Weekly Fishing Report

Kokanee salmon snagging season 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, Eagle Nest Lake, Heron Lake, Willow Creek and the Pine River. Check the 2006-2007 Fishing Rules & Information Booklet for more details.

Nov. 28, 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

Santa Rosa Lake: Nov. 21, Gerald Bledsoe of Albuquerque caught a 21-inch smallmouth bass. He was using a brown tube and fishing in 5 to 12 feet of water.

San Juan River: Nov. 23, Michael Williams of Albuquerque caught and released a 23-inch rainbow trout. He was fishing the upper flats and using a size 20 Griffith's gnat.

If you have a catch of the week story, send it to us at billfishnm@hotmail.com . Include date, location, type of fish, length and bait used to catch the fish.

This is a new e-mail address for catches of the week.

NORTHEAST AREA

CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow as of Monday was .11cfs. This is typical for late fall through winter flows. Expect flows to increase and fishing to pick up in the spring.

COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure continued to be very light.

CONCHAS LAKE: There were no anglers on the water over the holiday weekend. If you are planning to fish here try using slab spoons or jig and minnow combinations for white bass and walleye. Look for schools of fish in 30-to-60 feet of water. Once a school is located work your spoon or jig with very little movement. When you feel a little weight, set the hook. If you plan on releasing your catch, bring the fish up slowly.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Kokanee snagging slowed considerably over the weekend and appears to be about over for the year as the fish were getting soft. The only reports of success came from anglers snagging near the Honey Hole. Fishing for rainbow trout was good for anglers using roe sacs, salmon eggs and power bait. A few perch were also taken on the same baits and with worms. With the cold front moving through the state this week, ice will be forming along the edges of the lake. For updated conditions call the state park office at 505-377-1594.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing at both lakes was rated as fair this past week. Anglers did best using power bait and home made dough baits.

MONASTERY LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using corn, salmon eggs, power bait, prop flies and spinners.

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday morning, water flow was 32cfs near the town of Pecos. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using copper john barrs, egg patterns, salmon eggs, power bait, worms and spinners.

RED RIVER: Water flow as of Monday near Questa was 14cfs and below the hatchery was 42cfs. Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using egg patterns, small copper john barrs and salmon eggs. Fishing pressure was light.

RIO GRANDE: As of Monday, water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge was 784cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

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

STORRIE LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light.

UTE LAKE: There was little fishing pressure over the past week but anglers did manage to find and catch several white bass and a few walleye. They were schooled up in waters ranging from 25-to-50 feet. Best baits were chartreuse glitter, white and chartreuse slab spoons and jigs tipped with minnows and fished slowly over the schools. Fishing for smallmouth bass was slow but a few fish were taken by anglers using slab spoons and deep running crank baits. We had no reports on other species.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

ALBUQUERQUE AREA DRAINS: Fishing on the Albuquerque and Bernalillo Drains was fair for anglers using egg patterns, small spinners, salmon eggs and salmon egg/corn combinations for trout. Fishing on the Corrales Drain was reported as slow.

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

BLUEWATER LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species with very light fishing pressure.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 219cfs and 239cfs below Abiquiu. Fishing below El Vado Lake was fair for anglers using spinners, jerk baits, salmon eggs and worms for a mixed bag of brown and rainbow trout. We had no reports from below Abiquiu.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE: Lots of follows and a few hook ups was the general consensus of anglers fishing the catch and release pond this past week. Small dead chickens, small copper john barrs and small crappie jigs worked best for the larger trout. Fishing on the other waters was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait, Pistol Petes and spinners for trout.

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

FENTON LAKE: Trout fishing was very slow again this past week. The Lake Fork Day Use area is closed until further notice.

HERON LAKE: Kokanee snagging was fair-to-good this past weekend with several limits caught and most fish still in good shape. Most of the action was near the La Laja boat ramp. Trout fishing was fair-to-good for some anglers using roe sacs and fishing in the snagging areas.

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 29cfs. Fishing was fair this past week for anglers using egg patterns, small copper john barrs and salmon eggs for trout. We had no reports from the other Jemez area streams. Anglers are reminded that access to the Rio Guadalupe is still closed at the lower end.

MANZANO LAKE: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using salmon eggs and power bait and fishing on the bottom.

NAVAJO LAKE: It appears that the snagging is over here for the year. There were still a few anglers snagging over the past weekend. They reported taking a few males that were firm. Trout fishing near the Pine arm boat ramp and near the dam was good for anglers using roe sacs and salmon eggs. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair for anglers using drop shot rigs and fishing deep off points in the Francis Canyon area. We had no reports on other species.

RAMAH LAKE: The lake is open to fishing. However, it has not been restocked with trout and probably won't be until next spring. There are plenty of small bluegill and green sunfish available for some fun fishing.

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 495cfs and the water on the upper river was clear. Trout fishing in the upper waters was good for anglers using small midge clusters, red annelids, dead chickens, gray emergers, UFOs, orange San Juan worms and egg patterns. Fishing the lower waters was fair-to-good for anglers using worms, jerk baits, copper john barrs and salmon eggs.

SOUTHWEST AREA

BEAR CANYON: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait and small spinners.

BILL EVANS LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners. We had no reports on other species.

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

CABALLO LAKE: Fishing pressure picked up this past week but the action was a bit slow. There were a few white bass and walleye taken by anglers using slab spoons and deep running crank baits. We had no reports on other species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing continued to be slow for all species with the best reports coming in from anglers fishing for catfish. Best baits were cut bait, dough bait and chicken liver. Anglers caught fish on trotlines and with rod and reel with most of the activity being at the north end of the lake.

GLENWOOD POND: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

GILA RIVER: Water flow near Gila on Monday was 92cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

LAKE ROBERTS: Fishing was slow-to-fair using salmon eggs and power bait for trout. We had no reports on other species.

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 as of Monday was 6.4cfs. Fishing here and below Caballo this past week was slow for all species.

SOUTHEAST AREA

BATAAN LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs for trout.

BONITO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait and spinners. The lake closes to fishing for the season November 30.

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

BOTTOMLESS LAKES: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs and power bait.

BRANTLEY: Anglers are to practice catch and release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish. The water level is dropping and the west side boat ramp is closed. We had no reports from anglers this week.

CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs.

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

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

PECOS: Below Sumner Lake, water flow on Monday was 18cfs. Fishing was fair using worms, power bait, salmon eggs and spinners for trout.

PERCH LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait and Pistol Petes under a bubble.

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 5.6cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair for anglers using tubes and deep running crank baits. Fishing pressure was very light. We had no reports on other species.

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