Weekly Fishing Report
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May 22, 2007
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 ALL ANGLERS: The new license year began April 1. You may obtain a license at one of the many license vendors around the state, at Department of Game and Fish offices in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Raton or Roswel. You also can buy a license online by clicking here.
Catches of the week
Cochiti Lake : May 19, Dominic D'Alessandro, 4, of Rio Rancho, while fishing with Grandpa Willy, caught a 9.5-pound, 32.5-inch northern pike. He was fishing for crappie with a minnow rig from the bank.
Ute Lake : May 19, the team of Butch and Angie Collantonio of Amarillo weighed-in a 5-pound-plus smallmouth bass while fishing a Sun Country Tournament. Also May 19, Amy Stangel of Albuquerque caught a 16-inch crappie on a crank bait while fishing in a cove near Watson Island in 6 feet of water.
Navajo Lake : May 19, Wade Jordan of Cortez, CO, caught a 6.79-pound largemouth bass while fishing an oil and gas bass tournament.
If you have a catch of the week story, send it to us at mailto:billfishnm@hotmail.com. Include date, location, type of fish, length and bait used to catch the fish.
NORTHEAST AREA
CANJILON LAKES : We had no reports from anglers this week.
CHARETTE LAKES : Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using salmon eggs, corn, power bait, Pistol Petes and spinner/worm combinations. Fishing was good using worms for perch.
CIMARRON RIVER : Water flow below Eagle Nest this past Monday was 6.6cfs. Trout fishing was good for anglers using red bead head San Juan worms and copper john barrs. Most of the action was at the upper end of the canyon.
CLAYTON LAKE : Trout fishing from the bank was fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and corn. Anglers fishing from boats did well using bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs for walleye. We had no reports on other species.
COCHITI LAKE : Fishing was fair-to-good this past week for anglers using small jigs, minnows and worms for small white bass, small crappie, perch and bluegill. Most of the action was reported by anglers fishing on the Tetilla Peak side of the lake. Fishing was fair for anglers using tubes, senkos and spinner baits for smallmouth bass. A few northern pike were taken by anglers using minnows and spinner baits. We had no reports on other species.
CONCHAS LAKE : Bass fishing continued to be very good this past week. Anglers did well using swimming senkos, tubes, jerk baits, buzz baits, worms, crank baits and lizards. Most of the bass caught were taken in less than 6 feet of water. Fishing was very good using night crawlers, dough baits and liver for catfish. Anglers having the best luck were fishing at the north end of the lake. Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers trolling bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs and crank baits for walleye. Most of the walleye were found at depths of 14-to-20 feet. Fishing was good using worms and small jigs for bluegill. We had no reports on other species.
COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was fair-to-good this past week as anglers did well using copper john barrs, spinners, salmon eggs and power bait.
EAGLE NEST LAKE : Trout fishing in the Six Mile area was very good this past week. Best baits were power bait, Pistol Petes, salmon eggs and spinners. Anglers trolling spinners also picked up a few kokanee. Fishing for perch was good for anglers using worms.
HOPEWELL LAKE : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using olive and black wooly buggers, spinners and power bait.
LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE : Anglers rated fishing at Lake Maloya as good-to-excellent this past week. Best baits were power bait and olive and black Pistol Petes fished along the riprap. The trout ranged in size from 10-to-12 inches with a few pushing 14 inches. Fishing at Lake Alice was fair-to-good for anglers using orange power bait.
MAXWELL LAKES : Fishing was fair using power bait and spinners for rainbow trout. We had no reports on other species.
MCALLISTER LAKE : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, Gulp eggs, spinners, Pistol Petes and salmon eggs.
MONASTERY LAKE : Trout fishing was good for anglers using salmon eggs, corn and power bait.
MORPHY LAKE : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using corn, worms, power bait, prop flies and spinners.
PECOS RIVER : As of Monday, water flow near Pecos was 489cfs. Trout fishing was slow due to the high water conditions. A few trout were taken on worms.
RED RIVER : Water flow below the hatchery on Monday morning was 227cfs and the water was murky. Trout fishing was slow. A few fish were taken by anglers using wooly buggers and night crawlers.
RIO GRANDE : The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 1,190cfs. Anglers reported fishing as slow but a few trout were taken on night crawlers, spinners and wooly buggers. We had no reports on other species.
SPRINGER LAKE : Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using water dogs, cut bait, jerk baits and spinners for northern pike. Fishing was fair using jigs and water dogs for largemouth bass. We had no reports on other species.
STORRIE LAKE : We had no reports from anglers this week.
STUBBLEFIELD: Fishing was fair using spinner/night crawler combinations and crank baits for walleye. We had no reports on other species.
UTE LAKE : Crappie fishing continued to pick up this past week. Anglers did well using minnows and small jigs fished in less than 8 feet of water. Fishing was very good for anglers fishing for catfish. They did well fishing in 2-to-6 feet of water and using dough baits and liver. Fishing for walleye was good as several limits were taken by anglers trolling crank baits, spinner/worm and spinner/minnow rigs and bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs. Most of the walleye were taken at depths of 10-to-20 feet. Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass. Best baits were senkos, grubs, craws and small worms fished in 2-to-10 feet of water for the largemouth and 5-to-15 feet for the smallmouth bass. A few bass were also taken on jerk baits and top water lures.
NORTHWEST AREA
ALBUQUERQUE AREA DRAINS: Trout stocking is over on these waters 'til fall but look for some good catfish, bluegill and bass action on the drains right through summer.
ABIQUIU LAKE : Fishing for smallmouth bass was good for anglers using tubes, grubs, night crawlers, jerk baits and crank baits. Fishing for rainbow trout was fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and worms. Fishing for catfish was fair for anglers using liver and night crawlers. We had no reports on other species.
BLUEWATER LAKE : Fishing for tiger musky was fair for anglers using large spinners, jerk baits and spoons. Fishing for all other species was slow. Due to the low water conditions, anglers are advised to use extreme caution when launching boats.
CHAMA RIVER : Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 1,130cfs and 1,450cfs below Abiquiu. Trout fishing was slow.
EL VADO LAKE : Trout fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait, spinners and night crawlers.
FENTON LAKE : Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using worms, corn, salmon eggs and spinners. Most of the fish caught were in the 8-to-10 inch size.
HERON LAKE : Fishing was generally slow for all species this past week. There were a few trout taken by anglers fishing along the bank and using power bait. Fishing pressure was light.
JACKSON LAKE : Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using prop flies, spinners, power bait and salmon eggs.
JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 234cfs and fishing was slow. Our best report came from anglers fishing the Cebolla below Fenton. They were using copper john barrs and salmon eggs.
LAGUNA DEL CAMPO: We had no reports from anglers this week.
LAKE FARMINGTON : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using spinners, corn, salmon eggs and power bait.
MANZANO LAKE : We had no reports from anglers this week.
NAVAJO LAKE : Crappie fishing was very good this past week and especially so for anglers fishing up the Pine arm. Anglers also reported good crappie fishing in La Jara Canyon. They were using minnows, small tubes and small grubs. Fishing was good using swim baits, jerk baits, spinner baits, top water lures and crank baits for northern pike. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass tapered off a bit from the previous week but was still rated as fair-to-good. Best baits were swim baits, senkos, tubes, jerk baits and crank baits. Anglers did well from boats and from the bank. Fishing was good using worms and small jigs for bluegill. We had no reports on other species.
RAMAH LAKE : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using salmon eggs and power bait.
SANTA CRUZ LAKE : We had no reports from anglers this week.
SAN JUAN : Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 3,410cfs. The latest information we received regarding water flows is that the flow will be reduced to 500cfs by May 24. Trout fishing from drift boats through the Quality Waters and further downstream was fair again this week for anglers using midge patterns, egg patterns, wooly buggers, sparkle worms and San Juan worms. Fishing through the bait waters was slow-to-fair for anglers using jerk baits, garlic cheese and night crawlers.
SEVEN SPRINGS BROOD POND: The pond is open to fishing for children under age 12.
TINGLEY BEACH: Fish in the Children's Pond and Central pond have tested positive for the Ich parasite. In order to clear these ponds of fish more quickly, the department of Game and Fish has temporarily suspended restrictions on these two ponds and approved the following: 1. Temporary suspension on bag limits of catches from these two ponds. 2. Temporary suspension on size limits of catches from these two ponds. 3. Temporary permission for adults to fish the Children's Pond. All other Tingley Beach regulations remain in effect. This order will remain in effect through May 27.
SOUTHWEST AREA
BEAR CANYON : We had no reports from anglers this week.
BILL EVANS LAKE : Fishing was good using worms for bluegill. Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait, worms and spinners for trout. A few largemouth bass were taken by anglers using tubes and small swim baits. We had no reports on other species.
BURN LAKE : We had no reports from anglers this week.
CABALLO LAKE : Fishing was reported as fair-to-good this past week for walleye and white bass. Anglers did well trolling crank baits, spinner/night crawler rigs and spinner/minnow rigs. Several fish were also taken by anglers casting along the banks and using jigs, sassy shad and crank baits. A few of the white bass were taken by anglers using top water lures. Most of the fish caught trolling were taken at depths of 10-to-17 feet. Fishing was fair for anglers using liver and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.
ELEPHANT BUTTE : Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using liver, night crawlers and dough bait for catfish. Our best reports came from anglers fishing above Monticello . Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers fishing for white bass. They did best trolling and casting white, chartreuse and chrome crank baits. Some of the good white bass areas were near McCrae Canyon , near Old Hot Springs Landing and near Kettle Top. Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Anglers did best using swim baits, tubes, crank baits and jigs. A few bass were also taken on top water lures. Fishing for striped bass was slow but a few fish were taken on live bait rigs and jigs. We had no reports on other species.
GLENWOOD POND: We had no reports from anglers this week.
ESCONDIDA LAKE : Fishing was slow for all species.
GILA RIVER : Water flow near Gila on Monday was 164cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
LAKE ROBERTS : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, corn, Pistol Petes and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.
PERCHA DAM: Fishing was fair for anglers using grubs, spinners and crank baits for white bass and a few walleye. We had no reports on other species.
QUEMADO LAKE : Trout fishing was rated as fair-to-good this past week for anglers using power bait, prop flies and salmon eggs. Fishing was fair for anglers using spinners, swim baits and jerk baits for tiger musky.
RIO GRANDE : Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 957cfs. Fishing was fair using grubs and spinners for white bass, walleye and a few trout. On the river below Caballo Lake , fishing was good for anglers using spinners, minnows and grubs for walleye and white bass. We had no reports on other species.
SOUTHEAST AREA
BATAAN LAKE : Fishing was slow for all species.
BONITO LAKE : Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, prop flies under a bubble and spinners. Fishing was fair using dough bait and corn for carp.
BOSQUE REDONDO: We had no reports from anglers this week.
BOTTOMLESS LAKES: Trout fishing was slow.
BRANTLEY LAKE : Anglers are to practice catch and release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish. We had no reports from anglers this week.
CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE : We had no reports from anglers this week.
GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR: Trout fishing was rated as fair this past week. Anglers did best using spinners, power bait and salmon eggs.
JAL LAKE : We had no reports from anglers this week.
LAKE VAN : We had no reports from anglers this week.
OASIS PARK LAKE : The State Park will be draining the lake for maintenance and renovation. Work is expected to be complete about June 30 of this year. For more information contact the park office at 505-356-5331.
PECOS RIVER : Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was .67cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.
PERCH LAKE : We had no reports from anglers this week.
RIO BONITO: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using bead head nymphs.
RUIDOSO RIVER : Water flow at Ruidoso as of Monday was 42cfs. Trout fishing was slow.
SANTA ROSA LAKE : Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was good this past week. Anglers did well using jerk baits, tubes, worms, grubs, spinner baits and crank baits. Most of the bass were taken in less than 10 feet of water. Fishing was fair using small jigs and minnows for crappie. Fishing was slow-to-fair using grubs, sassy shad and crank baits for walleye. We had no reports on other species.
SUMNER LAKE : Fishing was good this past week for anglers fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. They were using crank baits, tubes and jigs. Several of the largemouth bass were in the 3-to-4 pound class. Fishing for walleye was good for anglers using crank baits, jigs and spinner/night crawler combinations in 10-to-15 feet of water. We had no reports on other species.