Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Fishing report — March 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Cimarron River: Trout fishing was fair to good using worms and salmon eggs.

Clayton Lake: Fishing pressure was light over the past week but anglers who showed up caught some good-sized rainbow trout. They were using Power Bait. We had no reports on other species.

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

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

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing for trout was good using Power Bait, salmon eggs, Pistol Petes and worms. Fishing for perch was fair to good using worms. Fishing for northern pike was slow to fair using crank baits, Power Bait and worms. The lake remains closed to boating but open for bank fishing. For updated conditions, contact the State Park office at (575) 377-1594.

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

Lake Maloya: Trout fishing from boats and from the bank was good for anglers using salmon peach and orange Power Bait and white Berkley power eggs. The lake was completely free of ice.

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

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

Maxwell Lake 13: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Monastery Lake: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait, salmon eggs, small streamers and Pistol Petes.

Morphy Lake: Closed for the season.

Pecos River: Water flow near the town of Pecos on Monday was 32 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 prince nymphs, salmon eggs and Power Bait.

Red River: Water flow near the hatchery on Monday was 35 cfs. Trout fishing was good using dry dropper combinations, worms and salmon eggs. There was some good cloudy day action with caddis and mayfly hatches coming off in the afternoon hours.

Rio Grande: Water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday was 687 cfs. Trout fishing picked up a bit this past week in the Pilar area and was rated as fair by anglers using BWOs, parachute adams, streamers and worms.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow near Valdez on Monday was 10 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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, salmon eggs and homemade dough bait. We had no reports on other species. Fishing pressure was light.

Ute Lake: Fishing was fair to good using blade baits, slab spoons and jig and minnow combinations for walleye. Most of the fish caught were found in 40 to 50 feet of water. Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits for smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low 40s.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using streamers and jerk baits for smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species.

Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 309cfs. Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs and worms.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Trout fishing was fair to good using worms, Power Bait, wooly buggers and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species. Anglers reported good trout fishing on the Albuquerque, Peralta, Bernalillo and Belen Drains

Bluewater Lake: Fishing was good using large streamers, silver spoons, jerk baits and crank baits for 25 to 35-inch tiger muskies. Fishing was slow for all other species but there was one trout reported. It was caught by an angler using Power Bait. 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 53cfs and 79cfs respectively. Trout fishing below Abiquiu was fair to good using worms, Rapalas and copper John Barrs. Andrew Orlicky of Albuquerque caught a nice 3-fish limit which include two 18-inch rainbows and one 19-inch brown. He was using worms and Rapalas. Trout fishing below El Vado was slow to fair using worms.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

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: Trout fishing was very good for anglers using worms, Power Bait, Pistol Petes and olive wooly buggers.

Heron Lake: Bank fishing was fair using Power Bait and salmon eggs for rainbow trout. We had no reports on other species.

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

Jemez Waters: The Jemez River was flowing at 30cfs on Monday. Trout fishing on the Jemez was good using small bead head nymphs and salmon eggs. Fishing on the Rio Cebolla was fair using worms. We had no reports from the Guadalupe, San Antonio or East Fork. 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: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.

Navajo Lake: Fishing for northern pike was slow to fair using jerk baits, swim baits and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.

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

San Juan: Water flow below Navajo on Monday was 345cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was good using egg patterns, red and orange annelids, red and brown San Juan worms and wooly buggers. Through the bait waters trout fishing was very good using salmon eggs, Power Bait, Gulp eggs, jerk baits and copper John Barrs. Kevin Bumby had a great time here Sunday. He caught his first San Juan limit that included two 18-inch rainbows and three 16-inch rainbows. He was using floating Gulp eggs.

Santa Cruz Lake: Trout fishing from boats and from the bank was good for anglers using Pistol Petes, wooly buggers, Fisher Chick spinners, Power bait and worms.

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

Tingley Beach: Fishing at the Youth and Central Ponds was very good using Power Bait, salmon eggs, homemade dough bait, small crank baits, small spoons and Pistol Petes. Fishing at the Catch and Release Pond was fair using small streamers and egg patterns.

Southwest

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

Bill Evans Lake: Trout fishing was very good using Power Bait, Pistol Petes, wooly buggers and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.

Caballo Lake: Fishing was good using Bombers, Wally Divers, Rapalas and curly tail grubs for white bass. Fishing was very good using swim baits, Wally Divers, Flicker Shad, jig and minnow combinations and Rapalas for walleye. Fishing was fair to good using stink bait and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits, jerk baits and grubs for white bass. Fishing for black bass was slow with just an occasional fish caught by anglers using crank baits, jerk baits and swim baits. Fishing for catfish was slow to fair using cut bait, shrimp and night crawlers. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from the high 40s to the low 50s. The Marina Del Sur, Rock Canyon and Dam Site marinas are open.

Escondida Lake: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait, homemade dough bait, Gulp eggs and spinners.

Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 112cfs. We had no reports from anglers.

Glenwood Pond: Trout fishing was good using 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.

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

Rio Grande: Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 1.3cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Young Pond: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait, small Daredevles, corn, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes. Fishing for crappie was fair using Pistol Petes. We had no reports on other species.

Southeast

Bataan Lake: Trout fishing was good using homemade dough bait, small spoons, Pistol Petes, worms and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 1.7cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Blue Hole Park Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bonito Lake: Closed.

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

Bottomless Lakes: Trout fishing at the Devil’s Inkwell and at Pasture Lake slowed considerably this week with just a few trout caught by anglers using Power Bait.

Brantley Lake: Anglers are to practice catch-and-release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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: Trout fishing was fair to good using homemade dough bait, Power Bait and small Kastmasters.

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

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

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

Greene Acres Lake: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait.

Grindstone Reservoir: Trout fishing continued to be very good this past week as limits of fish were caught by angler using worms, Power Bait, small spoons and Pistol Petes. Robert Covey and his wife Donna of Las Cruces caught their limits in just under three hours. They were using worms and the big fish caught by Robert was a healthy 18.75-inch rainbow

Jal Lake: Trout fishing was very good using Pistol Petes, salmon eggs and Power Bait.

Lake Van: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait, homemade dough bait, small spoons and Pistol Petes. We had no reports on other species.

Oasis Park Lake: Trout fishing was good using homemade dough bait, Pistol Petes, wooly buggers and Power Bait. The State Park will host its fifth annual spring trout derby March 22 and 23. For more information contact the State Park office at (575) 356-5331.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 80cfs. Fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Perch Lake: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait, spinners and Pistol Petes under a bubble.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 12cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Sumner Lake: Fishing continued to be very slow for all species with very light fishing pressure.

 
 
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