Weekly Fishing Report

July 31, 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: New Mexico's license year is April 1 through March 31. 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 Roswell. You also can buy a license online by clicking here.

Catches of the week

Pecos River: On July 26, Jerry Anaya of Gallisteo caught a 24 inch rainbow trout. He was fishing in the Dalton Canyon area and using night crawlers.

Conchas Lake: On July 26, Jake Brophy age 17 of El Rito caught a 6.1 pound largemouth bass. It was his first big mouth and he was using a watermelon tube.

Ute Lake: On July 26, Jimmy Lisle of Logan caught a 4.9 pound largemouth bass. He was fishing an evening bass tournament and using a top water lure.

Elephant Butte: On July 28, Russell Spahr of Albuquerque caught a 25 pound striped bass. On July 29, he caught a 30 pound striper and his son, Trevor, age 11 caught a 20 pound striper. All 3 fish were caught on live bait.

Bluewater: On July 29, Nicholas Garcia, age 11 of Albuquerque caught a 4 pound channel catfish. He was using worms for 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

CANJILON LAKES: Trout fishing was good for anglers using spinners, small spoons, power bait, power eggs and Pistol Petes.

CHARETTE LAKES: Trout fishing continued to be quite good this past week for anglers fishing at night and using corn and power bait. Daytime fishing was slow-to-fair using worms for perch and power bait and salmon eggs for trout.

CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest this past Monday was 20cfs. Fishing was good using elk hair caddis, humpys, spinners, worms and salmon eggs for trout.

CLAYTON LAKE: Night fishing under a light was the best technique again this past week. Anglers did well using night crawlers for trout, catfish and walleye. A few trout were also taken on power bait.

COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers working the banks and using senkos, tubes and top water lures for smallmouth bass. Most of the fish were taken in less than 12 feet of water along the riprap and off main lake points. Fishing was fair trolling crank baits and drifting jigs tipped with minnows or small plastics at 30-to-40 feet for white bass, perch and a few walleye. Fishing was fair using night crawlers, liver, cut bait and shrimp for catfish. Most of the cats were taken by anglers fishing at night. We had no reports on other species.

CONCHAS LAKE: Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was quite good this past week although most of the fish caught were small. Best baits were top water lures early in the day and senkos, tubes, salt craws and worms during the day. Most of the daytime action was at 12-to-20 feet in deep brush. Fishing was fair trolling crank baits for white bass and a few walleye. A few whites and walleye were also taken by anglers using jigs tipped with minnows and night crawlers. Fishing was fair using worms for bluegill.

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was good this past week for anglers using small spinners, copper john barrs, salmon eggs and ant patterns. Anglers reported the best fishing in the deeper holes.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Fishing for kokanee was fair-to-good this past week for anglers trolling double whammies, needlefish and Z Rays tipped with corn. Most of the fish caught were taken in 18-to-30 feet of water. Anglers trolling for kokanee also caught several rainbow trout. Fishing from the bank was slow-to-fair for anglers using worms for perch and power eggs and spinners for trout.

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

LAKE MALOYA/ LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing was good this past week at both lakes. Anglers did well using ant and mosquito pattern flies, small spinners, Pistol Petes, homemade dough baits and salmon eggs. Anglers using flies reported the best fishing as being in the evening hours.

MAXWELL LAKES: Trout fishing was slow.

MCALLISTER LAKE: There has been a fish kill on the lake and there are no plans to restock the lake with trout at this time.

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

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

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday, water flow near Pecos was 94cfs. Trout fishing here and on the Mora continued to be quite good this past week for anglers using night crawlers, stimulators, elk hair caddis, small bead head wooly buggers, bead head hares ears and small spinners.

RED RIVER: Water flow below the hatchery on Monday morning was 77cfs. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using stimulators, hoppers, copper john barrs, salmon eggs, spinners and night crawlers.

RIO GRANDE: The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 488cfs. Trout fishing was fair here but better on the Little Rio for anglers using wooly buggers, black ants, stimulators, night crawlers and spinners. We had no reports on other species.

SHUREE PONDS: Trout fishing was good this past week for anglers using hoppers, Kastmasters, wooly buggers, stimulators, small Daredevles and worms.

SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair again this past week for anglers using cut bait, liver and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

STORRIE LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

STUBBLEFIELD: We had no reports from anglers this week.

UTE LAKE: Bass fishing was about the same here as it was at Conchas. Several small smallmouth bass were taken by anglers using senkos, tubes and top water lures. A few largemouth bass were taken by anglers using top water lures in the evening hours and tubes and brush hogs during the day. Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers trolling crank baits for white bass. A few were also taken on jig and minnow rigs. Fishing was slow for walleye but there were a few taken by anglers trolling bottom bouncer/worm and jig and minnow rigs at 35-to-45 feet. We had no reports on other species.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Walleye fishing slowed some this past week as the fish moved deeper and were a little harder to find. Those who did find the fish were trolling bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs at 17-to-25 feet. They were working the break line along weed lines. Anglers fishing for walleye also caught a few smallmouth bass. Other bass were taken by anglers using tubes and brush hogs off main lake points. We had no reports on other species.

BLUEWATER LAKE: Fishing was fair-to-good using jerk baits, Zara Spooks and spinner baits for tiger musky. Anglers did best working the shoreline between the boat ramp and the dam. Fishing was slow for all other species but there were a few catfish taken by anglers using worms.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 156cfs and 314cfs below Abiquiu. Fishing above and below El Vado was fair-to-good using spinners, power bait and night crawlers for stocked rainbows. Fishing was good using gold ribbed hares ears, wooly buggers and night crawlers for brown trout. We had no reports from below Abiquiu

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

FENTON LAKE: Trout fishing was good this past week for several anglers. They did best using worms in the early morning hours and yellow, chartreuse and green power baits during the day.

HERON LAKE: Fishing for kokanee was quite good this past week. Anglers did well trolling double whammies and kokanee killers tipped with corn at 25-to-30 feet. Anglers trolling for kokanee also picked up a few rainbow trout. Fishing from the bank was fair for anglers using power bait and power eggs for rainbow trout.

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 34cfs. Trout fishing was rated as good to excellent on the upper San Antonio, the Rio Las Vacas and the East Fork. Anglers did best using caddis and mayfly patterns with the mayfly working best. A few trout were also taken by anglers using salmon eggs, worms and small spinners. Fishing on the Cebolla below the dam at Fenton was slow. Fishing on the Guadalupe was fair for anglers using caddis patterns and spinners.

LAGUNA DEL CAMPO: We had no reports from anglers this week.

MANZANO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using spinners, salmon eggs and small dry flies.

NAVAJO LAKE: Fishing was reported as fair again this past week for anglers using watermelon, green pumpkin and eerie green tubes, senkos, spinner baits, crank baits and brush hogs for smallmouth bass. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair using buzz baits along the shoreline in the early morning hours. Anglers fishing for bass also reported catching several northern pike. In two days last week, angler Dan Murphy along with his son, Pat and grandson Christian caught 25 northern pike and many smallmouth bass. They were using crank baits and spinner/jig combinations. Andrew Orlicky also had a good trip catching several smallmouth to 17 inches, northern pike and some big bluegill. He was using green tubes and worms. Fishing for bluegill and crappie was fair for anglers using worms and fishing close to shore around big rock structure. Fishing for kokanee and trout was slow. A few catfish were taken by anglers fishing at night and using liver and night crawlers.

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

SANTA CRUZ LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using salmon eggs, corn, cheese, small spoons and power bait.

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 787cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was very good early and late in the day using size 18-to-26 dead chickens and parachute adams. A few fish were also taken by anglers using small bead head nymphs and leeches. Fishing through the bait waters was good for anglers using hoppers, worms, jerk baits, power eggs, San Juan worms and dry flies in the evening hours.

TINGLEY BEACH: Fishing was generally slow at all ponds this past week. A few catfish were taken by anglers using liver and night crawlers. At the catch and release pond, a few trout were caught by anglers using dead chickens, egg patterns and Griffith's gnats.

SOUTHWEST AREA

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

BILL EVANS LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using small swim baits, top water lures and tubes for largemouth bass. A few bluegill were taken by anglers using worms. We had no reports on other species.

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

CABALLO LAKE: Fishing was slow again this past week. There were a few walleye and white bass taken by anglers trolling deep running crank baits. A few channel catfish were taken by anglers using liver and cut bait. We had no reports on other species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing was fair this past week for anglers using live bait and fishing for striped bass. Most of the fish caught were taken at depths of 25-to-40 feet. Fishing was fair using crank baits, live bait, grubs and tubes for white bass and walleye. Fishing was slow-to-fair using top water lures, drop shot rigs, tubes, senkos and salt craws for black bass. Most of the black bass were taken by anglers fishing main lake and secondary points with brush and rock. Fishing was fair using liver and shrimp for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

GLENWOOD POND: We had no reports from anglers this week.

ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was slow.

GILA RIVER: Water flow near Gila on Monday was 135cfs. Trout fishing was fair using bead head prince nymphs and copper john barrs.

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

PERCHA DAM: We had one report of an angler catching a 25 pound catfish but were unable to get any additional information at press time.

QUEMADO LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using spinners, jerk baits and power bait for tiger musky. Fishing was slow-to-fair using power bait, Pistol Petes and bead head wooly buggers for trout.

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 1,760cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

SOUTHEAST AREA

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

BONITO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait, corn and egg combinations and spinners. The best reports came from anglers fishing early and late in the day.

BOSQUE REDONDO: 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. The water level is up and this would be a good place for anglers to try different techniques.

CARLSBAD

MUNICIPAL LAKE: Fishing was fair-to-good using tubes, grubs, craws and worms for small bass. We had no reports on other species.

GRINDSTONE

RESERVOIR: We had no reports from anglers this week. Rainbow trout stocking has been temporarily suspended while the Village of Ruidoso treats the lake to control algae blooms.

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

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

OASIS PARK LAKE: The State Park will be draining the lake for maintenance and renovation. Work is expected to be complete around the end of summer. For more information contact the park office at 505-356-5331.

PECOS RIVER: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 99cfs. Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using liver and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 4.4cfs. Fishing was fair using rock worms and small spinners for trout.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair using grubs, tubes, senkos, top water lures and crank baits for largemouth and smallmouth bass. The state park will close the boat ramp for re-striping on August 2 nd . Barricades will go up at 9pm on August 1 st and the ramp will re-open at 6am on August 3 rd .

SUMNER LAKE: The only reports we received this past week were from anglers catching white bass. The action was slow but there were a few good fish taken by anglers trolling crank baits and bottom bouncer/worm rigs.