CATCHES OF THE WEEK:

 

Elephant Butte Lake: On February 19, Russell Spahr of Albuquerque caught a 12 pound striped bass. He was trolling a crank bait.

 

NORTHEAST AREA

 

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

CLAYTON LAKE:               Opens for the season on March 1^st.  Due to low water conditions the boat ramp will be open for small boat launching only.

CONCHAS LAKE:               Fishing pressure was very light again this past week. There were a few walleye and white bass taken by anglers using spoons and jig and minnow combinations.    

EAGLE NEST LAKE:           As of Monday the ice was about 22 inches thick. Fishing this past week was rated as slow-to-fair for anglers using ice jigs, corn, salmon eggs, roe sacs and wax worms. Anglers caught a few rainbow trout and a few good size perch.

LAKE MALOYA/

LAKE ALICE:       As of Monday there was about 18 inches of ice at Lake Maloya and 10-to-11 inches at Lake Alice. Trout fishing at Maloya was fair-to-good for anglers using small tube jigs, home made dough baits and salmon eggs. Fishing at Lake Alice was slow and the ice was starting to show signs of early thawing. Anglers are advised to use caution.  

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 50cfs. Trout fishing through the Villanueva state park area was slow-to-fair for anglers using spinners. Further up stream, a few trout were taken by anglers using small bead head nymphs and salmon eggs.

RED RIVER:                          Water flow below the hatchery was 56cfs. Before the latest snow fall, fishing near the confluence with the Rio Grande was quite good for anglers using yellow and peach egg patterns. They were catching 16-to-20 inch cutbows.

RIO GRANDE:                      The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 648cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

STORRIE LAKE:                  Trout fishing was very good for anglers using salmon eggs and cheese.     

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 jig and minnow combinations.

 

NORTHWEST AREA

 

ABIQUIU LAKE:                 There was still 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 good this past week for anglers using salmon eggs, corn, worms and copper john barrs. Anglers reported good success at the Bernalillo, Albuquerque, 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 176cfs and 417cfs respectively. Flows are expected to increase to about 600cfs and remain there for about two weeks.  Trout fishing was slow.

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

EL VADO LAKE:           There was some ice around the lake this past week. We had no reports from anglers.   

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 53cfs near Jemez Springs. Trout fishing on the Jemez and on the East Fork was fair-to-good for anglers using red copper john barrs, wax worms, egg patterns and salmon eggs.

NAVAJO LAKE:                  Fishing for brown trout and rainbows was fair for anglers trolling Rapalas up the Pine arm. Fishing pressure was very light due to bad weather conditions.

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

SAN JUAN:                          Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 3,030cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was rated as slow-to-fair by most anglers. Best flies were orange sparkle worms, chamois leeches, small streamers and red annelids. Fishing through the bait waters was fair using garlic cheese, salmon eggs, spinners and night crawlers.

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 and Super Dupers. At the Catch and Release Pond best baits were egg patterns, red chamois leeches, midges and scuds.

 

SOUTHWEST AREA

 

BEAR CANYON:                 Trout fishing was good for anglers using corn, worms, power bait, salmon eggs and spinners.

BILL EVANS LAKE:            Trout fishing was good for anglers using salmon eggs, small spoons and power bait. A few largemouth bass were caught by anglers using crank baits and tubes.  

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

CABALLO LAKE:               Fishing was slow for all species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE:           We had excellent reports on white bass fishing this past week. Anglers did very well fishing near the Black Bluffs and using crank baits, spoons and jig and grub combinations. Fishing was slow for striped bass but a few were taken by anglers trolling crank baits. A few largemouth bass were taken by anglers using crank baits and jigs.   

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

ESCONDIDA LAKE:           Trout fishing was fair-to-good 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 210cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

LAKE ROBERTS:                 Trout fishing was very good for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, worms, wooly buggers and Pistol Petes.            

PERCHA DAM:                   Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was light.  

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

RIO GRANDE:                      Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 1,340cfs. Fishing for all species slowed due to the rapid increase in flow but should pick up by early next week. Fishing below Caballo was fair for anglers using jig and minnow and jig and grub combinations for walleye.

 

SOUTHEAST AREA

 

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

BOSQUE REDONDO:          Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait, Pistol Petes 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 and power bait.

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

LAKE VAN:                          Fishing was fair using power bait and salmon eggs.  

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

OASIS PARK LAKE:          Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait and cheese. Anglers are advised to use caution as the lake level has dropped and there is a considerable amount of mud around the edges.  

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

PERCH LAKE:                      Trout fishing was slow-to-fair using power bait and salmon eggs.

RUIDOSO RIVER:                Water flow at Ruidoso on Monday was 2.4cfs. Trout fishing was slow.

SANTA ROSA LAKE:        Fishing was slow but there were a few walleye and largemouth bass caught. Anglers did best using jigs for the largemouth bass and spoons and jig and Gulp minnow combinations for walleye. 25,000 acre feet of water will be released beginning March 3. The release will last for 10 days.     

SUMNER LAKE:                  Fishing was a bit tough this last week as anglers had to battle stiff winds. There were a few walleye and black bass caught by anglers working the Alamogordo arm and the east side of the island. Best baits were crank baits, minnows and bottom bouncer/night crawler combinations. There will be a water release starting March 5^th and lasting 10 days.