New Mexico fishing and stocking reports

The following came in too late for last week’s report but we thought it was definitely worth mentioning:  

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, and location, type of fish, length and weight if possible and bait, lure or fly used.

Cabresto Lake: The lake and campground closed May 14 and will stay closed for about six months while the dam is being rebuilt. 

Charette Lakes: Fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait, Pistol Petes, wooly buggers and worms for trout. Fishing was fair using worms for perch. 

Cimarron River: Hot spot for trout: Trout fishing just seems to be getting better each week.  Anglers did well using gold stones, tricos, yellow sallies, elk hair caddis, Cimarron specials, red copper John Barrs and worms. Water flow below Eagle Nest Lake as of Monday was 19 cfs. Fishing at the Gravel Pit lakes was fair using Pistol Petes and Power Bait. 

Clayton Lake: Fishing was fair using Power Bait for trout. We had no reports on other species. Fishing pressure was very light. Due to low water conditions, only small boats, kayaks and canoes can be launched. 

Conchas Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits, grubs, minnows, tubes and bottom bouncer night crawler combinations for walleye.  Fishing was fair using crank baits, sassy shad, spinners and grubs for white bass. Fishing was fair using Pop Rs, Tiny Torpedoes, jerk baits, tubes and worms for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was good using liver, shrimp and homemade dough baits for catfish. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low 70s.The steep north side boat ramp is open.

Coyote Creek: We had no report from anglers this week. 

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing was good using worms from the bank and from anchored boats for perch. Fishing was slow to fair using Kastmasters, Krocadile spoons and large spinners for northern pike. Fishing was fair trolling Panther Martins, Z Rays, double whammies and Pistol Petes for trout and kokanee. 

El Rito Creek: Trout fishing was fair using PMDs, elk hair caddis, parachute adams and small copper John Barrs. 

Hopewell Lake: Trout fishing was fair using elk hair caddis, worms and Power Bait.     

Lake Maloya: Fishing was fair to good using Power Bait and Pistol Petes for 9 to 12 inch rainbows. 

Los Pinos: Trout fishing was good using salmon eggs, worms, small spinners, copper John Barrs and hoppers.  

Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was slow for all species.  

Monastery Lake: Trout fishing was good using salmon peach Power Bait, Pistol Petes, salmon eggs, elk hair caddis and parachute adams. 

Morphy Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait, garlic cheese and Pistol Petes. 

Pecos River: Water flow near the town of Pecos on Monday was 44 cfs. Trout fishing was good using tan and olive elk hair caddis, orange stimulators, royal wulffs, prince nymphs, worms and salmon eggs. 

Red River: Water flow below the hatchery was 46 cfs. Trout fishing slowed considerably due to a slide that muddied the river. 

Rio Costilla: Trout fishing was good using yellow sallies, small green hoppers, brown and olive elk hair caddis and yellow humpys. Through the Valle Vidal the Costilla and Comanche Creek continued to fish very well. 

Rio Grande: The water flow Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 242 cfs. Trout fishing was good using spinners, worms, elk hair caddis, hoppers, bead head hares ears, copper John Barrs and orange and yellow stimulators. Andrew Orlicky reported catching several smallmouth bass in the Pilar area in murky water. He was using tube jigs. We had no reports on other species.  

Rio Hondo: Water flow near Valdez on Monday was 18 cfs. Trout fishing on the upper Hondo was very good using parachute adams, elk hair caddis, hoppers and stimulators. 

Santa Barbara: We had no reports from anglers this week. 

Springer Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. 

Storrie Lake: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait, cheese, corn and salmon eggs. Fishing for catfish was slow but there was a 34-inch, 18-pound cat caught on chicken liver. We had no reports on other species. 

Ute Lake: Hot spot for bluegill: Fishing was very good using worms under a bobber for bluegill. Black bass fishing was a bit tougher. Anglers did manage to catch a few largemouth and smallmouth. They were using top water lures, tubes, grubs and crank baits.  Fishing was good using stink baits for catfish. Most of the cats caught were in 8 to 10 feet of water. Fishing was good trolling crank baits and using jigs for white bass. Walleye fishing was sporadic with the best reports coming from anglers using minnows, grubs and night crawlers in and around submerged trees. The surface water temp was in the upper 60s to lower 70s. 

Vallecitos Creek: Fishing was slow to fair using PMDs, royal coachmen and worms for trout. 

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was good using top water lures, tube jigs and olive wooly buggers for smallmouth bass up to 15 inches. The wooly buggers were working best in the evening off main lake points. Fishing was fair using crank baits, bottom bouncer minnow and bottom bouncer night crawler combos for walleye Fishing was fair using liver, shrimp and night crawlers at the upper end of the lake for catfish. A few bluegill were taken by anglers using worms. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low 70s. 

Animas River:  As of Monday morning flow near Cedar Hill was 361cfs. Trout fishing was fair using spinners, wooly buggers, hoppers, wooly worms, San Juan worms, night crawlers and salmon eggs. 

Bluewater Lake: Fishing was good using jerk baits, crank baits, large swim baits and large spoons for tiger musky. Tim Errickson and his buddy Tytan of Rio Rancho had a great time catching and releasing 40 tiger musky in one day. Tim also caught a 3-pound goldfish. The latter was caught on a 3-inch Rapala. Recommend releasing short fish as soon as possible to keep them healthy and a big catch for the future. Fishing was slow to fair using liver, hot dogs and cut bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low 70s.

Canjilon Lakes: Fishing was good using Power Bait, Panther Martins, worms and Super Dupers for trout. 

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 500 cfs and 850 cfs respectively. Trout fishing below El Vado was fair using night crawlers, Power Bait, salmon eggs, Panther Martins and hoppers. Fishing below Abiquiu was slow. 

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits, top water lures, grubs and spinners for white bass. Fishing was slow to fair using top water lures, jigs, tubes and jerk baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was good using shrimp, stink bait, hot dogs and liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species.  

El Vado Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using spinner baits for smallmouth bass. Adam Cooper of El Vado Ranch reported catching a limit of smallmouth ranging from 12 to 16 inches. He was casting to limited shoreline structure and using a red and white spinner bait. Fishing for all other species was slow. The surface water temp was about 68 degrees.      

Fenton Lake: Fishing was fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs, worms and Pistol Petes. The best reports came from anglers fishing cloudy, rainy afternoons.

Heron Lake:  Fishing for kokanee was fair using Cripplures, double whammies, wedding rings and Z Rays tipped with white corn and trolled at a depth of 18 to 23 feet. Fishing from the bank was fair using Power Bait, corn and salmon eggs for rainbow trout.

Jackson Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.      

Jemez Waters: Water flow on the Jemez as of Monday morning was 15 cfs. Trout fishing on the Cebolla above and below Fenton Lake was good using worms. On the East Fork fishing was slow to fair using elk hair caddis, hoppers and salmon eggs. Anglers fishing on the Valles Caldera reported murky water and slow fishing on the San Antonio due to recent rains. Fishing on the East Fork was fair using Pistol Petes, size 12 red or black Chernobyl ants and small and medium size hoppers. If you are interested in fishing on the Valles Caldera go to   htttp:www.vallescaldera.gov/comevisit/fish/index.aspx. 

Laguna del Campo: We had no reports from anglers this week. This is a special trout water open to anglers age 14 years or under, 65 years and older, handicapped anglers or up to 2 parents/guardians in direct supervision of a child or children age 14 years or younger who is fishing. This water was formerly known as Burn’s Canyon Lake.

Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week.   

Manzano Lake: Trout fishing was slow.  

McGaffey Lake: This body of water has dried up and will be removed from the report. 

Navajo Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using top water lures, tubes, grubs, senkos, jerk baits and clousers for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. We had reports of one good smallmouth caught and released. Chris Jarvis of Albuquerque caught a 19-inch smallie. He was using a Jarvis Jr. custom clouser. Fishing for all other species was slow. The surface water temp ranged from 72 to 76 degrees on the main lake. 

Ramah Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

San Gregorio Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Pistol Petes, hoppers, Power Bait and salmon eggs. 

San Juan: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 823 cfs. Trout fishing in the Quality Waters was good using size 16 to 18 PMDs, caddis, parachute adams, gray RS2s and size 10 to 14 terrestrials. The caddis hatches were coming off on the lower stretches and the terrestrials were working best during the rains. Fishing through the bait waters was fair to good using night crawlers, Power Bait, spinners, copper John Barrs and wooly buggers.

Santa Cruz Lake: Trout fishing was fair from boats and slow to fair from the bank. Best baits were Pistol Petes, Power Bait, garlic cheese and Panther Martins.  

Seven Springs Brood Pond: This water is open to fishing for youth under the age of 12 and 

an excellent place to take youngsters and get them interested in fishing. The pond is well stocked to offer youngsters a great fishing experience. 

Tingley Beach: Fishing at the Youth and Central ponds was slow to fair using hot dogs, stink bait and homemade dough bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species. Fishing at the Catch-and-Release Pond was slow.

Bear Canyon: We had no reports from anglers this week.  

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was fair using stink bait and liver for catfish. Fishing was fair using worms for bluegill. We had no reports on other species. 

Caballo Lake: Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, curly tail grubs, sassy shad, spinners and spinner minnow combinations for white bass. Fishing was slow for walleye but there were a few taken on Wally Divers and Flicker Shad worked on the east side of the lake. Fishing was slow to fair using shrimp, stink bait and liver for catfish.  

Elephant Butte: Hot spot for white bass: Fishing continued to be very good this past week using grubs, crank baits, spinners, Rat-L-Traps, Flicker Shad and silver and gold Kastmasters for white bass. We received great reports from anglers fishing the Long Point, McCrae and Kettle Top areas. Watch for the white bass busting on shad and have a great time. Fishing was fair using crank baits and spinner night crawler combinations for walleye. Fishing was fair using Pop Rs, crank baits, tubes, lizards and salt craws for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was good using stink baits, chicken liver and shrimp for catfish. We had no reports on other species.  Surface temps on the main lake were in the mid to upper 70s and the water level is dropping. The Monticello and Dam Site boat ramps remain closed. 

Escondida Lake: Fishing was slow but there were a few catfish caught by anglers using stink bait and chicken liver. We had no reports on other species. 

Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 34 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week. For updated information regarding closures in the area call 575-533-6231. 

Glenwood Pond: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait.

Lake Roberts: Fishing was fair using Power Bait, garlic cheese, salmon eggs and spinners for trout. Fishing for largemouth bass was slow to fair using top water lures, small swim baits and crank baits. We had no reports on other species. 

Percha Dam: Fishing was fair using grubs and minnows for walleye. Fishing was slow to fair using cut bait and liver for catfish.

Quemado Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week but trout fishing should be good as the lake was just recently stocked.   

Rio Grande: Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 1,729 cfs. Fishing below Elephant Butte was fair using spoons, small swim baits, grubs and sassy shad for white bass and walleye. Fishing below Caballo was slow to fair using minnows, curly tail grubs and spoons for walleye and white bass.  

Snow Lake: The Snow Lake/Dipping Vat Campground has been closed until further notice due to the Whitewater/Baldy Complex fire. For more information call 575-533-6231.

Bataan Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. 

Bonito Lake: Closed. 

Bosque Redondo: Fishing was fair using shrimp and chicken liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species. 

Bottomless Lakes: Fishing was slow for all species. 

Brantley Lake: Anglers are to practice catch-and-release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.   

Grindstone Reservoir: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait, Gulp eggs, Pistol Petes and salmon eggs. 

Jal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.    

Lake Van: Fishing was fair using liver, stink bait, night crawlers and shrimp for catfish. We had no reports on other species.    

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.   

Pecos River: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 80 cfs. Fishing was slow for all species. 

Perch Lake: Fishing was slow.  

Ruidoso River: Water flow at Hollywood on Monday was 3.6 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using minnows, crank baits, grubs and small swim baits for walleye. Fishing was fair using crank baits, tubes, grubs and top water lures for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing for crappie was fair using minnows, grubs and jigs. Fishing was fair using liver and shrimp for catfish. The boat ramp remains open. The surface water temp was in the high 60s. 

Sumner Lake: Fishing was generally slow but there were a few walleye and smallmouth bass taken by anglers using minnows and crank baits. We had no reports on other species. The only boat ramp accessible at this time is the east side ramp.