Weekly Fishing Report

March 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

Charette Lakes : March 13, Jim Angel of Springer caught a 21.5-inch rainbow trout. He was fishing the lower lake and using corn.

Chama River : March 17, Yasmin Vigil of La Mesilla caught a 22-inch brown trout. She was fishing the river below Abiquiu and using night crawlers for bait.

Abiquiu Lake : March 17, Jerry Hofer of Los Alamos caught a 21-inch, 4-pound walleye. He was working a bottom bouncer worm rig at 27 feet off the east flat.

Ute Lake : March 17, Vicki Garner caught a 3.75-pound largemouth bass. She was fishing with minnows.

Santa Rosa Lake : March 17, Philip Prince of Albuquerque caught a 4.4-pound smallmouth bass. He was using a jig.

Conchas Lake : March 17, Ashley Fitzgerald of Kermit , Texas , caught and released a 23-inch, 4.5-pound walleye. She was floating a worm in 14 feet of water.

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

CHARETTE LAKES : Trout fishing picked up on the lower lake this past week. Anglers did well using corn and salmon eggs for rainbows up to 21 inches.

CIMARRON RIVER : As of Monday, water flow near the town of Cimarron was 24cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

CLAYTON LAKE : Trout fishing was fair this past week for anglers using corn and power bait. Fishing for all other species was slow.

COCHITI LAKE : Fishing was fair for anglers using jig and grub and jig and worm combinations for smallmouth bass. The best reports came from anglers fishing the east side of the lake in 6-to-8 feet of water. A few northern pike were taken by anglers using spinner baits and in line spinners. We had no reports on other species. The Tetilla Peak boat ramp and camping area opens April 1.

CONCHAS LAKE : Fishing was fair trolling Wally Divers and Tail Dancers at 17-to-19 feet for walleye. Fishing was fair using crank baits for largemouth bass. A few smallmouth bass were taken by anglers using tubes, crank baits and spinner baits. The water surface temp ranged from 51-to-56 degrees. One group of anglers caught a variety of smallmouth, walleye, catfish and white bass. They were using worms in 15-to-25 feet of water.

EAGLE NEST LAKE : Due to thin ice conditions, the lake has been closed to fishing. For updated conditions, contact the state park office at 505-377-1594.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE : As of Monday Lake Maloya was still closed to fishing due to unsafe ice conditions. The lake will remain closed to fishing until there is sufficient open water to allow fishing from the bank. At Lake Alice , trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait, home made dough baits and bead head nymphs. Most of the trout taken ranged in size from 8-to-10 inches. With the warmer weather moving in to the state the park office has requested that anglers call 505-445-5607 for updated conditions before heading out to the lakes.

MAXWELL LAKES : We had no reports from anglers this week.

MCALLISTER LAKE : Trout fishing continued to be slow this past week. A few fish were taken by anglers using power bait. The water level is quite low.

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

PECOS RIVER : As of Monday, water flow near Pecos was 133cfs and the water was slightly off color. Trout fishing was considered slow-to-fair for anglers using spinners, night crawlers, egg patterns and bead head wooly buggers.

RED RIVER : Water flow as of Monday below the hatchery was 66cfs. Fishing this past week was fair for anglers using egg patterns, red copper john barrs and night crawlers.

RIO GRANDE : The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 1,600cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

SPRINGER LAKE : Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using cut bait and Rat-L-Traps for northern pike up to 30 inches. We had no reports on other species. The lake is full and the boat ramp is accessible.

STORRIE LAKE : Trout fishing from the bank was fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners. We had no reports from boaters.

UTE LAKE: White bass fishing continued to improve this past week as several anglers did well fishing up the Canadian arm of the lake. They were using jerk baits, crank baits and minnows under a bobber and working depths of 8-to-13 feet. Fishing for catfish was good for anglers fishing the Ute Creek arm and using minnows, night crawlers and stink bait. Walleye fishing was fair-to-good for anglers trolling Reef Runners, Tail Dancers and Wally Divers at 20-to-30 feet on the main lake. A few walleye were also taken by anglers working crank baits in 5-to-7 feet of water. Fishing for largemouth bass was good for anglers fishing the coves and using spinner baits, jigs and crank baits. The main lake surface temp ranged from 50-to-53 degrees.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE : Fishing was still a bit slow this past week but there were a few fish (walleye and german browns) taken by anglers trolling bottom bouncer/worm rigs off the deep end of the east flat. A few catfish were taken by anglers fishing near the boat ramp and using night crawlers and stink bait. The surface temp ranged from 42-to-47 degrees over the past weekend.

ALBUQUERQUE AREA DRAINS: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

BLUEWATER LAKE : The majority of the lake was free of ice as of Monday. Fishing this past week was slow for all species. There were a few trout taken by anglers using power bait and salmon egg/corn combinations.

CHAMA RIVER : Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 100cfs and 130cfs below Abiquiu. Fishing below Abiquiu was good for anglers using night crawlers, spinners, bead head nymphs and salmon eggs for rainbow and brown trout. We had no reports from below El Vado.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE ( Tingley Beach ): Trout fishing at the catch and release pond was good for anglers using small leach patterns, egg patterns and copper john barrs. Fishing at the other ponds was slow-to-fair for anglers using spinners, Pistol Petes, power bait, salmon eggs and corn.

EL VADO LAKE : There is some open water for bank fishing near the dam. A few rainbows were taken by anglers fishing this area and using salmon eggs. For updated ice conditions call the state park office at 505-588-7247.

FENTON LAKE : As of Monday about 1/3 of the lake was free of ice and open to bank fishing. Anglers fishing over the past weekend did well using salmon eggs for trout. A few fish were also taken on power bait.

HERON LAKE : Thin ice conditions have caused a closure to fishing at the present time. There may be sufficient open water for bank fishing by next weekend. Call the state park office at 505-588-7470 for updated conditions.

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

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 647cfs and the water was murky. The best fishing reports received this past week came from anglers working the upper Cebolla. They caught a mixture of browns and rainbows. Best baits were salmon eggs and worms.

LAKE FARMINGTON : Fishing was fair-to-good using power bait and salmon eggs for trout. A few trout were also taken on spinners.

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

NAVAJO LAKE : Fishing was rated as slow-to-fair this past week by anglers fishing for bass. A few smallmouth bass were taken by anglers using tubes, jig and pig combinations and crank baits. Anglers reported catching northern pike in Francis Canyon and up the San Juan arm. They were trolling crank baits and pitching tubes. We had no reports on other species.

RAMAH LAKE : We had no reports from anglers but the lake was recently stocked with close to 2,500 rainbow trout and fishing should be good.

SANTA CRUZ LAKE : ANGLERS CHECK YOUR REGULATIONS! This lake does not open for fishing until April 1.

SAN JUAN : Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 702cfs and the water was slightly stained. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was fair-to-good for anglers using red and orange larva patterns, egg patterns, OJs, RS2s, leeches and San Juan worms. Through the bait waters, fishing was good using bead head wooly buggers, spinners, salmon eggs, night crawlers, garlic cheese 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 spinners, power bait and salmon eggs. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair for anglers using spinner baits and crank baits.

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

CABALLO LAKE : Fishing for white bass tapered off a bit this past week as flows coming in to the lake were increased. A few fish were taken by anglers using jig and grub combinations and crank baits. Fishing for all other species was slow.

ELEPHANT BUTTE : Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was slow for most but fair for some anglers. They were using crank baits and spinner baits and working coves on the east side of the lake. Fishing was very good for anglers trolling crank baits and swim shad and using jig and grub combinations for white bass. The best reports this week came from anglers fishing the upper end of the main lake. Fishing was fair for anglers using stink bait and cut bait for catfish.

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

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

GILA RIVER : Water flow near Gila on Monday was 241cfs. We had no reports from anglers on the Forks this week.

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

PERCHA DAM: Fishing was slow for all species.

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

RIO GRANDE : Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 735cfs. Fishing was fair for anglers using grubs and spinners for white bass. Fishing was fair using salmon eggs, spinners and worms for trout. We had no reports on other species.

SOUTHEAST AREA

BATAAN LAKE : Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using salmon eggs.

BONITO LAKE : Opens for the season on April 1.

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

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

BRANTLEY LAKE : 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 : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using small spinners, Pistol Petes, garlic cheese, power bait and salmon eggs.

JAL LAKE : Trout fishing was good for anglers using corn 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, worms and salmon eggs.

OASIS STATE PARK : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using cheese, power bait and Pistol Petes.

PECOS RIVER : As of Monday, water flow below Sumner Lake was 104cfs. Fishing was fair for anglers using power bait for trout. Anglers fishing for catfish reported fair fishing conditions for smaller cats. Best bait was worms.

PERCH LAKE : Trout fishing was good again this past week for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes.

RUIDOSO RIVER : Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 42cfs. Fishing was slow.

SANTA ROSA LAKE : Fishing really picked up this past week for anglers fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. A bass club from Albuquerque held a tournament over the weekend and 4 of the 12 competitors weighed in mixed limits of smallmouth and largemouth bass. Big bass was a 4 pound 4 ounce smallmouth bass. The fish were caught on a variety of baits including tubes, spinner baits, crank baits and jerk baits. We had no reports on other species. The water surface temp over the weekend was 51-to-56 degrees.

SUMNER LAKE : Fishing this past week was slow for all species. A few walleye were taken by anglers fishing along the riprap of the dam. They were using night crawlers.