Weekly Fishing Report

 Sept. 5, 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

Pecos River: Aug. 29, Davey Wiederholt of Albuquerque caught his first fish on the Pecos. It was an 11-inch rainbow trout. He was using a yellow Yozuri.

Abiquiu Lake: Sept. 2, Kyle Lewis of Albuquerque caught a 24-inch walleye. He was trolling at 24 feet with a chartreuse and pink wally pop tipped with a Gulp night crawler.

Green Meadow Lake: Sept. 4, Kevin Ortiz, 12, of Hobbs caught a 3-pound, 2-ounce channel catfish. He was using chicken blood 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: Fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, worms, salmon eggs, spinners and christmas tree/worm combinations for trout.

CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest as of Monday was 1.5 cfs. Trout fishing was slow.

GRAVEL PIT LAKES: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait, spinners and prop flies under a bubble.

CLAYTON LAKE: Fishing was fair-to-good using worms for trout and small walleye. Anglers reported catching and releasing several walleye in the 6-to-12 inch range. A few trout were also taken on power bait and salmon eggs.   Fishing was fair using cut bait and worms for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was generally slow for all species. There were a few crappie, white bass and small walleye taken by anglers using minnows. A few catfish were taken by anglers using liver, cut bait and shrimp. We had no reports on other species.

CONCHAS LAKE: White bass continued to provide plenty of action for anglers this past week. Best baits were top water lures, grubs, minnows and shallow running crank baits. Fishing for black bass was fair-to-good for anglers using top water lures, spinner baits, senkos, tubes, crank baits and worms. Fishing for bluegill was good using worms and small flies. Fishing for catfish was fair-to-good for anglers using cut bait, stink bait and liver. Walleye fishing was rated as fair for anglers trolling deep running crank baits and bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs. The lake level has risen several feet over the past two weeks. Look for a lot of activity in newly flooded areas.  

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was good this past week for anglers using corn dough bait, salmon eggs and Blue Fox spinners.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair using power bait, salmon eggs, Christmas tree/worm combinations, spinners and Pistol Petes for trout. Kokanee fishing continued to be slow but a few were taken by anglers trolling spinner/corn combinations at depths of 14-to-25 feet. A few perch were taken on worms.

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

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing was fair at both lakes. Anglers at Lake Maloya did best fishing near the dam and using a variety of flies and Pistol Petes. Other anglers did well using power bait, salmon eggs and homemade dough baits at both lakes.

MAXWELL LAKE 13: Fishing was slow-to-fair using power bait and spinners for trout.

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

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

MORPHY LAKE: Trout fishing was good this past week for anglers using corn, Pistol Petes, spinners, salmon eggs and power bait. One angler reported catching a 22 inch rainbow while fishing with spinners near the dam.

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday morning, water flow was 104cfs near the town of Pecos. Trout fishing was good for anglers using night crawlers, salmon eggs, stimulators, copper john barrs and spinners. Anglers also did well using dry flies and spinners on the Mora.

RED RIVER: Water flow near Questa was 23cfs and below the hatchery was 48cfs as of Monday. Trout fishing was rated as fair this past week for anglers using elk hair caddis, copper john barrs, worms and spinners. The best reports came from anglers fishing below the hatchery.

RIO COSTILLA: Fishing was very good using stimulators, elk hair caddis and parachute adams for trout.    

RIO GRANDE: As of Monday, water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge was 354cfs. Fishing was slow but a few trout and smallmouth bass were taken by anglers using spinners, night crawlers and jerk baits.  

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

SANTA BARBARA: Fishing was fair-to-good using size 12 and 14 elk hair caddis and stimulators for trout.

SHUREE PONDS: Fishing was fair this past week for anglers using spoons and weighted flies for trout.

SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using worms and cut bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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

UTE LAKE: Fishing was good using slab spoons, crank baits and grubs for white bass. Schooling fish were reported in the Watson Island area and were taken at depths of 30-to-35 feet. Fishing was fair using drop shot rigs, top water lures, spinner baits and jigs for smallmouth and largemouth bass. Fishing was good using liver and stink bait in the Ute Creek area for catfish. A few walleye were taken by anglers working jigging spoons and crank baits at depths of 30-to-40 feet. Ute Creek and the Canadian River arms of the lake were quite muddy from recent rains.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Walleye fishing was quite good for several anglers over the weekend. There were several fish caught on wally pops and deep little rippers. Anglers did well in the Canones Creek area as well as at the upper end of the lake. Most of the walleye were taken at depths of 20-to-24 feet.   Anglers fishing for walleye also reported catching a few catfish. There were also a few catfish taken by anglers fishing from the bank and using hot dogs and liver.

BLUEWATER LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair using crank baits, spinner baits and large bunny leaches for tiger musky. Fishing for all other species was slow. The lake level rose over the past week but was still too low to launch boats safely.

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

CANJILON LAKES: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using spinners, spoons, power bait, marshmallow/salmon egg combinations and Pistol Petes for trout.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 73cfs and 332cfs below Abiquiu. Fishing above El Vado was fair for anglers using spinners and wooly buggers for trout.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE (Tingley Beach): Fishing was generally slow although we did have reports of a few catfish taken over the weekend. Best baits were hot dogs and liver.

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

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 was good one day and slow the next. That's how most anglers rated kokanee and rainbow fishing this past week. The best reports came from anglers fishing this past Saturday. They were trolling Panther Martins, Cripplures and double whammies at depths of 23-to-30 feet and catching mixed bags of kokanee and rainbows. Bank fishing was slow.

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 45cfs. Fishing was good this past week for anglers using elk hair caddis, royal wulffs, stimulators, copper john barrs, prince nymphs, salmon eggs, worms and spinners for trout. We received good reports from the Jemez, San Antonio, East Fork and Cebolla.

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

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

NAVAJO LAKE: Fishing was very good using deep running crank baits, tubes and worms for smallmouth bass. Anglers did best fishing rocky points and bluffs in coves and on the main lake.   Fishing for northern pike was good. Anglers reported catching 5 or 6 pike per day using crank baits, top water lures and spinner baits. Most of the pike were taken by anglers fishing up the San Juan arm of the lake. Fishing was fair using minnows and jigs near the mouth of Francis Canyon for crappie. Fishing for catfish was good using cut bait, liver and worms in the backs of coves. Fishing for trout and kokanee was fair for anglers trolling christmas tree/spinner combinations tipped with corn. 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: Fishing was slow.

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday was 594cfs. Trout fishing was good for anglers using foam winged emergers, red annelids, dead chickens, San Juan worms, WD40s and small bead head pheasant tails. A few fish were also taken on wooly buggers and small copper john barrs. Downstream through the bait waters, anglers did best using night crawlers, power bait, wooly buggers and jerk baits for a mix of brown and rainbow trout.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

CABALLO LAKE: The best reports again this past week came from anglers fishing for catfish. They were using shrimp, liver, cut bait and stink bait. The best reports came from anglers fishing the upper end of the lake.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing for striped bass was slow but a few were taken on live bait fished at 20 feet. Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using top water lures, crank baits, spinners and grubs for white bass. Fishing was slow-to-fair using spinner baits, senkos, Gulp worms, crank baits and salt craws for smallmouth and largemouth bass. Fishing was good using liver, shrimp and cut bait for catfish.   We had no reports on other species.  

ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was fair using liver and dough bait for catfish.

GILA RIVER: Water on the main river was flowing at 580cfs as of Monday morning.   Fishing on the Forks remained slow due to high water conditions.

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

PERCHA DAM: Fishing was slow for all species.

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

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte was 671cfs as of Monday. Fishing below Caballo was fair using liver and cut bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

SOUTHEAST AREA

BATAAN LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. The lake was recently stocked with channel catfish averaging 17.2 inches in length.

BONITO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair this past week for anglers using salmon egg/corn combinations, power bait and flies under a bubble.

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. We had no reports from anglers this week.

CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

GREEN MEADOW LAKE: Fishing was good using chicken liver, night crawlers, shrimp and hot dogs for catfish.

GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR: Fishing was fair using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners for rainbow trout.

PECOS: Below Sumner Lake, water flow on Monday was 105cfs. Fishing was fair for anglers using worms, hot dogs and liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using worms, shrimp, hot dogs and liver for catfish. Fishing for all other species is slow. The water was quite murky from increased flows into the lake.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was fair trolling deep running crank baits for small walleye and white bass. Anglers also reported catching a few smallmouth bass. They were using tubes, jigs and top water lures.