Weekly Fishing Report

April 10, 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.

REMINDER TO ALL ANGLERS: The new license year began April 1. You may obtain a license at one of the many license vendors around the state, at Department of Game and Fish offices in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Raton or Roswel. You also can buy a license online by clicking here.

Catches of the week

Bonito Lake : April 1, Joe Barragan of El Paso caught a 17-inch rainbow trout. He was using a blue and white spoon.

Clayton Lake : April 2, Carlos Mireles caught a 29-inch, 14-pound walleye. He was fishing for trout and using Power Bait.

Pecos River : April 4, Rick Soto of Santa Fe caught and released what would have been a new state record spotted bass. The fish weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces, and was caught on the river in Carlsbad . Rick was using a tube.

Ute Lake : April 4, Todd Johnson of Dalhart , Texas , caught a 6.07-pound largemouth bass. He was using a chartreuse crank bait.

Elephant Butte : April 8, Trevor Spahr, 11, of Albuquerque caught an 8-pound striped bass. He was casting a Lucky Craft crank bait in shallow 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 was fair for anglers using corn, salmon eggs, power bait and spinners.

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

CLAYTON LAKE : Before the latest cold front, bank fishing picked up for both walleye and trout. Anglers using extra scented power bait and worms caught a mixed bag with several of both species being in the 20 inch range. Fishing for all other species was slow.

COCHITI LAKE : Fishing was fair using worms, minnows and jig and worm combinations for small crappie and white bass. Fishing was fair using minnows, tubes and spinner baits for smallmouth bass. A few catfish were taken by anglers using minnows and stink bait. We had no reports on other species.

CONCHAS LAKE : Mid week fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using grubs and crank baits for walleye and white bass. Our best reports came from anglers fishing near Big Island and Cedar Point. Fishing was good using tubes, jerk baits, grubs, crank baits and spinner baits for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair-to-good using minnows near the north boat dock for crappie. Fishing was fair using dough bait and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair using bead head nymphs.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Bank fishing for trout and perch was excellent this past week. Anglers did very well using spinners, roe sacs, power bait and salmon eggs for trout. Most of the fish caught ranged in size from 14-to-20 inches. Anglers fishing for perch did best using worms and roe sacs. We had no reports from boaters.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE : Trout fishing was rated as slow at both lakes this past week and anglers were focusing their efforts on Chicorico Creek below the dams. Best baits were salmon eggs and corn.

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

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

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

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

PECOS RIVER : As of Monday, water flow near Pecos was 140cfs and the water was off color. Trout fishing was rated as slow-to-fair for anglers using night crawlers, spinners and salmon eggs.

RED RIVER : Water flow below the hatchery on Monday morning was 75cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

RIO GRANDE : The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 784cfs. Fishing was generally slow for all species.

SPRINGER LAKE : Fishing was fair this past week for anglers using cut bait, spinner baits, crank baits and jerk baits for northern pike. A few catfish were taken by anglers using cut bait. We had no reports on other species.

STORRIE LAKE : Trout fishing was good for anglers using cheese, power bait, roe sacs and corn. Most of the fish caught were in the 12-to-18 inch range. We had no reports on other species.

STUBBLEFIELD: We had no reports from anglers this week.

UTE LAKE : Mid week fishing was good for anglers fishing for bass, walleye and catfish. Walleye anglers were doing well using jig and minnow combinations and reef runners in 10-to-20 feet of water. A few walleye were also taken on grubs. Bass anglers did well using crank baits, spinner baits and 4 inch finesse worms for a mixed bag of largemouth and smallmouth bass. Most of the bass were taken in less than 10 feet of water. White bass fishing tapered off this past week. They appear to be scattered. There were a few taken by anglers using jerk baits and crank baits and fishing up the Canadian arm. Fishing for catfish was good for anglers using stink baits over baited holes.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE : Fishing from the bank was rated as fair for anglers using dough bait and night crawlers for catfish. Best locations were near the main and high water boat ramps. A few walleye were taken by anglers slow trolling bottom bouncer/night crawler combinations. Anglers fishing for walleye also caught a few brown trout. We had no reports from boaters.

BLUEWATER LAKE : During the week, anglers reported catching a few trout while using power bait and corn. Action slowed considerably over the weekend.

CHAMA RIVER : Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 103cfs and 305cfs below Abiquiu. Trout fishing below both lakes was fair for anglers using salmon eggs, Rapalas, wooly buggers and night crawlers for a mixed bag of brown and rainbow trout.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE ( Tingley Beach ): Trout fishing at the catch and release pond was fair for anglers using small streamers, egg patterns and an assortment of very small bead head Nymphs. Fishing at the other ponds was fair for anglers using night crawlers, wax worms, power bait, salmon eggs and cheese.

EL VADO LAKE: Bank fishing near the dam was fair-to-good for anglers using night crawlers, garlic cheese, spinners and power bait for brown and rainbow trout.

FENTON LAKE : Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, worms, corn, spinners, Pistol Petes and small bead head nymphs. Most of the fish caught were in the 8-to-11 inch size range.

HERON LAKE : Slow for trolling again this past week. Most of the decent fishing was reported by anglers fishing from the bank and using roe sacs, cheese and power bait. They reported catching several rainbow trout and a few small lake trout.

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

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 186cfs. Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using worms, spinners and salmon eggs on the upper Jemez. Fishing continued to be good this past week on the Cebolla above and below Fenton Lake . Anglers did well using salmon eggs, worms and egg patterns for rainbow trout. We had no reports from the Guadalupe or East Fork.

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

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

NAVAJO LAKE : Crappie fishing was fair for anglers using minnows and small jigs. The best reports again this week came from anglers fishing in Francis Canyon . Smallmouth bass fishing was fair for anglers using crank baits, tubes, jigs and plastic worms in 9-to-25 feet of water. Anglers fishing for northern pike did best using jerk baits and spinner baits. There were a few taken on the Pine arm and also on the San Juan arm. Bank fishing for trout was fair-to-good for anglers using spinners, power bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.

RAMAH LAKE : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using spinners, small spoons and power bait.

SANTA CRUZ LAKE : Trout fishing was very good again this past week. Anglers did best using Tasmanian Devils, spoons, power bait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes.

SAN JUAN : Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 709cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was good for anglers using RS2s, leech patterns, red annelids, small bead head pheasant tails, egg patterns and red and orange San Juan worms. Through the bait waters, fishing was good using night crawlers, cheese, spinners, copper john barrs, wooly buggers and jerk baits.

SEVEN SPRINGS BROOD POND: The pond is open to fishing for children under age 12.

SOUTHWEST AREA

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

BILL EVANS LAKE : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using spinners, power bait and salmon eggs. A few bluegills were taken by anglers using worms. We had no reports on other species.

BURN LAKE : Crappie fishing was fair for anglers using minnows. Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs for trout.

CABALLO LAKE : Fishing continued to be slow for all species this past week. Our only reports were of two 14 inch largemouth and one white bass taken on crank baits.

ELEPHANT BUTTE : Fishing for white bass was good at the upper end of the lake. Anglers did well in this area trolling and casting assorted crank baits. Fishing for largemouth bass was good for anglers using jerk baits, shallow running crank baits, spinner baits and tubes. Anglers reported good success in McRae Canyon , the Jungles area and near the dam. Fishing was fair using crank baits and live bait in the shallows for striped bass. Fishing for catfish was fair for anglers fishing from boats and using liver and cut bait over baited holes. Anglers fishing from the bank reported slow fishing for catfish but good for carp.

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

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

GILA RIVER : Water flow near Gila on Monday was 182cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

LAKE ROBERTS : Fishing was slow-to-fair using power bait for trout.

PERCHA DAM: Fishing was fair using minnows for white bass. We had no reports on other species.

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

RIO GRANDE : Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 2,350cfs. Fishing was fair for anglers using minnows and grubs for white bass and a few walleye. We had no reports on other species.

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

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

SOUTHEAST AREA

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

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. We had no reports from anglers this week.

CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE : Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait.

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

LAKE VAN : Trout fishing was fair using spinners, power bait, corn and salmon eggs.

PECOS RIVER : Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 102cfs. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, spinners and worms. In Carlsbad fishing was fair using small grubs and tubes for bass and small walleye.

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

RUIDOSO RIVER : Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 22cfs. Trout fishing was slow.

SANTA ROSA LAKE : Bass fishing was very good for some but slow for others. Anglers who did best were on the water in pre-front conditions. They were using a variety of jerk baits and crank baits and catching a mixed bag of smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing for crappie was fair for anglers using small crappie jigs and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.

SUMNER LAKE : Fishing was fair using crank baits, jerk baits, tubes and grubs for smallmouth bass and walleye. A few white bass were taken by anglers trolling crank baits. We had no reports on other species.