Fishing report — Feb. 20

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

Charette Lakes: Closed for the season.

Cimarron River: Keep this water on your list for spring. Low water conditions this time of year make for some tough fishing.

Clayton Lake: Closed for the season.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using slab spoons and jigs for walleye. A few largemouth bass were caught by angler using crank baits. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the mid to high 40s.

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

Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Eagle Nest Lake: High winds in the area cleared much of the ice off the lake which is now open to bank fishing only. Fishing was good using Power Bait and worms for trout and perch. We had no reports on other species. For updated conditions, contact the State Park office at (575) 377-1594.

Lake Alice: Closed to ice fishing due to unsafe ice conditions. For updated information, contact the Sugarite State Park office at (575) 445-5607.

Lake Maloya: As of this past Sunday the lake was closed to fishing due to unsafe ice conditions. For updated conditions, contact the State Park office at (575) 445-5607.

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

Manzano Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Power bait.

Maxwell Lake 13: Closed for the season.

Monastery Lake: Fishing was very good using Power Bait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes for trout.

Morphy Lake: Closed for the season.

Pecos River: Water flow near Anton Chico on Monday was 24cfs. The Mora and Jamie Koch fishing and recreation areas have reopened. The Bert Clancy and Terrero campgrounds remain closed. Trout fishing was good using salmon eggs, copper John Barrs and bead head hares ears.

Red River: Water flow near the hatchery on Monday was 20cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: Water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday was 558cfs. Fishing was slow for all species.

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

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

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

Shuree Ponds: Closed for the season.

Springer Lake: We had no reports from anglers.

Storrie Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait. Fishing pressure was very light. The lake was free of ice.

Ute Lake: Fishing was fair to good using slab spoons, blade baits and jig and minnow combinations for walleye. A few limits were caught by anglers fishing deep near the dam and in about 30 feet of water in Ute Creek. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from the mid to high 40s.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing pressure continued to be very light and fishing was slow for all species.

Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 200cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Trout fishing was very good for anglers using worms, single salmon egg setups, Power Bait, egg pattern flies and San Juan worms. Anglers reported good trout fishing on the Albuquerque, Corrales, Belen and Peralta drains. Fishing was fair using small imitation crawdads for largemouth bass on the Albuquerque Drain. We had no reports on other species.

Bluewater Lake: As of this past weekend the lake was completely free of ice and the boat ramp was open. Fishing was good using Rapalas, silver spoons and large flies for 25 to 30-inch tiger muskies. We had no reports on other species... 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 50cfs and 70cfs respectively. Trout fishing below Abiquiu was fair to good using San Juan worms, copper John Barrs, egg patterns and brass Fisher Chick spinners. Trout fishing below El Vado was good using small bead head nymphs, Z Rays and Panther Martins for a mixed bag of browns and rainbows.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. For ice condition updates contact the Corps office at (505) 465-0307.

El Vado Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. The main area of the State Park has closed until March 31 but there is still fishing access and open water near the dam.

Fenton Lake: About 25 percent of the lake was open water this past weekend and bank fishing was rated as excellent as several anglers caught limits of trout. They were using salmon peach and garlic Power Bait. For updated conditions, contact the State Park office at (575) 829-3630.

Heron Lake: Ice conditions were considered extremely hazardous and the lake is closed to ice fishing. For updated conditions contact the State Park office at (575) 588-7470.

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

Jemez Waters: The Jemez River was flowing at 33cfs on Monday. Trout fishing was fair to good using salmon eggs. We had no reports from the other area streams. The Valles Caldera has been closed to fishing for the winter but should be back up and running next spring.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.

Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers.

Navajo Lake: Fishing was described as slow to fair using crank baits and jerk baits for northern pike. A few smallmouth bass were caught by anglers using jigs, crank baits and grubs. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low to mid 40s.

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

San Juan: Water flow below Navajo on Monday was 314cfs and still quite stained. Fishing through the Quality Waters was fair to good using bunny leeches, red larva, egg patterns, San Juan worms and OJs. Through the bait waters trout fishing was fair to good using salmon eggs, night crawlers and Panther Martin spinners.

Santa Cruz Lake: As of this past weekend the lake was free of ice. Fishing was slow to fair using Fisher Chick spinners, bead head wooly buggers and Power Bait. We had no reports on other species.

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

Tingley Beach: Trout fishing at the Youth and Central Ponds was very good for anglers using homemade dough baits, Power Bait, salmon eggs, bead head hares ears, copper John Barrs and Pistol Petes. Fishing at the Catch and Release Pond was fair to good using leeches, small streamers and egg patterns.

Southwest

Bear Canyon: Trout fishing was good using salmon eggs, worms, Power Bait, Pistol Petes and spinners.

Bill Evans Lake: Trout fishing was very good using homemade dough bait, Power Bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species. A few largemouth bass were caught by anglers using jerk baits and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.

Caballo Lake: Fishing pressure remained light but the action picked up this past week as anglers reported catching white bass and walleye while trolling the east side of the lake. A few catfish were also caught by anglers fishing from the bank and using minnows and night crawlers. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low 50s.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was fair trolling assorted colors of crank baits for a mixed bag of white bass and walleye. The walleye reports came from anglers fishing the south end of the lake. Fishing was fair using crank baits and jerk baits for largemouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using minnows and stink bait for catfish. We had n reports on othe4 species. The Marina Del Sur, Rock Canyon and Dam Site marinas are open. The surface water temp was in the low to mid 50s.

Escondida Lake: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait, homemade dough bait and Pistol Petes.

Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 69cfs. We had no reports from anglers.

Glenwood Pond: Trout fishing was good using salmon eggs and Power Bait.

Lake Roberts: A construction project to improve the dam has begun and extremely low lake levels make it increasingly difficult to fish. The project is expected to continue into next summer. The lake is still open to bank fishing but difficult to access.

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

Rio Grande: Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was .00cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Young Pond: Trout fishing was very good using Power Bait, corn and salmon eggs. A few trout were also caught by anglers using Pistol Petes. We had no reports on other species.

Southeast

Bataan Lake: Trout fishing was good for some and great for others. Best baits were salmon eggs, garlic scented Power Bait and Pistol Petes.

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 4.5cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs and Power Bait.

Bonito Lake: Closed.

Bosque Redondo: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait, salmon eggs and copper John Barrs.

Bottomless Lakes: Trout fishing at the Devil’s Inkwell was good using rainbow and chartreuse Power Bait.

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: The water level has been lowered for shoreline and dock work. The winter trout stocking has been diverted to Bataan Lake.

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

El Rito Creek: Trout fishing was very good using salmon eggs, Power Bait, Pistol Petes, worms, small spinners, egg pattern flies and homemade dough baits.

Eunice Lake: Trout fishing was very good using Power Bait, salmon eggs and corn.

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was fair to good using salmon eggs, garlic Power Bait and homemade dough bait for trout.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was fair using salmon eggs, Power Bait and worms for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Grindstone Reservoir: The water level is quite low and boat ramp access has been closed. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Lake Van: Trout fishing was fair using garlic scented Power Bait, worms, homemade dough bait, Pistol Petes and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.

Oasis Park Lake: Trout fishing was very good using homemade dough bait and Pistol Petes.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 11cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Perch Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait and Pistol Petes.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 5.7cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing pressure was light and fishing was slow for all species.

Sumner Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. We received reports from serious walleye anglers who tried everything but the kitchen sink without a single bite.