CATCHES OF THE WEEK:

 

San Juan River: On September 13, Michael Williams of Navajo Dam caught a 25 inch rainbow trout. He was fishing the Quality Waters and using a size 8 dry fly.

 

Ute Lake: On September 13, David Babb of Logan caught a 4.1 pound largemouth bass. He was using a buzz bait.

 

FREE FISHING DAY! Mark your calendar for September 29. This is a free fishing day. Take the family fishing. No license is required but all other fishing rules apply.

 

NORTHEAST AREA

 

CANJILON LAKES:            We had no reports from anglers this week.

CHARETTE LAKES:           Trout fishing was very good again this past week. Anglers did well trolling with christmas tree/worm combos, using floating grasshoppers and fishing deep water with power bait. Most of the trout were in the 11-to-16 inch range. Fishing from the bank was good using worms for perch.

CIMARRON RIVER:            Water flow below Eagle Nest was 19cfs. Trout fishing was good for anglers using spinners, worms, salmon eggs, stimulators and copper john barrs.   

CLAYTON LAKE:               Fishing was slow for all species. There were a few trout, mud cats and bluegill taken by anglers using worms and power bait.     

CONCHAS LAKE:               Fishing for white bass was good this past week for anglers trolling deep running crawdad colored crank baits and using green spinners near Big Island. Anglers reported catching white bass up to 2 pounds. Fishing was good using senkos, spinner baits and crank baits for black bass. Fishing was good using worms and poppers for bluegill.

COYOTE CREEK:                 Trout fishing was very good this past week. Anglers did well using power bait and salmon eggs. A few fish were also taken on spinners.

EAGLE NEST LAKE:           Fishing was slow-to-fair this past week for anglers trolling spinner/worm and spinner/corn combinations for trout, kokanee and perch. Bank fishing improved a bit as anglers reported catching a few perch and trout while using worms and power bait. The annual fishing derby will be held from September 22^nd through the 30^th. For more information, call 505-377-2420.

HOPEWELL LAKE:             Trout fishing was fair for anglers using worms, salmon eggs and small wet flies.  

LAKE MALOYA/

LAKE ALICE:       Trout fishing at Lake Maloya was good this past week for anglers using marshmallows and power bait from the bank. Anglers fishing from boats did well using Panther Martins and super dupers and drifting Pistol Petes. Fishing at Lake Alice was slow.

LOS PINOS:                          Trout fishing was good for anglers using salmon eggs, worms, spinners and copper john barrs.  

MAXWELL LAKES:           Fishing was slow. A few trout were taken by anglers using power bait and live grasshoppers.    

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.

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

MORPHY LAKE:                 Trout fishing was very good this past week as several limits were taken by anglers using salmon eggs, power bait and Pistol Petes.

PECOS RIVER:                      Trout fishing was good for anglers drifting salmon eggs and worms for a mix of brown and rainbow trout. Several trout were also taken by anglers using stimulators, copper john barrs and spinners.

RED RIVER:                          Water flow below the hatchery was 55cfs. Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using worms and wooly buggers.

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

RIO GRANDE:                      The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 393cfs. Fishing was slow.

RIO PUEBLO:                       Fishing was good again this past week for anglers using small dry flies for brown trout.

SHUREE PONDS:                 Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using Kastmasters and small Daredevles with single barbless hooks.

SPRINGER LAKE:                Fishing was slow for all species.

STORRIE LAKE:                  Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was light.

UTE LAKE:                           White bass fishing picked up a bit more this past week. Anglers did well using top water lures, trolling deep running crank baits and casting assorted lures along the shore line. Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was fair-to-good for anglers using buzz baits, small worms on drop shot rigs and small senkos. The black bass were taken at depths of 3-to-25 feet. We had no reports on other species.

 

NORTHWEST AREA

 

ABIQUIU LAKE:                 Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light.  

BLUEWATER LAKE:         Fishing was slow for all species.

CHAMA RIVER:                  Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 302cfs. Fishing was fair for anglers using night crawlers and salmon eggs for a mix of brown and rainbow trout. Fishing below Abiquiu was slow.  

COCHITI LAKE:                  Fishing was fair for anglers using minnows and 1/8 ounce jigs for white bass and crappie. Some were caught by anglers fishing from the bank with minnows under a bobber while others were taken on jig and minnow combinations worked in deeper water from boats. A few smallmouth bass and largemouth bass were taken by anglers using salt craws and crank baits. Water surface temp was in the mid 70s.  

EL VADO LAKE:                  Fishing pressure was very light and trout fishing was rated as slow again this past week. A few fish were taken by anglers using power bait and night crawlers.

FENTON LAKE:                   Trout fishing was good over the past week as anglers did well using worms in the morning hours and chartreuse glitter power bait during the day.

HERON LAKE:                     Fishing for kokanee was fair for some and slow for others. The best reports came from anglers trolling red and orange Cripplures, orange Arnies and double whammies at 20-to-35 feet. The fish ranged in size from 10-to-17 inches. Fishing from the bank was fair for anglers using power bait and salmon egg/corn combinations for trout.

JEMEZ WATERS:               Trout fishing on the East Fork, the San Antonio and the Rio Guadalupe was good this past week for anglers using elk hair caddis, parachute adams,   copper john barrs, small spinners, salmon eggs and worms.

LAGUNA DEL CAMPO: We had no reports from anglers this week.

MANZANO LAKE:             Trout fishing was slow.

NAVAJO LAKE:                  Fishing was good using tubes, small senkos, worms, crank baits and top water lures for smallmouth bass. Anglers fishing for smallmouth also caught a few northern pike and largemouth bass. The bass were scattered and taken at depths from 2-to-30 feet. Fishing for kokanee was fair-to-good trolling double whammies and Arnies tipped with corn at depths of 60-to-70 feet. Most of the kokanee were taken by anglers fishing the main lake between Sims Mesa and the dam. Fishing was fair using cut bait, liver and shrimp for catfish. Fishing was fair using worms for bluegill. We had no reports on other species.

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

SAN GREGORIO

                    LAKE:                Fishing was slow.    

SANTA CRUZ LAKE:        Fishing was slow but a few trout were taken by anglers using salmon eggs and small spoons.

SAN JUAN:                          Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 975cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters this past week was considered slow-to-fair at best for anglers using RS2s, wooly buggers, pheasant tail nymphs, red annelids, dead chickens and parachute adams.  Fishing through the bait waters was slow-to-fair using jerk baits, wooly buggers, wooly worms, spinners and night crawlers.

TINGLEY BEACH:               Fishing for largemouth bass up to 8 inches was good at the Central Pond for anglers using spinners and senkos. Fishing for catfish at this pond was good for anglers using chicken liver and dry cat food. Fishing for trout was slow but should improve with cooler weather coming.

 

SOUTHWEST AREA

 

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

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

BURN LAKE:                        Fishing was slow-to-fair using hot dogs and worms for catfish.     

CABALLO LAKE:               Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers who found the white bass. They were using white and crawdad colored crank baits, slab spoons and grubs. A few were also taken on top water lures. Fishing for catfish was slow but a few were taken by anglers using shrimp, liver and cut bait. We had no reports on other species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE:           Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was fair for anglers using senkos, salt craws, tubes, top water lures and crank baits. Most of the bass caught were taken in 3-to-22 feet of water.  Fishing was fair for anglers using top water lures, crank baits, live bait and grubs for white bass. Fishing was slow-to-fair using umbrella rigs, live bait, large top water lures and swim baits for striped bass. Fishing was fair using liver, shrimp and cut bait for catfish.

GLENWOOD POND:           We had no reports from anglers.

ESCONDIDA LAKE:           Fishing was slow for all species. A few catfish were taken by anglers using hot dogs and liver.   

GILA RIVER:                         Water flow near Gila on Monday was 119cfs. Fishing on the Forks was fair for anglers using worms and small bead head nymphs for trout.

LAKE ROBERTS:                 Fishing was slow for all species.      

PERCHA DAM:                   Fishing was slow for all species.   

QUEMADO LAKE:             Fishing was fair for anglers using spinners, jerk baits and spoons for tiger musky. Fishing for trout was slow but a few were taken by anglers using salmon eggs and spinners.

RIO GRANDE:                      Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 1,070cfs. A few catfish were taken by anglers using liver and cut bait. We had no reports on other species.

SNOW LAKE:                      We had no reports from anglers but the lake was scheduled to be stocked with rainbow trout this past week. 

 

SOUTHEAST AREA

 

BATAAN LAKE:                 Fishing was slow for all species.  

BONITO LAKE:                   Trout fishing continued to be good in the evening hours this past week. Anglers did well using salmon eggs, elk hair caddis, prince nymphs and small spinners. 

BOSQUE REDONDO:          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.  This would be a good lake for anglers to practice different casting and tackle techniques.

CARLSBAD

     MUNICIPAL LAKE:       Fishing was slow-to-fair using liver and worms for catfish. Fishing was fair using small plastics for bass. We had no reports on other species.

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. A few catfish were taken by anglers using hot dogs, night crawlers and liver.

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 81cfs. Fishing was fair using worms, shrimp and minnows for channel catfish and a few flathead catfish. We had no reports on other species.

RUIDOSO RIVER:                As of Monday, water flow was 4.6cfs. Trout fishing was slow but a few fish were taken by anglers using salmon eggs and small wet flies.

SANTA ROSA LAKE:        The best reports we received were from anglers fishing for bass. They were fishing up the river channel and using drop shot rigs and spinner baits and fishing tight to the bank. We had no reports on other species. The water was quite murky.

SUMNER LAKE:                  Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light.