New Mexico fishing and stocking reports for April 10

Catches of the week

• Conchas Lake: Gary Thomas of Estancia caught and released a 4.24-pound largemouth bass.
• Elephant Butte Lake: Jonah Harper, age 11, of El Paso, caught his first crappie. He was using live bait in 20 feet of water.
• Eunice Lake: David Davila caught a 26.5-inch rainbow trout April 3. He also caught rainbows measuring about 20 inches and 18.5 inches and a 22-inch, 6.5-pound largemouth bass April 1. He was using a custom-tied black sparkle marabou leech tied on a No. 2 straight-eye streamer hook.
• Pecos River: Jimmy Faulkner of Carlsbad caught and released a new state record bass April 8. The fish was a 19.25-inch, 4-pound, 12-ounce, spotted bass with a girth of 14.5 inches. He was using a fluke on a drop-shot rig.
• Tingley Beach: Amelia Brown, age 7, of Coronado Elementary, caught a 12-inch rainbow trout April 6. She was fishing on the bottom and using garlic bait.

The following catches came in late but deserve a mention:

• Bill Evans Lake: Josue Tafoya, age 6, along with dad Jose and fishing buddy Juan of Deming, caught limits of rainbow trout March 30. They were using nymph grape and salmon peach PowerBait and Panther Martins.
• Bluewater Lake: Domonic Brunson, age 13, and Krysta Brunson, age 11, (first time fishing) caught several rainbow trout March 20. They were using salmon eggs and garlic flavored corn.

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 10

Northeast

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

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

Clayton Lake:  Fishing was slow. A few rainbow trout were caught by anglers using PowerBait.

Cimarron River: Stream flow below Eagle Nest on Monday was 1.25 cfs. Fishing was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using light colored nymphs and worms. PowerBait and worms were working best at the Gravel Pit lakes, but the action was slow there as well.

Conchas Lake: Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was slow with just a few fish caught by anglers using jigs, tubes, spinner baits and swim baits. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low to mid 50s.

Costilla Creek: We had no reports from anglers.

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

Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was slow.

Eagle Nest Lake: Bank fishing was fair to good using PowerBait for rainbow trout. Fishing was slow to fair using large streamers and spoons for northern pike. At present, the lake 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.

Lake Maloya: Fishing was good using salmon peach PowerBait for rainbow trout. A few were also caught by anglers using Fire Balls.  

Los Pinos River: Trout fishing was fair to good using worms, small Fisher-Chick spinners, copper John Barrs and Green Drakes.

Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was good using PowerBait for trout. We had no reports on other species.

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

Morphy Lake:  Fishing was good using PowerBait, Fire Balls, Pistol Petes and wooly buggers for trout. Jaelyn Garcia reported that she and Jeremy caught several rainbow trout between 12 and 14 inches on April 6. They were using black wooly buggers.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos on Monday was 47.2 cfs. Trout fishing was good using salmon eggs, worms, night crawlers and nymphs for trout. Mike Yashimoto reported catching and releasing five brown trout and several rainbow trout while fishing around Terrero. He was using a purple chubby Chernobyl with a prince nymph trailer. Alicia Eccleston of Tijeras caught a 19-inch cutbow trout while floating a night crawler.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday was 81.6 cfs. Fishing was slow to fair using worms and Fire Balls for trout.

Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 257 cfs. Fishing in the Taos area was very good using elk hair caddis, green weenies, bead-head hares ear nymphs, flash back pheasant tail nymphs, night crawlers and spinners for trout. Fishing was fair using large streamers for northern pike. 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 52.8 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Cruz Reservoir: Fishing was good using PowerBait, Kastmasters, Fisher-Chick spinners, Panther Martins, Pistol Petes, worms, Fire Balls and wooly buggers for rainbow and brown trout. Anglers did well from the bank and from boats.

Shuree Ponds:  Closed for the season.

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

Storrie Lake: Fishing was good using salmon peach PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout. A few trout were also caught by anglers using spinners. We had no other reports.

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

Ute Lake: Fishing for was slow to fair depending on what day you were on the water. Anglers who found fish on the better days were using jerk baits, jigs, tubes and senkos in shallow water for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass and jerk baits and jig and minnow combinations in the evening hours for walleye. Fishing for all other species was slow. The surface temp varied widely from the low to the high 50s.

Northwest

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

Animas River: Water flow below Aztec on Monday morning was 66.3 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Albuquerque Area Drains: We had no reports from anglers this week.    

Bluewater Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms, corn and salmon eggs for trout. We had no reports on tiger muskie or catfish.  

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 192 cfs and 204 cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was slow to fair using wooly buggers, San Juan worms and worms for trout. Trout fishing below Abiquiu was slow.

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

El Vado Lake: Fishing was fair using spoons, worms and jigs for brown trout including one 21-inch beauty caught by an angler who was bass fishing and using a jig. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good using jigs, grubs and worms. The water has turned murky from heavy rains over the weekend.

Fenton Lake: Fishing was very good using worms, Pistol Petes, PowerBait, salmon eggs, leech patterns and wooly buggers for brown and rainbow trout.

Heron Lake: Fishing from the bank was good using Panther Martins, Z Rays, roe sacs and salmon peach, garlic and rainbow PowerBait for rainbow trout to 18 inches and one 15-inch lake trout. We had no reports on other species.

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 127 cfs. Fishing on the Jemez was slow. Trout fishing on the East Fork was fair to good using copper John Barrs, bead-head hares ears, worms and salmon eggs. Trout fishing on the Rio Cebolla above Fenton Lake was good using salmon eggs and worms. We had no reports on other streams.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.

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

Lake Farmington: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, Fire Balls and Pistol Petes for trout. We had no other reports.

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

Navajo Lake: Fishing was fair to good using swim baits, tubes, senkos, curly tail grubs and jigs for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was fair using swim baits and crank baits for northern pike. A few trout were caught by anglers using PowerBait. There was one large brown trout caught by an angler using minnows and fishing at the marina. We had no other reports.

San Gregorio Lake: One of our regular reporting anglers checked this one out over the weekend and reported that the lake was covered over with about 4 inches of ice and the surface was about 4 feet below the overflow stream.

San Juan River: Stream flow had been increased to 650 cfs this past Friday and was at 596 cfs on Monday morning. Fly fishing action through the Quality waters was good using mini macs, zebra midges, bead-head pheasant tail nymphs, RS2s, red larva, rootbeers and San Juan worms. Trout fishing through the bait waters was fair to good using marabou jigs, copper John Barrs, wooly buggers, jerk baits, night crawlers, PowerBait and Fire Balls.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing was very good using Fire Balls, PowerBait and wooly buggers for rainbow trout.

Tingley Beach: Trout fishing at the Youth and Central ponds was very good using PowerBait, Zeke’s trout bait, Velveeta cheese, Panther Martins, Pistol Petes, wooly buggers, worms and Fire Balls. Trout fishing at the Bob Gerding Catch and Release Pond was good using small leech patterns, Griffiths gnats and small midge patterns.

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

Southwest

Alumni Pond: Fishing was good using PowerBait and worms for trout. Anglers using worms also caught a few crappie.  

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing was fair using worms and liver for catfish. Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait, worms and Fire Balls for trout. We had no other reports.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, Kastmasters, Super Dupers, Panther Martins, gray elk hair caddis and black wooly worms for trout. Fishing was fair using worms and liver for catfish. We had no other reports.

Caballo Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits, curly tail grubs and spoons for white bass. Fishing was fair using stink bait and night crawlers for catfish. We had no other reports.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for walleye and white bass was very good using white slab spoons, Kastmasters, curly tail grubs, crank baits and minnows. Fishing was good during the week but slowed over the weekend for anglers fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Anglers did best using shiners, chigger craws, sweet beavers, tubes, spinner baits, crank baits and jerk baits.  Fishing was good using cut bait, shiners and liver for catfish. There was a 27-pound striped bass caught and released but we have no further information.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes for trout. We had no other reports.

Gila River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 79.9 cfs. Fishing on the East Fork was very good using wooly buggers, red and gold streamers and poppers and streamers for smallmouth bass. We had no other reports.

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

Lake Roberts: Fishing was good using worms, beef liver and punch bait for catfish. Fishing was fair to good using elk hair caddis, parachute Adams, wooly worms, PowerBait, red wigglers and Fire Balls for trout. Anglers using dry flies also caught a few panfish. We had no other reports.    

Percha Dam: Fishing was fair using grubs, spoons, worms and minnows for white bass and catfish. We had no other reports.

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

Rancho Grande Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 681 cfs. Fishing was good using liver, night crawlers and stink bait for catfish. Fishing was very good using Super Dupers, Kastmasters, minnows, curly tail grubs and worms for walleye, white bass and an occasional crappie. We had no other reports.

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

Young Pond: Trout fishing was slow for some but fair to good for others. Anglers doing best were using worms and homemade trout baits. We had no reports on other species.

Southeast

Alto Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, worms, Fire Balls and Pistol Petes for trout. We had no reports on other species.

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

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 46.5 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was very good using worms, PowerBait and Velveeta cheese for trout.

Bonito Lake: Closed until further notice by the city of Alamogordo due to fire damage. The lake is scheduled to reopen in August 2018.

Bosque Redondo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bottomless Lakes: Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Brantley Lake: Fishing was fair to good using swim baits, crank baits, senkos and jigs for largemouth bass and white bass. Fishing was fair using liver and cut bait for catfish. We had no other reports.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, Fire Balls, spoons, spinners and worms for trout. We had no other reports.

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

El Rito Creek: Fishing was good using Pistol Petes, corn, worms, Fire Balls and PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.

Eunice Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, worms and a custom tied leech pattern for trout. The angler using the leech pattern also caught a big largemouth bass.

Green Meadow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was good using PowerBait, salmon eggs, worms, wooly buggers and olive Pistol Petes 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 good using PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 77.4 cfs. Fishing below Sumner was fair to good using liver, night crawlers, cut bait and homemade dough bait for catfish. Fishing through the Carlsbad area was fair using tubes, senkos, grubs and worms for largemouth bass and spotted bass. We had no other reports.

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

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood was 15.5 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Sumner Lake: Fishing for walleye was good using curly tail grubs, crank baits and small swim baits. Fishing was fair using swim baits, curly tail grubs, jerk baits, crank baits and worms for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species.