Weekly Fishing Report

April 24, 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

Ute Lake : April 16, Larry Mohler of Logan caught a 6.54-pound smallmouth bass. He was trolling a bottom bouncer/minnow combination. April 22, Jason Lara of Hereford , Texas , caught a 4.24-pound largemouth bass. He was using a tube.

Caballo Lake : April 20, Dee Brown of   Truth or Consequences caught a 3-pound crappie. He was using a minnow.

Elephant Butte : April 21, Jacob Monroe, 10, of El Paso caught a 3.6-pound white bass while trolling a medium runner crank bait near the Black Bluffs.

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 reported as slow-to-fair this past week. Anglers did best using power bait and worms for 9-to-13 inch fish.

CIMARRON RIVER : Trout fishing in the lower canyon area has been good for anglers using bead head San Juan worms, copper john barrs and prince nymphs. Water in the upper canyon was still very low.

CLAYTON LAKE : Trout fishing continued to be excellent this past week as a good number of anglers caught their limits. They were using glitter power bait, small spoons and small crank baits. Most of the trout caught were in the 12-to-15 inch range. We had no reports on other species.

COCHITI LAKE : Fishing was fair for anglers fishing the lower end of the lake and using drop shot rigs with robo worms. They were catching smallmouth bass, walleye and small northern pike. We had no other reports.

CONCHAS LAKE : Fishing this past week was rated as slow for bass and fair for walleye with very windy conditions. Bass anglers picked up a few smallmouth bass and a few largemouth bass using jerk baits, crank baits, spinner baits and tubes. Anglers fishing for walleye did best using bottom bouncer/minnow rigs, bottom bouncer/crawler rigs and crank baits. Our best walleye reports came from anglers fishing at depths of 12-to-20 feet on the north side of the lake. Anglers fishing with minnows at the north dock area reported catching several crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass.

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was very good for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, corn and spinners.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Bank fishing for trout and perch continued to be quite good for most anglers this past week. They did well using roe sacs, jigs, power bait, worms and salmon eggs for trout. Anglers fishing for perch did best using worms. Fishing from anchored boats was good for anglers using power bait.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE : Trout fishing was reported as fair for anglers using orange and fluorescent green power baits, salmon eggs and black wooly buggers. Most of the fish caught were in the 6-to-10 inch size.

MAXWELL LAKES : Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners. We had no reports on other species.

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

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

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

PECOS RIVER : As of Monday, water flow near Pecos was 140cfs. Trout fishing was rated as fair for anglers using night crawlers and black wooly buggers.

RED RIVER : Water flow below the hatchery on Monday morning was 83cfs and the water was off color. Trout fishing was rated as slow-to-fair this past week by anglers using wooly buggers, night crawlers and spinners.

RIO GRANDE : The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 595cfs. Trout fishing was good this past week as there were good caddis hatches coming off in the evening hours. Anglers did well using elk hair caddis, Goddard caddis and bead head caddis nymphs. We had no reports on other species.

SPRINGER LAKE : Fishing was slow for all species.

STORRIE LAKE : Fishing pressure was very light and fishing was slow for all species.

STUBBLEFIELD: We had no reports from anglers this week.

UTE LAKE : Fishing for walleye was rated as fair-to-excellent this past week depending on which anglers you talked to. Some did very well trolling Wally Divers, Reef Runners and Tail Dancers while others did well using bottom bouncer/minnow rigs. Most of the walleye were caught in 10-to-20 feet of water. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was good for anglers fishing the backs of coves. Best baits were tubes, worms, crank baits and jerk baits. Fishing for catfish was good for anglers fishing up the Canadian and Ute arms and using liver and dough bait over baited holes. Fishing was fair using jigs and minnows for crappie. Fishing for white bass was a bit slow but there were a few taken by anglers using minnows, grubs and crank baits.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE : Fishing was slow for all species.

BLUEWATER LAKE : Trout fishing was slow-to-fair again this past week for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners. We had no reports on other species.

CHAMA RIVER : Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was raised to 400cfs. Prior to this increase, fishing was good using wooly buggers, night crawlers and salmon eggs for rainbow and brown trout. We heard of one big brown (26 inches) caught on this stretch but were unable to get the anglers name or lure used. Above El Vado, fishing was fair-to-good using spinners, wooly buggers and night crawlers for trout. We had no reports from below Abiquiu.

EL VADO LAKE: Bank fishing for trout was good around Hargrove's Point on the west side of the lake. Best baits were night crawlers and corn. Most of the fish caught were in the 16-to-20 inch range.

FENTON LAKE : Trout fishing was good for anglers using chartreuse Gulp eggs. Anglers using other baits reported fishing as slow.

HERON LAKE: Bank fishing was rated as fair-to-good this past week by anglers fishing the Piedra Cove area and near the La Laja boat ramp. They did well using power bait and salmon eggs for a mixed bag of kokanee, rainbow trout and a few small lake trout.

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

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 131cfs. Trout fishing was best this past week on the lower Cebolla, Rio Las Vacas and Clear Creek. Anglers did well using salmon eggs and copper john barrs. A few trout were also taken on dry flies.

LAGUNA DEL CAMPO: This water was formerly known as Burns Canyon Lake and is open to fishing during daylight hours from May 1 through October 31. The lake is open to persons 14 years or younger, 65 and over, handicapped anglers or up to two parents/guardians in direct supervision of a child or children 14 years or younger who is fishing. No boats or flotation devices are allowed.

LAKE FARMINGTON : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, prop flies under a bubble, salmon eggs and spinners.

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

NAVAJO LAKE : Crappie fishing continued to improve this past week as anglers reported good catches from La Jara Canyon, Francis Canyon and near Simms Mesa. Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was fair-to-good for anglers fishing the backs of coves and using jigs, jerk baits, worms and tubes. Fishing for northern pike was good up the San Juan arm and near the state line. Best baits were spinner baits, jerk baits and crank baits. Bank fishing for trout was good near the main boat ramp. Power bait and salmon eggs worked best but a few were also taken on spinners.

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

SANTA CRUZ LAKE : Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using small crank baits, small spoons, power bait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes.

SAN JUAN : Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 675cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters and further downstream was fair-to-good for anglers using RS2s, red annelids, San Juan worms, red copper john barrs and small bead head pheasant tails. A few trout were also taken by anglers using night crawlers, power bait, salmon eggs, jerk baits, spinners and garlic cheese. A planned increase in flows to 5,000cfs is expected to begin April 30. Flows will remain high until May 20.

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

TINGLEY BEACH: Fishing for catfish was fair for anglers using dough bait, hot dogs, liver and worms. Trout fishing at the catch and keep and youth ponds was slow-to-fair. Anglers did best using power bait. At the catch and release pond, anglers did best using small Griffiths gnats, San Juan worms and small streamers.

SOUTHWEST AREA

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

BILL EVANS LAKE : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, cheese, corn, worms, spinners and salmon eggs. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair using swim baits, senkos and tubes. We had no report on other species.

BURN LAKE : Fishing was fair for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs for trout. We had no reports on other species.

CABALLO LAKE : Walleye and crappie fishing picked up this past week as anglers did well using white grubs and crank baits for the walleye and minnows for crappie. We had no reports on other species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE : Fishing for white bass was fair for anglers trolling crank baits at depths of 8-to-12 feet. Our best reports came from anglers fishing near the Black Bluffs, in the Kettle Top area and near Old Hot Springs Landing. Anglers using sassy shad and curly tail grubs also reported catching a few white bass. Anglers fishing for white bass also picked up a few walleye and smallmouth bass. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was fair for anglers using jerk baits, spinner baits, tubes and jig and craw combinations. Fishing for catfish was fair for anglers fishing from boats and using liver, shrimp and dough bait over baited holes. We had no reports on other species.

GLENWOOD POND: We had no reports from anglers again this week but trout fishing should be good as the pond is stocked on a regular basis.

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

GILA RIVER : Water flow near Gila on Monday was 128cfs. Fishing on the Forks was fair-to-good for anglers using small bead head nymphs, egg patterns and salmon eggs.

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

PERCHA DAM: Fishing was good using shad raps and white curly tail grubs for walleye and white bass. Most of the walleye caught were in the 2-to-4 pound class.

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

RIO GRANDE : Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 1,870cfs. Fishing was fair using grubs and spinners for white bass and walleye. Anglers using spinners also picked up a few trout. On the river below Caballo Lake , fishing was good using green, chartreuse and white curly tail grubs for walleye. We had no reports on other species.

SOUTHEAST AREA

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

BONITO LAKE : Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, corn, prop flies under a bubble, spinners and small spoons. A few carp were taken by anglers using corn.

BOSQUE REDONDO: Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using salmon eggs, corn, worms and spinners for trout. We had no reports on other species.

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

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. Fishing was fair using grubs, Rooster Tails and Road Runners for small bass. We had no reports on other species.

GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR: Trout fishing was rated as slow-to-fair by most anglers. Best baits were power bait and salmon eggs. A few fish were also taken on prop flies under a bubble and spinners.

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

LAKE VAN : Trout fishing was fair using spinners, power bait, corn and salmon eggs. A few catfish were taken by anglers using worms.

PECOS RIVER : Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 98cfs. Fishing was slow.

  Check out the river in the Carlsbad area for black bass and white bass this time of year. Try using smaller in line spinners, Road Runners, tubes and jerk baits.

PERCH LAKE : Fishing was slow.

RUIDOSO RIVER : Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 13cfs. Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using worms, salmon eggs and olive and black wooly buggers.

SANTA ROSA LAKE : Bass fishing was fair for anglers using jerk baits, tubes, crank baits and senkos. Most of the bass caught were and were taken in 4-to-12 feet of water. Fishing was slow-to-fair using jigs and crank baits for crappie. Fishing for walleye was slow but a few were taken by anglers using sassy shad and curly tail grubs on the flats. We had no reports on other species.

SUMNER LAKE : Fishing was fair using grubs, minnows and crank baits for walleye. Fishing was fair for anglers using crank baits, spinner baits, jerk baits and grubs for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Anglers reported catching bass from the bank as well as from boats.