Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Fishing Report — Oct. 17

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: We had no reports from anglers this week. Charette Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week. Cimarron River: Water flow below Eagle Nest Lake on Monday was 12 cfs. Fishing was good using small bead-head hare’s ears and small bead-head pheasant tail nymphs for a mixed bag of brown and rainbow trout. Some baetis activity was spotted. A few trout were also caught by anglers using worms. Clayton Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using chicken liver for catfish. Fishing for all other species was slow. The water was quite murky. Conchas Lake: The shallow and steep boat ramps on the north side of the lake are now open along with the Cove campground ramp. Fishing was fair using jigs, tubes, spinner baits, crank baits and topwater lures for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits for white bass and an occasional walleye. Fishing for catfish was slow to fair using shrimp and chicken liver. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low 60s Coyote Creek: Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs, worms and Power Bait. Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.Eagle Nest Lake: Kokanee snagging was fair to good near the boat ramp but the boat ramp itself is closed to snagging. Fishing for trout was fair using roe sacs, salmon eggs and Power Bait. A few were also taken by anglers using spinners on light tackle. Fishing was fair using spoons and spinners from boats for northern pike. Fishing was fair using worms for perch. The south boat ramp has been extended and is now open. Gallinas River: We had no reports from anglers this week. Hopewell Lake: Trout fishing was slow. Lagunitas Lakes: Fishing was fair to good for anglers using Power Bait, worms and Pistol Petes. Lake Alice: We had no reports from anglers this week. Lake Maloya: Trout fishing was rated as slow but a few small trout were caught by anglers using Power Bait, bead-head wooly buggers and Pistol Petes. Los Pinos: Trout fishing was good using worms, salmon eggs, hoppers, bead-head hare’s ears, copper John Barrs, Panther Martins and Fisher Chick spinners. Manzano Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Monastery Lake: Trout fishing was fair using bead-head prince nymphs, Pistol Petes, salmon eggs and Power Bait. Morphy Lake: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using Power Bait and salmon eggs. The park closed for the season today and reopens April 1, 2014. Nutrias Lakes: Trout fishing was slow to fair for anglers using Power Bait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes. Pecos River: Water flow near the town of Pecos on Monday was 21 cfs. The Mora and Jamie Koch fishing and recreation areas have reopened. The Bert Clancy and Terrero campgrounds remain closed. Trout fishing was good using copper John Barrs, bead-head prince nymphs, spinners, worms and salmon eggs. Frank Dolan fished the upper Pecos on Oct. 10 and caught and released 13 trout. It was a mixed bag of browns and rainbows and included one 17-inch brown. He was using Mepps and Panther Martin spinners. Red River: Water flow near the hatchery on Monday was 48 cfs. Trout fishing was good using size 18 and 20 bead-head hare’s ears, bead-head pheasant tails, copper John Barrs, Panther Martins, Power Bait and salmon eggs. Rio Costilla: Water flow below Costilla Dam on Monday was .53 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week. Expect the trout fishing action here to pick up again next summer. Rio Grande: Water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday was 494 cfs. Trout fishing was slow to fair using weighted wooly buggers, worms and Panther Martins. We had no reports on other species. Rio Hondo: Stream flow near Valdez on Monday was 25 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week. Rio Mora: Water flow near Terrero on Monday was 19 cfs.Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs, worms, copper John Barrs and bead-head hare’s ears. Rio Pueblo: Water flow near Penasco on Monday was 11 cfs. Trout fishing was slow. Santa Barbara: We had no reports from anglers this week. Shuree Ponds: We had no reports from anglers. Springer Lake: The water was quite murky and fishing was slow for all species. Storrie Lake: The water color remained murky this past week and fishing was slow for all species. The lake has been opened to boating as of last Friday. Ute Lake: Fishing was fair to good using chicken liver and blood baits over baited holes for catfish. Most of the catfish caught were in 20 to 25 feet of water. Fishing was fair using topwater lures, white grubs and spoons for white bass. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow but there were a few caught by anglers using spinner baits and jigs. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low to mid 60s.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using tubes, jigs, grubs, small swim baits and crank baits for smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low 60s. Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 533 cfs.Trout fishing was slow to fair using worms, streamers, olive emergers and salmon eggs. Albuquerque Area Drains: We had no reports from anglers this week. Bluewater Lake: Fishing for tiger musky was rated as slow to fair for most anglers. Travis Darrough and his grandfather caught and released a few fish this past week and reported seeing several other tiger musky caught by anglers fishing from boats and from the bank. A variety of lures were used including swim baits, spinners, spoons and streamers. Fishing for catfish was slow but there were a few caught by anglers using shrimp. Fishing for trout was slow. Anglers should be aware that it is illegal to use bait fish at this lake. Brazos River: We had no reports from anglers this week. Canjilon Lakes: Trout fishing was fair using worms, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes. The best reports came from anglers fishing the upper lake. Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 74 cfs and 257 cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was good using salmon eggs, Power Bait, night crawlers, copper John Barrs and dark-colored wooly buggers for a mixed bag of brown and rainbow trout. Fishing below Abiquiu was slow to fair using prince nymphs, wooly buggers and night crawlers. We had no reports on kokanee snagging on the portion of the river from El Vado Lake to the west boundary of the Rio Chama Wildlife and Fishing Area. The season runs through December. Cochiti Lake: The boat ramps remain closed until further notice due to the tremendous amount of debris in the lake from heavy rains and runoff. We had no reports from anglers this week. El Vado Lake: Fishing was slow for all species and fishing pressure was very light. The main boat ramp remains open. The kokanee snagging season is open but there were no signs of porpoising as of Monday. Fenton Lake: Fishing was good using olive Pistol Petes and green Power Bait for trout. Heron Lake: The only boat ramp open is the primitive ramp in the Ridge Rock area. Boaters are able to launch but advised to use caution. Launching with four-wheel-drive vehicles is recommended. Fishing remained slow for all species and fishing pressure was extremely light. Anglers are reminded that possession of kokanee salmon is not permitted during the closed season which is Oct. 1 to Nov. 8. The same rule applies to anglers fishing Willow Creek. Jackson Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Jemez waters: The Jemez River was flowing at 34 cfs on Monday. The lower river was a bit stained but the upper section was just slightly off color and fishing well. Anglers did best using copper John Barrs, salmon eggs and worms. Fishing on the Cebolla below Fenton Lake was fair using worms for trout. We had no reports from the Rio Las Vacas and Rio Guadalupe. The Valles Caldera has been closed to fishing due to the ongoing government shutdown. Laguna del Campo: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait, Pistol Petes and salmon eggs. Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week. Navajo Lake: Fishing was fair using crank baits, spinner baits and jerk baits for northern pike. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow to fair using jigs, spinner baits, crank baits and curly tail grubs. The kokanee snagging season opened here and on the Pine River on Oct. 1 and runs through December. The New Mexico State Parks Division has closed the Pine and Sims Mesa Boat Ramp areas including the adjacent no wake zones to salmon snagging and fishing. The closure is due to the low water levels and remains in effect through Dec. 31. The remainder of the lake is open and snagging near the south corner of the dam and in Francis Canyon was reported as good. The surface water temp was in the low 60s. San Gregorio: We had no reports from anglers this week. San Juan River: Water flow below Navajo Dam on Monday was 266 cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was very good using parachute adams, comparaduns, sparkle duns, BWOs and olive streamers. Fishing through the bait waters was good using worms, salmon eggs, streamers, WD40s, Johnny Flashes, RS2s and spinners. Santa Cruz Lake: Recent rains and runoff brought the lake level up about 30-feet and the boat ramp is now open. Fishing was slow for all species. Seven Springs Brood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week. Tingley Beach: Trout fishing was fair to good for anglers using red worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, Pistol Petes and 2-inch chartreuse Gulp minnow baits on 1/8 ounce jig heads. All of the action was at the Central and Youth Ponds. Fishing for catfish was slow but there were a few caught by anglers using hot dogs and shrimp. We heard of a few bass caught at the Catch and Release Pond but have no report on size of the bass or flies used.

Southwest

Bear Canyon: We had no reports from anglers this week. Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using chicken liver and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species. Caballo Lake: The water ranged in color from murky to muddy and fishing was slow for all species. Elephant Butte: Fishing was good using dough bait, shrimp and chicken liver over baited holes for catfish. A few were also caught by anglers using night crawlers. Fishing was slow to fair using white grubs, spoons and crank baits for white bass. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow with just a few caught by anglers using jigs and topwater lures. We had no reports on other species. The Monticello, Rock Canyon and Dam Site boat ramps remain closed due to low water conditions. Escondida Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was extremely light. Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 62 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week. Lake Roberts: A construction project to improve the dam has begun and falling lake levels may make it increasingly difficult to fish. The project is expected to continue into next summer. Percha Dam: We had no reports from anglers this week. Quemado Lake: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait and salmon eggs. Gracie, Isaiah, Isabella, Madeline, Jack and Henry from the Phoenix and Tucson area visited the lake over the weekend. These youngsters had a great time and all reported catching trout while using yellow Power Bait. We had no reports on tiger musky. Rio Grande: Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday morning was unavailable. We had no reports from anglers this week. Snow Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait and salmon eggs for trout.

Southeast

Bataan Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 5.2 cfs. Fishing was slow. Blue Hole Park Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week. Bonito Lake: Closed. Bosque Redondo: Fishing was slow for all species. Bottomless Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week. Brantley Lake: The State Park office announced the reopening of the lake to boating and swimming. 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. Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. El Rito Creek: Trout fishing was good using worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait and bead-head pheasant tail nymphs. Eunice Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Green Meadow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.Grindstone Reservoir: Hot spot for trout: Fishing was rated as excellent by anglers who fished here over the weekend. Most caught limits of trout while using Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms. We had no reports on other species. Jal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Lake Van: We had no reports from anglers this week. Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was slow for all species and fishing pressure remained very light. Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 98 cfs. Fishing was slow to fair using chicken liver and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species. Perch Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Ruidoso on Monday was 8.4 cfs. Trout fishing was good using salmon eggs, worms and small copper John Barrs. Santa Rosa Lake: The no wake restriction has been lifted with the major influx of water but anglers are advised to use extreme caught due to floating debris and other possible hazards. The water remained quite murky but should be clearing over the next several days. Fishing was slow for all species. Sumner Lake: Fishing for largemouth bass was slow but there were a few caught by anglers fishing from the bank and using minnows. Fishing for all other species was slow. The Alamo boat ramp and the main boat ramp are the only ramps open. The east side boat ramp is totally under water and not usable at this time.