New Mexico FISHING REPORT

May 12, 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:

Conchas Lake: On May 12, Rick Hipp of Albuquerque caught a 4.8 pound largemouth bass. He was using a spinner bait.

Navajo Lake: On May 12, Johnny Parks of Aztec caught a 7.35 pound largemouth bass. On May 13, Danny Nelson of Bloomfield caught a 7.58 pound largemouth bass. He was using a spinner bait.

Sumner Lake: On May 11, Doug McGregor caught a 28 inch walleye. He was drifting night crawlers on the bottom.

Rio Grande: Below Caballo Dam on May 12, Angel Cadena of El Paso, TX caught a 25 inch 6 pound walleye. He was using a vibrax spinner.

Ute Lake: On May 11, Sharon Cox of Lazbuddie, TX caught an 11.14 pound walleye. She was using a crappie minnow.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: On May 12, Casi Anne Wogenrich of Albuquerque caught and released an 18 inch brown trout. She was using a Kastmaster.

NORTHEAST AREA

CANJILON LAKES: Fishing was good for anglers using worms and green power bait for trout.

CHARETTE LAKES: Trout fishing was good for anglers using Pistol Petes, power bait, corn and spinner/worm combinations. Fishing was good using worms for perch.

CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest this past Monday was 13cfs. Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using copper john barrs, San Juan worms and small spinners.

CLAYTON LAKE: Fishing for trout and walleye was good this past week as anglers did well using night crawlers, spinners, power bait, salmon eggs and worms. A few largemouth bass were taken by anglers using crank baits and spinner baits. We had no reports on other species.

COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was rated as slow-to-fair this past week by anglers using minnows and worms and fishing for crappie and bluegill. A few smallmouth bass were taken by anglers using crank baits, sweet beavers and tubes. We had no reports on other species.

CONCHAS LAKE: Anglers fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass reported fishing as good-to-excellent this past week. They did well using buzz baits, spinner baits, small swim baits, crank baits and tubes. Most of the bass were small but there were a few in the 3-to-4 pound range. Crappie fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using small jigs, grubs and minnows. Fishing for walleye and white bass was fair for anglers using grubs, road runners, crank baits and minnows. Fishing was fair using worms, minnows and jigs for bluegill. Fishing for catfish was fair-to-good for anglers using liver, dough baits and night crawlers.

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was good for anglers using bead head nymphs, power bait, salmon eggs, corn and small spinners.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Trout fishing was rated at good again this past week. Anglers did well using spinners, Pistol Petes under a bubble, power bait, roe sacs and small crank baits. Some of our best reports came from anglers fishing near the Honey Hole. Fishing was good using worms and power bait for perch.

HOPEWELL LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers using black wooly buggers, spinners and power bait.

LAKE MALOYA/ LAKE ALICE: At Lake Maloya, trout fishing was very good for anglers using Pistol Petes and power bait. The trout ranged in size from 8-to-12 inches. Fishing at Lake Alice was fair for anglers using power bait.

MAXWELL LAKES: Fishing was fair-to-good using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners for rainbow trout. We had no reports on other species.

MCALLISTER LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs.

MONASTERY LAKE: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using corn, Pistol Petes and power bait.

MORPHY LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good this past week for anglers using spinners, power bait, salmon eggs and worms.

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday, water flow near Pecos was 137cfs. Trout fishing was a little better than the previous week but still a bit slow with the high water. Best baits were spinners, wooly buggers and night crawlers.

RED RIVER: Water flow below the hatchery on Monday morning was 143cfs and the water was murky. Trout fishing was slow.

RIO GRANDE: The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 703cfs. Fishing was slow but there were a few trout taken by anglers using wooly buggers, worms and spinners. We had no reports on other species.

SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing was good for anglers using water dogs, cut bait, jerk baits and spinners for northern pike up to 32 inches. Fishing was good using jigs and water dogs for largemouth bass. We had no reports on other species.

STORRIE LAKE: Carp fishing was reported as very good this past week. Best baits were corn and power bait. Fishing for all other species was slow.

STUBBLEFIELD: We had no reports from anglers this week.

UTE LAKE: If you like crappie fishing this may be the lake to check out as it appears the crappie are spawning. Anglers did very well this past week using minnows and small tubes and jigs and working them in shallow brush. Fishing for walleye was fair but it had slowed some from previous weeks. The walleye were scattered and found at depths of 2-to-30 feet. When on the flats, anglers did best using grubs, jigs tipped with minnows and jerk baits. In deeper water, best baits were crank baits and bottom bouncer/worm or minnow rigs. Smallmouth bass fishing was fair for anglers fishing main lake structure in 10-to-20 feet of water. Best baits were crank baits and tubes. Anglers fishing for largemouth bass did best fishing the coves and looking for staging areas for bedding fish. Best baits were crank baits, spinner baits, lizards and tubes. Fishing for catfish was fair-to-good for anglers using liver, dough bait and night crawlers over baited holes.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Fishing for smallmouth bass was quite good this past week. Anglers did well using tubes, jerk baits and crank baits. Fishing for rainbow trout was fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and worms. We had no reports on other species.

BLUEWATER LAKE: Fishing for tiger musky was fair-to-good for anglers using large spinners, jerk baits and spoons. Fishing for all other species was slow.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 1,590cfs. Trout fishing here and below Abiquiu slowed drastically due to the high flows.

EL VADO LAKE: Bank fishing near the dam was fair for anglers using night crawlers and power bait for trout.

FENTON LAKE: Trout fishing was rated as slow-to-fair this past week. Anglers did best using small gold spinners, spoons, power bait and salmon eggs.

HERON LAKE: Trolling for lake trout was slow again this past week but there were a few small lakers taken by anglers trolling spinners. Bank fishing for rainbow trout was fair for anglers using power bait, roe sacs and spinners.

JACKSON LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using prop flies, spinners, power bait and salmon eggs.

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 294cfs and the water was murky. The best stream fishing report we received this past week was from anglers fishing the upper Cebolla. Anglers did well using small spinners and bead head nymphs.

LAGUNA DEL CAMPO: Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs.

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

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

NAVAJO LAKE: Crappie fishing continued to be good this past week. Anglers did well using small tubes, jigs and minnows. Our best reports came from anglers fishing in Bancos, La Jara and Francis Canyons. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was very good as anglers reported catching bass on a variety of lures. They were using swim baits, jerk baits, spinner baits, crank baits, tubes, sweet beavers, drop shot/worm rigs and brush hogs. Most of the bass caught were taken in less than 10 feet of water. Fishing for northern pike was good for anglers using spinner baits, crank baits and jerk baits. Anglers reported catching pike on the Pine and San Juan arms of the lake. A few trout were taken by anglers trolling crank baits and bank fishing with power bait. We had no reports on other species.

RAMAH LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using bead head wooly buggers, salmon eggs, Gulp eggs and power bait.

SANTA CRUZ LAKE: Trout fishing was fair this past week for anglers using power bait, Tasmanian Devils, small crank baits and salmon eggs.

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 5,160cfs. Trout fishing from drift boats through the Quality Waters and further downstream was fair for anglers using wooly buggers, sparkle worms, San Juan worms and copper john barrs. Fishing through the bait waters was fair for anglers using jerk baits, wooly buggers, power bait and night crawlers. The high flow is expected to ramp back down by May 20.

SEVEN SPRINGS BROOD POND: The pond is open to fishing for children under age 12. Trout fishing was good using spinners, spoons and power bait.

TINGLEY BEACH: Fish in the Children’s Pond and Central pond have tested positive for the Ich parasite. In order to clear these ponds of fish more quickly, the department of Game and Fish has temporarily suspended restrictions on these two ponds and approved the following: 1. Temporary suspension on bag limits of catches from these two ponds. 2. Temporary suspension on size limits of catches from these two ponds. 3. Temporary permission for adults to fish the Children’s Pond. All other Tingley Beach regulations remain in effect.

SOUTHWEST AREA

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

BILL EVANS LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, worms and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing for bluegill was fair for anglers using worms. Fishing was fair for anglers using sweet beavers, tubes and crank baits for largemouth bass. We had no reports on other species.

BURN LAKE: Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using power bait, spinners and salmon eggs for trout. A few trout were also taken by anglers using prop flies under a bubble. We had no reports on other species.

CABALLO LAKE: Fishing for walleye was fair for anglers trolling crank baits and bottom bouncer/minnow rigs and spinner/worm rigs. A few walleye were also taken by anglers using curly tail grubs. Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using minnows, crank baits and grubs for white bass. Anglers did well fishing the east side of the lake and near Apache Creek. Fishing for catfish was slow but there were a few taken by anglers using night crawlers and liver. We had no reports on other species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass. The best reports we received were from anglers fishing the east side of the lake and working areas from Kettle Top south through the Jungles area. Best baits were small swim baits, crank baits, tubes, jerk baits and top water lures. Fishing for white bass was fair for anglers trolling crank baits and casting crank baits, grubs and jerk baits. Anglers reported good success near Monticello and below Kettle Top. We also heard of a few white bass being taken at the south end of the lake. Fishing was good using liver, dough bait and night crawlers for catfish. Anglers fishing in the Narrows in shallow water did very well. Fishing for striped bass was slow but there were a few taken on jigs, jerk baits and live bait.

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

ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

GILA RIVER: Water flow near Gila on Monday was 115cfs. Trout fishing on the East Fork was fair for anglers using small bead head nymphs, worms and salmon eggs. We had no other reports.

LAKE ROBERTS: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using wooly buggers, Pistol Petes and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.

PERCHA DAM: Fishing was fair for anglers using grubs and crank baits for white bass and a few walleye. We had no reports on other species.

QUEMADO LAKE: Trout fishing continued to be slow. A few fish were taken by anglers using Pistol Petes and power bait. A few tiger musky were caught and released by anglers using jerk baits and large spinners.

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 1,000cfs. Fishing was slow-to-fair using white and chartreuse grubs and spinners for white bass and walleye. On the river below Caballo Lake, fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using spinners, minnows and grubs for walleye and white bass. We had no reports on other species.

SOUTHEAST AREA

BATAAN LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

BONITO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, prop flies under a bubble and spinners. Fishing was fair using dough bait and corn for carp.

BOSQUE REDONDO: Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait, worms and spinners for trout. 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 slow-to fair this past week. Anglers did best using prop flies under a bubble, spinners, 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.

OASIS PARK LAKE: The State Park will be draining the lake for maintenance and renovation. Work is expected to be complete about June 30 of this year. For more information contact the park office at 505-356-5331.

PECOS RIVER: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 100cfs. Fishing was slow.

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

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

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 15cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Bass fishing was quite good this past week. Anglers reported catching several largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Best baits were buzz baits, for anglers using swim baits, jerk baits, tubes, spinner baits and crank baits. Most of the bass were taken in less than 10 feet of water. Fishing was fair-to-good using small jigs, small spinner baits and minnows for crappie. We had no reports on other species.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was continued to be quite good again this past week and especially so for anglers fishing for walleye, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Best baits were bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs, jerk baits, crank baits, grubs and spinners. A few white bass and crappie were taken by anglers using grubs and crank baits. 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