Fishing report - Aug. 31

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUG. 31, 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 43 cfs near Cimarron. Fishing is good in the mornings with dry dropper set-ups using olive caddis on top with green caddis larva below or dark body stimulators as indicators. Caddis, trico, and BWO hatches are still in progress. Panther Martins, salmon eggs or worms are always a good bet. 2,184 triploid rainbows were stocked west of Cimarron last week.

Costilla Creek – The flows are 66 cfs below the dam and 81 cfs near the town of Costilla. Fishing is good with small bead head nymphs or BWO emergers. Dry fly action is good with grasshoppers. 360 trout were stocked last week.

Red River - Flows at Questa are 30 cfs, and 63 cfs below the hatchery. Fishing is good around the town of Red River with red San Juan worms, No.14-16 bead head Hare’s Ear nymphs, or black woolly buggers. Bait fishermen might try salmon eggs or Power Bait. Last week, 2,430 triploid rainbows were stocked above Questa, and 270 in both the East and West Forks.

Rio Grande - Flows are 67 cfs near Cerro and 224 cfs below the Taos Junction Bridge. The water is murky and trout are good with bead head nymphs, No. 12-16 copper johns, Hare’s Ear nymphs, prince nymphs and woolly buggers. No reports on other species.

Rio Hondo – The upper and lower Hondo are fishing well with attractor dries.

Rio Pueblo - Flow is 37 cfs. The water is clear and fishing is good with attractor dry flies and dry dropper rigs. 1,802 trout were stocked last week.

Cabresto Lake – Fishing is fair to good with bead head nymphs or worms.

Charette Lakes – The water level is good and 14-18 inch rainbows are reported as good trolling Christmas tree-worm combos and fishing from shore with Power Bait, worms under a bobber, or floating grasshoppers. No reports on perch.

Clayton Lake –There has been light pressure and fishing is generally slow. A few catfish have been caught on night crawlers and a few bass have been picked up using rubber worms. One out-of-state angler had success fishing for walleye, landing three nice ones weighing five and half pounds, eight pounds, and nine and half pounds.

Eagle Nest Lake – Trout are good trolling Platte River Specials. Salmon are deep and trolling is slow with Platte River Specials or double whammies. Perch are fair to good with small woolly buggers or worms. Shore fishing is slow.

Lake Alice and Lake Maloya – Trout are good at both lakes in the early mornings and evenings with woolly buggers, Pistol Petes, salmon eggs or Power Bait.

Maxwell Lakes – Fishing in the mornings or evenings is slow for rainbows with Power Bait. An occasional 18-21 inch lunker has been landed.

Santa Cruz Lake – No report this week.

Shuree Ponds – Fishing is good from float tubes and shore. Best results have been with hoppers, beetles, and other dry terrestrials.

Springer Lakes – Pressure has been light and fishing is slow for all species.

Southeast

Black River - Flow is 13 cfs. There is no fishing report.

Bonito Creek – No report this week, but salmon eggs or worms usually work well.

Rio Ruidoso - Flow is at 5.0 cfs. Trout are reported as fair with Pistol Petes, worms or salmon eggs.

Bonito Lake - Fishing is fair with Kastmasters, Pistol Petes, Power Bait or worms. 2,872 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 – There has been no pressure and no fishing report. A mandatory catch and release is in place at Brantley Lake from the dept. of Game and Fish. Pesticides, DDT’s have been found in the fish, do not keep or eat them.

Grindstone Reservoir – Trout are good with Pistol Petes, Power Bait, salmon eggs or worms. No reports on catfish. 2,872 triploid rainbows were stocked last week.

Lake Van: Winter trout waters – Catfish are reported as slow at night on chicken liver.

Northwest

Animas River - The flow is 314 cfs. The water is lower but still murky and fishing is slow.

Chama River - Upper section flow is 53 cfs and dry fly fishing is good above the town of Chama with caddis, PMD’s, and grasshoppers. Best access is through the Sargent Wildlife Area. Below El Vado Dam, the flow is 935 cfs and the water is murky. There has been light pressure and fishing is fair with big woolly buggers, Panther Martins or night crawlers.

San Juan River - Upper section-Catch and Release flow is 754 cfs and, due to recent rains, visibility is 2 feet. Trout are good and best patterns have been gray Johnny flashes, tan UFO’s, red midge larva, red San Juan worms and black or gray crystal flash midges. Dry fly action is good from Simon Canyon downstream with Griffith gnats, comparaduns, or PMDs.

Lower section – Open waters, fishing is good for stocker-size rainbows with silver lures, worms, salmon eggs and the same flies as for the upper section. 4,070 trout were stocked last week.

Abiquiu Lake - Fishing pressure has been light and reports are slow for most species. Catfish are good at night with worms or chicken liver.

El Vado Lake –15 -16 inch browns are fair near the dam with worms and a few largemouth bass have also been caught on worms.

Heron Lake – Kokanee are very good trolling at 32-45 feet. Limits of 15-17 inch salmon have been reported using orange or red spinners or orange cripplures. Shore fishing for trout is poor with little pressure.

Jackson Lake - Trout are reported as slow with spinners or Power Bait.

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

Morgan Lake – Catfish are fair at night with chicken or stink bait.

Navajo Lake – The water is getting cooler and fishing is picking up. Pike are good in the Pine arm with spinners, Rapalas or Senkos. Kokanee are fair trolling Arnie’s lures or double whammies at 30 feet. Largemouth bass are fair to good using the drop shot method with Senkos. Catfish are fair by the marina using beef or chicken liver. 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 22 cfs. Afternoon rains have increased the water levels somewhat, but the streams are still low and clear. Dry fly action remains good in the upper streams with black ants, hoppers, crickets, beetles, or yellow stimulators. The lower streams are slow. Try Panther Martins, Power Bait or worms in early mornings and evenings.

Metro Drainages – No report this week.

Bluewater Lake – A few tiger muskies have been caught trolling silver spoons or crank baits, but there are no reports of any large enough to keep. Trout and catfish are slow.

Cochiti Lake – The water is murky and there has been light pressure. Catfish are good on the east side of the lake using worms or chicken liver. Crappie are fair to good with worms. Walleye and bass are slow. No reports on other species.

Fenton Lake – The water is fairly clear and fishing is fair with Power Bait, salmon eggs or worms. 1,310 rainbows were stocked last week.

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 excellent with worms under a bobber. Catfish are good in the mornings and evenings using hotdogs or stink bait. No reports on bass.

East–Central, including the Pecos River

Coyote Creek - Flow is 1.7 cfs. The water is low, but fishing is good with black and yellow Panther Martins, Power Bait or salmon eggs. 721 trout were stocked last week.

Pecos River - Flows are 79 cfs near Pecos and 102 cfs below Sumner Dam. Hatches of caddis, yellow sallies and some late golden stones are ongoing, and fishing is good. Best flies have been miracle nymphs, RS2's, wonder baetis, batwing emergers, headlight sallies, never-sink caddis, and parachute pheasant tails. Last week 2,465 rainbows were stocked from Cowles to the village of Pecos.

Conchas Lake – The water is fairly clear and the temperature is about 76 degrees. Walleye are in deep water and are reported as slow with minnows. White bass are fair jigging and trolling crank baits, spinners or worms. Catfish are good at night with chicken liver. No reports on other species.

Morphy Lake – Trout are slow with Power Bait working best.

Santa Rosa Lake – Largemouth and smallmouth bass are fair with crank baits or white curly tails. Catfish are good on cut bait, worms or chicken liver. Reports are fair for crappie at night with worms. Walleye are slow.

Storrie Lake – Trout are fair using yellow Power Bait or fireballs. 10-15 pound catfish are good at night on shrimp or chicken liver. No reports from the Gallinas River, but 901 rainbows were stocked last week.

Sumner Lake - Winter trout waters, stilling basin – Pressure has been light and fishing is slow to fair for all species. A few small mouth bass have been taken on top water lures and catfish are slow to fair at night using chicken liver. There are a few reports of 2-4 pound catfish being caught below the dam with chicken liver or worms.

Ute Lake – Walleye are slow with trolling producing best results. White bass are scattered, but jigging spoon slabs at 30 feet may pick up a few. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are slow in the early mornings using top water lures. Catfish are good with stink bait or chicken liver. No reports on other species.

Southwest

Gila River - The flow is 109 cfs and fishing is slow.

Rio Grande - The flow is 2,030 cfs below Elephant Butte Dam. No fishing report.

Bill Evans Lake: Winter trout waters – No report.

Caballo Lake – White bass are good casting minnows or worms around the brush and trolling by the dam with bombers or sassy shad. Catfish are good with chicken liver or night crawlers. No reports on other species.

Elephant Butte Lake – Fishing for white bass is good with shiners or white jigging spoons. Striped bass, in the 19–25 pound range, are good at the south end of the lake trolling live bait. Reports are fair for smallmouth bass using top water lures. Walleye are slow with a few being caught on jigs or live bait. Catfish are good with liver or shrimp. No reports on other species.

Glenwood Ponds – Stocker-size trout are slow with worms or salmon eggs.

Lake Roberts – Pressure has been light and trout are fair with Power Bait, salmon eggs or worms. Catfish are reported as good with worms or chicken liver. No reports on bass.

Quemado Lake – Trout are slow with Power Bait or worms, but an occasional 16-18 inch rainbow has been landed. Tiger muskies are fair with Z-rays, spinners or worms. No reports of any keeper-size muskies.

Snow Lake – Trout are slow using Power Bait, worms or salmon eggs.

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