New Mexico FISHING REPORT

March 3, 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.

CATCHES OF THE WEEK:

Elephant Butte: On Sunday, March 4, Russell Spahr of Albuquerque caught a 10 pound striped bass. He was trolling a Rapala shad rap.

[ABQ Sportfishnig]Ute Lake: On Sunday, March 4th, Richard Gilcrease of Garden City, KS caught a 3.5 pound walleye. Also on Sunday March 4th, Rob Blum caught a 4 pound walleye. Both were fishing 800 series Reef Runners.

[ABQ Sportfishing]Morgan Lake: On Saturday during the Four Corners Team Bass tourney there were 5 teams that weighed in fish over 5 pounds. Donna Herrera (overall winner also), Joe Gill (3rd), Doug Walker, Bob Bryant and Mike Carver. Most were fishing plastic in shallow water. For full results, check out the tourney page.

NORTHEAST AREA

CHARETTE LAKES: Trout fishing was slow. A few small fish were taken by anglers using salmon eggs.

CLAYTON LAKE: It was a busy opening weekend here as several anglers turned out to try their luck. Fishing was slow for all species. A few small trout were taken by anglers using corn.

COCHITI LAKE: The lake is completely free of ice. There were a few anglers out this past weekend fishing from boats and from the bank. They all reported fishing as being very slow.

CONCHAS LAKE: Fishing was reported as fair for anglers trolling crank baits at 25-to-30 feet along the main channel. They were fishing for and catching a few walleye and white bass. Anglers fishing for smallmouth bass reported the action as slow.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: As of Monday the ice was 21-to-23 inches thick. Anglers rated fishing this past week as fair for perch but slow for trout. Perch were taken by anglers using wax worms, ice jigs, salmon eggs and corn. Most were caught near the south ramp. Although trout fishing was slow, a few nice rainbows were taken by anglers using ice jigs and power bait. The best trout fishing reports came from anglers fishing the Six Mile area. For updated ice conditions, contact the state park office at 505-377-1594.

LAKE MALOYA/ LAKE ALICE: As of Monday the ice was about 18 inches thick at Lake Maloya and about 12 inches at Lake Alice. Trout fishing at Lake Maloya was good for anglers using corn, home made dough baits, small tube jigs and salmon eggs. We had no reports from Lake Alice. With the warmer weather moving in to the state the park office has requested that anglers call 505-445-5607 for updated conditions before heading out to the lakes.

MAXWELL LAKES: Trout fishing was slow but a few good size trout were taken by anglers using power bait.

MCALLISTER LAKE: Windy weather greeted anglers for the opening weekend here. Anglers reported fishing as very slow.

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

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday, water flow near Anton Chico was 54cfs and the water was clear. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs, small spinners, egg patterns and worms for trout.

RED RIVER: Water flow as of Monday below the hatchery was 37cfs. Fishing this past week was fair-to-good for anglers using salmon eggs, egg patterns, streamers and worms for trout.

RIO GRANDE: The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 695cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

SPRINGER LAKE: Anglers in the area reported that the lake was full and free of ice. Fishing was slow for all species.

STORRIE LAKE: Trout fishing was slow this past week from the bank as well as from boats. The lake is now completely free of ice.

UTE LAKE: Walleye fishing was fair for anglers trolling Reef Runners at 20-to-40 feet along the main channel. Anglers trolling for walleye also picked up a few scattered white bass. We had no reports on other species.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light. Most of the lake is now free of ice.

ALBUQUERQUE AREA DRAINS: Trout fishing on the Albuquerque and Corrales Drains was reported as slow-to-fair this past week. Anglers did best using worms and salmon eggs. Anglers fishing the Belen Drain did fair using power bait, salmon eggs, wax worms and corn for trout. We had no other reports.

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

BLUEWATER LAKE: Ice fishing is officially over at this lake. The entire north end is free of ice and accessible for fishing from the bank. There were several anglers fishing this area over the past weekend and they reported fishing as slow for all species.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 100cfs and 60cfs below Abiquiu. Anglers fishing below Abiquiu reported catching a few stocked rainbow trout. They were using power bait and spinners. We had no reports from below El Vado.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using small streamers, egg patterns and leeches at the catch and release pond. The most successful anglers were sight fishing and slow-stripping flies. Anglers fishing the bait waters did well using corn, home made dough baits, power bait, small spinners and salmon eggs.

EL VADO LAKE: As of Monday the lake was still covered with ice but thin ice was reported around the edges as the lake level was rising. Give this water another week or two of warm weather for the ice to thaw. Then check it out for some big rainbows and brown trout.

FENTON LAKE: The lake has closed to fishing due to thin ice conditions in several locations. For updated conditions, call the state part office at 505-829-3630.

HERON LAKE: As of Monday the lake was covered with about 10 inches of ice. Over the past weekend, anglers did well using corn, salmon eggs and power bait for rainbow trout and a few small lake trout. Warm weather this week may create thin ice conditions. Call the state park office at 505-5880-7470 for updated conditions.

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 34cfs. Trout fishing on the lower Jemez was slow-to-fair for anglers using egg patterns, worms and salmon eggs. We had one angler work the upper and lower Cebolla this past week and he reported conditions as being very slow.

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

NAVAJO LAKE: Windy weather kept most anglers off the lake this past weekend. Those who managed to venture out reported that fishing was slow for all species.

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

SANTA CRUZ LAKE: ANGLERS CHECK YOUR REGULATIONS! This lake does not open for fishing until April 1st.

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 525cfs and the water was stained. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was good for anglers using bright colored larva patterns, egg patterns, RS2s, leeches and San Juan worms. The worms and leeches worked best in the deeper holes. Through the bait waters, fishing was good using bead head wooly buggers, San Juan worms, salmon eggs, night crawlers, and power bait.

SOUTHWEST AREA

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

BILL EVANS LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.

BURN LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers using corn, power bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.

CABALLO LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light. Water release for irrigation is expected to begin around March 10.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: White bass provided the most action for anglers this past week. They did best trolling assorted crank baits in the Black Bluffs area. A few catfish were taken by anglers using shrimp and stink bait at the upper end of the main lake. We had our first report of a striped bass catch (See Catches of the Week). A few smallmouth bass were taken by anglers using deep running crank baits and tubes.

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

ESCONDIDA LAKE: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using salmon egg/corn combinations, power bait and home made dough baits.

GILA RIVER: Water flow near Gila on Monday was 166cfs. Trout fishing on the Middle Fork was fair for anglers using worms and small bead head wooly buggers.

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

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 8.1cfs. Fishing here and below Caballo this past week was slow for all species.

SOUTHEAST AREA

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

BOSQUE REDONDO: Trout fishing was good again this week for anglers using spinners, power bait, worms, flies under a bubble and salmon eggs.

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 small spinners, power bait and salmon eggs.

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

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

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

PECOS: As of Monday, water flow below Sumner Lake was 1,520cfs. This increased flow is expected to last until mid week. During this time, the fishing access immediately below the lake will be closed.

PERCH LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using power bait, home made dough bait and salmon eggs.

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 8.3cfs. Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using bead head nymphs, egg patterns and salmon eggs.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair again this past week for anglers fishing for smallmouth bass. The best reports came from anglers using slab spoons and jigs and working deep off the main channel bluffs. We had no reports on other species. The water surface temperature ranged from 41-to-45 degrees.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using minnows and worms for small walleye. A few larger fish were taken by anglers using jigs tipped with chartreuse grubs. Anglers fishing grubs also caught a few good size smallmouth bass.

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