Weekly Fishing Report
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May 2, 2006
This fishing report has been generated from the best information available from officers and anglers
Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, however, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.
Reminder to anglers:
The new license year began April 1 in New Mexico. Don't forget to buy your new license from more than 230 vendors statewide or online at www.wildlife.state.nm.us
Catches of the week
Quemado Lake: On April 23, Travis Smith of Rio Rancho caught and released a 43 inch tiger musky. He was fly fishing with an 8 inch pink double-tazer fly.
Heron Lake: On April 28, Seth Arseneau of Albuquerque caught a 24.5 pound 38.25 inch lake trout. He was using a rainbow jig. April 29, Art Chavez of Alamogordo caught a 16.9 pound 34 inch lake trout. He was using a gold and black Rapala. On April 30, Drew Gonzales of Santa Fe caught a 16.7 pound 36 inch lake trout. Also on April 30, Frank Ortiz of Rutheron caught a 21.6 pound 37.5 inch lake trout. Mr. Ortiz was using a silver Rapala.
Cochiti Lake: On April 29, Jim Moore of Albuquerque caught a 5 pound, 20 inch largemouth bass. He was fishing the shallows with a Rapala jerk bait.
Clayton Lake: On April 29, an angler caught a 27 inch, 10 pound 11 ounce walleye. We didn't get a name on this one but congratulations!
If you have a catch of the week story, send it to us at fishnm@hotmail.com. Include date, location, type of fish, length and bait used to catch the fish.
NORTHEAST AREA
CHARETTE LAKES: Fishing was good using orange Panther Martins, Pistol Petes, power bait and corn/marshmallow combinations for trout.
CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest as of Monday was 29cfs and the water was clear. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using copper john barrs, parachute adams and worms.
CLAYTON LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using worms and gold spinners for trout. A 20 inch rainbow was caught on chicken liver. One big walleye (see catches of the week) was taken by an angler using a gold crank bait. Fishing for all other species was slow.
COCHITI LAKE: Northern pike and black bass provided lots of action for anglers this past week. Best lures were crank baits, spinner baits and tubes. Most of the fish were in less than 8 feet of water. We had no reports on other species.
CONCHAS LAKE: This was a walleye hot spot this past week as several anglers reported catching limits of 2-to-4 pound fish. They were using jigs, grubs, crank baits and spinner/night crawler combinations. Crappie fishing was great for anglers trolling crank baits around Big Island. Limits of white bass were taken by anglers fishing around Cedar Point and Rattlesnake Island. They were using Rooster Tails, crank baits and sassy shad. Smallmouth bass fishing was good for anglers using tubes on rocky points. Several small catfish were caught by anglers using worms and liver on trotlines in the Jose Maria area.
COYOTE CREEK: Fishing was good using small flies and salmon eggs for trout.
EAGLE NEST LAKE: Trout fishing was good from the bank and from boats this past week. Anglers did well using power bait, roe sacs, salmon eggs, spinners and prop flies.
LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing was rated as good at both lakes again this past week. Anglers did well using power bait, home made dough baits, prop flies, spinners and salmon eggs. Most of the trout were in the 8-to-10 inch class.
MAXWELL LAKE 13: Fishing was good for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and marshmallow/egg combinations for 11-to-15 inch trout.
MCALLISTER LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using spoons, Pistol Petes and power bait for trout.
MONASTERY LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
MORPHY LAKE: Trout fishing was rated as good-to-excellent this past week. Anglers did well using power bait, salmon eggs, corn, worms, spinners and Pistol Petes for trout. Anglers using elk hair caddis did very well in the evening hours. Hours of operation are from 8a.m. to 8p.m. daily until further notice.
PECOS RIVER: As of Monday morning, water flow was 58cfs near the town of Pecos. Trout fishing was good here and on the Mora for anglers using worms, copper john barrs, stimulators, spinners and salmon eggs for trout.
RED RIVER: Water flow near Questa was 27cfs and below the hatchery was 44cfs as of Monday. Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using dry/dropper combinations, worms and salmon eggs for a mix of rainbow and brown trout.
RIO GRANDE: As of Monday, water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge was 411cfs. Fishing has been hit or miss due to fluctuating flows. Try using streamers for a chance at trout, smallmouth and northern pike.
SANTA CRUZ: Fishing was fair for anglers using spinners, spoons and power bait for trout.
SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing was very slow for all species.
STORRIE LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, cheese and salmon eggs for trout.
UTE LAKE: Surface temps this past week ranged from 58-to-63. Crappie fishing was good for anglers using chartreuse grubs and minnows in shallow brush. There were also a few good size crappie taken by anglers trolling crank baits. Tubes, sweet beavers and jerk baits worked very well for anglers fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass. We had several good reports from anglers fishing near the dam, around Horseshoe Bend and up the Canadian and Ute Creek arms of the lake. Most of the bass were taken in less than 10 feet of water. Walleye and white bass fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using jerk baits, crank baits and jigs.
NORTHWEST AREA
ABIQUIU LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using crank baits and grubs for walleye. A few smallmouth bass were taken on tubes and jerk baits. We had no reports on other species.
BLUEWATER LAKE: Trout fishing was rated as fair this past week by anglers using corn and salmon eggs and fishing from the bank. Fishing was fair for anglers using dough bait and shrimp for catfish.
BURNS CANYON LAKE: Season opened May 1st and runs through October 31st . The lake is open during daylight hours and is open to persons 14 years or younger, 65 and over, handicapped anglers or up to two parents/guardians in direct supervision of a child or children 14 years or younger who is fishing.
CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 504cfs and 584cfs below Abiquiu. Fishing has slowed with the fluctuating flows but should pick up as the water stabilizes. Anglers using spinners and night crawlers managed to catch a few trout below El Vado.
CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE: At the kids pond, fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, prop flies and salmon eggs. At the catch and release water, anglers did well using small dry flies in the early morning and evening hours.
EL VADO LAKE: Fishing was fair-good for anglers fishing near the dam and using night crawlers, power bait, roe sacs and spinners for trout.
FENTON LAKE: Trout fishing was rated as good-to-excellent by most anglers this past week. Limits of trout were taken on power bait, salmon eggs, corn, worms, wooly buggers, Pistol Petes and spinners.
HERON LAKE: Lake trout action picked up this past weekend. Anglers did well using jigs tipped with cut bait and deep running crank baits for lakers up to 24.5 pounds (see catches of the week). Bank fishing for rainbow trout was good in the Ridge Rock area and near the La Laja boat ramp. Best baits were power bait, roe sacs and corn.
JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 20cfs. Trout fishing was good here and on most of the Jemez streams again this past week. Anglers did well on the Guadalupe, San Antonio and the Rio Las Vacas. Best baits were small parachute adams, copper john barrs, elk hair caddis, prince nymphs, worms and salmon eggs.
MANZANO LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
MCGAFFEY LAKE: Fishing was slow.
NAVAJO LAKE: Bass, crappie and northern pike provided plenty of action for anglers this past week. Best baits for bass were tubes, brush hogs and worms. A few were also taken on jerk baits. Northern pike were taken on tubes, jerk baits, crank baits and spinner baits. Anglers using small jigs and worms caught several crappie. They were fishing the La Jara Canyon area. Several brown and rainbow trout were caught by anglers using tubes and worms and fishing for bass. We had no reports on other species.
SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Dam on Monday morning was 371cfs and the water was clear. Fishing in the Quality Waters was good for anglers using RS2s, parachute adams, San Juan worms, emergers, chamois leaches, sparkle worms, red annelids and bead head pheasant tails. Through the bait waters, fishing was good for anglers using salmon eggs, cheese, power bait, jerk baits, wooly buggers, worms and copper john barrs.
SOUTHWEST AREA
BEAR CANYON: We had no reports from anglers this week.
BILL EVANS LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using tubes, senkos, worms and jerk baits for largemouth bass. A few trout were taken by anglers using power bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.
CABALLO LAKE: Fishing was rated as slow-to-fair for white bass and walleye. A few were taken on crank baits, jigs and grubs worked near the dam and at the upper end of the lake. We had no reports on other species.
ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing for white bass was good for anglers using crank baits, spinners and slab spoons. Most of the good reports came from anglers fishing just below Kettle Top and near McCrae Canyon. Fishing was good for anglers using tubes, jerk bait, crank baits, senkos and worms for black bass. A few were also taken on top water lures. Fishing was slow for striped bass. A few were taken on live bait and deep running crank baits. Fishing for catfish was good for anglers using worms, liver and dough bait.
ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.
GILA RIVER: Water on the main river was flowing at 39cfs as of Monday morning. Fishing on the forks was fair for anglers using prince nymphs, small spinners and worms.
GLENWOOD POND: We had no reports from anglers this week.
LAKE ROBERTS: Fishing was good for anglers using worms, salmon eggs, wooly buggers, prop flies and power bait for trout.
PERCHA DAM: Fishing was slow for all species.
QUEMADO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair this past week for anglers using Pistol Petes, salmon eggs, worms and power bait.
RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte was 1,640cfs as of Monday. Fishing was fair for anglers using grubs, tubes, spinners and sassy shad for white bass and walleye.
SOUTHEAST AREA
BATAAN LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.
BONITO LAKE: As of today, May 2, the City of Alamogordo has closed the lake to fishing and other activity. For further information and updates call 505-336-4157.
BOSQUE REDONDO: Fishing was generally slow but a few trout were caught by anglers using salmon eggs and prop flies under a bubble.
BRANTLEY LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.
CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.
GRINDSTON RESERVOIR: Fishing was good for anglers using power bait and salmon eggs for trout.
LAKE VAN: We had no reports from anglers this week.
PECOS: Below Sumner Lake, water flow on Monday was 82cfs. Fishing was good using minnows and worms for catfish and small walleye. We had no reports on other species.
PERCH LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow as of Monday was 1.1cfs. Fishing was slow.
SANTA ROSA LAKE: Bass fishing was good again this past week for anglers using pitchin' craws, grubs, tubes, senkos, crank baits and jerk baits. Most of the fish were in less than 10 feet of water. A few good size walleye were taken by anglers using tubes, grubs and crank baits. Water surface temps ranged from 51-to-58 degrees over the weekend.
SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was good for anglers using Rat L Traps and bottom bouncer/crawler rigs for a mix of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye. Most of the fish caught were taken in 5-to-15 feet of water at the north end of the lake.