New Mexico fishing and stocking report for March 6

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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 latest stocking report.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake

Catches of the week

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Ricky Soto of Santa Fe caught and released a 21.5-inch spotted bass March 4. He was using a banjo minnow.

  • Corona Pond: Jesse Silva, age 13, Zakahryah Silva, age 9, and Cypriana Silva, age 6, of Belen, had a great time catching rainbow trout the morning of March 3. They were using red salmon eggs, gold flake salmon eggs and lures.
  • Fenton Lake:  Kathryn Monroe, age 7, of Santa Fe, caught her limit of trout March 3. She was using PowerBait. Vincent Sanchez, age 3, of Albuquerque, caught a limit of trout March 3. He was fishing with his dad and using pink power worms.
  • Tingley Beach: Jeffrey Ring of Albuquerque caught a 3.5-pound rainbow trout March 2. He was fishing the Central Pond and using salmon eggs.

The following report came in late but deserves a mention:

  • Tingley Beach: Leanndra Sheets, age 3, of Albuquerque, caught her first rainbow trout Feb. 24. She was fishing the Central Pond and using green garlic 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.

Tingley Beach

March 6 

Northeast

Cabresto Lake: Mike Medina of Albuquerque reported that he and Jason Ferguson of Los Lunas caught and released several brook trout and cutthroat trout Feb. 28. They were using ice jigs tipped with meal worms. The lake was covered with about 7 inches of snow and the ice was about 19 to 20 inches thick.

Charette Lakes: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait for trout up to 21 inches.

Clayton Lake:  Fishing was good using PowerBait and worms for trout. We had no reports on other species. The boat ramp is open.

Cimarron River: Stream flow below Eagle Nest on Monday was 1.24 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Conchas Lake: High winds through most of the past week kept anglers off the water. We had no reports.

Costilla Creek: We had no reports from anglers.

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

Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was slow. Fishing pressure was very light.

Eagle Nest Lake: Bank fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait for rainbow trout up to 19 inches in length. We had no reports on other species. Fishing pressure was light. The lake was about 95 percent clear of ice, but it has been icing up somewhat overnight and is closed to all types of boating. For updated conditions, contact the state park office at (575) 377-1594.

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. As of this past weekend, the lake was completely free of ice.

Lake Maloya: There were some open areas for bank fishing this past week. Fishing was rated as fair by anglers using corn and PowerBait for trout. For updated ice conditions, call the state park office at (575) 445-5607.

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. We had no reports on other species.

Monastery Lake: Fishing was very good using PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout.

Morphy Lake:  Fishing was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using salmon peach and garlic PowerBait.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos on Monday was 21.0 cfs. Fishing in the Villanueva area was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using salmon eggs and PowerBait.  

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday was 44.0 cfs. Fishing was fair using baetis nymphs, egg patterns, PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout.

Red River City Ponds: We had no reports.

Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 496 cfs. Fishing in the Taos area was fair using San Juan worms, copper John Barrs, bead-head hare's ears, streamers and night crawlers for trout. We had no other reports.

Rio Hondo: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Mora: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco was 14.4 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing was slow. There were a few trout caught by anglers using PowerBait.

Shuree Ponds:  Closed for the season.

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

Storrie Lake: Fishing was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using salmon peach PowerBait.  

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

Ute Lake: Fishing was fair to good using liver and stink bait for catfish. The best reports came from anglers fishing in less than 10 feet of water. Fishing for all other species was slow. The surface water temp was in the low to mid 40s.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was extremely light.

Animas River: Water flow below Aztec on Monday morning was 166 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing for trout was good in the Albuquerque, Albuquerque (South), Corrales and Belen drains. Anglers did well using PowerBait, Fire Balls, wax worms and small bead-head nymphs. We had no other reports.    

Bluewater Lake: Fishing from the bank was fair using PowerBait, corn and worms for trout. We had no reports on other species. The lake was completely free of ice.

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

Canjilon Lakes: Closed by the U.S. Forest Service until further notice. The area may reopen later this year.

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 69.9 cfs and 48.9 cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was fair for anglers using brassies and zebra midges in the quality water section. Fishing below Abiquiu was fair using earth worms, PowerBait and micro midges.

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

El Vado Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Fenton Lake: Fishing was rated as excellent by anglers using worms, Berkley power worms, PowerBait, fluorescent Z Rays, wooly buggers, Pistol Petes and green leech patterns. There have been days when ice has formed on the lake and hasn’t cleared until mid-morning. On other days, it has been wide open at daybreak. For updated conditions, contact the state park office at (575) 829-3630.

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

Jackson Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, Fire Balls and worms for trout. We had no other reports.

Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez River near Jemez Springs on Monday morning was 27.1 cfs. Fishing on the Jemez was fair to good using worms and salmon eggs for trout.  We had no other reports.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.

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

Lake Farmington: Fishing was good using PowerBait for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Manzano Lake: Fishing was fair using garlic PowerBait, cheese and corn for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Navajo Lake: Fishing was slow with just a few northern pike caught using swim baits and a few smallmouth bass caught with jigs and swim baits. We had no other reports.  

San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

San Juan River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 356 cfs. Fly fishing action through the Quality waters was good using Big Macs, red annelids, scintillas, flash back pheasant tail nymphs, RS2s and 1/16-ounce olive and white marabou jigs. Trout fishing through the bait waters was fair to good using copper John Barrs, Panther Martins, marabou jigs, PowerBait, night crawlers and Fire Balls. There have been some decent BWO hatches coming off in the mid to late afternoon hours. The new boat ramp at Crusher Hole is open as well as the wade and boat access from Simon Canyon down to the takeout.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Tingley Beach: Trout fishing at the Youth and Central ponds was good using garlic and salmon peach PowerBait, Zeke’s trout bait, Berkley power worms, salmon eggs, worms and Pistol Petes. We had no other reports.

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

Southwest

Alumni Pond: Fishing was very good using garlic PowerBait and cheese for trout.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait and spinners for trout. A few catfish were caught by anglers using homemade dough bait and liver. We had no other reports.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, worms and Fire Balls for trout. We had no other reports.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for walleye was slow with just a few caught by anglers using curly tail grubs and crank baits. We had no other reports.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits, curly tail grubs, spoons and blade baits for white bass. Fishing for largemouth bass was fair using jigs, crank baits and swim baits. Fishing was fair to good using liver, homemade dough bait and worms for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, Zeke’s trout bait and worms for trout. We had no other reports.

Gila River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 104 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Glenwood Pond: Fishing was very good using PowerBait for trout.

Lake Roberts: Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms, Fire Balls and small spoons for rainbow trout. We had no other reports.    

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

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

Rancho Grande Ponds: Fishing was fair using PowerBait for trout.

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 668 cfs. Fishing was good using PowerBait and worms for trout. Fishing was fair using liver and stink bait for catfish. Fishing was fair to good using curly tail grubs and worms for walleye. We had no other reports.

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

Young Pond: Fishing was very good for anglers using garlic PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.

Southeast

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

Bataan Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait and worms for trout. Anglers using worms also caught a few catfish and panfish. We had no other reports.  

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 4.63 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was good using PowerBait 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 and worms for trout. Fishing for all other species was slow.

Bottomless Lakes: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, salmon eggs and Copper John Barrs for trout.

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 slow with somewhat murky water conditions. The surface water temp was in the low 50s.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing was very good using banjo minnows and curly tail grubs for spotted bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was fair using PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms for trout. We had no other reports.

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait for trout.

El Rito Creek: Fishing was good using PowerBait, Zeke’s trout bait, Pistol Petes and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

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

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was very good using PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout. We had no other reports.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was good using salmon peach, chartreuse and garlic PowerBait for trout.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was very good using salmon eggs, worms and PowerBait for trout.

Jal Lake: Fishing was very good using worms for trout.

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

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was very good using assorted colors of PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 47.8 cfs. Fishing below Sumner Lake was good using PowerBait and worms for trout. We had no other reports.

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

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood was 11.3 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Sumner Lake: Fishing for walleye was rated as slow to fair by anglers using spoons, blade baits, crank baits and jig and grub combinations. We had no other reports.