Weekly Fishing Report

Feb. 20, 2007
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 : Feb. 17, Gary McGuire of Albuquerque caught a 24-inch, 5.5-pound walleye. He was trolling a Reef Runner at 40 feet. Also Saturday, Denise Hipp of Albuquerque caught a 23-inch, 4-pound-plus walleye. She was also trolling a Reef Runner at about 40 feet.

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. For updated ice conditions, call the park rangers office at 505-465-2300.

CONCHAS LAKE : There was very light fishing pressure on the lake this past week and fishing was reported as slow for all species. If you are planning a trip here in the near future, check out what worked at Ute Lake this past week and give it a try.

EAGLE NEST LAKE : As of this past Monday the ice was about 19-to-22 inches thick. Perch fishing was very good as several anglers reported catching limits. They were using a variety of baits including ice jigs, salmon eggs, wax worms and power bait. Trout fishing was good for anglers using ice jigs, salmon eggs and power bait. Most of the trout caught were in the 14-to-16 inch size. Anglers reported that the best areas were near the south ramp, near Six Mile and near the north ramp. For updated ice conditions, contact the state park office at 505-377-1594.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE : As of Monday the ice was about 22 inches thick at Lake Maloya and about 15 inches at Lake Alice . Fishing pressure was light this past week but for anglers who did show up, results were good. Several limits of trout were taken by anglers using home made dough baits. Other anglers did fairly well using power bait, salmon eggs and corn. A few trout were also taken by anglers using ice jigs. Most of the fish were in the 8-to-10 inch range. The state park office at the lake has advised us to inform anglers that they will be fishing at their own risk. For updated ice conditions contact the state park office at 505-445-5607.

MONASTERY LAKE : The lake is closed to ice fishing.

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday, water flow near Anton Chico was 66cfs.Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using spinners, bead head wooly buggers, bead head pheasant tails, power bait, wax worms and salmon eggs. The water was murky this past week but was clearing somewhat as of Sunday.

RED RIVER : Water flow as of Monday near Questa was 47cfs. Fishing below the hatchery this past weekend was fair-to-good for anglers using small flash back pheasant tails, San Juan worms, chamois leeches, red annelids and salmon eggs for trout.

RIO GRANDE : The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 551cfs. Fishing was generally slow for all species. A few trout were taken by anglers using bead head wooly buggers and spinners. We had no reports on northern pike.

STORRIE LAKE : Thin ice continues to be a problem for anglers at this time. For updated conditions call the state park office at 505-425-7278.

UTE LAKE : Fishing improved greatly this past week and especially so for anglers fishing for walleye. Over the weekend there were some good size walleye taken by anglers trolling Reef Runners and jigging slab spoons. The fish were all taken at depths of 38-to-40 feet. Anglers trolling were running their lures 70-to-150 back and were trolling at very slow speeds. The slab spoons were worked deep on main lake and secondary points. Anglers fishing for walleye also caught a few white bass. We had no reports on other species. The surface temperature of the water was about 40 degrees.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE : As of this past weekend, the boat ramp area and main lake was free of ice. There were a few anglers who ventured out and they reported fishing as very slow for all species. For updated conditions, contact the Corps of Engineers office at 505-685-4371.

ALBUQUERQUE AREA DRAINS: Trout fishing on the Albuquerque, Belen and Corrales Drains was fair-to-good this past week for anglers using, salmon eggs, wooly buggers, small dry flies, wax worms and power bait. Anglers using wooly buggers and fishing the Corrales Drain also caught a few carp. We had no reports from the Bernalillo and Peralta Drains this week.

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

BLUEWATER LAKE : As of Monday, the ice was reported to be about 8 inches thick with slushy conditions on top. Fishing was slow with only a few trout taken by anglers using ice jigs and power bait. For updated ice conditions, call the state park office at 505-876-2391.

CHAMA RIVER : Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 113cfs and 60cfs below Abiquiu. We had no reports from anglers again this week.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers using San Juan worms, RS2s, egg patterns and chamois leeches at the catch and release pond. Anglers fishing the bait waters did well using home made dough baits, Pistol Petes, power bait, small spinners and salmon eggs.

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

FENTON LAKE : As of Monday the lake was covered with 9-to-12 inches of ice. Trout fishing this past week was fair for some but slow for others. Anglers who did best were using salmon eggs. The state park office at the lake has advised us to inform anglers that they will be fishing at their own risk and to be especially cautious around coned areas. For updated ice conditions, call the state part office at 505-829-3630.

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

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 40cfs. Trout fishing on the lower Jemez was fair-to-good for anglers using small bead head nymphs, power bait and salmon eggs. We had decent catch reports from anglers fishing downstream from the Soda Dam and upstream from the lower canyon day use areas.

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

NAVAJO LAKE : Trout fishing this past week continued to pick up for anglers fishing from the bank and from boats. From the bank, anglers did best using power bait and fishing near the Pine arm boat ramp. Anglers fishing from boats caught several trout and a few northern pike. They were light line trolling with large jointed Rapalas and deep diving Fat Raps and working the Francis Canyon and Pine River arms of the lake. Anglers trolling the back of Francis Canyon reported catching a 3 pound largemouth bass.

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

SAN JUAN : Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 525cfs and the water was clearing. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was good for anglers using RS2s, San Juan worms, red annelids, egg patterns, small flash back pheasant tail nymphs, small bunny leeches and small jigs. Further downstream, fishing was fair-to-good using spinners, bead head wooly buggers, salmon eggs, worms and power bait.

SOUTHWEST AREA

BEAR CANYON : We had no reports from anglers this week.

BILL EVANS LAKE : Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using corn, power bait, small spinners and Pistol Petes under a bubble. A few largemouth bass were taken by anglers using small plastics and deep running crank baits. We had no reports on other species.

BURN LAKE : Trout fishing was good for anglers using corn, power bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.

CABALLO LAKE : Overall fishing was slow but there were a few white bass taken by anglers using spinners and jig and grub combinations. Fishing pressure was very light.

ELEPHANT BUTTE : Fishing was slow for all species but there were a few reports of success. A few smallmouth bass were taken by anglers using drop shot rigs off main lake points. The fish were taken at depths of 15-to19 feet. A few catfish were taken by anglers using liver and dough baits. The water was quite murky and surface temps ranged from 42-to-46 degrees. The water level continues to rise and all boat ramps are currently open.

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

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

GILA RIVER : Water flow near Gila on Monday was 294cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

PERCHA DAM: Angler Larry Ohnleiter sent us a report from the 11th of February. He was fishing from the bank and caught 4 white bass ranging in size from 12-to-14 inches. He was using a silver Panther Martin.

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 : Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs. A few trout were also taken on worms and spinners.

BOSQUE REDONDO: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using power bait, worms, flies under a bubble and salmon eggs.

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

BRANTLEY LAKE : Anglers are to practice catch and release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish. The park was closed for one day last week due to severe winter weather but it has reopened.

CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE : Trout fishing was good for anglers using small spinners, power bait and salmon eggs.

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

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

OASIS STATE PARK : The park pond has reopened to fishing.

PECOS: Below Sumner Lake , water flow on Monday was 30cfs. Fishing was rated as slow for all species. A few trout were taken by anglers using power bait.

PERCH LAKE : Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait, home made dough bait and salmon eggs.

RUIDOSO RIVER : Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 11cfs. 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 was very light.