Fishing report — July 20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JULY 20, 2010: NEW MEXICO FISHING REPORT

This fishing report, provided by the Department of Game and Fish and thefishphone.com, has been generated from the best information available from area officers, anglers, guides and local businesses. Conditions may vary as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.

Northeast
Cimarron River - The flows are 42 cfs below Eagle Nest Dam and 39 cfs near Cimarron. There are still lots of hatches all over the river and fishing is very good with dry dropper rigs, caddis patterns, or PMD’s. Panther Martin’s, salmon eggs or worms are always a good bet. 1,698 triploid rainbows were stocked west of Cimarron last week.

Costilla Creek – The flows are 80 cfs below the dam and 94 cfs near the town of Costilla. The water is a little high and fishing is very good with #16 dry yellow sallies, or #16-18 bead head nymphs.

Red River - Flows at Questa are 31 cfs, and 82 cfs below the hatchery. Trout are reported as fair with caddis, Parachute Adams and hoppers. Last week, 1,800 triploid rainbows were stocked above Questa, 209 in the East Fork, and 209 in the West Fork.

Rio Grande - Flows are 109 cfs near Cerro and 266 cfs below the Taos Junction Bridge. The water is low and clear and the hot weather has slowed the fishing. Elk hair caddis, stoneflies, or PMD’s are best bets for trout in the early mornings or evenings. Smallmouth bass are good in the Pilar area with streamers. No reports on pike.

Rio Hondo – The upper and lower Hondo are fishing well with dry attractors. 140 triploid rainbows were stocked in the lower river last week.

Rio Pueblo - Flow is 12 cfs. The water is low and fishing is slow. 838 triploid rainbows were stocked last week.

Cabresto Lake – No report this week.

Charette Lakes – Fishing has been sporadic for 14-18 inch rainbows. Pistol Petes, Power Bait or worms under bobbers are best in early mornings or late evenings.

Clayton Lake – Walleye are fair, although a 13 pound, 30-inch walleye was landed last week using a Rat-l-trap. Trout are fair from shore with night crawlers or Power Bait. Reports are good for catfish with chicken liver, blood bait or night crawlers. No reports on bass.

Eagle Nest Lake – Kokanee and trout are fair to good trolling Panther Martin’s, Platte River Specials, or Christmas trees tipped with corn or Power Bait. Trout are slow to fair from the shore with Power Bait. Perch are good with worms.

Lake Alice and Lake Maloya – Fishing is reported as slow at both lakes with Pistol Petes and Power Bait most productive.

Maxwell Lakes – Fishing is slow for all species.

Santa Cruz Lake - Trout are fair trolling Pistol Petes or spinners, but fishing is poor from the bank with Power Bait. 3,501 triploid rainbows were stocked last week.

Shuree Ponds – Fishing is reported as slow with copper johns, woolly buggers or damsels. 400 17-inch rainbows were stocked last week.

Springer Lakes – Fishing is slow for all species.

East–Central, including the Pecos River
Coyote Creek - Flow is 1.4 cfs. Although the water is very low, fishing is good with salmon eggs or Power Bait. 486 triploid rainbow trout were stocked last week

Pecos River - Flows are 66 cfs near Pecos and 100 cfs below Sumner Dam. The water is murky and dry fly fishing is good. PMD’s, yellow sallies, caddis and red quills are working well. Dry dropper rigs are most productive in the deeper water below Terrero.

Conchas Lake – The hot weather has slowed the fishing considerably. Reports are slow for all species except catfish, which are fair to good at night with cut bait or stink bait.

Morphy Lake – Trout are reported as good with spinners, Power Bait, worms and salmon eggs. 2,098 triploid rainbows were stocked last week.

Santa Rosa Lake –There has been light pressure and fishing reports are variable. A few walleye have been caught with jigs and minnows. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are slow to fair using a variety of lures. A few catfish are being caught on cut bait, worms or chicken liver.

Storrie Lake – Trout are reported as fair to good with cheese, fireballs or Power Bait. No reports on other species.

Sumner Lake - Winter trout waters, stilling basin – Pressure has been light with an occasional bass caught on crank baits or minnows. Catfish are slow to fair below the dam using chicken liver and minnows. No reports on other species.

Ute Lake – The water is clear with the temperature near 80 degrees. Walleye are going into deeper water and are reported as fair trolling crank baits and bottom bouncers. White bass are good in the mornings with top water lures or trolling crank baits. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are not active now and reports are slow. Catfish are fair to good on stink bait or chicken liver.

Southeast
Black River - Flow is 4.4 cfs. There is no fishing report.

Bonito Creek - Trout are fair to good using salmon eggs and worms.

Rio Ruidoso - Flow is at 22 cfs. Trout are reported as fair to good with salmon eggs and worms.

Bonito Lake - Fishing is good with Pistol Petes, salmon eggs or Power Bait. 4,203 triploid rainbows were stocked last week.

Bottomless Lakes: Winter trout waters – There will be no more reports until stocking resumes in the fall.

Brantley Reservoir - A mandatory catch and release is in place at Brantley Lake from the Department of Game and Fish. Pesticides, DDT have been found in the fish; do not keep or eat them. No fishing report this week.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake - No report.

Grindstone Reservoir – Fishing is good in the evenings with Pistol Petes or yellow Power Bait. Catfish are good with worms.

Lake Van: Winter trout waters – No fishing report.

Northwest
Animas River - The flow is 79 cfs and fishing is good in the evenings with dry flies. Try caddis, golden stones or PMD’s.

Chama River - Upper section flow is 30 cfs and fishing is fair with caddis, PMD’s or golden stones. 701 triploid rainbows were stocked last week. Below El Vado Dam, the flow is 1,010 cfs and the water is green and murky. Fishing is fair for browns with gold and black Panther Martins or night crawlers. A few stocker-size rainbows are being caught on salmon eggs.

San Juan River - Upper section-Catch and Release flow is at 1,140 cfs and visibility is 4 feet. Midge, caddis, PMD and BWO hatches are occurring and fishing is good for rainbows and browns. Best patterns have been gray, olive or black zebra midges, chocolate or gray foam wing emergers, San Juan worms or chartreuse egg patterns. Dry fly action is reported as good
with Parachute Adams, comparaduns, olive PMD’s, Goddard caddis and elk hair caddis. 500 rainbows, averaging 17 inches, were stocked last week.

Lower section – Open waters, fishing is fair with night crawlers, salmon eggs and the same flies as for the upper section.

Abiquiu Lake – Walleye are sporadic using spinners, jigs or worms. Smallmouth bass are reported as fair in the early mornings with top water lures, spinners or crank baits. Catfish, up to 28 inches, are good in the coves using worms, blood baits or Power Bait.

El Vado Lake – Fishing has been fair from the bank with spoons, worms or Power Bait.

Heron Lake – Kokanee are very good with many limits reported. Most are 13-17 inches and trolling at 34 feet with silver Panther Martin’s or double whammies tipped with corn is most successful. A few 3-5 pound lake trout have been caught on Panther Martin’s trolling at 27-32 feet. Rainbows are fair from shore by the dam and the boat ramp with Power Bait or salmon eggs.

Jackson Lake - Trout are reported as fair to good with gold spinners or Power Bait.

Lake Farmington – Trout are slow to fair with worms, spinners or Power Bait.

Morgan Lake – Catfish are fair at night with chicken or beef liver.

Navajo Lake – Pike are fair with spinners, jerk baits and crank baits in the San Juan and Pine arms, fishing in structure close to shore. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are reported as good in the coves with jigs, top water lures, crank baits and night crawlers. Crappie are fair in
warm, shallow water with jigs and minnows. Kokanee are fair to good trolling a variety of lures at 40-50 feet, with best reports from the Pine Arm and Francis Canyon. No reports on other species.

West-Central, including the Jemez Mountains

Jemez River, East Fork, Guadalupe and San Antonio - Flow on the Jemez River is 17 cfs and although the water is low in all the streams, fishing remains fair. The upper streams are fair with terrestrials, stimulators, elk hair caddis or Parachute Adams. The lower, shaded areas are slow to fair with Panther Martins, Power Bait or worms. Last week, 1,000 rainbows were stocked in the Jemez and 160 triploid rainbows in the East Fork.

Metro Drainages[Marker][Marker] –[Marker] No report this week. Catfish will be stocked in May.

Bluewater Lake – The hot weather has slowed the fishing. Catfish, in the 27-35 inch range, are good using chicken liver. No reports on other species.

Cochiti Lake – The water is at normal summer levels and is a little cloudy. Walleye are fair with jigs or Rat-l-traps. Bass are going deeper and are reported as fair with crank baits. Bluegills and crappie are good with worms. Pike, 42-52 inches, are fair on crank baits. Catfish are slow.

Fenton Lake – Trout are reported as fair from shore with pink or green Power Bait or worms.

Tingley Beach - South Pond catch and release - Trout fishing is poor and won’t improve until the temperatures are cooler. Children's and Central Ponds - Bluegills are very good with worms under a bobber. Catfish, between 15 and 30 inches, are fair using hotdogs. Bass are fair with
spinners.


Southwest
Gila River - The flow is 47 cfs and the water is low and clear. There has been light pressure and trout are slow with Pistol Petes, spinners and salmon eggs. Reports are fair for trout in the Wilderness area.

Rio Grande - The flow is 1,950 cfs below Elephant Butte Dam. No fishing report.

Bill Evans Lake: Winter trout waters – Crappie and bluegills are slow with worms, and a few trout have been taken on Power Bait, worms or salmon eggs. No reports on other species.

Caballo Lake – Walleye are reported as good with minnows and white bombers. White bass are good from the bank and trolling with bombers, worms or shad. Catfish are fair with stink bait, and crappie are fair using minnows.

Elephant Butte Lake – White bass are reported as good still fishing with shiners or shad. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are fair using white bombers or shiners. Walleye are fair with jigs and minnows and crappie are good on minnows. Striped bass are good trolling big shiners or shad. Most are 18-24 pounds with a 34-pound striper caught over the weekend. Catfish are fair at the north end of the lake on shrimp.

Glenwood Ponds – There has been light pressure and trout are slow.

Lake Roberts – A few catfish have been taken on worms or chicken liver. No reports on other species

Quemado Lake – Trout are good with Power Bait or worms. No reports on tiger muskies.

Snow Lake – No fishing report.


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