New Mexico fishing and stocking report for May 23

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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 May 19. Lake levels and stream flows.

Medina & Portillos

Catches of the week:

  • Alto Lake:  Matthew Portillo, 9, Isaiah Medina, 5, Andrea Medina 7, Mia Portillo, 6, Alejandro Medina, 3 and Anabelle Portillo 10, of Clint, Texas, caught 15 rainbow trout May 20. They were using garlic PowerBait and pinched night crawlers.
  • Clayton Lake: Tommy Montoya of Clayton caught a 20-inch rainbow trout May 15. He was using PowerBait.
  • Elephant Butte Lake:  Jolene Munoz, 3, of Las Cruces, caught her first white bass May 19. She was using a live shiner.
  • Grindstone Reservoir: Humberto Maldonado of Ruidoso caught a 33-inch catfish May 15. He was using worms.
  • Rio San Antonio: Noelle Brooke, 10, of Albuquerque, caught and released a 20-inch brown trout May 20. She was using a gold Panther Martin.
  • Santa Cruz Lake: Maya Scargall, 10, and Prescott Scargall, 8, of Santa Fe, caught limits of trout May 20. Maya’s big fish was 17 inches and Prescott’s was 16 inches. They were trolling gold spoons.  
  • Seven Springs Brood Pond:  Ben Mirabal, 4, of Albuquerque, caught his first fish, a 17-inch rainbow trout May 19. He was using salmon eggs. Gavin Whaler, 11, of Santo Domingo Pueblo caught a 28-inch, 8.2-pound brown trout May 21. He was using a gold Panther Martin.
  • Tiger Pond: Dominik Lopez, 10, of Aztec, caught a 15-inch rainbow trout May 20. He was using blue neon PowerBait.
  • Tingley Beach: Kai Lynn Johnson, 6, of Albuquerque, caught her first trout, a 13-inch rainbow May 20. She was using night crawlers.
  • Ute Lake: Rande Kelley of Dalhart caught and released a 5.07 largemouth bass May 20. 

The following reports came in late but deserve a mention:

  • Lake Roberts: Mike Dunn caught and released a 6.79-pound largemouth bass May 12. He was using a watermelon seed brush hog.
  • Rio Las Vacas: Maddie Flint, 6 and Ethan Flint, 4, both of Rio Rancho caught their first rainbow trout May 14. They were using worms.

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.

Noelle Brooke

May 23  

Northeast

Charette Lakes: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait and worms for trout. Fishing was fair using worms for perch. We had no other reports.

Clayton Lake: Fishing was very good using PowerBait and Kastmasters for rainbow trout. Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits and Kastmasters for walleye. We had no other reports. Due to low water conditions, the boat ramp remains closed.

Cimarron River: Stream flow near Cimarron on Monday was 40 cfs. Trout fishing was good using San Juan worms, gold spinners, worms and salmon eggs. 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 using Pistol Petes, PowerBait, Fire Balls and worms.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was good using tubes, senkos, jigs, jerk baits, crank baits, creature baits and curly tail grubs for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using crank baits for white bass. Fishing was fair using jig and minnow combinations, spinner minnow combinations and crank baits for walleye. Fishing was fair using night crawlers, stink bait and cut bait for catfish. Fishing was fair using minnows and small grubs for crappie.

Cowles Ponds: Fishing was very good using worms and PowerBait for trout.

Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was good using small bead-head nymphs, worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs.

Eagle Rock Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait and worms for trout.

Eagle Nest Lake: Bank fishing and fishing from anchored boats was good using PowerBait. Anglers trolling for trout did well trolling using Arnie’s, Panther Martins and Platte River specials. A few trout were also caught by anglers using wooly buggers and Pistol Petes. Fishing was fair using worms for perch. We had no other reports. The annual Pike and Carp Tournament will be held May 27 and 28. For more information, contact the Eagle Nest Fly Shack at (505) 485-8328.

Gallinas River: Fishing was good using worms for trout.

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

Lake Alice: Trout fishing was very good using Gulp eggs, PowerBait, worms, Pistol Petes and Kastmasters.

Lake Maloya: Trout fishing was very good using garlic and corn PowerBait, Fire Balls, Panther Martins, Kastmasters, wooly buggers, damsel flies and bead-head pheasant tail nymphs. The annual Sugarite Canyon State Park Fishing Derby sponsored by the Friends of Sugarite Canyon State Park and the Raton Kiwanis Club will be held from May 27 through June 4. For additional information, call (575) 445-5607.

Los Pinos River: Fishing was good using worms, Fire Balls and San Juan worms for trout.

Maxwell Lake 13: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Monastery Lake: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, worms, prince nymphs, wooly buggers and Pistol Petes for trout.

Morphy Lake: Fishing was good using Pistol Petes, spinners, PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout. Frank Chavez of Albuquerque reported catching two 16.5-inch rainbow trout May 21. He was using salmon peach PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos on Monday was 240 cfs. Fishing was good using worms, Fire Balls, bead-head hare’s ear nymphs, San Juan worms and spinners for trout.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday was 225 cfs. Fishing was fair using night crawlers, wooly buggers and poundmeisters for trout.

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

Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 2,080 cfs. Trout fishing in the Taos area was slow to fair with just a few trout caught by anglers using spoons, worms and weighted wooly buggers.  We had no other reports.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow near Valdez on Monday was 112 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Mora: As of Monday, stream flow near Terrero was 104 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using worms for trout.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco on Monday was 178 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 good using Kastmasters, PowerBait and Fire Balls and trolling gold spinners and spoons for trout. We had no other reports.

Shuree Ponds: Open for the season July 1.

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

Storrie Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, corn and Fire Balls for trout up to 21 inches. We had no other reports.

Ute Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was good using senkos, finesse worms, tubes and grubs. Fishing for white bass and walleye was slow. Fishing was good using live minnows and small jigs for crappie. We had no other reports. The surface water temp was in the mid 60s.

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

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was fair to good using curly tail grubs, tubes, creature baits, senkos and crank baits for smallmouth bass. Fishing for walleye was fair to good using minnows, bottom bouncer night crawler combinations, crank baits and grubs. We had no other reports.

Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 1,250 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Albuquerque Area Drains:  Mark Donahue reported good bass and bluegill fishing on the Corrales Drain this past week. His big bass measured 17 inches and he was using Texas rigged and whacky rigged senkos for the bass and watermelon rocket craws for the bluegill. We had no other reports.

Bluewater Lake:  Fishing was good using spoons, in line spinners, large crank baits and large flies for tiger muskies. Fishing for trout was fair using PowerBait, corn and worms. Ernie Baca of Belen and his brother, Donysio Martinez of El Paso, caught and released several tiger muskies over a two day period this past week. We had no other reports.

Brazos River: Fishing was fair to good using worms for trout.

Canjilon Lakes: Closed by the U.S. Forest Service until further notice due to danger from falling trees. They are not expected to open in 2017.

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 1,480 cfs and 1,800 cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was fair using weighted wooly buggers and worms for trout. We had no reports from below Abiquiu. NEW SPECIAL TROUT WATER: 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 worms and homemade dough bait for catfish. We had no other reports.

El Vado Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits and plastics for smallmouth bass. We had no other reports.

Fenton Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, Fire Balls, Kastmasters, wooly buggers, caddis imitations, Panther Martins and Pistol Petes for trout.

Heron Lake: Fishing from the bank was good using PowerBait for rainbow trout. We had no other reports.

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

Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez River near Jemez Springs on Monday morning was 96 cfs. Fishing was very good using worms, stone flies, San Juan worms, copper John Barrs bead-head hare’s ears and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing on the East Fork was good using San Juan worms, flash back pheasant tail nymphs, and worms for brown trout. Trout fishing on the San Antonio was very good using small prince nymphs, San Juan worms, copper John Barrs, worms and spinners.  Anglers also did well trout fishing on the Rio Cebolla. They were using worms, Fire Balls, San Juan worms and night crawlers. We had no other reports.

Laguna del Campo: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, Gulp eggs, wooly buggers and Kastmasters for trout.

Lake Farmington: Nonmotorized watercraft are now allowed on Lake Farmington. Fees are $50 for the season or $5 daily. Fishing was fair using PowerBait, spinners and Pistol Petes for trout. We had no other reports.

Manzano Lake: Fishing was good using corn, salmon eggs and PowerBait for trout.

Navajo Lake: Fishing was good using tubes, brush hogs, senkos, swim baits, creature baits and crank baits for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing for crappie was good for anglers using small tubes and grubs. Fishing was fair using swim baits and crank baits for northern pike. Anglers trolling near the mouth of Frances Canyon caught a few kokanee salmon. They were using Arnie’s and Panther Martins. 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 scheduled to increase to 4,500 cfs and then to 5,000 cfs on Tuesday May 23. Fishing from drift boats was fair to good using a variety of attractor patterns.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing was very good using spinners, PowerBait, Fire Balls and worms for trout.

Tingley Beach: Trout fishing at the Central and Youth ponds was fair to good using PowerBait, Fire Balls, night crawlers and Pistol Petes. Fishing was good using jigs and worms for bluegill. Fishing was fair using curly tail grubs and night crawlers for largemouth bass. Fishing was slow to fair using worms, homemade dough bait and hot dogs for catfish. We had no other reports.

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

Southwest

Alumni Pond: Fishing was slow to fair using worms for catfish. We had no other reports.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using tubes, brush hogs and swim baits for largemouth bass. We had no other reports.

Caballo Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits, spoons, grubs and minnows for white bass. We had no other reports.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was very good using crank baits, jerk baits, minnows, spoons, small plastic worms and grubs for white bass. Fishing was fair using crank baits, tubes, minnows and grubs for walleye. Fishing was good using Roboworms, grubs, baby brush hogs, crank baits, jerk baits, senkos, jigs and sweet beavers for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was good using cut bait, homemade dough bait, minnows and chicken liver for catfish. Fishing was fair using grubs and minnows for crappie. We had no other reports.

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

Gila River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 64 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Glenwood Pond: Fishing was good using PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout.

Lake Roberts: Fishing was good using Roboworms, tubes, grubs and crank baits for largemouth bass. Fishing was good using Kastmasters, worms and PowerBait for trout. Fishing was fair to good using homemade dough bait, liver and night crawlers for catfish. We had no other reports.

Percha Dam: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Quemado Lake: Fishing was fair to good using spoons and swim baits for tiger muskie. Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, spinners and Fire Balls for trout. We had no other reports.

Rancho Grande Ponds: These are private ponds now open to the public and stocked by the Game and Fish Dept. The ponds have been stocked with rainbow trout and have a native population of bass and bluegill. There is a sign at the entrance with information regarding limits. Anglers should park at the Adobe Inn and walk in.

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 1,620 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using night crawlers, liver, homemade dough bait and cut bait for catfish. We had no other reports.

Snow Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout.

Young Pond: Fishing was slow for catfish with just a few caught by anglers using worms. A few trout were caught by anglers using Pistol Petes under a bobber.

Southeast

Alto Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using liver and night crawlers for catfish. Fishing was very good using night crawlers, garlic PowerBait and spinners 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 5.5 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was good using PowerBait and spoons for trout. Fishing was fair to good using night crawlers, blood bait and PowerBait for catfish.

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

Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing was slow with just a few catfish caught by anglers using liver.

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 good using crank baits, senkos, spoons, tubes, creature baits 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 chicken liver and homemade dough bait for catfish. We had no other reports.

El Rito Creek: Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms and Pistol Petes for trout. Itzel Perez reported catching a a 17-inch rainbow trout while fishing for catfish. She was using a crawfish blood bait. We had no other reports.

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

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was fair to good using night crawlers and homemade dough baits for catfish. We had no other reports.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was good using night crawlers and homemade dough bait for catfish. We had no other reports.  

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait for trout. Fishing was fair using worms for bluegill. We had no other reports.

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

Lake Van: Fishing was slow to fair using chicken liver and homemade dough bait for catfish. We had no other reports.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was fair to good using hot dogs and homemade dough bait for channel catfish. We had no other reports.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 116 cfs. Fishing below Sumner Lake was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using PowerBait.

Perch Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing was fair using worms and hot dogs for catfish. We had no other reports.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 12 cfs. Fishing was slow to fair using salmon eggs for trout.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing was very good using senkos, creature baits, tubes, jigs, jerk baits and crank baits for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using minnows, curly tail grubs and crank baits for walleye. Fishing was fair using small grubs, small tubes and minnows in 12 to 15 feet of water for crappie. Fishing was slow to fair using cut bait and chicken liver for catfish. We had no other reports.    

Sumner Lake: Fishing was good using curly tail grubs, crank baits, bottom bouncer minnow rigs and minnows for walleye up to 21 inches. Fishing was good using crank baits, sweet beavers, tubes, worms, minnows and senkos for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using minnows and small grubs for crappie. We had no other reports.