New Mexico fishing and stocking report for April 18

Catches of the week:

• Conchas Lake: Mani Loveless, of Albuquerque, caught her biggest largemouth bass ever April 15. The bass measured 24 inches and was caught on a curly tail grub tipped with a night crawler.
• Fenton Lake: Denaee Chavez, 11, of Santa Fe, caught her limit of fish on her first-time trout fishing April 14. She was using a black with green dots Panther Martin.
• Pecos River: Logan Oakeley, 11, of Santa Fe, caught an 18-inch, 2.4-pound, rainbow trout April 16. He was fishing about 25 yards upstream from the Rainy Day Bridge day use area and was using orange Balls of Fire.
• Rio Grande: Leonel Mata, 8, of Odessa, Texas, caught a 21-inch walleye April 16. It was his first ever walleye and he was using night crawlers.
• Santa Rosa Lake: Chris Roberts, of Albuquerque, caught and released a 5.31-pound largemouth bass April 15. He was using a soft plastic bait. Fredo Lucero of Albuquerque caught and released a 4.8-pound largemouth bass April 17. He was using a soft plastic bait.
• Seven Springs Brood Pond: Yvett Snow, 10, of Santa Ana Pueblo, caught a 29-inch, 8-pound trout April 15. She was using an olive green and gold custom fly. Joe Montoya, 10, of Santa Ana Pueblo, caught a 21-inch, 4-pound rainbow trout April 15. He was using an olive green and gold custom fly. Axel Valenzuela, of Albuquerque, caught a 22.5-inch brown trout April 16. He was using PowerBait.
• Springer Lake: Chantal Davis, of Wagon Mound, caught a 7-pound catfish and two northern pike April 11. She was using cut bait.
  
  

The following reports came in late but deserve a mention:

• Cochiti Lake: Chris Balliett caught a 5.9-pound largemouth bass April 9. He was using a spinner bait.
• Tingley Beach: Israel Charles, 4, of Albuquerque, caught his first fish, a 12-inch rainbow, April 5. He was using PowerBait.

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.

April 18

Northeast

Charette Lakes: Fishing was very good using PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.

Clayton Lake: Fishing was very good using worms and PowerBait for rainbow trout. Fishing was fair to good using worms for bluegill and catfish. We had no reports on other species. Due to low water conditions, the boat ramp remains closed.

Cimarron River: Stream flow below Eagle Nest Lake on Monday was 8.1 cfs. Trout fishing was good using worms, salmon eggs, spinners, red San Juan worms and copper John Barrs. A section of the river has been closed due to a fuel spill. The closed area starts at mile marker 291 and goes to the Perryville Day use area. Anglers are asked to steer clear of the area. Trout fishing at the Gravel Pit Lakes was very good for anglers using garlic PowerBait, worms and gold and black Panther Martins.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was good using crank baits, jerk baits, tubes, sweet beavers, senkos and grubs for largemouth and smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair using curly tail grubs, crank baits and jig and minnow combinations for walleye. Dewey and Mani Loveless of Albuquerque had a great day fishing here April 15. They were using crank baits and caught a mixed bag of walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass. Fishing was good using night crawlers and cut bait for catfish. The surface water temp was in the low 60s.  

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

Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was fair using worms and salmon eggs.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Bank fishing was good using salmon eggs, corn, worms and PowerBait for rainbow trout. A few trout were also caught by anglers trolling spinners on light tackle. The lake has opened to boating and one of the courtesy boat docks is partially installed and useable.

Gallinas River: Fishing was fair using worms for trout.

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

Lake Alice: Trout fishing was very good using garlic PowerBait, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes, Panther Martins and Super Dupers.

Lake Maloya: Trout fishing was excellent using salmon peach and garlic PowerBait, wooly buggers, Pistol Petes, Joe’s flies, spinners and spoons.

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

Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing continued slow this past week with just a few trout caught by anglers using PowerBait.

Monastery Lake: Fishing was very good using Pistol Petes, San Juan worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. Danielle Groetzinger of Santa Fe caught a 19-inch rainbow April 6. She was using a marabou olive Pistol Pete.

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

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos on Monday was 320 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using San Juan worms, copper John Barrs, salmon eggs and worms for trout.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday was 189 cfs. Fishing was slow to fair using wooly buggers and worms for trout.

Red River City Ponds: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 1,220 cfs. Fishing in the Taos area was slow to fair using weighted worms, wooly buggers and poundmeisters for trout. We had no other reports.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow near Valdez on Monday was 85 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Mora: As of Monday, stream flow near Terrero was 88 cfs. Fishing was good using worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco on Monday was 132 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Santa Cruz Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Shuree Ponds: Open for the season July 1.

Springer Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using cut bait for northern pike. Fishing was fair using cut bait and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.      

Storrie Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

Ute Lake: Fishing was fair to good using jig and minnow combinations and curly tail grubs for walleye. Fishing was fair using 4-inch worms, curly tail grubs and tubes for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using stink bait for catfish. The surface water temp was in the high 50s to low 60s.

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

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using grubs and tubes for smallmouth bass. We had no other reports.

Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 2,050 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Albuquerque Area Drains:  Fishing in the Albuquerque Drain was fair using worms and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

Bluewater Lake:  Fishing was good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. 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 1,410 cfs and 1,770 cfs respectively. Fishing has been slow with the high-water release. A few trout have been caught by anglers fishing along the edges and using salmon eggs and worms. The river from the USGS gauging station to the confluence of the Rio Nutrias is now catch and release only using single barbless hook artificial flies and lures.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits and spinner baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. We had no other reports.

El Vado Lake: Fishing was fair to good using curly tail grubs and crank baits for smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using spinners and PowerBait for rainbow trout. We had no other reports. The main area park boat ramp has opened.

Fenton Lake: Fishing was good using garlic PowerBait, light colored may flies, wooly buggers, Panther Martins and Pistol Petes for trout.

Heron Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait and worms for rainbow trout. Fishing was slow to fair using cut bait for lake trout. We had no other reports. The water level has risen sufficiently to open both boat ramps.

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 316 cfs and fishing was fair using worms and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing on the East Fork was fair to good using copper John Barrs, bead-head hare’s ears and worms for brown trout. Fishing on the San Antonio was good using salmon eggs, worms, copper John Barrs and bead-head pheasant tail nymphs for a mixed bag of brown and rainbow trout. We had no other reports.

Laguna del Campo: Opens for the season May 1.

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

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

Navajo Lake: Fishing was fair to good using jigs, worms, grubs, swim baits, senkos and crank baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was fair using swim baits and spinner baits for northern pike. Fishing for crappie was slow to fair for anglers using small tubes and grubs. We had no other reports.

San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing was very good using worms, Fire Bait, PowerBait, spinners, flies and salmon eggs for trout.   

San Juan River: Stream flow from Navajo Reservoir on Monday was 474 cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality waters was fair to good using RS2s, red annelids, bead-head pheasant tail nymphs, comparaduns and dead chickens. Fishing through the bait waters was good using night crawlers, PowerBait, salmon eggs, copper John Barrs, jerk baits and Kastmasters.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms for trout.

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

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

Southwest

Alumni Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using night crawlers and liver for catfish. We had no other reports.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, marshmallows, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes for rainbow trout. We had no other reports.

Caballo Lake: Fishing was fair using grubs, tubes crank baits and minnows for a mixed bag of walleye, white bass and crappie. Fishing was fair using liver and worms for catfish. We had no other reports.  

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was fair to good using Kastmasters, crank baits and grubs for white bass. Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, jerk baits, senkos, sassy shad and sweet beavers for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Chris Martinez reported excellent fishing on Easter Sunday. His group caught largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, catfish and walleye. They were using swim shad, sassy shad, X-Raps and Kastmasters. Fishing was good using cut bait, prepared baits and liver for catfish. We had no other reports.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using PowerBait and worms.

Gila River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 343 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Glenwood Pond: Fishing was good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Lake Roberts: Fishing was good using worms, tubes and crank baits for largemouth bass. Fishing was good using worms and PowerBait for trout. Fishing was fair using worms and liver for catfish.

Percha Dam: Fishing was fair using night crawlers, cut bait and liver for catfish. We had no other reports.

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

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 1,320 cfs. Fishing was fair using grubs, night crawlers and spoons for walleye and an occasional largemouth bass. Fishing was fair using night crawlers and cut bait for catfish. We had no other reports.

Snow Lake: Fishing was good using salmon peach and chartreuse PowerBait for trout.

Young Pond: Fishing was slow for all species.

Southeast

Alto Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, salmon eggs, Panther Martins and Pistol Petes for trout. We had no other reports.    

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

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 13 cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was fair to good using garlic PowerBait, worms, marshmallows 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 using PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing was fair using night crawlers and liver for catfish. We had no other reports.

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 crank baits, swim baits, Big Ned rigs, senkos, tubes, grubs and jerk baits for a mixed bag of white bass and largemouth bass.

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

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using salmon eggs and PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.

El Rito Creek: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait and Pistol Petes for trout. We had no other reports.

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

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using small spoons, worms, salmon eggs and garlic PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.

Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was very good using worms, garlic PowerBait and spoons for trout. We had no other reports.

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

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

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was fair to good using Pistol Petes, homemade dough baits and PowerBait for trout.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 113 cfs. Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms and homemade dough bait for trout. We had no other reports.

Perch Lake: Fishing was good using Pistol Petes, worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing was fair using stink bait for catfish. We had no other reports.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 18 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using salmon eggs for trout.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was good using swim baits, sweet beavers, plastic worms, flukes and crank baits for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing for walleye was fair using minnows, night crawlers, crank baits and curly tail grubs. We had no other reports.

Sumner Lake: Fishing was fair using curly tail grubs, crank baits and bottom bouncer spinner minnow combinations for walleye. Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, jerk baits, tubes, grubs and senkos for white bass, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was fair using liver and night crawlers for catfish. We had no other reports.