Weekly Fishing Report

 June 13, 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

Elephant Butte : June 3, Julian Vargas of Albuquerque caught a 20-pound striped bass. He was using a Bomber crank bait.

Cimarron River: June 3, Adam Cline of Ashland, Kansas caught a 20-inch rainbow trout. He was fishing above Palisades and using a Panther Martin spinner.

Heron Lake: June 5, Brittany Hamilton, 11, of Albuquerque caught a 20-inch rainbow trout. She was fishing with green power bait near Salmon Run.

Lake Roberts: June 4, Melanie Duran of Silver City caught a 22-inch and a 25-inch catfish. She was using liver for bait. On the same day, husband Ben Duran caught a 21-inch catfish while using dough bait.

Cochiti Lake: June 6, Keelan O'Hea,10, of Albuquerque caught a 5-pound 21.5-inch largemouth bass while fishing with minnows.

Elephant Butte: June 8, Danny Hubbard of Albuquerque caught an 11-pound striped bass. He was using an umbrella rig. June 11, Allen Sturtevant of Albuquerque caught a 3.5-pound smallmouth bass. He was using a tube and fishing main lake points.

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 this past week for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, worms, Pistol Petes and spinners. Fishing was fair-to-good using worms for perch.

CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest as of Monday was 39cfs. Trout fishing was good for anglers using size 10-to-12 stimulators, bead head nymphs and spinners.

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

CLAYTON LAKE: Fishing was good trolling an assortment of lures for small walleye. Best baits were wally divers and spinner/crawler combinations. Fishing was good using corn for trout. We had no reports on other species.

COCHITI LAKE: Anglers reported some very good top water action for largemouth and smallmouth bass this past week. Black buzz baits and Ricos did very well in the early to mid morning hours. Several smallmouth bass were also taken on live bait, tubes, salt craws and jigs. Fishing was fair for anglers using crank baits, large spinner baits and flies for northern pike and a few walleye. Fishing was good for anglers using minnows and worms for perch, bluegill, white bass and crappie.  

CONCHAS LAKE: Some anglers struggled while a few did very well fishing for walleye this past week. Those having the best success were slow trolling deep with spinner/night crawler rigs and crank baits. They also found several walleye in brushy areas at 8-to12 feet. They were using crank baits, grubs and sassy shad in the brush. Fishing was fair for anglers trolling for white bass. Best baits were fire tiger, white and chartreuse crank baits. Several anglers also reported catching white bass on top water lures.   Fishing for catfish was fair-to-good for anglers using shrimp and night crawlers at night. Fishing for bluegill continued to be very good for anglers using poppers, wet flies and worms. Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass was fair for anglers using tubes, crank baits, top water lures, grubs and jigs.    

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was very slow again this past week.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Trout fishing was rated as excellent again this past week as several big rainbows were caught. Best baits were power bait, Pistol Petes, wooly buggers and salmon eggs.   Fishing was fair using worms for perch. A few kokanee were taken by anglers trolling assorted spoons and spinners tipped with corn at 16-to-30 feet.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing was rated as very good at Lake Maloya this past week. Anglers did well using green and orange power bait, Super Dupers, Panther Martins and olive and black Pistol Petes. At Lake Alice, fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using an assortment of power bait and salmon eggs.

MAXWELL LAKE 13: Trout fishing was fair 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-16 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 good at the beginning of the week but slowed by Sunday. A few trout were taken on power bait, corn and spinners. Hours of operation are from 8a.m. to 8p.m. daily until further notice.

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday morning, water flow was 30cfs near the town of Pecos. Trout fishing was good using elk hair caddis, copper john barrs, bead head hares ears, spinners, night crawlers and salmon eggs.

RED RIVER: Water flow near Questa was 25cfs and below the hatchery was 51cfs as of Monday. Fishing was fair-to-good this past week for anglers using worms and dry/dropper combinations of elk hair caddis, gold bead hares ears and/or copper john barrs for trout.

RIO GRANDE: As of Monday, water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge was 476cfs. Fishing was fair for anglers using night crawlers, spinners and size 10-to-14 bead head nymphs for trout. We had no reports on other species.

SANTA CRUZ: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, garlic eggs, corn and spinners.

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 and spinner baits caught a few good size largemouth bass. Fishing was fair using cut bait at night for catfish.

STORRIE LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, corn, salmon eggs and worms for trout. A few were also taken on prop flies under a bubble.

UTE LAKE: Fishing for bluegill was described as excellent this past week. Kids of all ages were catching them using worms or small jigs under a bobber and with poppers on a fly rod. Walleye fishing was good for anglers trolling Rat-L-Traps, bottom bouncer rigs and spinner/Gulp worm rigs. Anglers also did well working crank baits and grubs in the trees near Horse Shoe Bend, Romero and Cow Springs. Pink and white crank baits seemed to be working best over the weekend for walleye and white bass. Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using tubes, top water lures and drop shot/worm rigs for smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and crappie. Most of the fish were taken at depths of 6-to-15 feet. Fishing at night was good for anglers using night crawlers, liver and shrimp for catfish.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Fishing for smallmouth bass was very good for anglers using tubes, worms, crank baits, top water lures and jerk baits. Anglers reported catching smallmouth bass at varying depths and all over the lake. Fishing for walleye was good for some but slow for other. Anglers who did best were trolling spinner/worm combinations on the west side flats. They were working depths of 12-to-23 feet. A few anglers also caught walleye while working jig/worm and jig/grub combinations in 6-to-12 feet in brushy areas. A few walleye were also taken on crank baits worked around the brush.

BLUEWATER LAKE: Trout fishing was a bit slow but anglers using corn, worms and salmon eggs reported catching a few. Fishing for catfish was fair for anglers using cut bait, liver and shrimp. Anglers trolling for musky reported catching a few in the 30-to-38 inch class but most were 16-to-20 inches. They were using large spinners and crank baits.

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

CANJILON LAKES: Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 719cfs and 946cfs below Abiquiu. The fluctuating flows have made fishing quite difficult in these areas. There were a few trout taken by anglers fishing below El Vado and using weighted bead head wooly buggers, spinners and night crawlers. Trout fishing above El Vado was good for anglers using wooly buggers, copper john barrs, stimulators, spinners, worms and salmon eggs.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE (Tingley Beach): Fishing for catfish was quite good for anglers using night crawlers, liver, shrimp, hot dogs and dough bait. Fishing for trout in the catch and release pond was good for anglers using bead head pheasant tail nymphs, small Griffiths gnats, small stimulators and San Juan worms.

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

FENTON LAKE: Fishing was very good this past week for anglers using worms, power bait, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes and an assortment of spinners for trout. As of Monday, the lake and campground was open and operating under level 2 fire restrictions.

HERON LAKE: Fishing for kokanee and rainbow trout was very good this past week for anglers trolling double whammies, Cripplures, wedding rings and orange and chartreuse Panther Martins at 15-to-22 feet. Anglers fishing from the bank caught several rainbow trout. Best baits were power bait and salmon eggs.

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 Cebolla and the Rio Guadalupe. Best baits were small spinners, salmon eggs, stimulators, bead head prince nymphs, copper john barrs and bead head hares ears.

MANZANO LAKE: Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using power bait, corn and salmon eggs for trout.

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

NAVAJO LAKE: Crappie fishing was reported as good to very good by several anglers this past week. We had good reports from anglers fishing up the Pine and the San Juan arms. Best baits were minnows and small crappie jigs. Anglers did well from the bank as well as from boats. Fishing for northern pike was good for anglers using jerk baits, large spinner baits and crank baits. The best reports came from anglers fishing up the San Juan arm. Fishing for kokanee was fair for anglers trolling Arnies, Z Rays and needlefish on the main lake. They were trolling at depths of 25-to-40 feet. Fishing was fair using crank baits, top water lures, jigs and tubes for smallmouth bass. Most of the bass were taken in less than 12 feet of water. We had no reports on other species.

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

SAN GREGORIO LAKE: Trout fishing was very good for most anglers this past week. Several limits were taken by anglers using spinners, salmon eggs, power bait, Pistol Petes and wet flies. Anglers did well from the bank and from float tubes.

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 3,070cfs. Fishing in the Quality Water section was fair-to-good 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 the end of the week.

SOUTHWEST AREA

BEAR CANYON: Fishing was fair for anglers using 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 slow-to-fair for anglers trolling spinner/night crawler rigs and crank baits for walleye.   Fishing was fair using crank baits, rooster tails, minnows and sassy shad for white bass.   Fishing was fair-to-good using liver, shrimp and night crawlers for catfish.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: It was a great week for white bass anglers and especially so for those fishing the gravel banks around Long Point. Several whites in the 3-to-4 pound class were taken by anglers using top water lures, crank baits, spinners and grubs. Anglers fishing with top water lures also hooked into several striped bass. Other striped bass were taken on umbrella rigs, live bait and deep running crank baits. Fishing was a little tougher this past week for largemouth and smallmouth bass. A few were taken on tubes, top water lures, jigs and drop shot rigs fished off main lake and secondary points. Fishing for catfish was fair-to-good for anglers using shrimp, night crawlers, dough bait and liver. The best reports came from anglers fishing at night.

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

GILA RIVER: Water on the main river was flowing at 12cfs as of Monday morning. Fishing on the Forks has slowed due to low water conditions. There was very light fishing pressure this past week.

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

PERCHA DAM: We had no reports from anglers this week.

QUEMADO LAKE: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes.

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte was 1,520cfs as of Monday. Fishing was fair for anglers fishing the river above and below Caballo Lake. Anglers did best using liver, night crawlers and shrimp for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

SOUTHEAST AREA

BATAAN LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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 1,360cfs. The area immediately below the lake is closed to fishing due to the high water release but should reopen later this week.

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

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow as of Monday was .55cfs. Fishing was slow.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: We had no reports from anglers. Water will continue to be released until the 14th of June. There will still be sufficient water in the lake to launch boats for fishing at that time.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was good for anglers using tubes, top water lures and jerk baits in brushy areas for smallmouth bass. Walleye fishing has slowed but there were a few taken on crank baits and spinner/worm combinations.   We had no reports on other species.