Weekly Fishing Report

Free Fishing Day is June 3

Saturday, June 3, is National Fishing Day, a perfect time to take the family fishing. On this special day, you don't need a license to enjoy fishing at any of New Mexico's public waters. All other fishing rules still apply.

May 30, 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.

Catches of the week

Cochiti Lake: May 24, Zachary Smith of Albuquerque caught a 21-inch, 4.5-pound walleye. He was using a small crank bait. May 25, Jason Sweeney of Santa Fe caught a 28-inch, 7-pound, 2-ounce walleye. He was trolling a kokanee killer/worm combination. May 27, Eric Sickenger of Albuquerque caught two walleye near the dam. He was using a white bomber.

Heron Lake: May 25, Dale Clark of Rio Rancho caught a 31-inch, 15-pound lake trout. He was using a Panther Martin.

Bluewater Lake: May 29, Edward Urias of Albuquerque caught a 22.5-inch rainbow trout. He was using a red and silver lure.

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: Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait, worms, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes and spinner/worm combinations. Fishing was fair using worms for perch.

CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest as of Monday was 37cfs. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using small parachute adams, humpys and yellow sallies.

GRAVEL PIT LAKES:   Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait, spinners and prop flies under a bubble for trout.

CLAYTON LAKE: In spite of or maybe because of windy conditions, fishing was very good this past week for most species. Anglers did very well using worms for perch, catfish, trout and largemouth bass. A few trout were also taken on power bait and spinners. Walleye fishing was good for anglers using gold spoons, spinners and crank baits.

COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was very good again this past week for anglers fishing for perch, white bass, smallmouth bass and bluegill. Anglers did very well using minnows, worms, night crawlers, spinners and tubes. A few good size smallmouth were also taken on top water lures and jerk baits. Fishing was good using crank baits and minnows for walleye. Northern pike action was a bit slow but several in the 21-to-34 inch size were taken on Daredevles, big flies and spinner baits. A few largemouth bass were taken on senkos, spinner baits, tubes and salt craws.

CONCHAS LAKE: Walleye fishing slowed some this past week but there were a few good size fish taken on bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs and jig and grub combinations. The best reports came from anglers fishing the north end of the lake. Worms, poppers, wet flies, spinners, minnows and small crank baits were all good baits for bluegill and a few crappie. Smallmouth bass fishing was rated as very good by anglers using tubes, jerk baits and top water lures. Fishing for white bass was good for anglers using white grubs and crank baits. Fishing for catfish was good for anglers using shrimp on trotlines and rod and reel.

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was good for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait and small spinners. Most of the fish caught were 8-to-10 inch rainbows.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Fishing for kokanee is picking up as a few more were taken this week. Anglers did best trolling Cripplures, Z Rays and Arnies tipped with corn. Fishing for trout was good for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, corn, Pistol Petes, Panther Martins and worms. Anglers did well fishing from the bank, from anchored boats and light line trolling. Fishing for perch was good for anglers using worms.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing was good at Lake Maloya for anglers using home made dough baits, power bait, Pistol Petes, Super Dupers and salmon eggs. Action at Lake Alice was a bit slower but anglers managed to catch a few trout while using salmon eggs and power bait.

MAXWELL LAKE 13 : Fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners for trout.

MCALLISTER LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs, corn/salmon egg combinations, power bait, spinners and Pistol Petes for trout.

MONASTERY LAKE:   Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using corn, salmon eggs, spinners and prop flies under a bubble for trout.

MORPHY LAKE: Trout fishing was very good again this past week. Anglers did well using power bait, worms, corn, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes, spinners, spoons and wet flies under a bubble.   There were also a few trout taken on dry flies fished early in the day. Hours of operation are from 8a.m. to 8p.m. daily until further notice.

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday morning, water flow was 35cfs near the town of Pecos. Trout fishing was very good using night crawlers, stimulators, spinners, copper john barrs, bead head hares ears and salmon eggs.

RED RIVER: Water flow near Questa was 38cfs and below the hatchery was 64cfs as of Monday. Fishing was good this past week for anglers using worms, salmon eggs, spinners, elk hair caddis, prince nymphs and copper john barrs for trout.

RIO GRANDE: As of Monday, water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge was 428cfs. Fishing was fair for anglers using night crawlers, wooly buggers and streamers for trout. A few trout were also taken on dry flies fished in the evening hours. We had no reports on other species.

SANTA CRUZ: Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners for trout.

SPRINGER LAKE:   Fishing was fair again this past week for anglers using Rat-L-Traps, large Mepps spinners and bunny leeches for 22-to-32 inch northern pike. We had no reports on other species.

STORRIE LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using yellow and chartreuse power bait and salmon eggs for trout.

UTE LAKE: White bass, walleye and smallmouth bass fishing was still going strong here this past week. The best white bass reports we received came from anglers using Rat-L-Traps, chrome or white deep running crank baits, top water lures and white grubs. Walleye were taken on Reef Runners, bottom bouncer rigs tipped with night crawlers or leeches and minnows jigged deep. Several of the walleye taken were in the 2-to-5 pound range. Smallmouth bass fishing was good for anglers using tubes, senkos and power worms. Largemouth bass were taken on spinner baits and top water lures. Fishing for catfish has picked up some as there were several taken on stink bait and shrimp.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: This was another good week for walleye anglers. They continued to do well fishing the upper flats on both sides of the lake. Most of the walleye this past week were taken on Wally Pops, crank baits and weighted worm rigs trolled at 15-to-20 feet. There were a few walleye taken on tubes and crank baits. Fishing was good for anglers using tubes, worms, salt craws, senkos and jerk baits for smallmouth bass. A few brown trout were taken by anglers trolling crank baits at the upper end of the lake. We had no reports on other species.

BLUEWATER LAKE: Fishing slowed some this past week. Anglers managed to catch a few trout and catfish. Best baits were shrimp and liver for the cats and power bait for trout.

BURNS CANYON LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 599cfs and 953cfs below Abiquiu. Fishing below El Vado was fair for anglers using worms, salmon eggs, streamers and copper john barrs for trout. Fishing below Abiquiu was slow.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.

EL VADO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using night crawlers and power bait for trout.

FENTON LAKE: Fishing was good for anglers using power bait, wooly buggers, Pistol Petes, worms and spinners for 8-to-11 inch rainbows and a few small brown trout.

HERON LAKE: Kokanee action really picked up this past week as several limits were reported. Anglers did well using needlefish, sockeye slammers and double whammies. There were also several mixed limits of kokanee and rainbow trout caught using the same lures, power bait and Panther Martins. Most of the fish were taken by anglers trolling at depths of 12 to 22 feet. Anglers trolling also caught a few small lake trout.

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 12cfs. Trout fishing was reported as good here and on the San Antonio, Guadalupe and Cebolla. Best baits were hoppers, copper john barrs, stone flies, small spinners, worms and salmon eggs.

MANZANO LAKE : Fishing was fair for anglers using prop flies, power bait and salmon eggs for trout.

MCGAFFEY LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using corn, salmon eggs, power bait and spinners for trout.

NAVAJO LAKE: Anglers reported good bass fishing again this past week.   Quite a few smallmouth bass and a few largemouth were caught by anglers using power worms, tubes, senkos, crank baits, top water lures and jerk baits.   There were reports of several northern pike caught by anglers using spinner baits, crank baits and jerk baits. They were working their lures in less than 10 feet of water.   Most of the pike were caught on the San Juan arm. Fishing was good using minnows, jigs and tubes for crappie. Good reports came from anglers fishing near the marinas and in Francis Canyon. Kokanee fishing continues to pick up as anglers reported catching several on the main lake. Most of the kokanee were taken between 25 and 40 feet and using Arnies, Z Rays and needlefish trolled behind Christmas trees.  

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

SAN GREGORIO LAKE: We had one really good report from here this past week. Joe Chacon of Albuquerque caught a limit of 10-to-12 inch rainbows last Sunday. He was using small silver Panther Martins and rainbow colored Thomas cyclones.   The lake has been heavily stocked and should provide good fishing for several weeks.

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 2020cfs. Fishing in the Quality Water section was fair for anglers using sparkle worms, San Juan worms, bead head pheasant tails and Griffith's gnats. Anglers did well in the bait waters using jerk baits and night crawlers. The flows will be ramped up to 5,000cfs, will remain there for 1 week and then will be ramped back down for 1 week.

SOUTHWEST AREA

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

BILL EVANS LAKE:   Fishing was good for anglers using poppers, worms, small spinners and small wet flies for bluegill. We had no reports on other species.

CABALLO LAKE: Fishing was good for anglers using crank baits, tubes, minnows and sassy shad for white bass. Anglers also did well trolling crank baits, sassy shad and spinners/night crawler combinations for walleye.   Fishing was good using liver, shrimp and night crawlers for catfish. Fernando Herrera reported catching four walleye between 3 and 5 pounds while fishing with a friend near the east side boat ramp.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing was fair this past week for anglers using grubs, sassy shad, crank baits and top water lures for white bass. The best reports we heard were from anglers fishing near McCrae Canyon and south of Horse Island.   Fishing was fair for anglers using senkos, top water lures, worms and jerk baits for black bass. Fishing was fair using worms for bluegill and a few crappie. Fishing for catfish was good for anglers using liver, shrimp, hot dogs and night crawlers. Anglers reported catching a few striped bass while using top water lures, umbrella rigs and deep running crank baits.

ESCONDIDA LAKE: We had no reports from anglers but the lake was just recently stocked with good size catfish.

GILA RIVER: Water on the main river was flowing at 17cfs as of Monday morning. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

PERCHA DAM: Fishing was fair-to-good using tubes, spinners and crank baits for white bass and a few walleye. We had a good report from angler, Sgt. James Lombard, who reported that several people caught fish here last week.

QUEMADO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using wooly buggers and Pistol Petes, worms, power bait and salmon eggs. We had reports of a few tiger musky in the 40 inch range caught this past week but were unable to verify.

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte was 1,500cfs as of Monday. Fishing continued to be good for anglers fishing the river above and below Caballo Lake. Anglers did well using liver, shrimp and cut bait for catfish. White bass and walleye and a few trout were taken by anglers using spinners, tubes, grubs and night crawlers.

SOUTHEAST AREA

BATAAN LAKE: We had no reports from anglers but the lake was recently stocked with good size catfish and fishing should be good.

BONITO LAKE: As of May 2nd, the City of Alamogordo has closed the lake to fishing and other activity. For further information and updates call 505-336-4157.

BOSQUE REDONDO: Fishing was slow for all species.

BRANTLEY: Fishing was slow for all species. Anglers should 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 fair-to-good for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait, bead head nymphs and prop flies under a bubble for trout.

PECOS: Below Sumner Lake, water flow on Monday was 88cfs. Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using liver, shrimp minnows and worms for catfish.

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

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow as of Monday was .60cfs. Fishing was slow.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing was good for anglers using crank baits, jerk baits, top water lures, worms, tubes and senkos for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using small crank baits and grubs for crappie. There were several crappie caught in the 2-to-2.5 pound range. Anglers fishing for bass and crappie also reported catching a few walleye. We had no reports on other species.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing slowed a bit this past week. There were a few walleye taken by anglers trolling crank baits and bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair for anglers using top water lures, crank baits and tubes. A few good size catfish were taken on liver and night crawlers.