Fishing report - May 9

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.

Northeast

Cabresto Lake: The lake and campground will be closed beginning May 14 and lasting for about six months while the dam is being rebuilt.

Charette Lakes: Fishing was very good using Power Bait for limits of trout. Fishing was fair using worms and Power Bait for perch.

Cimarron River: Hot spot for trout: Fishing continued to be very good this past week. Anglers did well using Cimarron worms, bead head red San Juan worms, prince nymphs, salmon eggs, night crawlers and small spinners. Water flow below Eagle Nest Lake as of Monday was 33 cfs.

Clayton Lake: Trout fishing was good using jigs and Power Bait. We had no reports on other species. Due to low water conditions, only small boats, kayaks and canoes can be launched.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was good using crank baits, jerk baits, minnows, grubs and sassy shad for walleye and white bass. Fishing for crappie was good using minnows and small crappie jigs. Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was good using jerk baits, tubes, creature baits, spinner baits, senkos and crank baits. Fishing was fair using stink baits, liver and pizza crust for catfish. The surface water temp was in the low to mid 60s.

Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait, worms, salmon eggs and copper John Barrs.

Eagle Nest Lake: Hot spot for northern pike: Fishing over the past weekend was very good using Kastmasters and Rapalas for northern pike. Anglers fishing a pike tournament brought in over 100 pike in the three-day event. Fishing was good using worms and jigs for perch. Fishing was good using Power Bait, spinners, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes and worms for trout. A few kokanee were caught by anglers trolling spinners.

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

Lake Maloya: Trout fishing was good using corn, salmon eggs, worms, Pistol Petes, spoons, spinners and Power Bait.

Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was good using Power Bait for rainbow trout up to 24 inches. We had no reports on other species.

Monastery Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait, Pistol Petes and spinners.

Morphy Lake: Fishing was good using Power Bait and homemade dough bait for trout.

Pecos River: Water flow near the town of Pecos on Monday was 326 cfs. Trout fishing was slow due to the high water conditions.

Red River: Water flow below the hatchery was 151 cfs. Fishing was slow.

Rio Grande: The water flow Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 482 cfs and the water was clearing. Trout fishing was fair using copper John Barrs, black wooly buggers, poundmeisters, spinners, night crawlers and jerk baits. We had no reports on other species.

Rio Pueblo: Near Penasco, fishing was fair using bead head hares ears, prince nymphs and copper John Barrs.

Shuree Ponds: Closed for the season. Opens July 1.

Springer Lakes: Fishing was good using minnows and crank baits for northern pike up to 28 inches. We had no reports on other species. With the water release for irrigation, it has become difficult to launch boats.

Storrie Lake: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using Power Bait, cheese, corn and homemade dough bait. Fishing for catfish was slow.

Ute Lake: Walleye fishing was good using bottom bouncer/night crawler combinations and trolling deep running crank baits. Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass was good using senkos, chigger craws, jigs, tubes, power worms and smallie beavers in shallow water. Fishing for crappie was fair-to-good using minnows in the brush at 10 to 12 feet. The best crappie reports came from anglers fishing up the Ute Creek arm. Fishing for white bass continued to be a bit sporadic with a few fish taken on crank baits, jig and minnow combinations and curly tail grubs. Fishing for catfish was fair using stink baits, chicken liver and worms. The surface water temp on the main lake was in the low 60s.

Southeast

Bataan Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Bonito Lake: Trout fishing was good using Pistol Petes, homemade dough baits, salmon eggs, Power Bait and corn.

Bosque Redondo: Trout fishing was slow to fair using worms, salmon egg/corn combinations and Power Bait.

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

Brantley Lake: Anglers are to practice catch-and-release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish.

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

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing for trout was fair to good using Power Bait, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes and corn.

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

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

Oasis Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Pecos River: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 139 cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

Perch Lake: Trout fishing was slow.

Ruidoso River: Water flow at Hollywood on Monday was 5.3 cfs. Trout fishing was slow.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing slowed considerably over the weekend. A combination of wind and runoff muddied the waters. We tried it Friday but only managed one walleye among four anglers fighting the wind. It was taken on a crank bait fished at the lower end of the island. Also saw 2 good size crappie taken from the bank by an angler using minnows. Surface water temp was in the high 50s to low 60s. Expect the fishing to pick up once the weather settles and the water starts to clear.

Sumner Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits, tubes, jigs and jerk baits for smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, jigs and sassy shad for white bass. Fishing was fair using crank baits, minnows, sassy shad and grubs for walleye. Fishing was fair using minnows and jigs for crappie. Fishing was fair using worms and liver for catfish. The surface water temp ranged from the high 50s to the mid 60s. The only boat ramp accessible at this time is the east-side ramp.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was fair drifting minnows and trolling crank baits in 12 to 20 feet of water for walleye. Fishing was fair using minnows, tubes, jerk baits, crank baits and jigs in shallow water for smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair using crank baits, spinners and Power Bait for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Animas River: As of Monday morning flow near Cedar Hill was 1,900 cfs. Trout fishing was slow.

Bluewater Lake: Trout fishing was slow with just a few caught by anglers using Power Bait and salmon eggs. Fishing for tiger musky was good using crank baits, swim baits, Kastmasters, spinners, tubes and Power Bait. Groups of young anglers had a great time catching tiger musky from the bank. They were using 3-inch tubes on circle hooks with just a bit of weight added. Suckers have moved to the shallows and can be seen spawning along the shoreline. The surface water temp ranged from the mid to upper 50s.

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 494 cfs and 622 cfs respectively. Trout fishing below El Vado was fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs and egg pattern flies. Fishing below Abiquiu was slow.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits, tubes, craws, jerk baits and senkos for smallmouth bass. Fishing for northern pike was fair using buzz baits and spinners. Fishing for catfish was fair using chicken liver. Fishing for white bass was slow but a few were taken by anglers trolling crank baits

El Vado Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait.

Fenton Lake: Hot spot for trout: Fishing was very good using worms, Power Bait, Panther Martins, homemade dough baits, bead head nymphs and olive Pistol Petes for trout up to 16.5 inches.

Heron Lake: Fishing was slow with just a few lake trout caught this week. Best baits were jigs and crank baits. A few small kokanee were taken by anglers using spinners and red Arnies. Fishing from the bank was slow to fair using Power Bait, salmon egg/corn combinations and spinners.

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

Jemez Waters: Water flow on the Jemez as of Monday morning was 58 cfs. Trout fishing over the past weekend was good using worms, Power Bait, copper John Barrs and Panther Martins. Our best reports were from anglers fishing the Cebolla below Fenton and the main Jemez.

Laguna del Campo: Opened for the season May 1 but we had no reports from anglers. This is a special trout water open to anglers age 14 years or under, 65 years and older, handicapped anglers or up to 2 parents/guardians in direct supervision of a child or children age 14 years or younger who is fishing. This water was formerly known as Burn's Canyon Lake.

Lake Farmington: Trout fishing was fair using homemade dough baits and Power Bait. We had no reports on other species.

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

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

Navajo Lake: Fishing was fair using jerk baits, crank baits, tubes, senkos and smallie beavers for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using small jigs and minnows in the backs of coves for crappie. Fishing for northern pike was a bit slow but a few were taken on crank baits and spinner baits. Fishing was fair using worms for bluegill. We had no reports on other species. Surface temps ranged from 57 degrees to 64 degrees. The water is rising and starting to clear a bit at the north end of the lake and in the backs of coves.

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

San Juan: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 464 cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was good using small flashback pheasant tails, fluffy baetis, chocolate foam wing emergers, small streamers, Chernobyl ants and hoppers. The best action on the ants and hoppers was while casting them to the bank. Through the bait waters, fishing was good using jerk baits, worms, wooly buggers and Power Bait. You might want to get up here this week before the flows rise to 5,000 cfs. The current schedule is to begin the increased flows on May 14, ramp up to 5,000 by May 16, stay at this flow for seven days then ramp down for three days.

Santa Cruz Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait, spinners, small crank baits, Pistol Petes, salmon eggs and corn.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: This water is open to fishing for youths under the age of 12 and

an excellent place to take youngsters and get them interested in fishing. The pond is well

stocked to offer youngsters a great fishing experience. Congratulations to Lilia Holladay who just recently caught her very first fish here!

Tingley Beach: Trout fishing at the Central Ponds was slow to fair using homemade dough baits, spinners, Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms. A few bluegill were caught by anglers using worms. We had no reports on other species. Fishing at the Catch-and-Release Pond was slow.

Southwest

Bear Canyon: Fishing was slow for all species.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was fair using swim baits and tubes for largemouth bass. Fishing was fair using worms for trout and small catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Caballo Lake: Fishing picked up a bit this past week as anglers reported catching walleye, white bass and crappie. Anglers did best using white and chrome crank baits, grubs, minnows and bottom bouncer/nightcrawler combinations.

Elephant Butte: Fishing was fair using tubes, small swim baits, small craws, senkos, crank baits and smallie beavers for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was good using minnows, sassy shad, crank baits, grubs, jigs and spinners for white bass. Fishing was fair using minnows and jigs for crappie. The best crappie reports came from anglers fishing the tire break in Rock Canyon. Fishing was fair using chicken liver and stink baits for catfish. We had no reports on other species. Surface temps on the main lake ranged from 62 to 64 degrees.

Escondida Lake: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair using salmon eggs, Power Bait and Pistol Petes,

Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 56 cfs. Fishing on the Forks was fair using bead head hares ears, prince nymphs, copper John Barrs and worms.

Glenwood Pond: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait.

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

Quemado Lake: Fishing for tiger musky was fair to good using large streamers, Rapalas and swim baits. Fishing for trout was fair using Power Bait, Pistol Petes and wooly buggers.

Rio Grande: Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 1,120 cfs. Fishing was slow with just a few walleye and white bass taken by anglers using minnows, sassy shad, grubs and jigs. We had no reports on other species. Fishing below Caballo was slow.

Snow Lake: This water was recently stocked but we had no reports from anglers this week.