New Mexico FISHING REPORT

March 10, 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:

Bill Evans Lake: On March 3, Kelly Gannaway and Richard Cowles of Deming caught and released between 30 and 40 trout in a five hour span. They were trolling assorted lures and reported that all the trout were between 10 and 16 inches in length.

Oasis State Park: On March 8, Manuel Thomas of Clovis caught a 25 inch, 5 pound largemouth bass. At the time Manuel was fishing for trout and using cheese for bait.

Chama River: On March 9 Andrew Orlicky of Albuquerque caught a 20 inch german brown. He was using a gold Panther Martin and fishing the Chama below Abiquiu Lake.

Ute Lake: On March 10, Rob Blum of Logan caught a 4.5 pound walleye. He was trolling a Reef Runner at a depth of 28 feet.

Pecos River: On March 10, Nick Campos age 13 of Rio Rancho caught and released a 31.5 inch carp. He was fishing the river in Santa Rosa, using an 8.5 foot fly rod and a piece of corn for bait.

NORTHEAST AREA

CHARETTE LAKES: Trout fishing was slow again this past week but there were a few taken by anglers using salmon eggs and power bait.

CLAYTON LAKE: This past week anglers reported the water as being quite murky and fishing slow for all species.

COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

CONCHAS LAKE: Fishing was reported as fair-to-good for anglers trolling crank baits at the north end of the lake. They caught several white bass a few largemouth bass and one smallmouth bass. We had one report of a 7 pound walleye taken over the weekend. Most of the fish caught were found in 15-to-27 feet of water. We had no reports on other species.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: As of Monday the ice was about 18 inches thick. Fishing was fair-to-good this past week for anglers using ice jigs, worms and salmon eggs for perch. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using ice jigs, corn, salmon eggs and power bait. For updated ice conditions, contact the state park office at 505-377-1594.

LAKE MALOYA/ LAKE ALICE: As of Monday the ice was considered unsafe at both lakes. There was some open water at the upper end of Lake Alice. Anglers attempted to fish this area but reported fishing as slow. Chicorico Creek below Lake Maloya should provide some good stream fishing within the next couple of weeks. 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

MCALLISTER LAKE: Trout fishing was slow. The water level is quite low.

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

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday, water flow near Pecos was 48cfs and the water was slightly stained. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using bead head nymphs, egg patterns, spinners, salmon eggs and worms.

RED RIVER: Water flow as of Monday below the hatchery was 47cfs. Fishing this past week was fair for anglers using salmon eggs, bead head wooly buggers, egg patterns and worms for trout.

RIO GRANDE: The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 784cfs. The water was still fairly clear but fishing in this area was slow for all species. Further down stream near Albuquerque, anglers did well using cut bait and liver for catfish.

SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

STORRIE LAKE: Trout fishing from the bank was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners.

UTE LAKE: Fishing was good for some but slow for others this past weekend. Anglers fishing up the Canadian arm and using jerk baits and white crank baits reported catching several big white bass, a few walleye and a few largemouth bass. They were working at depths of 5-to-13 feet. There were also several white bass and a few catfish taken by anglers fishing the Ute Creek area. They were using white grubs and crank baits for the bass and dough bait and cut bait for the catfish. Anglers trolling on the main lake caught several walleye. They were using Reef Runners and Wally Divers and working at depths of 20-to-30 feet.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Fishing from the bank was fair for anglers using liver and dough bait for catfish. Fishing for all other species was slow.

ALBUQUERQUE AREA DRAINS: We had no reports from anglers this week.

ANIMAS RIVER: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using bead head wooly buggers, copper john barrs and San Juan worms.

BLUEWATER LAKE: The majority of the lake was free of ice as of Monday. Fishing this past week was slow for all species.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 100cfs and 130cfs below Abiquiu. Fishing below Abiquiu was fair-to-good for anglers using spinners, egg patterns, salmon eggs and worms for rainbow and brown trout. We had no reports from below El Vado.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE: Trout fishing at the catch and release pond was good for anglers using egg patterns and red copper john barrs. Fishing at the other ponds was fair for anglers using power bait, prop flies, salmon eggs and spinners. The best reports came from anglers using power bait.

EL VADO LAKE: The lake has been closed to ice fishing due to thin ice conditions. For updated conditions call the state park office at 505-588-7247.

FENTON LAKE: As of Monday there was still quite a bit of thin ice on the lake. The ice is expected to break up with the warmer weather this week. This may open the lake up to bank fishing by next weekend. For updated conditions, call the state part office at 505-829-3630.

HERON LAKE: As of Monday the Willow Creek area was closed to ice fishing due to thin ice. Ice at the La Laja area was 9 inches thick and reported as 8 inches at Ridge Rock. Anglers are advised to use extreme caution as the ice is getting quite soft. Fishing in the Ridge Rock area this past weekend was very good for anglers using power bait and corn. They caught several good size rainbow trout. Call the state park office at 505-588-7470 for updated conditions.

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

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 68cfs and the water a bit off color. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using egg patterns, worms and salmon eggs. Trout fishing on the other Jemez streams was reported as slow.

LAKE FARMINGTON: Fishing was fair using power bait, corn and salmon eggs for trout.

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

NAVAJO LAKE: Fishing improved with the warmer weather this past week. Anglers trolling jointed Rapalas reported catching trout and northern pike. The pike were caught up the San Juan arm of the lake while most of the trout were taken on the Pine arm and near Francis Canyon. One angler also reported catching a few largemouth bass while fishing in La Jara Canyon.

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 702cfs and the water was stained. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was fair-to-good for anglers using red annelids, small copper john barrs, egg patterns, RS2s, leeches and San Juan worms. Through the bait waters, fishing was fair-to-good using bead head wooly buggers, jerk baits, spinners, salmon eggs, night crawlers, garlic cheese and power bait.

SOUTHWEST AREA

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

BILL EVANS LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers trolling assorted spinners. A few trout were also taken by anglers using power bait and salmon eggs.

BURN LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using cheese, Pistol Petes, power bait and salmon eggs.

CABALLO LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers trolling assorted crank baits for white bass. Fishing for all other species was slow. Water is being released for irrigation at the present time.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers trolling crank baits and using jig and grub combinations for white bass. The best reports came from anglers fishing near the Black Bluffs and near Kettle Top. Fishing was fair for anglers using stink bait and cut bait for catfish. A few smallmouth bass and largemouth bass were taken by anglers using crank baits, spinner baits and jig and pig combinations. We had no reports on other species.

GLENWOOD POND: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using power bait.

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

GILA RIVER: Water flow near Gila on Monday was 241cfs. We had no reports from anglers on the Forks this week.

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

PERCHA DAM: Fishing was slow for all species.

QUEMADO LAKE: As of Monday the lake was free of ice. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners. We had no reports on other species.

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 12cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

SOUTHEAST AREA

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

BOSQUE REDONDO: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using spinners, worms, flies under a bubble and salmon eggs.

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 fair-to-good for anglers using small spinners, Pistol Petes, garlic cheese, power bait and salmon eggs.

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

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

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

OASIS STATE PARK: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using cheese, peach power bait and Pistol Petes. Anglers using cheese and dough bait were also catching a few catfish.

PECOS: As of Monday, water flow below Sumner Lake was 101cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

PERCH LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs. A few trout were also taken on spinners and Pistol Petes.

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 22cfs. Trout fishing slowed considerably with the high water conditions.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers fishing from boats and using deep running crank baits, tubes and spoons for smallmouth bass. Anglers fishing from the bank reported that fishing was slow for all species. As the water temp rises over the next week or two look for increased crappie, largemouth bass and catfish activity.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using grubs for walleye. Anglers fishing for walleye also caught a few smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species.

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