CATCHES OF THE WEEK:

 

Santa Rosa Lake: On February 27, Franco Vallejos caught a 6 pound walleye. He was using a green tube in the brush in 10 feet of water. On the same day, Mark Adams of Edgewood caught a 3.8 pound smallmouth bass. He was using a green tube in the brush in 8-to-12 feet of water.

 

Navajo Lake: On February 29, Danny Bailar of Albuquerque caught a 32.5 inch, 13 pound 12 ounce german brown. He was using a Berkley power minnow on an Eagle Claw spinner/hook rig.

 

Ute Lake: On March 1, Dan Brophy of Espanola caught a 7 pound 12 ounce walleye. He was using a Leprechaun slab spoon.  

 

NORTHEAST AREA

 

CHARETTE LAKES:           Opened for the season March 1. Over all fishing was slow but there were a few fish caught by anglers trolling small Super Dupers and crank baits.

CIMARRON RIVER:            Water flow below Eagle Nest Lake as of Monday was 4.6cfs. Trout fishing was slow.  

CLAYTON LAKE:               Opening weekend fishing was slow for all species. A few mud cats were caught by anglers using worms. The water was quite murky. Due to low water conditions the boat ramp is open for small boat launching only.  

CONCHAS LAKE:               Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using spoons and jigs for white bass and walleye. A few black bass were taken by anglers using tubes, jigs and spinner baits. We had no reports on other species.

EAGLE NEST LAKE:           As of Monday the ice was about 17-to-23 inches thick. Fishing for trout and perch was slow-to-fair for anglers using wax worms, corn, salmon eggs and small trout jigs.

LAKE MALOYA/

LAKE ALICE:       As of Monday there was about 17 inches of ice at Lake Maloya. Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using dough baits, corn and salmon eggs. Lake Alice has been closed to ice fishing due to thin ice conditions.  

MAXWELL LAKES            There was a heavy turnout of anglers for opening weekend with only a few rainbows caught. They were in the 14-to-20 inch class and taken on power bait.

MCALLISTER LAKE          Due to poor water quality, the lake will remain closed until further notice.  

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 125cfs. Trout fishing upstream from the Village of Pecos was slow-to-fair for anglers using small pheasant tail nymphs and small copper john barrs. Downstream fishing was slower due to murky water conditions.

RED RIVER:                          Water flow below the hatchery was 57cfs. Trout fishing near the confluence with the Rio Grande was good this past week for anglers using yellow, orange and peach egg patterns and salmon eggs. 

RIO GRANDE:                      The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 809cfs. Fishing was slow for all species. The water was quite murky.

STORRIE LAKE:                  Trout fishing was slow. There were a few fish taken by anglers using power bait.      

UTE LAKE:                           Fishing picked up a bit this past week as anglers fishing near Romero and Horseshoe Bend found a mixed bag of crappie, white bass, walleye and smallmouth bass. They were using slab spoons, jig and minnow rigs and trolling Reef Runner Ripsticks at 22-to-30 feet.

 

NORTHWEST AREA

 

ABIQUIU LAKE:                 Windy and warm weather this past week broke up the ice and opened the boat ramp. A few anglers were out this past weekend but fishing was slow for all species.

ALBUQUERQUE 

   AREA DRAINS:                Trout fishing was fair this past week for anglers using wax worms, streamers, parachute adams, salmon egg, corn and copper john barrs. Our best reports came from anglers fishing the Belen, Peralta and Albuquerque Drains.

BLUEWATER LAKE:         We had no reports from anglers this week. 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 586cfs and 1,210cfs respectively. Trout fishing was slow and fishing pressure was very light.

COCHITI LAKE:                  As of Monday, the lake was free of ice and the main boat ramp was open. Fishing was slow for all species.    

EL VADO LAKE:           Due to unstable ice conditions, the lake is closed to fishing at this time. For updated conditions, call the park office at 505-588-7247.   

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

HERON LAKE:                     As of Monday, the ice was about 12 inches thick. Trout fishing over the past weekend was good for anglers using corn, salmon eggs and white jigs. Anglers reported catching rainbows and small lake trout in the Ridge Rock area.

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 East Fork was fair-to-good for anglers using small pheasant tails and copper john barrs, egg patterns and salmon eggs.

NAVAJO LAKE:                  Fishing for trout (including one big brown) was fair for anglers trolling crank baits on the main lake and up the Pine arm. A few northern pike were taken by anglers trolling the mouth of Francis Canyon. Most of the fish were taken at depths of 12-to-25 feet. Fishing for all other species was slow.

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

SAN JUAN:                          Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 2,970cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was rated as fair by most anglers. Best flies were zebra midges, leeches, small streamers, egg patterns, San Juan worms and red annelids. Fishing through the bait waters was fair-to-good using garlic cheese, night crawlers, salmon eggs, spinners and jerk baits.

SANTA CRUZ LAKE:        As of this past week there was plenty of open water access for bank and boat fishing. Trout fishing was fair-to-good with some anglers catching mixed limits of browns, rainbows and cutthroats. Best baits were small trout jigs and Rapalas.

TINGLEY BEACH:               At the Youth Pond and the Central Pond, trout fishing was good using power eggs, power bait, Tasmanian Devils and Super Dupers. At the Catch and Release Pond best baits were egg patterns, small pheasant tail nymphs, streamers and midges.

 

SOUTHWEST AREA

 

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

BILL EVANS LAKE:            Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using salmon eggs, small spoons and power bait. We had no reports on other species.

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

CABALLO LAKE:               Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using jig and minnow rigs and crank baits for walleye. We had no reports on other species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE:           Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using grubs, crank baits and live bait for white bass. Anglers reported some success by the Black Bluffs and near Kettle Top. The best reports came from anglers trolling crank baits at 10-to-15 feet over 35 feet of water and working an area near Kettle Top. A few largemouth bass and smallmouth bass were taken by anglers using tubes, senkos and jigs. Fishing for striped bass was slow with only one catch reported by an angler using live bait.   

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

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

GILA RIVER:                         Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 280cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

LAKE ROBERTS:                 Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, cheese and wooly buggers.            

PERCHA DAM:                   Fishing was fair using white grubs, minnows and crank baits for white bass and walleye.

QUEMADO LAKE:             As of Monday most of the lake was free of ice. Trout fishing was slow but a few were taken by anglers using power bait.

RIO GRANDE:                      Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 1,460cfs. Fishing below Caballo was fair for anglers using live bait, jigs and grubs for walleye and white bass. Fishing below Elephant Butte was slow.

 

SOUTHEAST AREA

 

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

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 slow-to-fair for anglers using salmon eggs, spinners and power bait.

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

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

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

OASIS PARK LAKE:          We had no reports from anglers this week.

PECOS RIVER:                      Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 100cfs. Fishing was slow. Access to the river immediately below Sumner Lake will be closed later this week as more water will be released.

PERCH LAKE:                      Trout fishing was fair using power bait, garlic cheese and salmon eggs.

RUIDOSO RIVER:                Water flow at Ruidoso on Monday was 1.7cfs. Trout fishing was slow.

SANTA ROSA LAKE:        Over the past weekend anglers reported tough fishing conditions. A few largemouth bass and smallmouth bass were caught by anglers using spinner baits, jerk baits, chatter baits and tubes. We had no reports on other species. A major water release began on Monday and will continue for the next 10 days. Expect fishing to be difficult during this time frame.     

SUMNER LAKE:                  Fishing this past week was at best described as sporadic. Some anglers managed a walleye or two per day, some zeroed, while a few others managed to catch limits. Most of the fish caught were males in the 15-to-18 inch range. They were taken by anglers using minnows from anchored boats and by others trolling bottom bouncer/night crawler combinations. There will be a water release starting March 5^th and lasting 10 days.