Serving the High Plains

Fishing report - Dec. 13

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 while the dam is being rebuilt.

Charette Lakes: Closed for the season.

Clayton Lake: Closed for the season.

Conchas Lake: The Cannon Cove Campground boat ramp is open and fully functional. Fishing was slow for all species.

Coyote Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Eagle Nest Lake: Snow and ice covered the lake Monday morning, shutting down fishing from boats as well as from the bank. For updated ice conditions contact the state park office at 575-377-1594.

Lake Maloya: Fishing pressure was light but there were some trout caught by anglers using homemade dough baits, marshmallows and Power Bait. There was some ice forming around the edges of the lake but plenty of open water for bank fishing.

Los Pinos: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Maxwell Lake 13: Closed for the season.

Monastery Lake: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait and salmon eggs.

Morphy Lake: Closed for the season.

Pecos River: Water flow near the town of Pecos on Monday was 24 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs, worms and small copper John Barrs.

Red River: Water flow below the hatchery was 22 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Red River City Ponds: Closed for the season.

Rio Grande: The water flow Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 388 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using nightcrawlers, spinners and wooly buggers. We had no reports on other species.

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

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

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

Springer Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Storrie Lake: As of Monday there was a thin layer of ice on the lake. For updated conditions contact the state park office at 505-425-7278.

Stubblefield Lake: The lake has reopened with a new agreement reached with the Vermejo Conservancy District. However, with the current low water conditions, fishing is discouraged at this time.

Ute Lake: The best angling reports this past week came from anglers fishing for walleye on Saturday. With pre-front conditions, there were several limits caught with fish ranging in size from 16 to 23 inches in length. Best baits were spoons and blade baits fished at depths of 22 to 35 feet. We had no reports on other species.

Northwest

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

Animas River: Monday morning water flow at Aztec was 171 cfs. Trout fishing this past week was fair for anglers using worms, wooly buggers and spinners.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Trout fishing on the drains was very good this past week. Anglers reported doing very well fishing the Albuquerque (South Drain), Belen, Bernalillo and Peralta Drains. Best baits were worms, a single salmon egg on a small hook, small brassies, parachute adams and homemade dough bait. We had no reports on other species.

Bluewater Lake: Trout fishing was good using salmon eggs, garlic cheese, homemade dough bait and an assortment of Power Bait. We had no reports on other species.

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

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 449 cfs and 515 cfs respectively. During the past week, fishing below El Vado was fair to good using nightcrawlers, Power Bait, salmon eggs, copper John Barrs and wooly San Juan worms for a mix of browns and rainbows. Below Abiquiu, trout fishing was good using worms and wooly buggers.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

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

Fenton Lake: The cold snap and storm this past weekend covered the lake with a thin layer of ice and snow. The lake is off limits to fishing at this time. For updates contact the state park office at 575-829-3630.

Heron Lake: Fishing pressure this past week was very light and fishing was slow for all species.

Jackson Lake: Trout fishing was good using garlic Power Bait, salmon eggs, corn and homemade dough bait.

Jemez Waters: Water flow on the Jemez River as of Monday morning was 8.7 cfs. Trout fishing on the Jemez was fair using small copper John Barrs. We had no reports on other streams in this area.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.

Lake Farmington: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.

Navajo Lake: Kokanee snagging opened here and on the Pine River Oct. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. There is an off-limits fishing and snagging area at the Pine boat ramp. It appears that snagging is over for this year. Fishing for northern pike was slow but there were a few hooked by anglers using swim baits fished slow. Fishing for rainbow trout was slow to fair using Power Bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species The surface water temps ranged from the high 40s to the mid 50s and expected to drop further this week.

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

San Juan: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 355 cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was good for anglers using egg patterns, sparkle worms, leeches, foam wing emergers, dead chickens and olive and grey midge patterns. Fishing through the bait waters was good using Power Bait, salmon eggs, copper John Barrs, and wooly buggers.

Santa Cruz Lake: The boat ramp has been closed due to low water conditions. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Tingley Beach: Trout fishing at the Central Pond was good using garlic Power Bait, garlic cheese, worms, salmon egg marshmallow combinations and salmon eggs. At the Children's Pond fishing was good using salmon eggs and Power Bait. Trout fishing at the Catch and Release Pond was slow to fair using egg patterns, zebra midges and small streamers.

We had no reports on other species.

Southwest

Bear Canyon: Trout fishing was very good using homemade dough bait, Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms.

Bill Evans Lake: Trout fishing was fair to good using garlic cheese, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes, Power Bait, and homemade dough bait. We had no reports on other species.

Caballo Lake: All boat ramps have been closed and will remain closed until such time as water levels rise and is deemed safe for launching. Fishing pressure was extremely light this past week and we had no reports from anglers.

Elephant Butte: Fishing was sporadic. A few white bass, crappie and black bass were caught by anglers using jig and minnow combinations and spoons. We had no reports on other species. The water was murky and the surface temp was in the low 50s.The Monticello, Dam Site and Rock Canyon boat ramps remain closed due to low water conditions.

Escondida Lake: Trout fishing was fair using homemade dough bait, Power Bait, Pistol Petes under a bubble and corn salmon egg combinations. We had no reports on other species.

Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 62 cfs. We had no reports from angles this week.

Glenwood Pond: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait.

Lake Roberts: Trout fishing was good using rainbow and red Power Bait, garlic cheese, homemade dough baits, salmon eggs and worms. We had no reports on other species.

Percha Dam: The water was low and fishing was slow for all species.

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

Rio Grande: Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was 3.4 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using worms and Power Bait. We had no reports on other species.

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

Southeast

Bataan Lake: Trout fishing was good using spinners, spoons, salmon eggs and Power Bait. We had no reports on other species.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Trout fishing was fair using assorted colors of Power Bait.

Bonito Lake: Closed.

Bosque Redondo: Fishing was slow for all species.

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: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait, salmon eggs and gold Panther Martins.

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

Green Meadow Lake: Trout fishing was good using spinners, garlic scented Power Bait and homemade dough baits.

Grindstone Reservoir: Trout fishing was very good using Pistol Petes, worms and Power Bait. Carl Lukesh reported excellent fishing last Friday. Best bait was a Pistol Pete under a bubble. He also reported extremely low but clear water conditions and steep banks that could be dangerous for small children.

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

Lake Van: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait, homemade dough bait, and garlic cheese. 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 21 cfs. Trout fishing was slow but there were a few fish taken on worms and Power Bait. We had no reports on other species.

Perch Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Panther Martins, Pistol Petes and garlic flavored Power Bait.

Ruidoso River: Water flow at Hollywood on Monday was 4.4 cfs. Trout fishing was slow to fair using salmon eggs and small bead-head nymphs.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing pressure continued to be very light with just a few anglers fishing from the bank. Fishing was slow for all species. The boat ramp has been closed but the lake is accessible for canoes and kayaks.

Sumner Lake: Fishing pressure was extremely light and fishing was slow for all species. The Violation Canyon boat ramp remains open at this time and will remain open as long as lake levels permit.