CATCHES OF THE WEEK:

 

Ute Lake: On February 12, Hal Westall of Logan caught a 6.67 pound walleye. He was using a slab spoon in about 40 feet of water.

 

Sumner Lake: On February 13, Tommy Marshall of Fort Sumner caught a 6 pound walleye. He was fishing from the bank.

 

Navajo Lake: On February 15, Al Hill and Andy Mumma of Albuquerque caught several brown trout including one that measured 24 inches. They were trolling Rapalas on the Pine arm at about 20 feet. On February 16, Jimmy Johnson of Navajo Dam caught a 40 inch northern Pike. He was also trolling a Rapala at about 20 feet.

 

NORTHEAST AREA

 

CHARETTE LAKES:           Open for the season March 1^st.

CLAYTON LAKE:               Opens for the season March 1^st.

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

EAGLE NEST LAKE:           As of Monday the ice was 17-to-22 inches thick. Fishing for trout and perch was rated as slow-to-fair for anglers using ice jigs, salmon eggs, roe sacs and wax worms.

LAKE MALOYA/

LAKE ALICE:       As of Monday there was about 16 inches of ice at Lake Maloya and 10-to-12 inches at Lake Alice. Trout fishing at both lakes was at best slow-to-fair. Anglers did best using salmon eggs and home made dough bait.

MAXWELL LAKES            Open for the season March 1^st.

MCALLISTER LAKE          Opens for the season March 1^st but may not be stocked until later this spring or early summer as the lake is currently experiencing a golden algae bloom.

MONASTERY LAKE:         We had no reports this week. Anglers are reminded that this lake is closed to ice fishing.   

PECOS RIVER:                      Water flow near Anton Chico as of Monday morning was 35cfs. Trout fishing through the Villanueva state park area was fair for anglers using salmon eggs and copper john barrs. The water was murky. The area received about 8 inches of snow over the past weekend.

RED RIVER:                          Water flow below the hatchery was 46cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

RIO GRANDE:                      The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 588cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

STORRIE LAKE:                  Trout fishing was very good this past weekend. Anglers did well using salmon eggs and cheese and reported catching several trout in the 14-to-16 inch range.     

UTE LAKE:                           Fishing was slow again this past week but there were a few walleye and white bass taken by anglers using slab spoons and fishing at depths of 40-to-45 feet.

 

NORTHWEST AREA

 

ABIQUIU LAKE:                 There was a layer of ice extending out from the shore line around the entire lake this past week. There is no fishing at this time.

ALBUQUERQUE 

   AREA DRAINS:                Trout fishing was very good this past week for anglers using wax worms, salmon eggs, parachute adams, and copper john barrs. Anglers reported good success at the Albuquerque, Corrales, Peralta and Belen Drains.

BLUEWATER LAKE:         The ice thickness varies from very thin to moderate and is not considered safe for ice fishing at this time.  For updated ice conditions contact the state park office at 505-876-2391.  

CHAMA RIVER:                  Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 121cfs and 212cfs respectively. We had no reports from anglers this week.

COCHITI LAKE:                  Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure continued to be very light. 

EL VADO LAKE:           We had no reports from anglers this week.  

FENTON LAKE:                   Closed to fishing due to unsafe ice conditions. For updated conditions call the state park office at 505-829-3630. 

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

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

JEMEZ WATERS:               Water flow on the Jemez as of Monday morning was 36cfs near Jemez Springs. Trout fishing through and below town continued to be fair-to-good this past week for anglers using copper john barrs and salmon eggs. A few trout were also taken by anglers fishing on the Cebolla and using wax worms.

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

NAVAJO LAKE:                  Fishing picked up over the past week as anglers did well fishing for rainbows, browns and northern pike. They were trolling Rapalas at a depth of 18-to-25 feet. Anglers reported some success near Francis Canyon and near the dam but the best reports came from anglers fishing up the Pine arm of the lake.

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

SAN JUAN:                          Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 2,950cfs. The water was clearing and fishing was reported as quite good through the Quality Waters. Anglers did well using emergers, leeches, San Juan worms, wooly buggers, orange sparkle worms and desert storms. Fishing through the bait waters was fair using garlic cheese, salmon eggs, worms, spinners and jerk baits.

SANTA CRUZ LAKE:        Anglers are reminded that the lake is closed to ice fishing.         

TINGLEY BEACH:               At the Youth Pond and the Central Pond, trout fishing was good using yellow and white power bait, Super Dupers, Tasmanian Devils and Pistol Petes. At the Catch and Release Pond best baits were egg patterns, leeches, midges and scuds.

 

SOUTHWEST AREA

 

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

BILL EVANS LAKE:            Trout fishing was good for anglers using salmon eggs, small spoons and power bait.

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

CABALLO LAKE:               Fishing was slow for all species.      

ELEPHANT BUTTE:           Fishing was slow for all species.  

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

ESCONDIDA LAKE:           Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs, garlic cheese, power eggs, power bait and wax worms.  

GILA RIVER:                         Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 76cfs. Fishing here and on the Forks was slow.

LAKE ROBERTS:                 We had no reports from anglers but the lake was recently stocked with over 2,000 rainbow trout.            

PERCHA DAM:                   Fishing was slow for all species.

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

RIO GRANDE:                      Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 12cfs. Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using worms and salmon eggs. Fishing on the river below Caballo was slow.

 

SOUTHEAST AREA

 

BATAAN LAKE:                 Tout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and worms.    

BOSQUE REDONDO:          Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using salmon eggs and corn.

BOTTOMLESS

 LAKES:                 Fishing was slow. Stocking has been suspended due to a golden algae bloom.

BRANTLEY LAKE:             Anglers are to practice catch and release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish. 

CARLSBAD

     MUNICIPAL LAKE:       The lake is being drained to accommodate maintenance work and will remain so at least through February. 

GRINDSTONE

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

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

LAKE VAN:                          Fishing was slow for all species.  

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

OASIS PARK LAKE:          Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait and cheese.

PECOS RIVER:                      Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 92cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

PERCH LAKE:                      Trout fishing was slow.

RUIDOSO RIVER:                Water flow at Ruidoso on Monday was .75cfs. Trout fishing was slow.

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

SUMNER LAKE:                  Walleye fishing was fair-to-good this past week for anglers using jig and minnow combinations, slab spoons and bubble gum Reef Runners. Most of the action was up on the Alamogordo arm of the lake and most of the fish caught were taken at depths of 20-to-30 feet. We had no reports on other species.