New Mexico FISHING REPORT

January 6, 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.

NORTHEAST AREA

COCHITI LAKE: As of Monday, there was a thin layer of ice across the lake and it was considered unsafe for fishing. For updated conditions, call the park rangers office at 505-465-2300.

CONCHAS LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using slab spoons for walleye. They were working along the main channel and found the fish in about 40 feet of water. We had no reports on other species.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: As of this past Monday the ice was about 13 inches thick. Fishing was good using ice jigs, wax worms and power bait for lots of perch and a few good size rainbow trout. We received our best reports from anglers fishing near the boat ramps. For updated conditions, contact the state park office at 505-377-1594.

LAKE MALOYA/ LAKE ALICE: As of Monday the ice was about 12 inches thick at both lakes. They have been opened to ice fishing but the state park office at the lake has advised us to inform anglers that they will be fishing at their own risk. For updated ice conditions contact the state park office at 505-445-5607.

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

PECOS RIVER: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using copper john barrs and salmon eggs. The best reports this past week came from anglers fishing in the early afternoon hours and working the waters near Villanueva.

RED RIVER: Water flow as of Monday near Questa was 33cfs. Fishing was fair for anglers using small bead head nymphs, streamers and salmon eggs for trout.

RIO GRANDE: Fishing for northern pike was fair for anglers using jerk baits and bunny leeches. Fishing for trout was fair for anglers using streamers, wooly buggers, spinners and salmon eggs.

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

UTE LAKE: There was very light pressure on the lake again this past week. For those anglers who made the trip, fishing was fair using slab spoons and jigs at 40-to-50 feet along the main channel for walleye and a few white bass. We had no reports on other species.

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

ALBUQUERQUE AREA DRAINS: Fishing on the Albuquerque, Bernalillo, Corrales and Belen Drains was fair for anglers using salmon eggs, small crappie jigs, parachute adams, small Griffith’s gnats and salmon egg/corn combinations for trout.

NORTHWEST AREA

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

BLUEWATER LAKE: As of this past Monday the ice was reported as 6-to-10 inches thick. Fishing was fair using corn and salmon eggs for 10-to-12 inch rainbow trout. We had no reports on other species. For updated ice conditions, call the state park office at 505-876-2391.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 224cfs and47cfs below Abiquiu. Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using wooly buggers, streamers, worms and salmon eggs.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE: Trout fishing was rated as good for anglers using Pistol Petes, salmon eggs and power bait.

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

FENTON LAKE: As of Monday there was still some open water while other areas of the lake were covered with 8-to-12 inches of ice. Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using corn, salmon eggs and power bait for trout. The state park office at the lake has advised us to inform anglers that they will be fishing at their own risk. For updated ice conditions, call the state part office at 505-829-3630.

HERON LAKE: There was very little fishing pressure on the lake again this past week. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners. We had no reports on other species.

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

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 20cfs. Trout fishing on the lower Jemez was fair for anglers using small bead head nymphs, power bait and salmon eggs. Our best reports again this week came from anglers fishing downstream from Soda Dam.

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

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

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

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

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 460cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was very good for anglers using midges, San Juan worms, foam back emergers, bead head pheasant tails and red annelids. Further downstream, fishing was good using night crawlers, bead head wooly buggers and power bait.

SOUTHWEST AREA

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

BILL EVANS LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers using bead head wooly buggers, power bait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes. We had no reports on other species.

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

CABALLO LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing was slow for all species and there were very few anglers on the lake again this past week. The water level has risen significantly over the past year and all boat ramps are currently open. If you are planning a trip here, look for the stripers, white bass, walleye and other fish to be much deeper than where you found them a month or two ago. Use spoons, deep running crank baits, jigs and live bait and work them slowly and deep along the main channel for your best opportunity to catch fish. If you find a school of fish that won’t respond to any of your baits move on to another. Use these same lures and bait on all of our warm water lakes for some good winter fishing.

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

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

GILA RIVER: Water flow near Gila on Monday was 92cfs. Trout fishing was slow.

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

PERCHA DAM: Fishing was slow for all species.

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

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 6.0cfs. Fishing here and below Caballo this past week was slow for all species.

SOUTHEAST AREA

BATAAN LAKE: Winter trout stocking has been suspended on this lake due to a golden algae bloom. Most of the trout that were scheduled to be stocked here were placed in Carlsbad Municipal Lake.

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

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

BOTTOMLESS LAKES: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait.

BRANTLEY: 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 dropping and the west side boat ramp is closed. We had no reports from anglers this week.

CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers using spinners, worms, prop flies under a bubble, power bait and salmon eggs.

GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

PECOS: Below Sumner Lake, water flow on Monday was 28cfs. Fishing was fair using rainbow power bait and Pistol Petes for trout. We had no reports on other species.

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

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 2.4cfs. Trout fishing was slow. Fishing pressure was very light.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light.

The fishing report is prepared by Bill Dunn. For information or to contribute, contact Bill Dunn. If you have a "Catch of the Week" include date, location, type of fish, length and bait used to catch the fish. This is a new email for Bill...

Tight lines,

Brian