Weekly Fishing Report

June 6, 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

Conservancy Park Lake (Tingley Beach): May 29, Rita Rogers of Albuquerque caught a 24-inch channel catfish. She was using worms for bait.

Ute Lake: June 4, Sam Taylor of Amarillo caught a 7-pound largemouth bass while fishing a bass tournament.

Clayton Lake: June 4, Jack Jameson of Dumas, Texas, caught a 27-inch walleye. He was trolling a bottom bouncer/spinner/worm rig.

Bluewater Lake: June 4, Travis Smith of Albuquerque caught and released 5 large tiger muskies. He was using homemade black and white clouser minnows with a brown rabbit strip tail.

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: Fishing was very good this past week for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes and spinner/worm combinations for 9-to-13 inch trout. Fishing was fair using worms for perch.

CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest as of Monday was 52cfs. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using small copper john barrs, parachute adams, humpys and yellow sallies.

GRAVEL PIT LAKES: We had no reports from anglers this week.

CLAYTON LAKE: Anglers reported excellent fishing for walleye and trout this past week. Best lures for walleye were crank baits and tail spinners. Trout anglers did well using Panther Martins, Tasmanian devils and Pistol Petes. A few catfish were taken on worms and corn.

COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was rated as good-to-excellent by anglers fishing for white bass, bluegill and perch. Best baits were minnows and worms. Anglers using these baits also picked up a few walleye, smallmouth bass and crappie. A few walleye were also taken on crank baits and bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs. Anglers fishing for black bass did best using top water lures early and late in the day and crank baits, tubes and jigs fished deep or in heavy cover during the day.

CONCHAS LAKE: Walleye fishing slowed a bit at the south end of the lake but picked up at the north end. Anglers did well trolling white, chartreuse and fire tiger crank baits. A few walleye were also taken on jig and worm and spinner/worm combinations. White bass fishing was good for anglers using rooster tails and crank baits on both sides of the lake and on cut bait fished near the marina. Fishing for catfish was good for anglers using shrimp and night crawlers at night. Fishing for bluegill was very good for anglers using poppers, wet flies and worms. A few good size smallmouth bass were taken by anglers using tubes, crank baits, grubs and jigs.

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was very slow. The water is quite low and clear.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Trout fishing was rated as excellent this past week. Anglers did very well from the bank and from boats. Best baits were power bait, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes, spinner/worm combinations, needlefish and Panther Martins. Fishing was fair using worms for perch. A few kokanee were taken by anglers trolling assorted spoons and spinners tipped with corn at 20-to-30 feet.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing was very good at both lakes through this last Saturday, but slowed on Sunday as a weather front moved through the area. Best baits were salmon eggs, power bait, Pistol Petes and assorted spinners. The trout ranged in size from 8-to-11 inches.

MAXWELL LAKE 13: Trout fishing was fair-to-good this past week for anglers using power bait and trolling spinners behind cow bells. Most of the fish caught ranged in size from 13-to-18 inches.

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

MONASTERY LAKE: Fishing was good for anglers using corn, salmon eggs and power bait 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. Hours of operation are from 8a.m. to 8p.m. daily until further notice.

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday morning, water flow was 33cfs near the town of Pecos. Trout fishing was good using spinners, elk hair caddis, copper john barrs, bead head hares ears, night crawlers and salmon eggs.

RED RIVER: Water flow near Questa was 29cfs and below the hatchery was 57cfs as of Monday. Fishing was good this past week for anglers using worms, salmon eggs, elk hair caddis, gold bead hares ears and copper john barrs for trout.

RIO GRANDE: As of Monday, water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge was 640cfs. Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using night crawlers, wooly buggers and streamers for trout. We had no reports on other species.

SANTA CRUZ: We had no reports from anglers this week.

SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing was good this past week for anglers using Rat-L-Traps, large Mepps spinners, jerk baits and bunny leeches for northern pike. Anglers using jerk baits also caught a few good size largemouth bass. Fishing was fair using cut bait at night for catfish.

STORRIE LAKE: Fishing was good for anglers using power bait, corn/salmon egg combinations and salmon eggs for trout.

UTE LAKE: Walleye fishing was quite good again this past week. Several anglers reported catching limits in the Watson Island and Horse Shoe Bend area. They were using a variety of baits including spinner/night crawler rigs, wally divers, tail spinners, Bombers, chrome Rat-L-Traps, sassy shad and grubs. Several white bass were taken by anglers using spinners, crank baits and top water lures. Fishing for black bass was fair-to-good for anglers using tubes, senkos, robo worms, jerk baits, spinner baits and buzz baits. Anglers using the drop shot technique for bass in 15-to-20 feet of water reported catching several good size crappie. Fishing for catfish was fair for anglers fishing at night and using stink bait, night crawlers and liver.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE : Fishing for walleye just keeps getting better according to several anglers who fished here this past week. They keyed on the upper flats on both sides of the lake with the best reports coming from the west side. Most of the fish caught were in 8-to-20 feet of water and were taken on a variety of lures. Anglers did well using shad raps, rip shad, fire tiger and pumpkin grubs on ¼ ounce jig heads, spinner/crawler combinations and wally pops. Walleye anglers also reported catching several 8-to-10 inch perch and catfish up to five pounds. The perch were hitting worms in 12-to-20 feet of water while the catfish were caught on crank baits and wally pops. Smallmouth bass fishing was good for anglers using tubes, jerk baits and worms. A few brown trout were taken by anglers trolling crank baits.

BLUEWATER LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using shrimp, night crawlers and liver for catfish. A few trout were taken on salmon eggs, power bait and spinners. One anglers reported catching and releasing five big tiger musky.

BURNS CANYON LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using prop flies under a bubble, salmon eggs, spinners and power bait.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 734 cfs and 1,010 cfs below Abiquiu. The fluctuating flows have made fishing quite difficult in these areas. However, we had good reports of rainbow and brown trout being taken by anglers fishing above El Vado Lake and using wooly buggers, spinners, worms and salmon eggs.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE: Fishing for catfish was good for anglers using night crawlers, liver, hot dogs and dough bait. A few good size trout were caught by anglers using red San Juan worms in the catch and release pond.

EL VADO LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.

FENTON LAKE: The lake and park facility will close on Wednesday, June 7 at 5pm and will remain closed until further notice due to extreme fire conditions.

HERON LAKE: Fishing for kokanee was good for anglers trolling Cripplures, needlefish, sockeye slammers and double whammies. They were trolling at depths of 15-to-28 feet. Anglers fishing for kokanee also caught several rainbows. Fishing from the bank was fair-to-good for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs for 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 upper San Antonio and the Rio Guadalupe. Best baits were salmon eggs, egg patterns, bead head prince nymphs, copper john barrs and bead head hares ears. Due to high fire danger, some areas of the Jemez will close to public access as of 5pm Wednesday, June 7. Anglers will be allowed to fish the main Jemez from Soda Dam down stream. For access information on other waters, contact the forest service at 505-829-3535.

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

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

NAVAJO LAKE: Fishing was good for anglers using jerk baits, jigs, tubes, worms and top water lures for smallmouth bass. Anglers using fly rods and poppers reported catching several good size smallmouth in Francis Canyon. Bass fishing was also good up the San Juan and Pine arms of the lake. Fishing was fair for anglers trolling for kokanee. The best reports we received came from anglers fishing the main lake and using Arnies, needle fish and Cripplures trolled at 27-to-35 feet. Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using minnows and small jigs for crappie. A few northern pike were taken by anglers using spinner baits, jerk baits and spoons.

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

SAN GREGORIO LAKE: Trout fishing was excellent for most anglers who fished here this past week. Several limits of 8-to-15 inch fish were taken by anglers using spinners, salmon eggs, power bait, Pistol Petes and brown wet flies. Anglers did well from the bank and from float tubes.

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 4,530cfs. Fishing in the Quality Water section was fair for anglers using large San Juan worms, leeches, wooly buggers and bead head hares ears for trout.    Anglers did best using spinners, jerk baits and night crawlers through the bait waters. The flow will be ramped down this week and should be back at normal levels by next week.

SOUTHWEST AREA

BEAR CANYON: Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using shrimp, night crawlers, liver and dough bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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 fair-to-good for anglers using grubs, crank baits, rooster tails, minnows and sassy shad for white bass. Most of the reports came from anglers fishing the east side of the lake. Fishing was fair for anglers trolling crank baits and spinner/crawler rigs for walleye. Fishing was fair using liver, shrimp and night crawlers for catfish.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing was good this past week for anglers using crank baits, sassy shad, grubs and top water lures for white bass. We received several good reports from anglers fishing south of the Black Bluffs and on the east side of the lake. Fishing was fair for anglers using jig and pig combinations, crank baits and spinner baits for black bass. Fishing was good using shrimp, liver and hot dogs for catfish. A few striped bass were taken by anglers fishing near the mouth of McCrae Canyon and using crank baits and jigs.

ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was good using liver, shrimp, night crawlers and corn for catfish.

GILA RIVER: Water on the main river was flowing at 16cfs as of Monday morning. We had no reports from anglers this week.

LAKE ROBERTS: Fishing was slow for all species.

PERCHA DAM: Fishing was fair using grubs, sassy shad, spinners and crank baits for white bass. Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using crank baits for walleye.

QUEMADO LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, wooly buggers, olive Pistol Petes and worms.

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte was 1,480cfs as of Monday. Fishing was fair for anglers fishing the river above and below Caballo Lake. Anglers did best using liver and shrimp for catfish. A few white bass and walleye were taken by anglers using tubes, grubs and night crawlers.

SOUTHEAST AREA

BATAAN LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using worms, liver and stink bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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 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 1,380cfs. The area immediately below the lake is closed to fishing due to the high water release.

PERCH LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow as of Monday was .51cfs. Fishing was slow.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using crank baits, jerk baits, top water lures, salt craws, brush hogs and senkos for largemouth and smallmouth bass. The fish were scattered as water was being released from the lake. This release is expected to last another 4 or 5 days. Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using small crank baits and grubs for a mixed bag of walleye and crappie.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers trolling crank baits and bottom bouncer/worm rigs for walleye. We heard of a few walleye caught in the 4-to-6 pound range. We had no reports on other species.