CATCHES OF THE WEEK:

 

Ute Lake: On March 12, Harold Westfall of Logan, NM caught a 6 pound 8 ounce largemouth bass. He was using a 3 inch grub and fishing for white bass.

 

Navajo Lake: On March 12, Dalton King of Aztec, NM caught a 4 pound largemouth bass. He was using plastics in 20-to-25 feet of water. On March 15, Chance Torres of Blanco caught a 14 pound northern pike. He was using a jerk bait.

 

Santa Rosa: On March 15, Mark Adams of Edgewood, NM caught an 8 pound 10 ounce walleye. He was using a tube. On March 15, Earl Conway of Albuquerque caught a 4 pound 4 ounce and a 4 pound 6 ounce largemouth bass. He was using a jig in shallow water.

 

Conchas Lake: On March 15, Rod Lambirth of Kenna, NM caught a 4 pound and a 4.5 pound smallmouth bass. He was using a Strike King shad trap in 8-to-10 feet of water.  

 

 

NORTHEAST AREA

 

CHARETTE LAKES:           Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait, Super Dupers and small Rat-L-Traps. Fishing pressure was very light.

CIMARRON RIVER:            Water flow below Eagle Nest Lake as of Monday was .70cfs. Trout fishing was slow.  

CLAYTON LAKE:               Fishing was generally slow for all species. Due to low water conditions the boat ramp is open for small boat launching only.  

CONCHAS LAKE:               Fishing picked up this past week as anglers reported fair-to-good bass fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Best baits were deep running crank baits, tubes and jigs. A few walleye were taken by anglers using bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs and crank baits. We had no reports on other species. Water surface temps over the weekend ranged from 45 to 49 degrees.

EAGLE NEST LAKE:           As of Monday, there was still about 18-to-20 inches of ice on the lake but with the warm and windy conditions it may deteriorate rapidly. For updated ice conditions, contact the state park office at 575-377-1534.

LAKE MALOYA/

LAKE ALICE:       As of Monday there was about 17 inches of ice at Lake Maloya. Trout fishing was fair-to-good this past week for anglers using corn and salmon eggs. Fishing pressure was very light. Lake Alice has been closed to ice fishing due to thin ice conditions but may open up by this coming weekend. Contact the state park office at 505-445-5607 for updated conditions.  

MAXWELL LAKES            We had no reports from anglers this week.  

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

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

PECOS RIVER:                      Water flow near the town of Pecos as of Monday morning was 37cfs. Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs, small gold spinners and small copper john barrs.

RED RIVER:                          Water flow below the hatchery was 64cfs. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using copper john barrs, bead head wooly buggers and salmon eggs.

RIO GRANDE:                      The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 904cfs. Fishing was slow for all species. The water was quite murky.

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

STORRIE LAKE:                  Fishing was slow for all species.

UTE LAKE:                           Fishing picked up considerably this past week. Several limits of walleye were taken by anglers using bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs. A few walleye were also taken on spoons and deep running crank baits. Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was good for anglers using tubes, jigs, grubs, deep running crank baits and spinner baits. Most of the bass were taken in less than 10 feet of water. The best reports came from anglers fishing up the Ute Creek arm. Fishing for white bass was fair for anglers using grubs, spoons and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.

 

NORTHWEST AREA

 

ABIQUIU LAKE:                 Fishing pressure was very light again this past week. Anglers trolling for walleye managed to catch a few good size german browns but no walleye. We had no reports on other species.

ALBUQUERQUE 

   AREA DRAINS:                Trout fishing was fair this past week for anglers using wooly buggers, salmon egg, corn, small gold spinners and parachute adams. Our best reports came from anglers fishing the Corrales, Bernalillo and Peralta Drains. Again this past week, anglers fishing the Corrales Drain reported catching several small largemouth bass. They were using black and brown wooly buggers.

BLUEWATER LAKE:         As of Monday, the ice was off the lake. Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light.    

CHAMA RIVER:                  Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 1,140cfs and 1,550cfs respectively. Trout fishing below El Vado was fair for anglers using worms, Panther Martins and bead head wooly buggers. For best results during high water flows, fish the edges of the river. We had no reports from below Abiquiu.

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

EL VADO LAKE:           Due to unstable ice conditions, the lake is still 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 becoming quite unstable and the lake was closed to ice fishing. For updated conditions, call the state park office at 505-588-7470.

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

JEMEZ WATERS:               Water flow on the Jemez as of Monday morning was 74cfs near Jemez Springs and the water was stained. Trout fishing here and on the East Fork was fair for anglers using, copper john barrs, egg patterns and salmon eggs. The best reports came from anglers fishing the early to mid morning hours.

NAVAJO LAKE:                  Fishing was very good along the main lake shore line for trout. Anglers did well using power bait, crank baits and home made dough baits. Fishing for largemouth and bass picked up some this last week as anglers using drop shot rigs in 20-to-25 feet of water caught several.  Most of the bass were in the 2-to-4 pound class. Fishing for northern pike was sporadic but a couple of anglers did well this past Saturday. They were using jerk baits.

RAMAH LAKE:                   We had no reports from anglers this week but the lake was recently stocked.        

SAN JUAN:                          Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 3,950cfs and is expected to stay at or near this level until mid May when the flow will be increased to 5,000cfs for 30 days. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was rated as slow-to-fair for anglers using bead head wooly buggers, leeches, egg patterns, San Juan worms and red annelids. Fishing through the bait waters was slow-to-fair using jerk baits, spinners and night crawlers.

SANTA CRUZ LAKE:        Trout fishing continued to be quite good this past week. Anglers did well using Super Dupers, Panther Martins, Secret Weapon trout jigs and small crank baits. From the bank best baits were power bait, orange Gulp eggs, corn and worms.

TINGLEY BEACH:               At the Youth Pond and the Central Pond, trout fishing was good using power bait, olive and black leeches and Pistol Petes. At the Catch and Release Pond best baits were egg patterns, WD40s, Griffith’s gnats and foam ants.

 

SOUTHWEST AREA

 

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

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

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

CABALLO LAKE:               Fishing was fair using jig and minnow combinations, spoons and crank baits for walleye. Most of the action was on the east side of the lake. Anglers fishing for walleye also caught a few white bass. We had no reports on other species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE:           White bass fishing was good for anglers using live bait, crank baits, grubs and spoons. Most of the action was between Long Point and the Black Bluffs.  Fishing for walleye was fair for anglers using crank baits and live bait. The walleye were found at depths of 8-to-23 feet. Fishing for striped bass was slow but a few were taken on live bait. Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was fair-to-good for anglers using tubes, jigs, sweet beavers, lizards, crank baits and senkos. Most of the black bass were caught in 4-to-10 feet of water. We had no reports on other species.  

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

ESCONDIDA LAKE:           Trout fishing was fair for anglers using garlic cheese, power eggs and power bait. A few fish were also taken on spinners and Pistol Petes.  

GILA RIVER:                         Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 169cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

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

RIO GRANDE:                      Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 1,490cfs. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using spoons, bead head wooly buggers and salmon eggs. Fishing was fair for anglers using jigs, minnows and grubs for white bass. A few white bass were also taken by anglers fishing below Caballo. We had no reports on other species.

 

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, worms 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 was drained to accommodate maintenance work and is currently being refilled

GRINDSTONE

RESERVOIR:       Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using Panther Martins, fly and bubble combinations, power bait and salmon eggs.

JAL LAKE:                            Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait.      

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

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

PECOS RIVER:                      Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 96cfs. Access to the river immediately below Sumner Lake has reopened but we had no reports from anglers this week.

PERCH LAKE:                      Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait, garlic cheese, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes.

RUIDOSO RIVER:                Water flow at Ruidoso on Monday was 2.1cfs. Trout fishing was slow.

SANTA ROSA LAKE:        Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass over the past weekend was quite good for anglers using jigs, tubes, spinner baits and chatter baits. Most of the bass were caught in less than 10 feet of water. Surface temps ranged from 47 to 55 degrees and the water clarity on most of the lake was good.

SUMNER LAKE:                  Fishing was fair using jig and minnow combinations, orange Rat-L-Traps, grubs and deep running crank baits for walleye. Most of the action was in the cove by the dam and at the north end of the lake in 7-to-10 feet of water. We had no reports on other species.