New Mexico Fishing Report for Nov. 20
OutdoorHub 11.20.12
CATCHES OF THE WEEK:
Chama River: Nov. 13, Adonais Esquibel of Albuquerque caught a 21-inch brown trout. He was using a brown trout colored Rapala.
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, date, and location, type of fish, length and weight if possible and bait, lure or fly used.
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. Other ramps remain closed. Fishing was slow but there were a few walleye taken by anglers using spoons. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low 50s.
- Coyote Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Eagle Nest Lake: Kokanee snagging slowed considerably over the past weekend as only a few fish were taken near the boat ramp area. Anglers are reminded that there is no snagging permitted on the boat ramp. Fishing for trout was slow to fair using roe sacs, Power Bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.
- Hopewell Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Lake Maloya: Fishing was very good using spoons, Power Bait and white and multicolored mini marshmallows for trout up to 20 inches.
- Los Pinos: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Manzano Lake: Trout fishing was slow but there were a few taken on Power Bait and salmon eggs.
- Maxwell Lake 13: Closed for the season.
- Monastery Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Morphy Lake: Closed for the season.
- Pecos River: Water flow near the town of Pecos on Monday was 23 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs, small bead-head pheasant tails and small streamers.
- Red River: Water flow below the hatchery was 31 cfs. Trout fishing was slow to fair using small copper John Barrs and salmon eggs.
- Red River City Ponds: Closed for the season.
- Rio Grande: The water flow Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 257 cfs. Trout fishing was slow to fair using small Rapalas, wooly buggers, worms and salmon eggs. Fishing was slow to fair using Rapalas and large leeches for northern pike. We had no reports on other species.
- Rio Hondo: Water flow near Valdez on Monday was 8.4 cfs. 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.
- 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: Fishing pressure was extremely light and fishing was slow. There was some thin ice forming around the edges of the lake over the weekend.
- 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: Fishing for walleye was good this past week as anglers reported catching limits using slab spoons and blade baits and fishing over 30 to 35 feet of water. Fishing for white bass was described as sporadic with some very good days and a few bad days. Anglers having the best luck were using slab spoons over 25 to 35 feet of water. Fishing for catfish was fair using cut bait and stink baits. A few cats were taken in less than 10 feet of water while others came from 25 to 35 feet. Fishing for all other species was slow. The surface water temp was in the low 50s.
Northwest
- Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was extremely light again this past week. The water was murky and the surface water temp ranged from the high 40s to the low 50s. Try working the deeper flats with spoons and blade baits if you looking for the walleye.
- Albuquerque Area Drains: All of the area drains were stocked again this past week. Trout fishing in the Albuquerque, Bernalillo and Belen Drains was fair using Power Bait, worms, bead-head pheasant tail nymphs, corn and salmon eggs. The waters were a bit stained and as a result darker fly patterns worked best. We had no reports from the Peralta or Corrales Drains.
- Animas River: Monday morning flow near Aztec was 207 cfs. Fishing was slow but there were a few trout taken by anglers using streamers and wooly buggers.
- Bluewater Lake: Trout fishing was fair using corn and assorted colors of Power Bait. Fishing for all other species was slow.
- Canjilon Lakes: Trout fishing was slow.
- Chama River: Hot spot for trout. Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 354 cfs and 292 cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was very good using nightcrawlers, Rapalas, Power Bait, salmon eggs, wooly buggers, streamers, bead-head prince nymphs and copper John Barrs for a mix of browns and rainbows. Below Abiquiu trout fishing was fair to good using nightcrawlers, Power Bait, salmon eggs, wooly buggers and wooly worms.
- Cochiti Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was light.
- El Vado Lake: Kokanee snagging opened Oct. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Fenton Lake: Trout fishing was good. Anglers fishing from the bank did best using worms and salmon eggs while anglers fishing from tubes had good luck using dark green wooly buggers. As of Monday about two thirds of the lake was free of ice.
- Heron Lake: Kokanee snagging was described as slow to fair as a few anglers reported taking limits while others had no luck. Fishing was slow to fair using roe sacs and salmon eggs for rainbow trout. We had no reports on other species.
- Jackson Lake: Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs, Power Bait and salmon egg marshmallow combinations.
- Jemez Waters: Water flow on the Jemez River as of Monday morning was 16 cfs. Trout fishing on the Jemez was fair using salmon eggs and small copper John Barrs. We had no reports from the other streams.
- Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.
- Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- 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. For more information contact the State Park office at 505-632-2278 or visit www.nmparks.com. Snagging was reported as slow to fair by the dam and the Sims Marina area. Fishing was slow to fair using jerk baits, swim baits and spinner baits for northern pike. Fishing was fair using Power Bait, roe sacs and salmon eggs for rainbow trout. Fishing for all other species was slow. The surface water temp was in the low 50s.
- Ramah Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- San Juan: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 379 cfs. There was a good amount of baetis and midge activity reported this past week. Best flies in the a.m. hours were gray or chocolate emergers and red larva. In the evenings copper ribbed or chocolate foam winged emergers, black, chocolate or gray RS2s and small parachute adams worked well. Other patterns that worked well through the day time hours were pink eggs, white leeches and dark wooly buggers. Anglers working the bait waters did well using Power Bait, nightcrawlers, 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 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: Trout fishing at the main pond and the Children’s Pond was good using Power Bait, marshmallows, worms, spinners and salmon eggs. A few catfish were caught by anglers using Power Bait. Trout fishing at the Catch and Release Pond was slow to fair using Pistol Petes, zebra midges, small bead-head pheasant tails and leeches.
Southwest
- Aggie Pond: This water is also known as Alumni Pond. We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Bear Canyon: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait, homemade dough bait and salmon eggs.
- Bill Evans Lake: The lake has been filled and is now at maximum level. Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait, homemade dough bait, worms, salmon eggs and spinners. 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 light and fishing was slow for all species.
- Elephant Butte: Fishing for white bass was slow to fair using slab spoons, grubs and spinners. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow with just a few taken on jigs, hula grubs and spoons. Fishing for catfish was fair using cut bait and liver. We had no reports on other species. The water color ranged from murky to muddy 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: Fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes for rainbow trout. We had no reports on other species.
- Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 62 cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.
- Glenwood Pond: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait.
- Lake Roberts: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait, salmon eggs, marshmallows 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: Trout fishing was fair to good using worms, Power Bait, corn, salmon eggs and homemade dough bait.
- Snow Lake: With access roads open and a recent double stocking of rainbow trout, put this lake high on your list for some fall fishing from the bank. The roads in are a little bumpy and the water is low but fishing should be great. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Southeast
- Bataan Lake: Trout fishing was good using spoons, spinners, salmon eggs and Power Bait. We had no reports on other species.
- Blue Hole Park Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Bonito Lake: Closed.
- Bosque Redondo: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms. We had no reports on other 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, worms and spinners.
- El Rito Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Green Meadow Lake: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs and spoons.
- Grindstone Reservoir: Trout fishing was good using bead-head nymphs, Power Bait, salmon eggs and peanut butter cookie dough. Thomas Armendariz and his two kids reported great action while fishing last Sunday. They caught 13 trout in just a few hours using salmon eggs and Power Bait. Some trout were caught on the bottom while some were taken on bait under bobbers.
- Jal Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait and salmon eggs.
- Lake Van: Trout fishing was fair to good using Panther Martins, Power Bait, salmon eggs and marshmallows. We had no reports on other species.
- Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was fair using Power Bait for trout. We had no reports on other species.
- Pecos River: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 26 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using worms, Power Bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.
- Perch Lake: Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs, Pistol Petes and Power Bait.
- Ruidoso River: Water flow at Hollywood on Monday was 8.5 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing pressure was very light and 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 non existent and we had no reports. The Violation Canyon boat ramp remains open at this time and will remain open as long as lake levels permit.
