The Eastern New Mexico News - Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

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: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs and marshmallows. We had no reports on perch.

Cimarron River: Stream flow near Cimarron was 7.1 cfs as of Monday morning. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Clayton Lake: Fishing was good using Power Bait for trout. Anglers reported catching limits of trout while fishing from boats and from the bank. We had no reports on other species.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was slow for all species but there were a few walleye caught by anglers using spinner minnow combinations and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.

Coyote Creek: Fishing was slow and fishing pressure was light.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing from the bank was fair using Power Bait for rainbow trout. Fishing was slow to fair using spinners and spoons for northern pike. We had no reports on other species. Lake Alice: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Maloya: Trout fishing was good using salmon peach and rainbow Power Bait, homemade dough bait, Mike’s marshmallows and Pistol Petes.

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

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

Maxwell Lake 13: Trout fishing was fair to good using Power Bait, marshmallows and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.

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

Morphy Lake: Fishing was good using Power Bait and homemade dough bait for trout. The boat ramp remains closed due to low water conditions.

Pecos River: Water flow near the town of Pecos on Monday was 46 cfs. Fishing on the upper river was slow to fair using salmon eggs and worms. The Bert Clancy and Terrero campgrounds will open April 18. Visitors to State Game Commission properties in Pecos Canyon, including the Bert Clancy, Terrero, Mora Campground and Jamie Koch areas are reminded that a valid hunting or fishing license or a Gaining Access Into Nature permit is required for everyone age 18 and older. Please remember to purchase a license or permit online at http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us, at a license vendor or by calling (888) 248-6866 before your trip. Licenses and permits are not sold in the canyon and cell phone coverage is very spotty.

Red River: Water flow near the hatchery Monday was 42 cfs. Trout fishing was fair to good using parachute adams, elk hair caddis, copper John Barrs and bead-head hares ears.

Rio Grande: Water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday was 371 cfs. Trout fishing was fair with the best dry fly action still on those cloudy days with big BWO hatches coming off. A few trout were also taken on spinners, wooly buggers and worms. We had no reports on pike or smallmouth bass.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow near Valdez on Monday was 11 cfs. Fishing on the lower Hondo was fair using bead-head hares ears, copper John Barrs and prince nymphs.

Rio Mora: Stream flow near Terrero on Monday was 11 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco on Monday was 16 cfs. 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: Fishing was fair using Daredevles and Rat L Traps for northern pike. We had no reports on other species.

Storrie Lake: Fishing was slow for all species but there were a few trout caught by anglers using Power Bait. Fishing pressure continued to be light.

Ute Lake: Fishing was good using grubs and swim baits in the shallows for white bass. Fishing was slow to fair using jig and minnow and spinner minnow combinations at 20 to 25 feet for walleye. Fishing for black bass was slow with just two keeper fish reported. They were caught by an angler using a crank bait. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the low 50s.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing from the bank was slow with just a few smallmouth bass caught by anglers using worms and crank baits. Fishing from boats was rated as slow to fair using crank baits and spinner minnow combinations for walleye and smallmouth bass. Anglers fishing from boats also picked up a few trout. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from the mid to high 40s.

Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 250 cfs. Fishing was fair using worms, salmon eggs, San Juan worms and spinners for trout.

Albuquerque Area Drains: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bluewater Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using in line spinners, large streamers and crank baits for tiger musky. 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 130 cfs and 407 cfs respectively. Trout fishing below Abiquiu was slow. Fishing below El Vado was also slow but there were a few stocked rainbows caught by anglers using worms and Power Bait.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

El Vado Lake: The state park and the boat ramp opened today. We had no reports from anglers.

Fenton Lake: Trout fishing was slow to fair using salmon eggs, Power Bait and worms. Frankie Montoya fished here on the 28th and caught four trout in about two hours. He was using Power Bait and salmon eggs.

Heron Lake: Fishing was fair to good jigging with white and silver jigs tipped with cut bait for lake trout. A few fish were also caught by anglers trolling at depths of 30 to 40 feet. Fishing from the bank was slow but there were a few small lakers caught by anglers using salmon peach Power Bait. We had no reports on other species. The lake level continues to rise but four wheel drive was still recommended for launching at the primitive ramp.

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

Jemez Waters: The Jemez River was flowing at 32 cfs on Monday. Trout fishing on the Jemez and the Rio Cebolla was fair to good using salmon eggs. We had no reports from the other Jemez streams.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.

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

Navajo Lake: Fishing at the upper end of the lake was good using small jigs tipped with grubs for crappie. Fishing for all other species was slow.

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

San Juan River: Water flow below Navajo Dam on Monday was 348 cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was good using red larva, chamois leeches, egg patterns, grey and chocolate foam wing emergers, disco midges, and red and orange San Juan worms. There are fair midge and BWO hatches coming off in the afternoon hours. Try dries in the afternoon hours downstream from the Texas Hole. Fishing through the bait waters was fair to good using spinners, salmon eggs and San Juan worms.

Santa Cruz Lake: Trout fishing was fair to good for anglers using Fisher Chick spinners, Panther Martins, small crank baits, Power bait, homemade dough bait, salmon eggs and worms.

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

Tingley Beach: Fishing at the Youth and Central Ponds was good using Power Bait, salmon eggs, marshmallows and homemade dough bait. We had no reports from the Catch and Release Pond.

Southwest

Bear Canyon: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bill Evans Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Caballo Lake: Fishing for walleye and white bass slowed some this past week but anglers still managed to catch a few while using spinner minnow combinations and crank baits. The most active areas were near the dam and along the east side bluffs. Fishing for catfish was slow to fair using shrimp and cut bait. We had no reports on other species.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was fair using grubs, swim baits, crank baits and minnows for white bass. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was slow with just a few caught by anglers using tubes, swim bait, jigs and jerk baits. Fishing for catfish was fair using cut bait, live shad and night crawlers. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from low to mid 50s. The Marina Del Sur, Rock Canyon and Dam Site marinas are open.

Escondida Lake: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait, homemade dough bait, worms and Pistol Petes.

Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 82 cfs. 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: Fishing was fair using worms, Power Bait and spinners for trout. We had no reports on tiger musky.

Rio Grande: Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was .86 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Snow Lake: Fishing was slow

Young Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Southeast

Bataan Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Pistol Petes, small Daredevles, worms, Power Bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 5.2 cfs. 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. We had no reports on other species.

Bottomless Lakes: Trout fishing was slow and fishing pressure was very light.

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 using homemade dough bait, Power Bait and salmon eggs.

El Rito Creek: Trout fishing was fair to good using worms, salmon eggs, homemade dough bait and Power Bait.

Eunice Lake: Trout fishing was slow to fair using Power Bait.

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Grindstone Reservoir: Trout fishing was fair to good using worms, Power Bait, homemade dough bait, small spoons and Pistol Petes.

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

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

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using worms for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 83 cfs. Fishing was good using Power Bait, salmon eggs and worms for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Perch Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using Pistol Petes and Power Bait for trout.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 5.3 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs and worms.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing continued to be very slow for all species. The water remains quite murky.

Sumner Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.