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.

Dec. 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

Ute Lake : Dec. 5, Don Power of Ute Lake caught a 5.8-pound walleye. He was using a

  jigging spoon. Dec. 9, Vernon Morris of Spearman, Texas , caught a 6-pound walleye. The fish

  was taken on a jigging spoon worked in 30 to 35 feet of water.

Jal Lake : Dec. 9, 5-year-old J. T. of Denver City , Texas , caught a 3.5-pound catfish. He was

fishing with his Superman combo and using rainbow power bait.

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.

NORTHEAST AREA

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

CONCHAS LAKE : There were no anglers on the water this past week. 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 : The lake was completely covered with ice this past week but was not open for ice fishing as it was still considered unsafe. For updated conditions call the state park office at 505-377-1594.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE : Trout fishing was good at Lake Maloya this past week. Anglers did well using corn and orange, pink and green power baits. Lake Alice was covered with a layer of thin ice. For updated ice conditions contact the Sugarite state park office at 505-445-5607.

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

PECOS RIVER : As of Monday morning, water flow was 42cfs near the town of Pecos . Trout fishing was fair for anglers using copper john barrs, egg patterns, salmon eggs and spinners. The best reports again this past week came from anglers fishing from the town of Pecos to Villanueva.

RED RIVER : Water flow as of Monday below the hatchery was 31cfs. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using small streamers, copper john barrs and salmon eggs. Fishing pressure was light.

RIO GRANDE : As of Monday, water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge was 610cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

STORRIE LAKE : Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure continued to be very light. There was some ice forming around the edges but plenty of open water for bank fishing.

UTE LAKE : Walleye fishing was quite good this past weekend as several anglers took home limits of fish ranging from 2-to-4 pounds. They were working jigging spoons in 35-to-55 feet of water with the majority of the fish coming in 50-to-55 feet of water. Best colors for the spoons were white, chartreuse, chrome and chartreuse glitter. Most of the action took place on the main channel near marker buoys. Anglers jigging for walleyes also caught a few white bass. We had no reports on other species.

ABIQUIU LAKE : Fishing was slow for all species.

ALBUQUERQUE AREA DRAINS: Fishing on the Albuquerque and Bernalillo Drains was fair for anglers using salmon eggs and salmon egg/corn combinations for trout. We had no reports from the other drains.

NORTHWEST AREA

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

BLUEWATER LAKE : Thin ice conditions exist at this time which are unsafe for fishing. For updated conditions, call the state park office at 505-876-2391.

CHAMA RIVER : Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 223cfs and 212cfs below Abiquiu. Fishing below El Vado Lake was fair-to-good for anglers using spinners, streamers, bunny leeches, salmon eggs and worms for brown and rainbow trout. We had no reports from anglers below Abiquiu.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE : Trout fishing was rated as fair-to-good at all ponds this past week. Anglers at the middle pond did best with power bait, corn and salmon eggs. At the catch and release pond, anglers did well using small dead chickens, egg patterns, San Juan worms and small bunny leeches.

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

FENTON LAKE : As of this past Monday, there was a thin layer of ice covering the lake. It was considered unsafe for fishing at this time. For updated ice conditions, call the state part office at 505-829-3630.

HERON LAKE : Fishing for rainbow trout was fair-to-good for anglers using roe sacs, salmon eggs, power bait and spinners. Anglers did well fishing near the dam and close to the La Laja boat ramp.

JACKSON LAKE : We had no reports from anglers but the lake was recently stocked with rainbow trout.

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 28cfs. Trout fishing on the lower Jemez was fair for anglers using small pheasant tail nymphs, small copper john barrs and salmon eggs. 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.

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

MANZANO LAKE : Trout fishing was good for anglers using assorted colors of power bait. A few were also taken on salmon eggs.

NAVAJO LAKE : Fishing was slow for all species. There was very little fishing pressure on the lake as bad weather moved in for a few days. If you plan to take a trip here over the next few weeks, try trolling for brown trout as this is a good time of year for big fish. Troll large crank baits on light line 100-to-150 feet back of the boat. Work the Pine arm and the area around the mouth of Francis Canyon for some good trout action.

RAMAH LAKE : The lake is open to fishing. However, it has not been restocked with trout and probably won't be until next spring. We had no reports from anglers this week.

SAN JUAN : Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 248cfs and should remain at this level through the week as additional structure work is taking place. Trout fishing in the upper flats was good for anglers using size 20-to-22 bunny leeches, foam back emergers, bead head pheasant tails, midges and red annelids. Further downstream, fishing was fair 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, wooly buggers and small spinners.

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

BURN LAKE : Trout fishing was good for anglers using corn, salmon eggs and power bait.

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

ELEPHANT BUTTE : Fishing was generally slow for all species with light fishing pressure on the lake this past week. A few catfish were taken by anglers using chicken liver and stink bait and fishing the upper end of the lake. We had no reports on other species.

GLENWOOD POND: Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait.

ESCONDIDA LAKE : Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs. A few fish were also taken on corn, home made dough baits and prop flies under a bubble.

GILA RIVER : Water flow near Gila on Monday was 81cfs. We had no reports from anglers fishing the Forks but they were recently stocked and should provide some good trout action. Try using small flies and salmon eggs.

  LAKE ROBERTS : Good fishing with light pressure was the word this past week from Fernie Herrera of Anthony , New Mexico who along with grandson, Eric Herrera caught limits of trout on turbo power bait. “The action started slow but really picked up after a couple of hours”, said Fernie. They fished on December 3rd and the lake has since been stocked with another 2,000 plus rainbow trout.

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 5.5cfs. Fishing here and below Caballo this past week was slow for all species.

SOUTHEAST AREA

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

BLACK RIVER : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs and copper john barrs.

BOSQUE REDONDO: Trout fishing was good for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait, corn, prop flies under a bubble and spinners.

BOTTOMLESS LAKES: Trout fishing was fair-to-good 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-to-good for anglers using spinners, power bait and salmon eggs.

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

JAL LAKE : Fishing was a bit slow this past weekend according to Jonathan Humbert of Denver City , TX . He took five youngsters fishing. Their total catch consisted of 4 rainbow trout and 1 catfish. The water was murky.

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

PECOS: Below Sumner Lake , water flow on Monday was 15cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

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

RUIDOSO RIVER : Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 5.3cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

SANTA ROSA LAKE : We had no reports from anglers this week.

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