Fishing Report, Sept. 5

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 closed May 14 and will stay closed for about six months while the dam is being rebuilt.

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

Cimarron River: Water flow below Eagle Nest Lake as of Monday was 50 cfs. Trout fishing was fair to good using a variety of nymphs. Fishing at the Gravel Pit lakes was slow to fair using salmon eggs.

Clayton Lake: The water was mossy green and fishing was slow for all species but there were a few good size walleye caught by anglers using jigs. Fishing pressure continued to be very light. Due to low water conditions, only small boats, kayaks and canoes can be launched.

Conchas Lake: The boat ramps are closed and will remain closed until water levels come up and are deemed safe for launching boats. Anglers may still launch nonmotorized craft such as canoes and kayaks. Fishing from the bank was slow to fair using minnows and worms for a mixed bag of walleye, smallmouth bass and white bass. We had no reports on other species.

Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was slow to fair using salmon eggs.

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing was good using worms for perch. Fishing was slow to fair using spinners tipped with corn on light line rigs for kokanee and a few rainbow trout. Fishing for northern pike was slow but a few were taken by anglers using Kastmasters and Panther Martins.

Lake Maloya: Trout fishing was fair to good using assorted colors of Power Bait. A few fish were also taken by anglers using Pistol Petes under a bubble.

Los Pinos: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs, worms and Panther Martins.

Maxwell Lake 13: Fishing was slow for all species.

Morphy Lake: Trout fishing was slow.

Pecos River: Water flow near the town of Pecos on Monday was 28 cfs. Trout fishing was fair to good using stimulators, elk hair caddis, copper John Barrs, bead-head prince nymphs, salmon eggs and worms.

Red River: Water flow below the hatchery was 34 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using red copper John Barrs, jig head hares ears and poundmeisters. Back on the 20th, Angela Bishop caught an 18-inch 2.5-pound rainbow trout while fishing in a light drizzle and using a crawfish pattern lure.

Rio Costilla: Water flow as of Monday was 7.7 cfs. Fishing was slow.

Rio Grande: The water flow Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 189 cfs. Our best catch reports this week came from anglers fishing the Big Arsenic and Little Arsenic areas. They were using micro mays, poundmeisters and hares ears. Stealth was required due to the clear water conditions.

Rio Hondo: Water flow near Valdez on Monday was 16cfs. Trout fishing was fair using tan or olive elk hair caddis in the evening hours.

Rio Mora: Water flow near Terrero on Monday was 7.8 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Barbara: Trout fishing was slow.

Shuree Ponds: The water level on the ponds has been quite low and fishing was reported as slow.

Springer Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Storrie Lake: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs, corn and cheese. We had no reports on other species.

Ute Lake: Fishing was fair to good using topwater lures, Kastmasters and crank baits for white bass. The best topwater action was in the early morning hours. Fishing was slow to fair using jig and minnow rigs along the tree lines in 15 feet of water for walleye. A few smallmouth bass were taken by anglers using jigs and tubes. Fishing for catfish was fair to good using chicken liver, hot dogs and stink bait. We had no reports on other species.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was fair to good using bottom bouncer worm and bottom bouncer minnow combos for a mixed bag of walleye, smallmouth bass and perch. Anglers also picked up a few smallmouth bass while using tubes and 4-inch worms. The best reports came from anglers fishing from boats and fishing in the early morning and late evening hours. We had no reports on other species.

Animas River: Monday morning, flow near Aztec was 64 cfs. Trout fishing was slow.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing was fair using swim baits, crank baits, jerk baits and spinners for tiger musky. Recommend releasing short fish as soon as possible to keep them healthy and a big catch for the future. Fishing was fair using nightcrawlers, hot dogs, liver and homemade dough bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Canjilon Lakes: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Pistol Petes under a bubble, Power Bait and small spinners.

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 584 cfs and 497 cfs respectively. Fishing above and below El Vado was good using nightcrawlers, Power Bait, worms, black and gold Panther Martins and salmon eggs for a mix of brown and rainbow trout. Trout fishing below Abiquiu was fair using nightcrawlers, copper John Barrs and wooly buggers.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits, grubs and minnows for white bass. A few smallmouth bass were caught by anglers using tubes, grubs and topwater lures. Fishing for catfish was slow to fair for anglers using liver, dough bait and nightcrawlers. We had no reports on other species.

El Vado Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. The lake level continues to drop but the main park boat ramp is still open.

Fenton Lake: Trout fishing was good. Anglers fishing from float tubes and boats did well using wooly buggers, size 10 Pistol Petes and size 20 and 22 bead-head pheasant tail nymphs. From the bank, best baits were worms and bright colored Power Bait. Last Thursday a husband and wife team did very well fishing near the dam. They were using Panther Martins and caught limits of healthy 12- and 13-inch rainbows.

Heron Lake: Kokanee fishing was slow to fair trolling Z Rays, Panther Martins and Arnies tipped with white corn. Most of the fish caught were at depths of 26 to 40 feet. Fishing from the bank was slow with just a few rainbows taken by anglers using Power Bait.

Jackson Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week

Jemez Waters: Water flow on the Jemez on Monday morning was 8.8 cfs. Trout fishing on the Cebolla above and below Fenton Lake was good again this past week. Anglers did well using elk hair caddis, hoppers, copper John Barrs and nightcrawlers. On the East Fork fishing was fair using elk hair caddis and salmon eggs. Fishing on the San Antonio improved as the water cleared. Anglers did best using an assortment of small dry flies. If you are interested in fishing on the Valles Caldera go to http://www.vallescaldera.gov.

Laguna del Campo: We had no reports from anglers this week. 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.

Manzano Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Navajo Lake: Fishing was fair trolling Arnies, Z Rays and Panther Martins tipped with corn behind Christmas trees at 30 to 40 feet. Fishing was fair using tubes, grubs, clousers, streamers, wooly buggers, crank baits and jigs for smallmouth bass and an occasional largemouth bass. Fishing was good using worms for perch. Fishing was fair using chicken liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from 76 to 80 degrees on the main lake.

San Juan: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 1,000 cfs. Trout fishing in the Quality Waters was good using streamers, ants, midge pupa, midge larva and bright attractors on nymph rigs. The water was a bit off color with the fluctuating flows. Fishing through the bait waters was fair to good using nightcrawlers, worms, sparkle worms, spinners, jerk baits and Power Bait.

Santa Cruz Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. The boat ramp has been closed due to low water conditions.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: Fishing was good using worms and salmon eggs for trout. This water is open to fishing for youth 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.

Tingley Beach: Bass fishing was good for Fernando Rodriguez and his dad as they caught five largemouth bass last Saturday before 9 in the morning. They were using artificial worms. Fishing for all other species was slow.

Southwest

Bear Canyon: Fishing was slow to fair using hot dogs and chicken liver for catfish. Kenneth Leupold reported that he and his crew caught six nice catfish on Sunday. They were using hot dogs, chicken skins and pepperoni slices

Bill Evans Lake: The lake level is currently being drawn down due to water quality issues on the Gila since the big fire. The lake will remain open to fishing and camping but boat ramps will be inaccessible. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Caballo Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using jigs and grubs for walleye and white bass. A few small catfish were caught by anglers using nightcrawlers and liver. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the 80s and the lake level was dropping. The main boat ramp was down to two lanes.

Elephant Butte: Fishing was good using spoons, crank baits, topwater lures and grubs for white bass. Fishing was fair using nightcrawlers, dead minnows and chicken liver for catfish. Fishing was slow for all other species but there were a few largemouth bass taken by anglers using creature baits, salt craws and crank baits. We had no reports on other species. The surface temps were in the low to mid 80s.The Monticello and Dam Site boat ramps remain closed.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was fair to good using hot dogs, nightcrawlers, liver and dough bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 33 cfs. Water rose again this past week from locally heavy rainfall. Fishing was slow with a few catfish taken by anglers using stink bait and nightcrawlers. Although the Middle and West Forks and their tributaries continue to be affected by the ash, the East Fork is unaffected and the smallmouth population is strong. Give it a try with wooly buggers, small jigs, grubs and worms.

Glenwood Pond: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait.

Lake Roberts: Fishing was fair to good using worms, liver and nightcrawlers for catfish. Fishing for all other species was slow.

Percha Dam: Fishing was fair to good using grubs for white bass and walleye. We had no reports on other species.

Quemado Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Rio Grande: Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 648 cfs. Fishing below Elephant Butte and below Caballo was fair using grubs, minnows and jigs for walleye and white bass. A few catfish and carp were caught by anglers using stink bait and nightcrawlers. We had no reports on other species.

Snow Lake: Some access roads have been cleared and the lake is now open. From Reserve you can access the lake by taking FR 141 to FR 128. From Beaver Head take FR 159 to FR 142. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Southeast

Bataan Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Bosque Redondo: Fishing was slow to fair using liver and nightcrawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Bottomless Lakes: Fishing was slow for all species.

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 was good using Power Bait for trout and an occasional catfish.

Jal Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using liver and hot dogs for catfish.

Lake Van: Fishing was fair to good using chicken liver, dough bait and nightcrawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

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

Pecos River: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 81 cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

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

Ruidoso River: Water flow at Ruidoso on Monday was 3.3 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing from the bank was fair using minnows, crank baits and spoons for a combination of walleye, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using nightcrawlers, liver and stink bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species. The boat ramp has been closed but the lake is accessible for canoes and kayaks.

Sumner Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using minnows, bottom bouncer worm rigs and grubs for walleye. Fishing was fair using minnows and crank baits for smallmouth bass. A few catfish were taken by anglers using liver and dough baits. We had no reports on other species. The east side boat ramp has reopened and will remain open as long as lake levels permit.