New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more

By Journal staff and wire reports Published: Thursday, September 8th, 2022 at 12:02AM Updated: Friday, September 9th, 2022 at 12:02AM

Louis James of El Paso caught an 18-pound catfish at Caballo Lake using cut shad bait Aug. 27.

At Canjilon Lakes, Celeste Edwards-Garcia, 9, and her grandma Marilyn Garcia of Santa Fe caught an 11.5-inch trout using PowerBait on Aug. 14. … Andrew Martinez of Santa Fe caught a 21-inch rainbow trout using worms Aug. 13.

Dominic Montoya of Las Vegas caught a 22-inch, 4.5-pound rainbow trout at Eagle Nest Lake using garlic PowerBait on Sept. 1.

Santiago Lovato, 3, of Rio Rancho caught two, 12-inch rainbow trout at Fenton Lake using a Pistol Pete and a Panther Martin spinner Sept. 4.

Neil Burleson of Ruidoso caught a 16-inch rainbow trout at Grindstone Reservoir using a Joe’s Fly on Aug. 30.

Saphira Lucero, 6, of Isleta caught her first fish, a 12-inch rainbow trout, at Red River Hatchery using PowerBait on Aug. 28.

At the San Juan River, Greg Johnson, 15, of Rio Rancho caught a 23-inch rainbow trout using a green, midge-pattern fly Sept. 3. … Ron Sisneros of Albuquerque caught a 30-inch and a 24-inch trout using a white foam wind-emerger fly Aug. 13.

Eli Meadows, 6, of Hobbs caught a 2.5-pound smallmouth bass at Ute Lake using a Berkley Flicker Shad lure Aug. 27.

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NOTES FROM GAME & FISH

Cabresto Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for trout at Charette Lakes was good using corn and salmon, peach PowerBait.

Streamflow on the Cimarron River near Cimarron on Monday morning was 37 cubic feet per second. Fishing for trout was good using attractor dry flies with a zebra midge dropper fly.

Fishing for catfish at Clayton Lake was good using chicken liver and red wiggler worms; trout was fair using PowerBait.

Conchas Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

At Costilla Creek, the department is implementing the final phase of a project to expand Rio Grande cutthroat trout in 120 miles of the Costilla watershed in northern New Mexico. The final phase involves the removal of fish within a designated area (Rio Costilla from Costilla Dam downstream to the Valle Vidal Boundary, including all tributaries and Comanche Creek from the road culvert crossing on Forest Road 1950 downstream to its confluence with Rio Costilla and all tributaries). Tentative stocking of Rio Grande cutthroat trout is set for spring 2023.

Cowles Ponds had no reports from anglers this week.

Coyote Creek had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for rainbow trout at Eagle Nest Lake was good using garlic PowerBait, Pistol Pete spinner flies and nightcrawler worms.

Fishing for trout at Eagle Rock Lake was fair using pink PowerBait.

National forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access at the Gallinas River. Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at 505-438-5300 for the latest closure information.

Fishing for trout at Hopewell Lake was good using salmon, peach PowerBait.

Lake Alice had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for trout at Lake Maloya was very good using salmon eggs, yellow Pistol Pete spinner flies, orange PowerBait, marshmallows, worms and Joe’s Flies.

Fishing for trout on the Los Pinos River was fair using Panther Martin spinners and nymph flies.

Maxwell Lake 13 had no reports from anglers this week.

Monastery Lake will remain closed until further notice. For more information, visit the Open Gate webpage.

State park closures have been in place restricting fishing access including Morphy Lake. Visit Morphy Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-387-2328 for the latest closure information.

Streamflow on the Pecos River near Pecos on Monday morning was 102 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair using worms.

Streamflow on the Red River below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 83 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using salmon eggs, PowerBait and Woolly Bugger flies at the fish hatchery.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 370 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Hondo near Valdez on Monday morning was 43 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Mora near Terrero on Monday morning was 52 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Pueblo near Peñasco on Monday morning was 32 cfs.

Santa Cruz Reservoir had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for trout at Shuree Ponds was fair to good using caddis dry flies and bead-head, nymph flies.

Springer Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Storrie Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Stubblefield Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for walleye at Ute Lake was fair using vertical jigging spoons and blade baits for suspended fish in 25-30 feet of water; white bass was good using vertical jigging spoons and blade baits for suspended fish in 25-30 feet of water; smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was good using Berkley Flicker Shad lures, soft plastic baits, drop shot rigs in 8-16 feet of water and topwater lures in the back of coves; crappie was slow; for catfish was good using punch bait and cut bait. The main lake water surface temperature was in the upper 70s, and the water clarity was clear.

Fishing for smallmouth bass at Abiquiú Lake was fair to good using live worms.

Streamflow on the Animas River below Aztec on Monday morning was 233 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good using dry flies.

Albuquerque Area Drains had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for tiger muskie at Bluewater Lake was fair to good using Whopper Plopper lures and homemade streamer flies.

Fishing for trout on the Brazos River was good using hopper dry flies and black and gold Panther Martin spinners.

Fishing for trout at Canjilon Lakes was good using worms, Pistol Pete spinner flies and orange PowerBait.

Fishing for bass at Cochiti Lake was fair to good using twin tail chartreuse curly tail grubs. Fishing for catfish was good using beef liver.

El Vado Lake can be accessed at Hargroves Day Use Area off State Road 322 and the Main Park area off State Road 112. The Rio Chama can be accessed at the North El Vado Day Use Area on State Road 95, 10 miles west of U.S. Highway 84. Lake levels are steady but expected to drop as crews work on the El Vado Dam. The Dam Day Use Area is closed due to the ongoing construction. State Road 112 over the dam will experience periodic closures. For more information, visit El Vado Lake State Park’s webpage or call 575-588-7247.

Fishing for trout at Fenton Lake was good using Pistol Pete spinner flies and Panther Martin spinners.

Grants Riverwalk Pond has dried up due to pump failure. The city is planning to repair the pumps but is taking this opportunity to dredge the pond. They expect the pond to be offline for at least two to three months. Fish stockings will be discontinued until all work is done.

Heron Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

At the Jemez Waters, streamflow near Jemez Springs on Monday morning was 39 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good using worms.

Fishing for trout at Laguna del Campo was fair using worms and orange PowerBait.

Lagunitas Lakes had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for bass at Lake Farmington was fair using plastic worms.

Stocking efforts have been suspended at McGaffey Lake due to extremely low water levels and unstable ground conditions. Lake conditions will be monitored and stocking will resume once conditions improve.

Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass at Navajo Lake was fair to good using Buck Perry spoonplugs, plastic worms, Ned Rigs and 3/8 -ounce black and blue Strike King football jigs with a black and blue Rage Menace trailer in 5-20 feet of water. Fishing for pike was fair to good trolling using Buck Perry spoonplugs. Fishing for kokanee salmon was slow to fair using pink and orange spinners tipped with corn.

Streamflow on the Rio Chama below El Vado Lake and below Abiquiú Lake on Monday morning was 617 cfs and 92 cfs, respectively. Please remember, from the river-crossing bridge on U.S. Highway 84 at Abiquiú upstream 7 miles to the base of Abiquiú Dam is special trout waters with a bag limit of two trout only.

Fishing for catfish on the Rio Grande near Albuquerque was fair to good using shrimp.

Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1) had no reports from anglers this week.

San Gregorio Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the San Juan River near Archuleta on Monday morning was 773 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good using white foam wing emerger flies, green scud flies, San Juan worm flies and egg pattern flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was fair to good using peach glitter PowerBait and earthworms.

Fishing for trout at the Seven Springs Brood Pond was good using rainbow PowerBait.

Tiger Park Reservoir had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for catfish at Tingley Beach was slow to fair using hot dogs. Fishing for bluegill was fair using salmon eggs.

Fishing for trout at Trout Lakes was good using pink PowerBait, corn and salmon eggs.

Fishing for bass at Alumni Pond was fair to good using perch pattern crankbaits. Fishing for catfish was good using carp and bluegill cut bait, hot dogs, worms and dead shad.

Fishing for all species at Bear Canyon Lake was slow.

Fishing for catfish at Bill Evans Lake was fair to good using nightcrawler worms.

Fishing for crappie at Caballo Lake was fair using live white grubs; bass was slow to fair using crankbaits; walleye was good using small red, deep-diving crankbaits; white bass was fair using small crankbaits; catfish was fair to good using cut bait.

Fishing for catfish at Elephant Butte Lake was good using live minnows and cut carp bait. Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was fair to good using topwater flies, Whopper Plopper lures and shad-pattern crankbaits. Fishing for white bass was good using white crankbaits and Sassy Shad. Fishing for crappie was slow to fair using Sassy Shad and live minnows. Fishing for walleye was slow. Fishing for drum was fair using crankbaits.

Fishing for catfish at Escondida Lake was fair using shrimp and nightcrawler worms.

Streamflow on the Gila River near Gila on Monday morning was 100 cfs.

Glenwood Pond had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Roberts had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for catfish at Percha Dam was good using chicken liver, hotdogs, and live worms.

Fishing for trout at Quemado Lake was fair using pink PowerBait.

Rancho Grande Ponds had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for catfish on the Rio Grande was good using carp cut bait, chicken liver, hot dogs and nightcrawler worms between Leesburg Dam and Percha Dam, and also near Garfield.

Snow Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for bass at Trees Lake was good using 3-inch plastic worms; catfish was good using hot dogs and nightcrawler worms.

Fishing for catfish at Young Pond was fair to good using beef liver, cut bait, minnows and worms.

Fishing for bass at Alto Lake was fair to good using live worms.

Fishing for catfish at Bataan Lake was good using shrimp, worms and chicken liver.

Berrendo Creek had no reports from anglers this week. Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property.

Streamflow on the Black River at Malaga on Monday morning was 11 cfs.

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

Bonito Lake is closed until further notice by the City of Alamogordo due to fire damage.

Fishing for catfish at Bosque Redondo Lake was fair using hot dogs; bluegill was good using nightcrawler worms.

Bottomless Lakes had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for white bass at Brantley Lake was good using small jigs; catfish was fair using nightcrawler worms.

Fishing for catfish at Carlsbad Municipal Lake was fair using worms.

Chaparral Park Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Corona Pond had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for largemouth bass at Eunice Lake was good using lipless crankbaits.

Green Meadow Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Greene Acres Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for trout at Grindstone Reservoir was good using Joe’s Flies and PowerBait.

Jal Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for catfish at Lake Van was good using cut carp bait.

Fishing for catfish at Oasis Park Lake was fair using nightcrawler worms.

Streamflow on the Pecos River below Sumner Lake on Monday morning was 101 cfs.

Perch Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Bonito had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood on Monday morning was 6 cfs.

Rock Lake Hatchery Kids’ Pond had no reports from anglers this week.

The boat ramp at Santa Rosa Lake State Park remains closed, but the lake is open to nonmotorized vessels. Fishing pressure is light with no lake activity.

Fishing for catfish at Sumner Lake was slow to fair using nightcrawler worms.

Timberon Ponds had no reports from anglers this week.

Source: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish