river by this coming weekend.

PERCH LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs and power bait for trout. A few fish were also taken on spinners.

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow as of Monday was 1.1cfs. Fishing was slow.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species with very light fishing pressure. The water is clear and fishing should start picking up for bass and walleye with the warmer weather.

SUMNER LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this past week

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