CATCHES OF THE WEEK:

 

Abiquiu Reservoir: On March 19, Dan Brophy of Espanola caught a 5.5 pound german brown. He was trolling live bait at 30 feet.

 

Santa Rosa Lake: On March 21, Andrew Orlicky of Albuquerque caught a 5 pound and a 5.5 pound catfish. He was using sucker meat.

 

Ute Lake: On March 22 Randy Missledine of Clovis caught a 4.46 pound smallmouth bass. On the same day, Joe Gilmore of Elida caught a 4 pound smallmouth. He was using a jerk bait.

 

Sumner Lake: On March 21, Lacey Cones of Hernandez, NM caught a 4 pound 10 ounce largemouth bass. She was using a jig and fishing in less than 7 feet of water.

 

NORTHEAST AREA

 

CHARETTE LAKES:           Trout fishing was slow-to-fair again this past week. Anglers fishing from the bank and from anchored boats did best with power bait. Trolling for trout was fair for anglers using spinner/worm rigs.

CIMARRON RIVER:            Water flow below Eagle Nest Lake as of Monday was .55cfs. Trout fishing was slow.  

CLAYTON LAKE:               Fishing was generally slow for all species. A few catfish were taken by anglers using night crawlers. 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 good pre front walleye and white bass fishing this past Saturday. Anglers did well trolling crank baits and spinner/worm rigs. A few fish were also taken by anglers using jig and minnow combinations and slab spoons. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow-to-fair for anglers using tubes, senkos, spinner baits and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.

COYOTE CREEK:                 Trout fishing was fair for anglers using small gold spinners, corn, worms and salmon eggs. The fish averaged about 9 inches in length with a few larger ones coming from the beaver dam areas.

EAGLE NEST LAKE:           As of Monday the lake was still covered with unsafe ice and was closed to fishing. For updated conditions, contact the state park office at 575-377-1534.

LAKE MALOYA/

LAKE ALICE:       As of Monday the ice on Lake Maloya was considered unsafe and the lake was closed to ice fishing. About three fourths of Lake Alice was open but there were no reports from anglers. Contact the state park office at 505-445-5607 for updated conditions.  

MAXWELL LAKES            Fishing was slow again this past week but there were a few good size trout taken by anglers using roe sacs and dough bait.

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 but the lake was recently stocked with keeper size rainbow trout.

MORPHY LAKE:                 The lake will open for the season on April 1.

PECOS RIVER:                      Water flow near the town of Pecos as of Monday morning was 56cfs. Trout fishing was slow-to-fair using salmon eggs, bead head pheasant tail nymphs and small gold spinners.

RED RIVER:                          Water flow below the hatchery was 64cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

RIO GRANDE:                      The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 949cfs. Fishing was slow but there were a few northern pike taken by anglers using jerk baits.

SPRINGER LAKE:                Fishing was fair using Rat-L-Traps and #4 Mepps spinners for northern pike up to 28 inches. A few mud cats were taken by anglers using cut bait.

STORRIE LAKE:                  Trout fishing was very good this past week as anglers did well using garlic cheese and salmon eggs for trout up to 18 inches. 

UTE LAKE:                           Fishing continued to improve this past week. Walleye were moving into shallower water and were taken at depths on 10-to-15 feet. Best baits were bottom bouncer/worm combos, jig and minnow combos, crank baits and slab spoons. Several white bass were taken by anglers using crank baits, jig and minnow combinations, slab spoons and spinners. Anglers fishing for walleye and white bass up the Ute Creek arm also reported catching a few crappie. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was fair-to-good for anglers using jerk baits, spinner baits, jigs and senkos.

 

NORTHWEST AREA

 

ABIQUIU LAKE:                 Fishing was very good this past week for anglers using minnows. They reported catching several good size smallmouth bass, walleye and brown trout. Most of the fish were caught just off the bottom in about 30 feet of water.  A few brown trout were also taken by anglers trolling crank baits.

ALBUQUERQUE 

   AREA DRAINS:                Trout fishing was fair-to-good this past week for anglers using copper john barrs, parachute adams, small spinners, salmon egg/corn combinations and wooly buggers. Our best reports came from anglers fishing the Corrales, Belen and Peralta Drains.

BLUEWATER LAKE:         Fishing was slow for all species.     

CHAMA RIVER:                  Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 1,180cfs and 1,510cfs respectively. Trout fishing below El Vado was fair again this past week for anglers using worms, spinners and wooly buggers. For best results during high water flows, fish the edges of the river. We had no reports from below Abiquiu.

COCHITI LAKE:                  Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using night crawlers and liver for catfish. A few carp were caught by anglers using Gulp eggs and corn. We had no reports on other species.  

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 still 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 134cfs near Jemez Springs. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using copper john barrs and salmon eggs on the East Fork and the Cebolla.

NAVAJO LAKE:                  Fishing was fair along the dam and near the Pine arm marina using power bait, salmon eggs, worms and corn for rainbow trout. Fishing for northern pike was fair for anglers using jerk baits, spinner baits and tubes. Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was slow-to-fair for anglers using Robo worms, tubes and senkos. Most of the bass were taken at depths of 14-to-22 feet. We had no reports on other species.

RAMAH LAKE:                   Trout fishing was good for anglers using salmon eggs, Gulp eggs, Super Dupers and Panther Martins.

SAN JUAN:                          Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 3,900cfs 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 fair for anglers using small jigs, leeches, egg patterns, San Juan worms, wooly buggers and red annelids. Fishing through the bait waters was fair using jerk baits, jigs, garlic cheese, spinners and night crawlers.

SANTA CRUZ LAKE:        Trout fishing was very good this past week. Anglers did well fishing from the bank and using power bait, worms and salmon eggs. Best baits from boats were Secret Weapon jigs and small flatfish. Fly anglers did best near the inlet and on the east side of the lake and using copper john barrs and wooly buggers. There were considerably more rainbow trout than browns caught this past week.

TINGLEY BEACH:               Trout fishing at the Youth Pond and the Central Pond was fair this past week for anglers using Pistol Petes, Gulp eggs, power bait and leeches and Pistol Petes. A few bass were caught by anglers using worms, tubes and jigs. At the Catch and Release Pond best baits were egg patterns, leeches, scuds, 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-to-good for anglers using salmon eggs, cheese, small spinners and power bait. A few largemouth bass were caught by anglers using small swim baits, tubes and spinner baits. We had no reports on other species.

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

CABALLO LAKE:               Fishing was fair using bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs, jig and minnow combinations, spoons and crank baits for walleye. Fishing was fair using crank baits, spoons and jig and minnow combinations for white bass. We had no reports on other species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE:           Striped bass fishing was good this past week for anglers trolling live bait. The stripers ranged in size from 8 to 15 pounds. White bass fishing was good for anglers using live bait, crank baits, grubs, jigs and spoons. Anglers did well fishing from the Black Bluffs south to below Long Point. Most of the white bass were in the top 10-to-12 feet of water. A few walleye were taken by anglers trolling spinner/minnow rigs and crank baits. A few were also taken on grubs. Fishing was very good using liver and shrimp at the upper end of the lake for catfish. Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was fair for anglers using tubes, senkos, jigs, spinner baits and jerk baits. We had no reports on other species.

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

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

GILA RIVER:                         Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 169cfs. Fishing was slow-to-fair using small copper john barrs and bead head pheasant tail nymphs for trout.

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

PERCHA DAM:                   Fishing was slow-to-fair using grubs and minnows 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 1,520cfs. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using spoons, bead head wooly buggers, corn 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:                 Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs and spinners.

BONITO LAKE:                   Opens for the season April 1.   

BOSQUE REDONDO:          We had no reports from anglers this week.

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 has been refilled and has been recently stocked with rainbow trout. We had no reports from anglers.

GRINDSTONE

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

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.

PECOS RIVER:                      Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 98cfs. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using cheese, salmon eggs and spinners.

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

RUIDOSO RIVER:                Water flow at Ruidoso on Monday was 2.1cfs. Trout fishing was slow but a few fish were taken by anglers using small bead head nymphs.

SANTA ROSA LAKE:        Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was fair-to-good this past week for anglers using chatter baits, sweet beavers and jigs. Most of the bass caught were in the 2-to-4 pound class. Fishing was fair using cut bait for catfish up to 5.5 pounds. We had no reports on other species.

SUMNER LAKE:                  Fishing was fair using bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs for walleye. Most of the fish caught were taken at the upper end of the lake. Fishing was slow-to-fair using liver and worms for catfish.  One group of anglers reported excellent bass fishing. They caught several largemouth and smallmouth bass while working secondary points and the backs of coves. Best baits were jigs and tubes.