New Mexico weekly fishing report
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Dec. 30, 2008
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.
Catches of the week
Sumner Lake: On December 25, Brian Stangel of Albuquerque caught a catfish estimated to be about 10 pounds. He was fishing for walleye and using a Leprechaun slab tipped with Gulp.
Santa Rosa Lake: On December 28, Rick Hipp of Albuquerque caught a 4.25-pound largemouth bass. He was working a sweet beaver in about 12 feet of water.
If you have a catch of the week story or just want to tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing experience, send it to us at fishforfun2@hotmail.com. We may include your story in our next report. For catches of the week include name, date, location, type of fish, length and bait used.
NORTHEAST AREA
CONCHAS LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light.
EAGLE NEST LAKE: As of Monday there was a thin layer of ice on the lake which was unsafe for fishing. For updated conditions call the park office at 575-377-1534.
LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: As of Monday there was about 6 inches of ice on Lake Maloya and 8-to-9 inches on Lake Alice. Fishing was good using ice jigs and homemade dough baits.
MONASTERY LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
PECOS RIVER: Trout fishing was slow with only a few fish taken by anglers using salmon eggs and small wet flies.
RED RIVER: Water flow below the hatchery was 39cfs. We had no reports from anglers.
RIO GRANDE: The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 399cfs. Trout fishing was slow-to-fair using worms, salmon eggs and streamers. We had no reports on other species.
STORRIE LAKE: As of Monday there was a thin layer of ice on the lake which was unsafe for fishing. For updated conditions call the park office at 505-425-7278.
UTE LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light.
NORTHWEST AREA
ABIQUIU LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light. As of Monday the lake was free of ice except in the back of some coves.
ALBUQUERQUE AREA DRAINS: Trout fishing on the Corrales and Albuquerque drains was fair using salmon eggs, parachute adams, dead chickens and wax worms.
BLUEWATER LAKE: As of Monday there was a thin layer of ice on the lake which was unsafe for fishing. Call the state park office at 505-876-2391 for updated conditions.
CHAMA RIVER: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 401cfs and 360cfs respectively. Fishing pressure continued to be light this past week but there were a few rainbows caught by an angler using wet flies and fishing below El Vado.
COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light.
EL VADO LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
FARMINGTON LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
FENTON LAKE: As of Monday the lake was still closed to fishing due to thin ice conditions. For updated ice conditions, contact the park office at 575-829-3630.
HERON LAKE: Bank fishing near the dam was fair-to-good using salmon eggs, Gulp eggs and roe sacs. On December 24, John Chavez and Salesse Pratersch caught some good size rainbows while using pink Gulp eggs. As of Monday there was some ice forming in the Willow Creek area but the La Laja boat ramp was open.
JACKSON LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
JEMEZ WATERS: Water flow on the Jemez as of Monday morning was 22cfs near Jemez Springs. Trout fishing on the Jemez was slow-to-fair using copper john barrs and salmon eggs. Fishing on the East Fork and Cebolla was slow.
MANZANO LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
MCGAFFEY LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
NAVAJO LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light. For some wintertime fun, try light line trolling with big jointed Rapalas or Bomber long As for big brown trout.
RAMAH LAKE: We had no reports from anglers.
SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 504cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was fair using small streamers, zebra midges, parachute adams, San Juan worms, egg patterns and midge pupae. Fishing through the bait waters was fair using Kastmasters, jerk baits, streamers and copper john barrs. Visibility was about 2 feet.
SANTA CRUZ LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
TINGLEY BEACH: Trout fishing at the Youth and Central Ponds was good using power bait, olive and green leech patterns, Pistol Petes and spinners. At the Catch and Release Pond, fishing was good using chamois leeches and small streamers worked slowly.
SOUTHWEST AREA
BEAR CANYON: We had no reports from anglers this week.
BILL EVANS LAKE: Trout fishing was good using salmon eggs, worms, corn and power bait. A few fish were also taken on spinners.
BURN LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.
CABALLO LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.
ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing for striped bass was slow but there were a few taken by anglers using live bait and umbrella rigs. Fishing was slow-to-fair using Kastmasters, swim slabs and minnows for white bass. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow. Fishing for catfish was slow-to-fair using cut bait and minnows. We had no reports on other species.
ESCONDIDA LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
GILA RIVER: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 144cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
GLENWOOD POND: We had no reports from anglers this week.
LAKE ROBERTS: Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs.
PERCHA DAM: Fishing was slow for all species.
QUEMADO LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
SNOW LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 0cfs. Fishing here and below Caballo was slow.
SOUTHEAST AREA
BATAAN LAKE: Fishing for trout was good using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners.
BOSQUE REDONDO: Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs and power bait.
BOTTOMLESS LAKES: Trout fishing at the Devil’s Inkwell and at Cottonwood was slow-to-fair using power bait and salmon eggs.
BRANTLEY LAKE: Anglers are to practice catch and release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish. This is a good place to work on bass fishing techniques over the winter months.
CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE: Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs, power bait, garlic cheese and spinners.
GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR: Trout fishing was good using salmon eggs and power bait.
JAL LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
LAKE VAN: Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs and power bait.
PECOS RIVER: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 13cfs. Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs, worms, home made dough baits and power bait.
PERCH LAKE: Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs and power bait.
RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow near Hollywood on Monday was 7.2cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
SANTA ROSA LAKE: Over the past weekend, fishing was good using sweet beavers and chigger craws for largemouth bass. Anglers did well working these baits in 3-to-18 feet of water. The key was finding the fish and working the baits very slow. We had no reports on other species.
SUMNER LAKE: Fishing this past week was quite good for some anglers who got into the walleye and catfish while using minnows and slab spoons tipped with Gulp. Most of the fish caught were in 20-to-25 feet of water. There were no reports on other species.