Fishing report - Sept. 12

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 37 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using small wooly buggers, Cimarron specials, flash back pheasant tails, copper John Barrs, elk hair caddis, small Panther Martins, salmon eggs and worms. We had no reports from the Gravel Pit Lakes.

Clayton Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. 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, spinner baits, nightcrawlers and worms for a mixed bag of walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and catfish. Try casting topwater lures in the morning hours for some good bass action.

Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs and small copper John Barrs.

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing was fair to good using Panther Martins, Arnies and Z Rays tipped with corn for kokanee and an occasional rainbow and northern pike. Anglers reported decent catches using light line rigs and lead line rigs to four colors. Fishing from the bank was fair using Power Bait, worms and salmon eggs for a mixed bag of rainbow trout and perch. Fishing for northern pike was slow to fair using swim baits, spoons and spinners.

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

Lake Maloya: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait, homemade dough baits, Pistol Petes, parachute adams and wooly buggers.

Los Pinos: Trout fishing through the regular waters was good using copper John Barrs, bead-head hares ears and salmon eggs.

Maxwell Lake 13: We had no reports from anglers.

Monastery Lake: Trout fishing was slow.

Morphy Lake: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait and worms.

Pecos River: Water flow near the town of Pecos on Monday was 26 cfs. Trout fishing was fair to good using worms, salmon eggs, flashback pheasant tails, prince nymphs, hoppers and small spinners.

Red River: Water flow below the hatchery was 39 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using green copper John Barrs, PMDs and poundmeisters. Anglers also reported some good caddis action in the evening hours.

Rio Costilla: Water flow as of Monday was 5.6 cfs. Anglers reported some good trout action in spite of the low water conditions. They were using parachute adams and small tan baby boy hoppers. The key to success was putting the leader not the fly line over the fish.

Rio Grande: The water flow Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 184 cfs. Fishing pocket water near the John Dunn Bridge was good for anglers using hoppers and black deer hair parachute ants. A few trout were also taken on worms, salmon eggs and Power Bait.

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

Rio Mora: Water flow near Terrero on Monday was 6.9 cfs. Trout fishing was slow to fair using worms and small copper John Barrs.

Santa Barbara: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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, corn and cheese. We had no reports on other species.

Ute Lake: Fishing was generally slow for all species. There were a few smallmouth bass and largemouth bass taken by anglers using crank baits and tubes. Anglers trolling crank baits picked up an occasional walleye and white bass. There was also some brief topwater action for white bass. Fishing for catfish was slow to fair using chicken liver and dough baits. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was around 75 degrees.

Southeast

Bataan Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Bonito Lake: Closed.

Bosque Redondo: Fishing was slow to fair using hot dogs 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 slow with just a few trout taken on Power Bait.

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

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

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

Pecos River: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 77 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 8.5 cfs. Trout fishing was slow.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing from the bank was fair using minnows, crank baits and nightcrawlers for a combination of walleye, largemouth bass, crappie and smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair 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, jigs, bottom bouncer worm rigs and grubs for walleye. Fishing was slow to fair using minnows and crank baits for smallmouth bass. A few catfish were taken by anglers using liver and dough baits. The east side boat ramp has reopened and will remain open as long as lake levels permit.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was fair using bottom bouncer worm and bottom bouncer minnow combos and grubs for walleye. Fishing was fair to good using minnows, tubes, crank baits, four inch worms and topwater lures for smallmouth bass. Fishing was slow to fair using nightcrawlers and chicken liver at night for catfish. We had no reports on other species

Animas River: Monday morning, flow near Aztec was 40 cfs. We had no reports from anglers.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing and fishing pressure slowed over the past weekend but back on the 6th, Ed and Kc Chavez of Peralta had a good day fishing for tiger musky. They caught and released 21 tigers ranging in size from 26 to 36 inches. They were using Mepps spinners. A few tiger musky were also taken by anglers using Rapalas, swim baits and spoons. Fishing for all other species was slow.

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 598 cfs and 434 cfs respectively. Fishing above and below El Vado was fair using nightcrawlers, wooly buggers, worms, Panther Martins and salmon eggs for a mix of brown and rainbow trout. Trout fishing below Abiquiu was slow to fair using nightcrawlers, assorted spinners 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.

El Rito Creek: We had no report from anglers this week.

Fenton Lake: Trout fishing was very good using Panther Martins, Pistol Petes, worms, salmon eggs, small pheasant tail nymphs, foam wing emergers and wooly buggers. Anglers reported good success from the bank as well as from boats.

Heron Lake: Kokanee fishing has slowed some but there a still a few good catches reported by anglers fishing at depths of 35 to 45 feet. They are using rainbow colored double whammies, red, orange and pink Z Rays, Panther Martins and Cripplures. Some smaller kokanee were caught by anglers fishing shallower. Fishing from the bank was slow.

Jackson Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week

Jemez Waters: Water flow on the Jemez as of Monday morning was 9.6 cfs. Trout fishing on the Cebolla above and below Fenton Lake was very good this past week for anglers using wooly buggers, worms, hoppers and salmon eggs. Fishing on the East Fork was fair using small caddis imitations, small parachute adams and small copper John Barrs. If you are interested in fishing on the Valles Caldera go to http://www.vallescaldera.gov.

Laguna del Campo: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait, spinners and Pistol Petes. 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Manzano Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Navajo Lake: Fishing was fair to good trolling red and pink Arnies, Z Rays and Panther Martins tipped with corn behind Christmas trees at 27 to 45 feet. Fishing was slow to fair using grubs, clousers, wooly buggers, crank baits, tubes, creature baits, Ricos, tiny torpedoes and jigs for smallmouth bass and an occasional largemouth bass. Fishing was good using worms for perch and bluegill. Fishing was slow to fair using chicken liver for catfish. A few northern pike were taken by anglers using crank baits, buzz baits, spinners and jigs. We had no reports on other species.

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

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

San Juan: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 1,000 cfs. Trout fishing in the Quality Waters was good using chocolate gold-ribbed emergers, midge pupa, Johnny flash, ant patterns and small parachute adams. There were some baetis coming off in the afternoons around Duranglers Corner. Fishing through the bait waters was fair using nightcrawlers, worms, wooly buggers, copper John Barrs, San Juan worms, spinners, jerk baits and Power Bait.

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

Seven Springs Brood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week. 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: Fishing for largemouth bass was fair using worms, tubes and senkos. Fishing for bluegill was fair using worms. We had no reports on other species.

Southwest

Bear Canyon: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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. Fishing was slow for all species.

Caballo Lake: Fishing was slow but there were a few white bass and walleye taken by anglers using jigs and minnows. We had no reports on other species. The main boat ramp was down to two lanes and the east side boat ramp has been closed.

Elephant Butte: Hot spot for white bass: Fishing was very good using Bombers, Flicker Shad, CB200s, Pop Rs, topwater lures, tubes, grubs and spinners for white bass. Anglers who did best followed the gulls. Fishing was good using tubes, creature baits, deep diving crank baits and senkos on secondary points for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. There was also a good topwater bite in the morning hours. Anglers fishing for bass also caught several channel catfish and a few walleye and small stripers. More catfish were taken by anglers using liver, dead shad, nightcrawlers and shrimp. The Monticello, Dam Site and Rock Canyon boat ramps remain closed.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using 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 80 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 are and will continue to be affected by the ash, the East Fork is unaffected and the smallmouth population is strong. Fishing on the East Fork was fair using wooly buggers and small jigs for the bass. We had no reports on other species.

Glenwood Pond: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait.

Lake Roberts: Fishing was fair to good using worms, liver and nightcrawlers for catfish. A few small largemouth bass were caught by anglers using worms, tubes and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.

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

Quemado Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Rio Grande: Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 33 cfs. Fishing was slow due to low water conditions.

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 Beaverhead take FR 159 to FR 142. We had no reports from anglers this week.