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. 19, 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

Rio Chama: Dec.17,   Kevin Long of Albuquerque caught and released a 24-inch male brown trout. He was fishing below El Vado and using a jerk 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

CIMARRON RIVER : Water flow below Eagle Nest as of Monday was 40cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

CONCHAS LAKE : Walleye fishing was fair for some and slow for others. Anglers who did best were working slab spoons in 30-to-40 feet of water along the main channel. The key was finding the school and staying with it. We had no reports on other species. Fishing pressure on the lake was very light.

EAGLE NEST LAKE : As of Monday, there were 10-to-11 inches of ice on the lake with about 2 inches of snow on top of the ice. The lake officially opened for ice fishing.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE : Trout fishing was good at Lake Alice this past week. Anglers reported catching lots of stocked rainbows through the ice which was about 5.5 inches thick. Most of the fish were taken by anglers using power bait. There was some ice in the coves on Lake Maloya but most of the lake was open water. There were no reports from anglers on Maloya. For updated ice conditions contact the 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 27cfs near the town of Pecos . Trout fishing was fair for anglers using copper john barrs, small bead head pheasant tail nymphs and salmon eggs. The best reports this past week came from anglers fishing from the town of Pecos to Villanueva.

RED RIVER : Water flow as of Monday below the hatchery was41cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

RIO GRANDE : As of Monday, water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge was 625cfs. Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using spinners, streamers and jerk baits. We had no reports on other species.

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

UTE LAKE : Walleye fishing was fair-to-good this past week. Fishing pressure was lighter than the previous week but anglers managed to catch decent size walleye. 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 and chartreuse. Most of the action took place on the main channel near marker buoys. We had no reports on other species.

ABIQUIU LAKE : Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure has been very light over the past several weeks.

ALBUQUERQUE AREA DRAINS: Fishing on the Albuquerque Drain 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 : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using streamers, bunny leeches, egg patterns and spinners.

BLUEWATER LAKE : Thin ice conditions were reported as of Monday. 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 Abiquiu was fair for anglers using streamers, bunny leeches and spinners for brown trout. Below El Vado anglers did best using wooly buggers, jerk baits, spoons and salmon eggs for brown and rainbow trout.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE : Trout fishing was rated as slow-to-fair at all ponds this past week. Anglers at the middle pond did best with power bait, wax worms and salmon eggs. At the catch and release pond, anglers managed to catch a few trout while using small bunny leeches, dead chickens and small pheasant tail nymphs.

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

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

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

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

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 27cfs. Trout fishing on the lower Jemez was fair for anglers using small bead head nymphs, power bait, small spinners and salmon eggs. We had no reports from the other Jemez area streams.

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

MANZANO LAKE : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs and assorted colors of power bait. A few trout were also taken on flies fished under a bubble.

NAVAJO LAKE : There wasn't much fishing activity on the lake this past week but anglers who were out caught several good size brown trout. They were trolling large crank baits on light line up the Pine arm. We had no reports on other species.

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

SAN JUAN : Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 489cfs. Trout fishing from the Texas Hole and through the upper flats was good for anglers using small bunny leeches, foam back emergers, bead head pheasant tails, midges and red annelids. Further downstream, fishing was fair for anglers using San Juan worms, power bait, salmon eggs and spinners.

SOUTHWEST AREA

BEAR CANYON : Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using salmon eggs and power bait. A few fish were also taken on wooly buggers and small spinners.

BILL EVANS LAKE : We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

CABALLO LAKE : Fishing was slow for all species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE : Fishing was generally slow for all species with light fishing pressure on the lake again 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

ESCONDIDA LAKE : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, home made dough baits and salmon egg/corn combinations.

GILA RIVER : Water flow near Gila on Monday was 92cfs. Fishing on the Middle Fork was fair for anglers using small bead head nymphs and salmon eggs for trout.

  LAKE ROBERTS : Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs. A few trout were also taken on small spoons and spinners. 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 5.5cfs. Fishing here and below Caballo this past week was slow for all species.

SOUTHEAST AREA

BATAAN LAKE : Winter trout stocking has been suspended on this lake due to a golden algae bloom. Most of the trout that were scheduled to be stocked here were placed in Carlsbad Municipal Lake .

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

BOSQUE REDONDO: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait, corn, bead head nymphs under a bubble and spinners.

BOTTOMLESS LAKES: 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. 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 good for anglers using spinners, power bait and salmon eggs.

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

JAL LAKE : Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs. 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 21cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

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

RUIDOSO RIVER : Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 3.5cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

SUMNER LAKE : There was very light pressure on the lake again this past week but anglers managed to catch a few walleye. They were working the upper end of the lake. We had no reports on other species.