Weekly Fishing Report

 Kokanee salmon snagging season opened Oct. 1 and runs through Dec. 31 in the following waters: Abiquiu Lake, Chama River from El Vado Lake to west boundary of the Rio Chama Wildlife and Fishing Area, El Vado Lake, Navajo Lake and Eagle Nest Lake. Check the 2006-2007 Fishing Rules & Information Booklet for more details.

Oct. 3, 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: Sept. 26, Tom Glover of Santa Fe caught a 20-inch rainbow trout while fishing above Terrero. He was using salmon eggs.

Navajo Lake: Oct. 1, Art Benson of Monte Vista, Colo., caught a 34-inch northern pike. He was working the San Juan arm and using a Storm swim bait.

Ute Lake: Sept. 30, Dave Chilton of Albuquerque caught a 5.7-pound largemouth bass. Oct. 1, Eddy Ambow of Hereford, Texas, caught a 3.88-pound largemouth bass.

Cochiti Lake: Oct. 1, Bryan Davis of Albuquerque caught a 16-inch, 2-pound smallmouth bass. He was using a spinner 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: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers trolling christmas tree/worm combinations and spinners. Fishing from the bank was fair using power bait and worms for trout and worms for perch. The lakes close for the season on October 31.

CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest as of Monday was 16cfs. We had no reports from anglers but trout fishing should be good with the flow at this level. Try using spinners, worms and bead head nymphs.

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

CLAYTON LAKE: Fishing was fair using worms and spinners from the bank for trout and walleye. A few small catfish were taken on liver and worms. We had no reports on other species. The lake closes for the season on October 31.

COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was fair using minnows, slab spoons and deep running crank baits for small white bass. Anglers fishing for white bass also caught a few smallmouth bass and perch. A few catfish were caught by anglers using liver and minnows. We had no reports on other species.

CONCHAS LAKE: Fishing for catfish this past week was good for anglers using night crawlers and fishing at night. White bass fishing was slow but there were a few taken by anglers using slab spoons and deep running crank baits. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair for anglers working drop shot rigs and jig and grub combinations off points. A few were also taken on top water lures. We had no reports on other species.

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs and small spinners in the beaver dam areas.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair using power bait, salmon eggs, worms and spinners for trout. Kokanee snagging opened over the past weekend and was reported as slow.

HONDO RIVER: Trout fishing was good this past week for anglers using bead head hares ears, copper john barrs and worms.

HOPEWELL LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using spinners and assorted bead head nymphs.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good at Lake Maloya for anglers using power bait. We had no reports from Lake Alice. If you get a chance, you might want to check out Lake Maloya for some good fall fly fishing for trout.

MAXWELL LAKE 13: We had no reports from anglers this week. The lake closes for the season October 31.

MCALLISTER LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait and fishing from the bank. Anglers fishing from boats and float tubes reported fishing as slow. The lake will close for the season Oct. 31.

MONASTERY LAKE: Trout fishing was slow this past week. A few fish were taken by anglers using spinners.

MORPHY LAKE: Trout fishing was fair this past week for anglers using salmon eggs, worms, spinners, salmon eggs and power bait. The lake closes for the season Oct. 31.

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday morning, water flow was 27cfs near the town of Pecos. Trout fishing here and on the Mora was good this past week for anglers using worms, salmon eggs, elk hair caddis, bead head prince nymphs and spinners.

RED RIVER: Water flow as of Monday near Questa was 18cfs and below the hatchery was 42cfs and was reported as slightly off color. Trout fishing below the hatchery was good for anglers using attractor dries, copper john barrs, gold bead hares ears and worms. Anglers reported catching a mixed bag of brown and rainbow trout ranging in size from 6-to-14 inches.

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

RIO GRANDE: As of Monday, water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge was 501cfs. Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using night crawlers, wooly buggers and jerk baits for trout. We had no reports on other species.

RIO PUEBLO: Trout fishing was good for anglers using small copper john barrs, BWOs and micro-mays.

SANTA CRUZ: Fishing was good for anglers using spinners, spoons and power bait for trout. The lake closes for the season on October 31.

SHUREE PONDS: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

STORRIE LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs, worms and power bait.

UTE LAKE: Bass and walleye fishing were a bit tougher this past week as water conditions changed with wind blowing the muddy water from the creeks on to the main lake and surface temps dropping from near 70 to 63 degrees. There were still a few good fish caught but all species were scattered. White bass and walleye could be found at depths from 25-to-50 feet and were taken by anglers jigging slab spoons and trolling bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs along the bottom. Fishing for black bass wasn't much better but a few good fish were taken on a variety of spinner baits and plastics. We had no reports on other species.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using liver, shrimp and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species. There should be some good fall brown trout fishing here. Use the same light line trolling techniques anglers use at Navajo Lake.

BLUEWATER LAKE: Fishing continued to be quite slow for all species this past week. There were a few small tiger musky caught and released. Anglers were using large in line spinners. A few catfish were taken on liver and worms.

CANJILON LAKES: Trout fishing should be good but there were no anglers at the lakes this past week.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 135cfs and 201cfs below Abiquiu. Fishing above and below El Vado was fair-to-good for anglers using night crawlers, spinners and bead head wooly buggers for trout. We had no reports from below Abiquiu.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE (Tingley Beach): Fishing was slow for all species.

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

FENTON LAKE: Trout fishing continued to be very slow. The water was still quite murky. The Lake Fork day use area of the lake has been closed and will remain closed until further notice.

HERON LAKE: This lake along with Willow Creek and the Pine River are closed to salmon snagging at this time. You may still fish for rainbow trout and lake trout at Heron but any kokanee caught between now and November 10th must be released.

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 19cfs. Fishing was fair-to-good this past week for anglers using salmon eggs, worms, power bait, copper john barrs, and spinners for trout. We received good reports from the East Fork, the Jemez, San Antonio and Cebolla. Access to the Rio Guadalupe is closed at the Tunnels but open at the upper end.

LAGUNA DEL CAMPO: This water was formerly known as Burns Canyon Lake. We had no reports from anglers this week. The lake closes for the season Oct. 31.

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

NAVAJO LAKE: Kokanee snagging got under way on October 1. Opening weekend results were down from last year but most anglers managed to snag a few fish near the Pine arm marina and near the dam. Fishing for smallmouth bass slowed considerably from the previous week. A few small fish were taken by anglers working plastics in depths to 20 feet. A few northern pike were taken on swim baits, crank baits and spinner baits. Most of the pike action this week was reported by anglers fishing up the San Juan arm of the lake. 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday was 501cfs. Trout fishing was good for anglers using Anato-mays, pheasant tail nymphs, grey midge emergers, UFOs, small wooly buggers, small copper john barrs and bunny leeches. Downstream through the bait waters, anglers rated fishing as fair. Best baits were worms, spinners, jerk baits, garlic cheese and salmon eggs 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: Fishing was slow for all species.

CABALLO LAKE: The water started clearing up from its previous muddy condition but fishing was still quite slow for all species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using shrimp, liver and cut bait for catfish. We received good reports from anglers fishing the North end of the lake and from some fishing near the dam. Fishing was good using slab spoons, top water lures, live bait and Rat-L-Traps for white bass. Look for them on underwater humps around the mouth of McRae Canyon. Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was slow. There were only 2 limits of 5 fish weighed in over the past weekend at a major bass tourney. Most of the fish weighed in were caught on tubes and senkos.

ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was slow.

GILA RIVER: Water on the main river was flowing at 109cfs as of Monday morning. Fishing on the Middle Fork was fair for anglers using bead head nymphs and worms for trout.

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 18cfs as of Monday. Fishing was slow for all species.

SOUTHEAST AREA

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

BONITO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair again this past week for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait, worms and spinners.

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.

GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR: We had no reports from anglers this week.

PECOS: Below Sumner Lake, water flow on Monday was 104cfs. Fishing was slow-to-fair using liver and worms for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow as of Monday was 6.3cfs. Trout fishing was slow-to-fair using worms.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. A few largemouth bass were caught by anglers using jig and pig combinations and spinner baits. A few catfish were taken on liver.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair using jig and grub combinations for white bass and smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species.