New Mexico fishing and stocking report for March 21

New Mexico Department of Game & Fish sent this bulletin at 03/21/2017 09:10 AM MDT

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

This fishing report, provided by Bill Dunn and the Department of Game and Fish, has been generated from the best information available from area officers and anglers. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.

Check out the stocking report through March. 10. Lake levels and stream flows.

Catches of the week:

Bluewater Lake: Andrew Venable, 13, of Grants, caught and released a tiger muskie March 20. He was using a trout rig.
Caballo Lake: Nick Mondragon of Nambe caught a 23-inch walleye March 18. He was jigging a curly tail grub.
Conchas Lake: Robert Stamm caught and released a 5-pound largemouth bass March 17. He was using a perch colored Shad Rap.
Elephant Butte Lake: Robert Bryant of Albuquerque caught and released a 6-pound largemouth bass March 15. He was using a 9-inch purple Yamamoto Senko. Gene Thomas of Truth or Consequences caught and released a 10-pound, 2-ounce largemouth bass March 16. He was fishing the Rattlesnake Island area and using a white tube.
Fenton Lake: Javon Daniel, 6, of Rio Rancho, caught a 21-inch rainbow trout March 16. It was his first fish of the day and he was using salmon peach glitter PowerBait.
Maxwell Lake 13: Jody Gray of Ute Park caught a 21-inch rainbow trout March 16. Jody was using salmon peach PowerBait.
Navajo Lake: Jared Fishburn, 14, of Farmington, caught a 25-inch brown trout March 17. He was using a fire tiger Rapala.
Red River Hatchery Pond: Townes Webb, 4, of Austin, Texas caught and released his catch of the day, a nice rainbow trout. He was using chartreuse PowerBait.

The following catches came in late but deserve a mention:

Brantley Lake: Peyton Kennard, 11, of Roswell caught and released his first largemouth bass March 12. He was using a minnow under a bobber. Jen Kennard of Roswell caught and released a 3.5-pound largemouth bass March 12. She was using a minnow under a bobber.

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

March 21

Northeast

Charette Lakes: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, Kastmasters and spinners for trout up to 19 inches. Fishing was fair using worms for perch.

Clayton Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms for trout up to 17 inches. We had no other reports. Due to low water conditions, the boat ramp is closed.

Cimarron River: Stream flow below Eagle Nest Lake on Monday was .20 cfs. Trout fishing was good using gold Panther Martins, worms, salmon eggs and brown San Juan worms. A section of the river has been closed due to a fuel spill. The closed area starts a mile marker 291 and goes to the Perryville Day use area. Anglers are asked to steer clear of the area. Fishing at the Gravel Pit Lakes was fair using salmon eggs and garlic PowerBait.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was good using crank baits, jerk baits, swim bait, jigs and shaky head rigs for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using jig and grub combinations, crank baits and minnows for walleye. Fishing was good using small grubs and tubes, minnows and feathered jigs for crappie. Fishing was fair using liver and night crawlers for catfish. The surface water temp was in the low 50s.

Cowles Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was slow.

Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Eagle Nest Lake: Bank fishing was good using worms, salmon eggs and PowerBait. Fishing pressure was light due to windy conditions.

Gallinas River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

Lake Maloya: Trout fishing was good using parachute Adams, Panther Martins, green Z Rays and PowerBait.

Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using PowerBait.

Monastery Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, salmon eggs, small spoons and Pistol Petes

Morphy Lake: Fishing was fair using spinners, PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for trout.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos on Monday was 166 cfs. The high flow made for some slower fishing this past week. A few trout were caught by anglers using worms and PowerBait.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday was 61 cfs. Fishing was good using elk hair caddis, wooly buggers, San Juan worms, salmon eggs and worms for a mix of brown and rainbow trout.

Red River City Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 1,220 cfs. Fishing in the Taos area was slow due to high water conditions. Fishing in the Corrales and Bernalillo area was fair using liver and night crawlers for catfish. We had no other reports.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow near Valdez on Monday was 43 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco on Monday was 49 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing was fair to good using Kastmasters, PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

Shuree Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Springer Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using cut bait and crank baits for northern pike. We had no other reports.

Storrie Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Ute Lake: Fishing was fair to good using bottom bouncer spinner minnow combinations, grubs and jerk baits for walleye. The jerk baits worked best in the late evening hours. Fishing was good using grubs, in-line spinners and crank baits for white bass. Fishing was fair to good using stink baits for catfish. Fishing was fair using crank baits, jerk baits, jigs and grubs for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. The surface water temp was in the low 50s.

Winsor Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits, curly tail grubs and jigs for smallmouth bass and walleye. We had no other reports.

Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 1,680 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing on the Albuquerque Drain was fair to good using salmon eggs, worms and PowerBait for trout. Fishing on the Bernalillo Drain was fair using salmon eggs and small bead head nymphs for trout. Fishing on the Peralta Drain was fair to good using worms and salmon eggs for trout and worms for catfish and small largemouth bass. We had no other reports.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing was described as sporadic with a few trout and a few ting muskie caught. Best bait s for trout were worms and PowerBait while big flies and swim baits worked for tiger muskie. We had no other reports.

Brazos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Canjilon Lakes: Closed by the U.S. Forest Service until further notice due to danger from falling trees.

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 987 cfs and 1,300 cfs respectively. Fishing was slow at both locations due to the high-water release.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was light. Caleb Campbell of Albuquerque managed to catch a nice smallmouth bass on March 16 that weighed 2.5 pounds and one smaller fish. He was using a crank bait and reported that the water was still quite muddy from the runoff.

El Vado Lake: Fishing was good using Rapalas near the dam for smallmouth bass up to 16 inches. We had no other reports.

Fenton Lake: Fishing was very good using brown and black wooly buggers with a chartreuse tail, Pistol Petes, San Juan worms, assorted colors of PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms for trout. Tony Sanchez , Art Sanchez and Mike Hutchins caught mixed bag limits of brown and rainbow trout. They were using garlic and cheese PowerBait.

Heron Lake: Bank fishing was good using roe sacs, chartreuse and rainbow PowerBait and salmon eggs for rainbow trout. We had no other reports. The boat ramps remain closed but the lake level is rising slowly.

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

Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez River near Jemez Springs on Monday morning was 253 cfs. The Jemez, San Antonio, East Fork and Guadalupe are all running high right now and fishing has been slow. Fishing on the Cebolla above Fenton Lake was good using worms and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week. Nonmotorized watercraft are now allowed on Lake Farmington. Fees are $50 for the season or $5 daily.

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

Navajo Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits, spoons and PowerBait for brown trout and rainbow trout. Fishing was fair using jigs, tubes, worms and crank baits for smallmouth bass and an occasional largemouth bass. Fishing was slow to fair using swim baits and crank baits for northern pike. We had no other reports.

San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers.

San Juan River: Stream flow from Navajo Reservoir on Monday was 479 cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality waters was fair to good red larva, red annelids, small jigs, black and white bunny leeches, wooly buggers, princess nymphs and San Juan worms. Fishing through the bait waters was fair to good using salmon eggs, PowerBait, night crawlers, wooly buggers, jerk baits and Kastmasters.

Tingley Beach: Trout fishing at the Central and Youth ponds was very good using PowerBait, Gulp eggs, salmon eggs, Kastmasters and Pistol Petes. We had no other reports.

Trout Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Southwest

Alumni Pond: Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing was fair to good using garlic PowerBait and worms for trout.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was good using Pistol Petes under a bubble, salmon eggs, PowerBait and small spoons for trout. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair using crank baits, swim baits and tubes.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair using curly tail grubs, tubes and crank baits. Anglers had the best luck at the north end of the lake. Fishing for white bass was fair using grubs and crank baits. Fishing was fair using night crawlers, liver and cut bait for catfish.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was very good using crank baits, jerk baits, tubes, top water lures and grubs for white bass. Fishing was slow to fair using tubes, spinner baits, senkos, crank baits and jerk baits for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was good using cut bait, night crawlers and liver for catfish. We had no other reports. The surface water temp ranged from the high 50s to the low 60s.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was fair to good using Pistol Petes, Kastmasters, Super Dupers, PowerBait, homemade dough bait, worms and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing for all other species was slow. We had no other reports.

Gila River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 506 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Glenwood Pond: Fishing was good using PowerBait for trout.

Lake Roberts: Fishing was fair to good using worms and PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.

Percha Dam: Fishing was slow for all species.

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

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 1,240 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Young Pond: Fishing was good using salmon eggs, worms, homemade dough bait and PowerBait for trout.

Southeast

Alto Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait for trout.

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

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 7.1 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, worms, Gulp eggs and salmon eggs for trout.

Bonito Lake: Closed until further notice by the city of Alamogordo due to fire damage.

Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for trout.

Bottomless Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Brantley Lake: Anglers are required to catch and release all fish here as high levels of pesticides have been found in some fish. Fishing was very good using minnows, crank baits, swim baits, tubes, grubs and jerk baits for a mixed bag of white bass and largemouth bass.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing was fair using salmon eggs, PowerBait and spoons for trout. We had no other reports.

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing was good using Pistol Petes, spinners, salmon eggs, worms and PowerBait for trout.

El Rito Creek: Fishing was very good using various colors and scents of PowerBait, salmon eggs, worms, small spoons, Pistol Petes and garlic cheese for trout. We had no other reports.

Eunice Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was good using salmon eggs, cheese, worms and PowerBait for trout.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was good using salmon eggs, worms, PowerBait and spoons for trout. We had no other reports.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was good using PowerBait, homemade dough bait, salmon eggs and Kastmasters for trout. We had no other reports.

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

Lake Van: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait, Panther Martins, Kastmasters and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was very good with several limits of trout caught by anglers using a wide variety of spinners, spoons and PowerBait. The 8th Annual Spring Trout Derby will be held March 25. For additional information call (575))-356-533.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 91 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow. A few catfish were caught by anglers using worms and liver. We had no other reports.

Perch Lake: Fishing was very good using Pistol Petes, PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 23 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits, spinner baits, jerk baits, worms, jigs and grubs for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass and an occasional walleye. We had no other reports.

Sumner Lake: Fishing was very good using crank baits, jigs, spinner baits, swim baits, grubs and senkos for white bass, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was good using jigs, curly tail grubs and minnows for walleye and crappie. We had no other reports.

Questions?
Contact Us

STAY CONNECTED:

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe | Help