Weekly Fishing Report

August 14, 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

Chama River: On August 4, Lane Ryan of Artesia caught an 18-inch rainbow. He was using power bait.

San Juan River: On August 6, Barbara Paulissen of Texas caught a 21-inch rainbow trout. She was fishing the Cable Hole and using a Yong Flasher.

Pecos River: On August 11, Marcos Trujillo of Santa Fe caught a 22-inch rainbow trout. He was using power 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

CHARETTE LAKES: Trout fishing was good this past week for anglers using power bait, worms and double hackle peacock nymphs. The nymphs were working best early and late in the day. Fishing was fair using worms for perch.

CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest this past Monday was 9.3cfs. Fishing was fair in the early morning hours using size 18-to-20 trico spinners.

CLAYTON LAKE: Fishing at night is good using worms and corn for trout and channel catfish. Daytime action is slower but anglers are picking up a few bluegill, trout carp and mud cats using the same baits.

CONCHAS LAKE: Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was slow this past week. There were a few black bass taken by anglers using top water lures early and late in the day and senkos deep during the day. Fishing for catfish and walleye was best at night. A few walleye were taken off the flats by anglers using grubs and crank baits. The best baits for catfish were liver and night crawlers. Fishing for bluegill was slow-to-fair for anglers using worms.

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was good this past week for anglers using renegades, royal coachmen, worms and power bait.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Fishing for kokanee was a bit sporadic this past week. Some anglers reported success while others had no luck at all. Those who caught fish were trolling double whammies, Arnies and Z Rays tipped with corn or worms. They were trolling at depths of 15-to-25 feet. Fishing from the bank was fair for anglers using worms for perch.

HOPEWELL LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good from the bank using power bait and worms. Anglers fishing from tubes caught several trout while fishing with small dry flies.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing was slow during the day at both lakes but good in the evening hours at Lake Maloya. Anglers who did best were fishing from boats and working the middle of the lake with power bait, mosquito patterns and black gnats.

MAXWELL LAKES: 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 worms, corn, salmon eggs and power bait.

MORPHY LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers fishing from the bank and excellent for those fishing from float tubes. Anglers fishing from the bank did best using power baits and fly and bubble combinations. Anglers fishing from tubes caught limits of fish while using damsel fly nymphs, millers and mosquito patterns.

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday, water flow near Pecos was 113cfs. Trout fishing here and on the Mora was good using night crawlers, power bait, stimulators, small bead head wooly buggers and spinners.

RED RIVER: Water flow below the hatchery on Monday morning was 77cfs. Trout fishing was slow from the town of Red River to the Rio Grande due to recent mud slides. A few fish were taken by anglers using worms.

RIO COSTILLA: Trout fishing was excellent for anglers using PMDs, yellow sallies and size 16-to-18 bead head nymphs.

RIO GRANDE: The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 464cfs. Fishing for all species was slow.

RIO PUEBLO: Trout fishing was very good using size 14-to-18 dry flies.

SHUREE PONDS: Fishing was fair using small spoons, bead head wooly buggers and spinners for trout. These are special trout waters and only artificial flies or lures with single, barbless hooks may be used.

SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using red and white spinners for northern pike. We had no reports on other species.

STORRIE LAKE: Trout fishing was slow during the day but good at night for anglers using white power bait. We had no reports on other species.

UTE LAKE: Fishing for smallmouth bass picked up a bit this past week as numbers of fish caught increased. Most were small fish but anglers caught several while using senkos and worms rigged whacky style and fishing points. A few crappie were taken by anglers using jigs tipped with minnows and fishing in deep trees. Fishing was slow for catfish but a few were taken by anglers fishing at night over baited holes and using liver.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Walleye fishing was slow this past week. A few fish were taken by anglers trolling bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs and deep running crank baits. Fishing for smallmouth bass was slow-to-fair using tubes, worms and jerk baits. A few catfish were taken by anglers fishing at night and using liver, dough bait and night crawlers. We had no reports on other species.

BLUEWATER LAKE: Fishing for tiger musky was reported as fair again this past week. Anglers did best using rainbow, gold and fire tiger jerk baits. A few were also caught by anglers using in line spinners and shallow running crank baits. Fishing for all other species was slow.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 215cfs and 332cfs below Abiquiu. The water below El Vado was murky but anglers still reported good trout fishing. They were using small black bead head nymphs, night crawlers, wooly buggers and power bait for a mix of brown and rainbow trout which measured between 10 and 19 inches. We had no reports from below Abiquiu.

COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using jigs tipped with minnows, crank baits and grubs for white bass and a few smallmouth bass and crappie. Most of the fish were taken at depths of 15-to-35 feet. Fishing was fair using top water lures, senkos and jerk baits for smallmouth bass. The best reports came from anglers fishing along the riprap. A few catfish were taken by anglers using minnows, night crawlers, shrimp and liver.

EL VADO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers drifting and trolling brown and black wooly buggers at the upper end of the lake. Bank fishing was slow.

FENTON LAKE: Anglers reported trout fishing as slow this past week. The water was quite murky.

HERON LAKE: Fishing for kokanee was fair trolling wedding rings, double whammies and kokanee killers tipped with corn at 20-to-25 feet. Anglers trolling for kokanee also caught several rainbow trout. Trout fishing from the bank was slow.

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 27cfs. Trout fishing here, on the San Antonio and on the Rio Guadalupe was good for anglers using black irresistibles, royal wulffs and stimulators. A few fish were also taken by anglers using salmon eggs and worms.

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

MANZANO LAKE: Trout fishing was slow.

NAVAJO LAKE: Fishing was a little tougher this past week as anglers struggled to catch bass and northern pike. A few bass were taken by anglers using tubes, senkos, salt craws and crank baits. The best reports came from anglers fishing the main lake area and the San Juan arm above La Jara Canyon. Fishing for northern pike was fair for anglers using jerk baits and spinner baits and fishing the Pine and San Juan arms. Fishing for kokanee was slow again this past week. The best reports we received were from anglers trolling Arnies and double whammies tipped with corn at 30-to-50 feet. Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using worms and fishing for bluegill.

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

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

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 787cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was fair for anglers using WD40s, San Juan worms, dead chickens, parachute adams, small bead head pheasant tail nymphs and small egg patterns. Fishing through the bait waters was fair for anglers using hoppers, worms, jerk baits, wooly buggers and night crawlers for a mix of rainbow and brown trout.

TINGLEY BEACH: We had no reports from anglers this week.

SOUTHWEST AREA 

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

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

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

CABALLO LAKE: Fishing for white bass picked up this past week as several anglers reported finding schools of fish. They were trolling white, chartreuse and chrome crank baits. Anglers fishing for white bass picked up a few walleye. Fishing for all other species was slow.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing was slow-to fair this past week for anglers fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. The best reports we received were from anglers fishing early and late in the day and using senkos, worms and grubs. Drop shot and whacky rigged worms worked best. Fishing was slow for striped bass but there were a few taken by anglers using live bait during the day and top water lures at night. Fishing was fair using crank baits, grubs and sassy shad for white bass. A few walleye were taken by anglers using crank baits late in the day. A few catfish were taken by anglers using shrimp, liver and dough bait over baited holes. We had no reports on other species.

GLENWOOD POND: The pond was recently stocked and should provide some great action. If you are in the area, check it out.

ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was slow.

GILA RIVER: Water flow near Gila on Monday was 267cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

LAKE ROBERTS: Fishing was slow for all species.

PERCHA DAM: Fishing was slow-to-fair using minnows, crank baits and grubs for white bass. We had no reports on other species.

QUEMADO LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using in line spinners and jerk baits for tiger musky. Trout fishing was slow but a few were taken by anglers using flies in the evening hours.

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 1,340cfs. Fishing at night was slow-to-fair for anglers using night crawlers and cut bait for catfish. Anglers fishing for catfish also caught several carp.

SOUTHEAST AREA

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

BONITO LAKE: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using salmon eggs, salmon egg/corn combinations, spinners, power bait, and worms.

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 slow. There were a few bass taken by anglers using grubs, worms and jerk baits. 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: Fishing was slow for all species.

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 96cfs. Fishing was good using liver, cut bait and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 6.7cfs. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs, worms and small bead head nymphs.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair using tubes, senkos, worms, salt craws, jerk baits, top water lures and crank baits for largemouth and smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was fair using crank baits, tubes and senkos for largemouth bass. A few were also taken by anglers using top water lures. Fishing was rated as sporadic for white bass. Best baits were crank baits and grubs trolled and drifted at 15-to-25 feet. Fishing was fair using liver and night crawlers for catfish. A few walleye were taken by anglers using jig and night crawler combinations. The walleye fishing was slow but those caught were good size fish.