New Mexico FISHING REPORT

April 28, 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:

Bluewater Lake: On April 22, Kyle Nelson of Bluewater caught a 10 pound catfish. He was using worms for bait.

Ute Lake: On April 26, Jim Lloyd of Placitas caught a 5.48 pound walleye. He was using minnows.

Cochiti Lake: On April 28, Rusty Edwards of Rio Rancho caught a 6 pound largemouth bass. He was using a spinner bait. On April 29, Jim Johns of Albuquerque caught a 4.5 pound walleye. He was using a tube jig.

Heron Lake: On April 29, Maria Isler of Bosque Farms caught a 10.5 pound, 32 inch lake trout. She was fishing the shallows and using a Rapala.

NORTHEAST AREA

CHARETTE LAKES: Trout fishing was fair this past week for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait and worms. Fishing pressure was light.

CIMARRON RIVER: Trout fishing continued to be good this past week in the lower canyon area. Anglers did well using bead head San Juan worms, copper john barrs and prince nymphs. A few trout were also taken on spinners. We had no reports from the gravel pit lakes but they were recently stocked.

CLAYTON LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers using small spoons and rainbow colored extra scented power bait. Fishing for walleye was fair for anglers trolling spinners and spinner/crawler combinations. We had no reports on other species.

COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was fair-to-good this past week for anglers fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Anglers did best using crank baits, spinner baits and tubes. A few walleye were also taken by anglers using tubes. We had no reports on other species.

CONCHAS LAKE: Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was good this past week. Anglers did well using watermelon and pumpkin tubes, senkos, jerk baits, jigs, spinner baits, crawdad imitations and crank baits. Most of the bass were in less than 10 feet of water. Fishing was fair trolling and casting crank baits and sassy shad for white bass. Fishing was good using jigs, worms and minnows for crappie and bluegill. Fishing was fair using tubes, grubs, minnows, crank baits and bottom bouncer/crawler combinations for walleye. Fishing for catfish was fair for anglers using night crawlers and liver.

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was very good this past week for anglers using home made dough baits, worms, salmon eggs, corn and spinners.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Bank fishing for trout and perch was fair-to-good for anglers using roe sacs, power bait, corn, worms and salmon eggs. Fishing for perch was good using worms and salmon eggs. Fishing from boats was fair for anglers using spinners, spoons and power bait.

LAKE MALOYA/ LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing was reported as good at Lake Maloya for anglers using rainbow glitter and white power baits, wooly buggers, Pistol Petes under a bubble and natural colored power worms. At Lake Alice, fishing was fair for anglers using home made dough baits and salmon eggs for 6-to-9 inch trout.

MAXWELL LAKES: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners.

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

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

MORPHY LAKE: Trout fishing continued to be very good this past week. Anglers did best fishing from float tubes and using small copper john barrs. A few fish were also taken by anglers using spinners and Pistol Petes.

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday, water flow near Pecos was 240cfs. Trout fishing was rated as fair for anglers fishing the upper river and using night crawlers, large copper john barrs, spinners and wooly buggers. Fishing on the Mora was good for anglers using night crawlers and bead head nymphs.

RED RIVER: Water flow below the hatchery on Monday morning was 111cfs and the water was off color. Trout fishing was rated as slow-to-fair for anglers using wooly buggers, night crawlers and spinners.

RIO GRANDE: The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 580cfs. Trout fishing was fair-to-good this past week for anglers using elk hair caddis, bead head caddis nymphs, bead head wooly buggers and spinners. We had no reports on other species.

SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

STORRIE LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and corn and fishing near the inlet.

STUBBLEFIELD: Fishing was fair for anglers using night crawlers and spinner/crawler rigs for walleye.

UTE LAKE: Fishing for walleye was very good this past week as anglers did well fishing shallow and deep. The fish were scattered but plentiful. Anglers did well using minnows, night crawlers, tubes, crank baits, jerk baits and spinners. Fishing for crappie was very good for anglers using minnows, small spinners and jigs and fishing shallow. Fishing for smallmouth bass was good for anglers using tubes, jerk baits, lizards and minnows. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair-to-good for anglers using crank baits, jerk baits, spinner baits and tubes. Most of the bass were in less than 10 feet of water. Fishing for catfish was fair for anglers using liver, dough bait and night crawlers over baited holes.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Bass fishing picked up some this past week as anglers reported catching several smallmouth bass. They were using jerk baits, tubes and crank baits. A few catfish were taken by anglers using liver, cut bait and worms. We had no reports on other species.

BLUEWATER LAKE: Fishing for trout continued to be a bit slow as only a few anglers reported catches. They were trolling spinners. Several anglers reported catching and releasing tiger musky up to 40 inches. Best baits were silver spoons and jerk baits. A few catfish were taken by anglers using worms and liver.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 385cfs. Trout fishing here and below Abiquiu was fair for anglers using night crawlers and spinners for a mixed bag of rainbows and browns. Above El Vado, fishing was good using spinners, wooly buggers and night crawlers for trout. As of late Monday, the flow below El Vado was reduced to 100cfs.

EL VADO LAKE: Bank fishing continued to be good this past week. Anglers did well using night crawlers, power bait and spinners for trout.

FENTON LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using spinners, small spoons, worms, power bait and salmon eggs.

HERON LAKE: Bank fishing continued to be good this past week for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and corn for rainbow trout up to 16 inches and lake trout up to 4 pounds. Most of the action was near Ridge Rock and near the La Laja boat ramp. Fishing from boats was slow. The water was still quite murky.

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

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 209cfs. Prior to this latest spike in flows, trout fishing had improved. Anglers reported doing well using large stimulators and worms. Fishing on the East Fork was very good for anglers using size 12 and 14 parachute adams. On the Cebolla below Fenton Lake anglers did best using salmon eggs and red copper john barrs.

LAGUNA DEL CAMPO: This water was formerly known as Burns Canyon Lake and is open to fishing during daylight hours from May 1 through October 31. The lake is open to persons 14 years or younger, 65 and over, handicapped anglers or up to two parents/guardians in direct supervision of a child or children 14 years or younger who is fishing. No boats or flotation devices are allowed.

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

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

NAVAJO LAKE: Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was good this past week. Anglers did well using tubes, jerk baits, crank baits, jigs and drop shot/worm rigs. We had good reports from Francis Canyon, Uhl Canyon and Bancos Canyon. Fishing for crappie was good for anglers using minnows and small jigs in Francis and La Jara Canyons. Fishing for northern pike was fair for anglers fishing the Pine and San Juan arms of the lake and using jerk baits, spinner baits and large spoons. We had no reports on other species.

RAMAH LAKE: Trout fishing was good again this past week as anglers did well using bead head wooly buggers, Pistol Petes, small spoons, salmon eggs, corn and power bait.

SANTA CRUZ LAKE: Trout fishing was fair this past week for anglers using spoons, small crank baits, spinners and salmon eggs. Most of the fish caught were taken by anglers fishing from boats.

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 723cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters and further downstream was fair-to-good for anglers using red annelids, San Juan worms, copper john barrs, WD40s and small bead head pheasant tails. Below the Quality waters, anglers did well using night crawlers, power bait, salmon eggs, jerk baits, RS2s, San Juan worms, spinners and garlic cheese. A planned increase in flows has started. Flows will be ramped up to 5,000cfs, stay there for two weeks, then ramp back down by May 20.

SEVEN SPRINGS BROOD POND: The pond is open to fishing for children under age 12.

TINGLEY BEACH: Fishing for catfish was slow-to-fair for anglers using hot dogs, liver and worms. Trout fishing at the catch and keep and youth ponds was slow-to-fair. Anglers did best using power bait. At the catch and release pond, anglers did best using small Griffiths gnats, copper john barrs and flat fish with a single, barbless hook.

SOUTHWEST AREA

BEAR CANYON: Fishing was slow for all species.

BILL EVANS LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, spinners and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing for largemouth bass was slow-to-fair using small swim baits, senkos and tubes. A few bluegill were taken by anglers using worms. We had no report on other species.

BURN LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, spinners and salmon eggs for trout. We had no reports on other species.

CABALLO LAKE: Fishing for walleye was fair for anglers using minnows, crank baits and grubs. Anglers fishing for walleye also picked up a few white bass. We had no reports on other species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: Striped bass action was at best sporadic this past week. The best reports we received were from anglers using jerk baits and fishing the mid lake regions on the east side. Most of the fish they caught were in the 5-to-8 pound range. Fishing for white bass was fair-to-good for anglers using crank baits, tubes, grubs and sassy shad and working areas from Kettle Top to the Jungles. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was fair for anglers using jerk baits, senkos, lizards, imitation crawdads and tubes. Fishing for catfish was fair for anglers fishing from boats and using liver, worms and dough bait over baited holes.

GLENWOOD POND: We had no reports from anglers again this week but trout fishing should be good as the pond is stocked on a regular basis.

ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. A few trout were taken by anglers using power bait and spinners.

GILA RIVER: Water flow near Gila on Monday was 130cfs. Fishing on the Forks was fair for anglers using small bead head nymphs, worms and salmon eggs.

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

PERCHA DAM: We had no reports from anglers this week.

QUEMADO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair this past week for anglers using spinners, small spoons, wooly buggers and power bait for trout up to 20 inches. Anglers fishing for trout also reported catching and releasing several tiger musky.

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 1,670cfs. Fishing was slow-to-fair using grubs and spinners for white bass and walleye. On the river below Caballo Lake, fishing was fair using chartreuse and white curly tail grubs for walleye. We had no reports on other species.

SOUTHEAST AREA

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

BONITO LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, corn, prop flies under a bubble, spinners and small spoons.

BOSQUE REDONDO: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using corn, power bait, salmon eggs, spinners and prop flies under a bubble. We had no reports on other species.

BOTTOMLESS LAKES: Trout fishing was slow.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR: Trout fishing was rated as fair this past week for anglers using spinners, prop flies under a bubble, corn, power bait and salmon eggs.

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

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

PECOS RIVER: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 104cfs. Fishing was slow. Fishing pressure was very light.

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

RIO BONITO: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using small bead head nymphs.

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 19cfs. Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using worms and small bead head nymphs.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Bass fishing was very good over the past weekend as several mixed bag limits of largemouth and smallmouth bass were weighed in at a tournament. Anglers did well using spinner baits, senkos, sweet beavers, jerk baits, tubes and crank baits. Anglers fishing for bass also caught several large crappie and a few good walleye. Anglers fishing for walleye did well using curly tail grubs, spinner/crawlers combinations and crank baits.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was good this past week for anglers using Road Runners, tubes, grubs, Rat-L-Traps, jerk baits and deep diving crank baits for a mixed bag of walleye, white bass, smallmouth bass and catfish. Most of the fish caught were in less than 12 feet of water.

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