Weekly Fishing Report

 Aug. 22, 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

Clayton Lake: Aug. 14, Bill McMurray and Charles Firestone of Dalhart, Texas, caught 79.75 pounds of channel catfish while fishing with shrimp. All their fish weighed between 10 and 14 pounds. Aug. 19, Matthew Trujillo of Amarillo caught a 31-inch, 13.5-pound channel catfish and a 27-inch, 8-pound, 5-ounce catfish. He was using cut bait. Trujillo   also caught a limit of rainbow trout while using worms.

Ute Lake: Aug. 15, Chase Clinkingbeard of Hugoton, Kan., caught a 3.78-pound walleye. He was using a spinner bait and caught the fish in about 8 feet of water. Aug. 19, Trudi Lambirth of Kenna caught a 16-inch walleye while trolling a Barbie doll - colored (white with pink, purple, blue and green spots) deep little ripper lure. Aug. 20, Rod Lambirth caught several 2- to 3-pound black bass while using green senkos.

Heron Lake: Aug. 19, Mark Bayliff of Raton caught a 17.5-inch kokanee salmon. He was trolling a Macks lure at 27 feet.

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 fair for anglers using worms under a bobber, power bait and trolling christmas tree/worm combinations. Most of the trout caught were in the 9-to-16 inch range.

CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest as of Monday was 8.9cfs. Trout fishing was rated as fair-to-good for anglers using yellow and tan stimulators and small bead head hares ears. A few fish were also taken on worms.

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

CLAYTON LAKE: Fishing was quite good this past week for anglers using shrimp and cut bait and fishing for catfish. See catches of the week. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using worms. Lots of small bluegill were also taken by anglers using worms. Fishing from the bank was good for anglers using corn and worms for small walleye.

COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was good for anglers using cut bait, worms and liver for catfish. The best reports came from anglers fishing the east side and the upper end of the lake. A few white bass were taken by anglers trolling deep running crank baits. We had no reports on other species.

CONCHAS LAKE: Bass fishing was rated as very good again this past week. Anglers did well using spinner baits, tubes, senkos, Ricos, salt craws, jig and grub combinations and Gulp worms for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Anglers reported catching bass in the shallows early in the mornings and deep off points during the day. Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers trolling wally divers and deep little rippers at depths of 20-to-30 feet for walleye. A few good walleye were also taken on spinner/night crawler combinations fished behind bottom bouncers. Fishing was good using small flies and worms for bluegill. Fishing was fair using shrimp and liver at night for catfish.

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was fair-to-good this past week. Anglers who did best were fly fishing and using black gnats and mosquito patterns. A few fish were taken on salmon eggs.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species this past week. A few trout were taken on olive Pistol Petes and olive wooly buggers fished on light line. A few perch were taken on worms. We had no reports on kokanee.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair at both lakes but a little better at Lake Maloya this past week. Best baits were rainbow and chartreuse power bait and Pistol Petes fished in the early morning and late evening hours.

MAXWELL LAKE 13: Fishing was fair using power bait for 13-to-20 inch trout.

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

MONASTERY LAKE: Trout fishing was slow.

MORPHY LAKE: Trout fishing was rated as fair this past week. Anglers doing best were fishing from float tubes and using wooly buggers, Pistol Petes, black gnats and black with red dot Panther Martins. Fishing pressure was quite heavy.

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday morning, water flow was 383cfs near the town of Pecos. Heavy rains created tough fishing conditions on most of the river over the past weekend. A few trout were taken by anglers fishing the upper river and using wooly buggers, mosquitoes and parachute adams.

RED RIVER: Water flow near Questa was 32cfs and below the hatchery was 52cfs as of Monday. Trout fishing was rated as good this past week for anglers using elk hair caddis, parachute adams, copper john barrs, spinners and worms.

RIO COSTILLA: We had no reports from anglers this week.

RIO GRANDE : As of Monday, water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge was 440cfs. Fishing was rated as slow for all species. A few trout were taken on spinners and night crawlers.

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

SHUREE PONDS: Trout fishing was good this past week for anglers using small spoons and bead head nymphs.

SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using worms and cut bait for catfish. Fishing for all other species was slow.

STORRIE LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

UTE LAKE: Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers trolling deep running crank baits and spinner/night crawler combinations for walleye. Anglers doing best were working the main lake channel at depths of 30-to-50 feet and looking for suspended fish. The walleye ranged in size from 16-to-22 inches. A few walleye were also taken on minnows and spoons. Fishing was fair-to-good using senkos, Gulp worms, tubes, spinner baits and top water lures for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Most of the bass were taken in less than 15 feet of water. Fishing was fair using shrimp, liver and cut bait for catfish. Fishing was good using worms in the shallow rocks for bluegill. The water surface temp was in the low to mid 70s and the main lake was relatively clear.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Walleye fishing was good for anglers using spinner/Gulp worm combinations and working the upper end of the lake. A few were also taken on crank baits and grubs. Anglers reported having their best luck on the east side of the lake and off main lake and secondary points. Fishing was fair for anglers using worms for perch. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair-to-good for anglers using spinner baits, grubs, jerk baits and tubes. We had no reports on other species.

BLUEWATER LAKE: Anglers fishing for tiger musky had another good week. Several fish in the 16-to-28 inch size were caught and released. Best baits were shallow running minnow shaped crank baits. We had no reports on other species.

BURNS CANYON LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using spoons, prop flies under a bubble and salmon eggs for trout.

CANJILON LAKES: Trout fishing was good this past week for anglers using prop flies under a bubble, spinners, power bait and salmon eggs.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 54cfs and 413cfs below Abiquiu. Trout fishing was reported as slow in all areas of the river.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE (Tingley Beach): Fishing was rated as slow for all species. Try fishing here early and late in the day for the best chances at catching fish this time of year.

EL VADO LAKE: Fishing was slow.

FENTON LAKE: Trout fishing was slow. The Lake Fork day use area of the lake has been closed and will remain closed until further notice.

HERON LAKE: Fishing for kokanee slowed a bit this past week. Anglers did best trolling kokanee killers and double whammies at depths of 27-to-32 feet. Anglers fishing for kokanee also managed to catch several rainbow trout. Bank fishing for trout was rated as slow-to-fair. Best baits were power bait, spinners and salmon egg/corn combinations.

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 73cfs. The best reports we received this past week came from anglers fishing the Cebolla and the San Antonio. Trout were hitting foam beetles, parachute adams, small copper john barrs, small hoppers, worms, corn and salmon eggs.

MANZANO LAKE: Fishing was slow.

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

NAVAJO LAKE: Smallmouth bass fishing was quite good this past week for anglers using senkos, tubes, jerk baits, spinner baits, baby brush hogs and 4 inch worms. The best reports came from anglers fishing La Jara Canyon and the S bends on the San Juan arm. Most of the bass were in the 10-to-14 inch size. Fishing was very good using deep running rainbow and hot pink crank baits in 20-to-25 feet of water and small jerk baits in shallow water for northern pike. The pike ranged in size from 12-to-28 inches. Fishing for kokanee was slow. The kokanee appear to have scattered and are quite deep. We had no reports on other species.

RAMAH LAKE : The lake has been closed to all access due to a recent fish kill. The department will reopen the lake when conditions improve.

SAN GREGORIO LAKE: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using hoppers, ants, salmon eggs and elk hair caddis. There was heavy fishing pressure on the lake.

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday was 574cfs. Trout fishing picked up a bit from the previous week and was considered as fair-to-good especially through the Quality Waters. Anglers did well through this section using very small emergers, dead chickens, midge clusters, red annelids, small copper john barrs and bead head pheasant tail nymphs. Downstream anglers did best using power bait, worms, wooly buggers, jerk baits and wooly buggers for a mix of brown and rainbow trout. Most of the fish caught through the bait waters were in the 10-to-15 inch size.  

SEVEN SPRINGS BROOD POND: This water is for kids under age 12 only. It's a great place to take the little ones for some fun fishing.

SOUTHWEST AREA

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

BILL EVANS LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using worms and small wet flies for bluegill and worms and liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

CABALLO LAKE: Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using cut bait, liver and shrimp for catfish. A few white bass were taken on spinners and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.  

ELEPHANT BUTTE: The lake level rose again this past week. The water was murky and there was some floating debris anglers had to watch for. White bass fishing was quite good for some anglers. They followed the gulls that were feeding on shad and proceeded to catch their limits including several that were in the 2 pound class. They were trolling assorted crank baits near Horse Island. Fishing was fair for anglers fishing for black bass. Best baits were senkos, tubes, jig and grub combinations, worms and spinner baits. Most of the bass were taken by anglers fishing south of Kettle Top. Fishing was fair using shrimp, cut bait and liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

GILA RIVER: Water on the main river was flowing at 1,510cfs and as of Monday morning. It was also quite high on the Forks and fishing was slow.

LAKE ROBERTS: Fishing was slow-to-fair using liver and worms for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

PERCHA DAM: Fishing was slow for all species.

QUEMADO LAKE: Fishing was fair using wooly buggers and Pistol Petes for trout. A few were also taken on power bait. Fishing was fair using assorted crank baits and large spinners for tiger musky. Anglers are reminded that the tiger musky is a catch and release only fish.

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte was 19cfs as of Monday. Fishing was slow for all species. With the water at this low level, look for fish stacked up in deeper holes.

SOUTHEAST AREA

BATAAN LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

BONITO LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair this past week for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait and prop flies. Fishing was fair using corn for carp.

BOSQUE REDONDO : We had no reports from anglers this week.

BRANTLEY : Anglers are to practice catch and release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish. Fishing was fair using Rat-L-Traps and Rapalas for 10-to-12 inch black bass. We had no reports on other species.

CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR: Water conditions have greatly improved and the lake was recently stocked with rainbow trout averaging 11.1 inches in length.

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

RUIDOSO RIVER: We had no reports from anglers this week.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing continued to be fair for anglers using worms, shrimp and liver in the evening hours for catfish. Fishing for all other species is slow. The lake level rose again this past week and the water was quite murky.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species and fishing pressure was very light.