New Mexico FISHING REPORT

July 7, 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:

Abiquiu Lake: On July 1, Aaron Swicegood age 19 on his first fishing trip caught a 27.5 inch 5 pound walleye. Andres Alvarado age 3 boated a 3.5 pound walleye. Both anglers are from Santa Fe and were trolling home made lures (with Smile Blades ;) ).

Cimarron River: On July 4 while fishing with dad Vinny, Elijah age 4 and Zachary age 3 caught several 11 and 12 inch trout. They were fishing below Eagle Nest Lake and using worms.

Sumner Lake: On July 7, Thomas Casias age 12 of Sandia Park caught a 2.5 pound and a 5 pound largemouth bass. He was using crank baits and tubes.

Ute Lake: On July 7, Patty Fry of Amarillo, TX caught a 4.1 largemouth bass. She was using a senko in 4 feet of water. On the same day, Paul Camino of Weed, NM caught a 4 pound walleye while trolling a bottom bouncer/night crawler rig.

Cochiti Lake: On July 7, Nick Burnett of Albuquerque caught a 30 inch northern pike. He was using a spinner bait in less than 6 feet of water. Amber Romero of Albuquerque caught a 36” northern pike. She was using a minnow and fishing in the old marina area.

Chama River: On July 7, Gary Vigil of Santa Fe caught a 22 inch german brown. He was using a black wooly bugger.

NORTHEAST AREA

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

CHARETTE LAKES: Fishing continued to be very good this past week. Anglers did very well using worms, power bait, live grasshoppers and Panther Martins for trout up to 17 inches. Fishing was good using worms for perch.

CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest this past Monday was 27cfs. Fishing was fair using copper john barrs, may fly nymphs and small spinners for brown and rainbow trout.

CLAYTON LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species and fishing pressure has been light. A few trout and small walleye were taken by anglers using corn and worms.

COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was very good this past week for anglers using minnows for crappie and white bass. Some of the best action was along the riprap near the dam. Anglers did best tipping jigs with minnows and drifting with the wind. A few other did well trolling crank baits in the same area. Fishing was very good using minnows, senkos and lipless crank baits in shallow water for smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair using spinner baits, crank baits and minnows for northern pike and a few walleye. Fishing was good using minnows, worms and liver for catfish.

CONCHAS LAKE: Fishing was fair-to-good using worms, poppers and minnows for bluegill. Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using Ricos, senkos, tubes and crank baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Most of the bass were taken in less than 10 feet of water. Fishing for walleye was best for anglers fishing at night with night crawlers and minnows. Fishing for white bass was fair for anglers using crank baits, jigs, top water lures, grubs, and minnows. Fishing for catfish was fair using liver and cut bait.

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was good this past week for anglers using salmon eggs, small wet flies and power bait.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Fishing for kokanee was very good this past week for anglers trolling Panther Martins and Z Rays tipped with corn. Most of the fish caught were taken in 20-to-30 feet of water. Anglers trolling for kokanee also caught several rainbow trout. Fishing from the bank was good using worms for perch and power bait for trout and a few kokanee.

HOPEWELL LAKE: Trout fishing was fair using power bait, small spinners and Pistol Petes.

LAKE MALOYA/ LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing was very good at both lakes over the past weekend. Anglers did well using an assortment of flies, power bait and worms.

MAXWELL LAKES: Trout fishing was slow.

MCALLISTER LAKE: There has been a fish kill on the lake and there are no plans to restock the lake with trout at this time. You can still have a great time here. Take you fly rod and battle some big carp!

MONASTERY LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers using corn, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes and power bait.

MORPHY LAKE: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using worms, salmon eggs and spinners.

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday, water flow near Pecos was 77cfs. Trout fishing here and on the Mora was good for anglers using elk hair caddis, stimulators, copper john barrs, prince nymphs, small spinners and night crawlers.

RED RIVER: Water flow below the hatchery on Monday morning was 77cfs. Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using worms, copper john barrs, San Juan worms, wooly worms and spinners.

RIO GRANDE: The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 393cfs. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using wooly buggers, gummies, stimulators, worms and spinners. Fishing for northern pike was fair for anglers using bunny leeches and large jerk baits.

SHUREE PONDS: Fishing continued to be very good this past week as several anglers reported catching limits of trout. Anglers did well using prince nymphs, lightning bugs, hoppers Kastmasters, Panther Martins and small Daredevles.

SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing was fair using cut bait, jigs and Rat-L-Traps for northern pike. A few channel catfish were taken by anglers using cut bait and night crawlers. We had no reports on other species.

STORRIE LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using white and chartreuse power bait and fishing during the early morning and late evening hours. We had no reports on other species. Fishing pressure was very light.

STUBBLEFIELD: Fishing was good using tubes, spinner baits and crank baits for largemouth bass and walleye. A few bass were also taken on top water lures.

UTE LAKE: Fishing slowed down a bit this past week with less fishing and more boating on the lake. Anglers who did get out reported fair fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Best baits were Ricos, crank baits and senkos. Fishing for walleye was slow but there were some taken by anglers using bottom bouncer/night crawler combos and rip shad trolled at 18-to-20 feet over brush. Fishing for catfish was slow-to-fair for anglers using cut bait, liver and night crawlers. A few white bass were taken by anglers using top water lures and trolling white and chrome crank baits. We had no reports on other species.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Fishing for walleye was fair-to-good for anglers trolling Mack’s Lure Wally Pops, spinner/night crawler combinations and crank baits. A few walleye were also taken on chartreuse grubs. Anglers trolling for walleye also reported catching a few brown trout at the upper end of the lake. Fishing was fair using top water lures, crank baits and tubes for smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species.

BLUEWATER LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species but there were a few catfish taken by anglers using night crawlers, shrimp and liver.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 434cfs and 498cfs below Abiquiu. Fishing below El Vado was fair using black spinners, black wooly buggers and salmon eggs for brown and rainbow trout.

EL VADO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, worms, night crawlers and spinners. Anglers trolling for trout with spinners also caught a few kokanee.

FENTON LAKE: Trout fishing was very good early and late in the day for anglers using worms. They continued to have success during the heat of the day by switching to corn and yellow power bait.

HERON LAKE: Fishing for kokanee was good this past week. Anglers did well trolling kokanee killers, double whammies and Panther Martins tipped with corn and trolled at depths of 22-to-26 feet. Anglers trolling for kokanee also reported catching a few trout. Fishing from the bank was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait for trout.

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 16cfs. Trout fishing on the Guadalupe, Rio Las Vacas, and San Antonio was good for anglers using zebra midges, royal wulffs, copper john barrs, hoppers and small tan and yellow stimulators.

LAGUNA DEL CAMPO: Trout fishing was fair-to-good using power bait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes. A few fish were also taken on spinners.

MANZANO LAKE: Fishing was good using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners for trout.

NAVAJO LAKE: Fishing was very good this past week using spinner baits for northern pike. Most of the action took place on the San Juan arm. Fishing was good using tubes, Ricos and crank baits for smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair using buzz baits and Ricos for largemouth bass. Fishing was fair-to-good trolling Arnies, wedding rings and kokanee killers tipped with corn behind christmas trees at 20-to-35 feet for kokanee. Anglers trolling for kokanee also picked up a few rainbow and brown trout. Fishing was slow-to-fair using small jigs and grasshoppers for crappie and bluegill.

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

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

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 737cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was good and especially so in the evening hours. Anglers did well using small parachute adams, brassies, turks tarantulas, red annelids, dead chickens, San Juan worms and small bead head pheasant tail nymphs. Through the bait waters, fishing was good using copper john barrs, wooly buggers, night crawlers, garlic cheese and power bait.

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

TINGLEY BEACH: Fishing was generally slow at all ponds this past week. A few catfish were taken by anglers using liver and night crawlers.

SOUTHWEST AREA

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

BILL EVANS LAKE: Fishing was fair using worms for bluegill. Fishing was slow-to- fair using worms and dough bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

BURN LAKE: Fishing was fair using worms and liver for catfish.

CABALLO LAKE: Fishing was reported as fair for white bass but slow for all other species. Anglers did best trolling white and fire tiger crank baits in 8-to-15 feet for the white bass. A few catfish were taken by anglers using liver and night crawlers. We had no reports on other species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing was fair using crank bait, grubs and jig and minnow combinations for walleye. The best reports we received were from anglers fishing near Kettle Top and McCrae Canyon. Fishing was fair using top water lures, grubs and crank baits for white bass. Fishing was fair using live bait, jigs and top water lures for striped bass. The best time for the top water lures was during the late evening hours. Fishing was slow-to-fair using top water lures, spinner baits, senkos, salt craws, brush hogs and crank baits for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair using liver, shrimp and night crawlers over baited holes for catfish.

GLENWOOD POND: We had no reports from anglers this week. If you’re in the area, check this pond out. It is stocked on a regular basis with keeper size rainbow trout.

ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was fair using liver, worms, hot dogs and dough baits for catfish.

GILA RIVER: Water flow near Gila on Monday was 78cfs. Fishing on the forks was slow but a few trout were taken by anglers using stimulators, pheasant tail nymphs and worms.

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

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

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

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 2,400cfs. Fishing on this stretch of water was slow. Fishing below Caballo was slow-to-fair using liver, cut bait and night crawlers for catfish. A few walleye were taken on minnows and grubs.

SOUTHEAST AREA

BATAAN LAKE: Fishing was fair using worms and liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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

BOSQUE REDONDO: Fishing was fair using night crawlers, stink bait and liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week. Rainbow trout stocking has been temporarily suspended while the Village of Ruidoso treats the lake to control algae blooms.

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

LAKE VAN: Fishing was slow-to-fair using night crawlers, worms and liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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

PECOS RIVER: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 1,450cfs. This area will be closed to fishing during the high release.

RIO BONITO: We had no reports from anglers this week.

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 2.8cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing was slow for some and fair for other anglers using top water lures, tubes, senkos, jerk baits and spinner baits for largemouth bass. Those who did best were targeting brush abuzz with dragon fly activity. Fishing was slow-to-fair using senkos and tubes in rocky areas for smallmouth bass. Fishing was slow-to-fair using tubes, crank baits, grubs and jig and minnow combinations for walleye and a few big crappie. Anglers using crank baits also caught a few walleye and crappie. We had no reports on other species. Fishing with bait from the bank was slow for all species.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was fair using tubes, crank baits, senkos and top water lures for largemouth bass. Most of the bass caught were taken in less than 10 feet of water. Fishing was fair trolling bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs, jig and minnow rigs and crank baits for walleye. Most of the walleye were small and were taken at depths ranging from 6-to-20 feet.

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