Fishing report — April 24

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 fair to good using spinners, worms and Power Bait. We had no reports about perch.

Cimarron River: Stream flow below Eagle Nest on Monday was 18 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using worms and salmon eggs. We had no reports from the Gravel Pit Lakes.

Clayton Lake: Trout fishing was good using Colorado spoons and Power Bait with several fish caught in the 17- to 20-inch range. We had no reports on other species.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using tubes, senkos and worms for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing for walleye was slow with just a few caught by anglers using jerk baits and jigs. We had no reports on other species.

Coyote Creek: Fishing was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using Power Bait and copper John Barrs.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Fishing was fair using Power Bait and salmon eggs from the bank and from anchored boats for rainbow trout. Fishing for kokanee was slow but there were a few small ones caught by anglers trolling Arnies. Fishing was good using Power Bait, Mepps spinners, clousers and Kastmasters for northern pike. We had no reports on perch.

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

Lake Maloya: Trout fishing was very good using Power Bait and Pistol Petes. The fish ranged in size from 10 to 19 inches.

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

Manzano Lake: Fishing was fair using Power Bait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes for trout.

Maxwell Lake 13: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait, salmon eggs, Fisher Chick spinners and small spoons. We had no reports on other species.

Monastery Lake: Fishing was fair using Power Bait, Pistol Petes, wooly buggers and salmon eggs.

Morphy Lake: Hot spot for trout: Fishing was very good using Power Bait, salmon eggs, worms, homemade dough bait, Pistol Petes, Super Dupers, wooly buggers and small Daredevles for trout. The boat ramp remains closed due to low water conditions.

Pecos River: Water flow near the town of Pecos on Monday was 107 cfs. The Bert Clancy and Terrero campgrounds are now open. Trout fishing was rated as slow.

Red River: Water flow near the hatchery on Monday was 77 cfs. The water was off color and fishing was slow.

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

Rio Grande: Water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday was 376 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using wooly buggers, spinners and night crawlers. Fishing for northern pike was slow to fair using large streamers and jerk baits. Fishing through the Albuquerque area and farther south, was fair using liver and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Rio Hondo: Stream flow near Valdez on Monday was 31 cfs. Fishing was slow and expected to stay that way through the runoff.

Rio Mora: Stream flow near Terrero on Monday was 39 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco on Monday was 45 cfs. Fishing was slow due to the high flows.

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

Shuree Ponds: Closed for the season.

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

Storrie Lake: Fishing was very good using salmon peach Power Bait and salmon eggs for trout. Anglers reported catching limits of trout with several fish in the 15- to 18-inch class. We had no reports on other species.

Ute Lake: Fishing was good using suspended jerk baits, minnows and jig and grub combinations for walleye. Fishing was fair trolling crank baits for white bass. Fishing was good using a wide variety of soft plastics for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing for catfish was slow. The surface water temp was in the low to mid 50s.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing was fair to good using jigs and night crawlers for smallmouth bass and a few walleye. Anglers using crank baits and spinner-night crawler harnesses also picked up a few walleye. Fishing was slow to fair using night crawlers and Power Bait in the boat dock area for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 970 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Bluewater Lake: Fishing was fair to good using hot dogs, spoons, jerk baits and large streamers for tiger musky. Fishing for all other species 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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 418 cfs and 458 cfs respectively. High stream flows have dramatically slowed fishing at both locations but there were a few trout caught by anglers fishing below Abiquiu. They were using Rapalas, worms and wooly buggers.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using jigs, tubes and crank baits for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair using spoons and spinners in the shallows for northern pike. We had no reports on other species.

El Vado Lake: The state park and the boat ramp are now open. We had no reports from anglers.

Fenton Lake: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait, worms, olive wooly buggers and Pistol Petes. Two good-size brown trout were caught by an angler fishing the inlet and using Pistol Petes. Young Adrien Gonzales and his mom from Rio Rancho had a great time here last Friday. They both caught limits of trout while using glitter Power Bait.

Heron Lake: Fishing was slow with just a few small lake trout caught by anglers using jig and cut bait combinations. Fishing was fair using Power Bait and spinners for rainbow trout. We had no reports on kokanee. The lake level continues to rise but four-wheel-drive was still recommended for launching at the primitive ramp.

Jackson Lake: We only had one report from here this past week. It was from Geraldo Maria from Farmington who fished last Saturday morning and had the lake all to himself. Action started slow but picked up when he switched lures to a 1/16th ounce chrome and red Rooster Tail. He wound up catching and releasing 12 rainbow trout in just one hour.

Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez as of Monday was 80 cfs. Fishing was slow. Fishing on the Cebolla was slow to fair using worms. Fishing pressure was light. Marc Bernard fished the special trout waters on Easter Sunday. He caught and released two cutthroat trout here and then caught and released two brown trout around the day-use area a little later. He used a royal humpy on the cutthroats and a grasshopper pattern for the browns. We had no reports from the other Jemez streams. The East Fork on the Valles Caldera opened this past week and one angler reported great success. He was using a black ant pattern. The full fishing schedule for the East Fork and the San Antonio will begin May 16. For additional information and reservations call 1-866-382-5537.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.

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

Navajo Lake: Fishing was good using night crawlers, minnows and small jigs for crappie and bluegill. The best reports came from La Jara Canyon and the key was finding the warmest water. Fishing was fair using tubes, jigs and jerk baits for smallmouth bass. Fishing was slow to fair using jerk baits and crank baits for northern pike. Fishing was fair using night crawlers and Power Bait for rainbow trout. We had no reports on other species.

San Gregorio: The gate at State Road 126 was still locked and the lake covered with ice and or snow as of this past week.

San Juan River: Water flow below Navajo Dam on Monday was 353 cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was good using black foam wing emergers, red larva, black midges, comparaduns, black streamers, leeches and red San Juan worms. There were some good midge and BWO hatches coming off in the afternoon hours. Fishing through the bait waters was good using jerk baits, salmon eggs, Gulp eggs, night crawlers and San Juan worms.

Santa Cruz Lake: Trout fishing was good for anglers using Fisher Chick spinners, Pistol Petes, Power bait, homemade dough bait, salmon eggs and worms.

Seven Springs Brood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week. This pond was recently stocked and is a great place to take the youngsters.

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

Southwest

Bear Canyon: Fishing was fair to good using worms, Power Bait, Pistol Petes and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing was fair using night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was fair to good using Pistol Petes, wooly buggers, Power Bait and homemade dough bait for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Caballo Lake: Fishing was fair using spinner-minnow combinations, jig and grub combinations, night crawlers and jerk baits for walleye. Fishing was fair trolling crank baits for white bass. A few catfish were caught by anglers using night crawlers and liver. We had no reports on other species.

Elephant Butte Lake: A cold front slowed things a bit over the weekend but fishing was reported as good by anglers fishing for crappie. They were using minnows and jigs over brush piles. Fishing was slow to fair using tubes, senkos, jigs and sweet beavers for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair to good using crank baits, jerk baits and grubs for white bass. Fishing for catfish was fair using cut bait, shrimp and night crawlers. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp ranged from the high 50s to the low 60s. The Marina Del Sur, Rock Canyon and Dam Site marinas are open.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 75 cfs. We had no reports from anglers.

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

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 the 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 and salmon peach Power Bait for trout. We had no reports on tiger musky.

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

Snow Lake: Trout fishing was slow.

Young Pond: Fishing was fair using worms, Pistol Petes and Power Bait for a mixed bag of crappie and trout. We had no reports on other species.

Southeast

Bataan Lake: Jesse S. was fishing here on the 15th and caught a limit of 8- to 12-inch rainbows. He was fishing near the dam and using wooly buggers and Super Dupers with a start and stop retrieve. A few trout were also caught by anglers using small spoons and Power Bait.

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 82 cfs. Fishing was slow.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait, salmon eggs, small spoons, homemade dough bait and Pistol Petes.

Bonito Lake: Closed.

Bosque Redondo: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light.

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: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

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

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was slow and fishing pressure was light.

Grindstone Reservoir: Trout fishing was very good for anglers using Power Bait, salmon eggs, Power eggs, small spoons and Pistol Petes. Jennifer Alvarado reported on a successful family outing here on the 18th. They caught 14 trout with Ray, Devin and Alaina all catching good-size fish. They used a variety of Power Bait but the bigger fish were taken on rainbow Power Bait and white Power eggs.

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.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 71 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using Power Bait and worms for trout. We had no reports on other species. A water release is expected to begin on Wednesday of this week. The area below Sumner Lake will be closed during the release.

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

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 4.4 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using worms.

Santa Rosa Lake: Fishing continued to be very slow for all species. A water release is scheduled for this week and expected to draw the lake level down about 10 feet.

Sumner Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. A water release is planned for Wednesday of this week.