This fishing report, provided by Dustin Berg and Go Unlimited (supporting disabled anglers) 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.
Eagle Nest Lake: Anthony Dupree, Joseph Lueras and Fred Lawrence of Albuquerque caught many perch, several trout, with the biggest being 20-inches, and a 27-inch 7-pound pike using Gulp curly tail jigs Jan. 1-2. Greg and Lisa Hoch of Española caught a 19.5-inch and a 19.25-inch rainbow trout, along with many perch, using worms Dec. 28-29. Ice fishing advice from Anthony Dupree and Greg and Lisa Hoch are in this week’s Tips and Tricks section.
Elephant Butte Lake: Lochlan Cameron, age 8, of Río Rancho caught a 22-inch 3-pound 15-ounce blue catfish using nightcrawlers Dec. 27.
Grindstone Reservoir: Kyle Kainer of Ruidoso caught a 16.5-inch rainbow trout using salmon peach PowerBait Dec. 21.
San Juan River: Robert Toledo of Los Lunas caught an 18-inch brown trout using a black leech fly Dec. 28. Dyllon Drake of Aztec caught a 23-inch rainbow trout using a size 24 black midge pupa pattern Dec. 27. Read about his catch in this week’s Tips and Tricks section.
If you have a catch of the week story or just want to tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing experience, send it to us at funfishingnm@gmail.com. We may include your story in our next report.
For catches of the week, include name, age, hometown, date, location, type of fish, length and weight, if possible; and bait, lure or fly used.
Cabresto Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Charette Lakes: Closed for the season.
Cimarrón River: Stream flow near Cimarrón on Monday morning was not measured due to ice. In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.
Clayton Lake: Closed until March 2021.
Conchas Lake: Fishing for walleye was slow using jigs tipped with worms.
Costilla Creek: The Department has implemented the final phase of a project to expand Río Grande cutthroat trout in 120 miles of the Costilla watershed in Northern New Mexico. The final phase involved the removal of fish within a designated area (Río Costilla from Costilla Dam downstream to the Valle Vidal Boundary including all tributaries and Comanche Creek from the road culvert crossing on FR 1950 downstream to its confluence with Río Costilla and all tributaries) with a tentative restocking of Río Grande cutthroat in spring 2022. Places to fish nearby include Costilla Creek below the fish barrier, Upper Comanche Creek, Shuree Ponds, Middle Ponil Creek, Upper Powderhouse Creek, Little Costilla Creek, Vidal Creek and McCrystal Creek. The Department anticipates the completion of this final phase in the fall of 2021. Please check the department website for additional information on the project and to identify alternative angling opportunities in the interim.
Cowles Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Coyote Creek: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.
Eagle Nest Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake was open to ice fishing. Fishing for trout was good using jigs tipped with worms. Fishing for perch was very good, using ice fishing jigs tipped with wax worms and earthworms in the mornings and afternoons.
Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Fawn Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Gallinas River: Fishing for trout was fair using black Woolly Bugger flies.
Hopewell Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Alice: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake opened for ice fishing.
Lake Maloya: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for trout was good using dough bait.
Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Maxwell Lake 13: Closed for the season.
Monastery Lake: Closed due to COVID health concerns. Check the Open Gate webpage for future updates.
Morphy Lake: Closed for a renovation project on the dam and no firm opening date is set.
Pecos River: Stream flow near the Village of Pecos, Monday morning was not measured due to ice. Fishing for trout was fair using worms.
Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery Monday morning was 45.0 cubic feet per second. Fishing for trout near the hatchery was good using egg pattern, zebra midge and beadhead nymph flies.
Río Grande: Stream flow at the Taos Junction Bridge, Monday morning was 322 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good using heavy bright-colored nymph, egg pattern and midge flies.
Río Hondo: Stream flow Monday morning near Valdez was not measured due to ice.
Río Mora: Stream flow Monday morning was not measured due to ice.
Río Pueblo: Stream flow near Peñasco Monday morning was not measured due to ice.
Santa Cruz Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Shuree Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Springer Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Storrie Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information.
Stubblefield Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Ute Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks will reopen to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Fishing for walleye was slow to fair using vibrating blade baits in 40- to 50-feet of water. The main lake surface temperature was in the mid-40s F.
Abiquiú Lake: The boat ramp is open.
Animas River: Water flow below Aztec on Monday morning was 122 cfs.
Albuquerque Area Drains: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Bluewater Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. It is closed to boating and ice-fishing due to recent weather conditions that have led to unsafe lake surface conditions. The lake is currently closed to all watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, inflatables and all types of motorboats.
Brazos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Canjílon Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Chama River: Monday morning flows below El Vado and Abiquiú were 102 cfs and 47 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below Abiquiú Lake was good using big nymph flies fished deep, midge pattern flies, brown and black size 12-16 weighted bead head nymph flies, hare’s ear, pheasant tail and mayfly pattern flies.
Cochiti Lake: Scheduled to reopen for day use beginning Jan. 4. Visitors to the lake will need to make a reservation by purchasing a ticket at least 24 hours in advance through recreation.gov. Tickets and reservations will NOT be sold at the lake. The boat ramp will be open.
El Vado Lake: El Vado Lake State Park is open at the Dam Day Use Area only from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and New Mexico residents only. The lake is closed to boating and ice-fishing due to recent weather conditions that have led to unsafe lake surface conditions.
Fenton Lake: Fenton Lake State Park opened to ice fishing Saturday, Jan. 2. Fishing for trout was good using small pink jigs tipped with worms and PowerBait.
Heron Lake: In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. The lake can be accessed at Ridge Rock or La Laja. The lake is closed to boating and ice-fishing due to recent weather conditions that have led to unsafe lake surface conditions.
Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez near the town of Jemez on Monday morning was 17.9 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using midge and bead head nymph flies.
Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.
Lagunitas Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Manzano Lake: Closed until further notice.
McGaffey Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Navajo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
San Gregorío Lake: Anglers reported the lake is frozen.
San Juan River: Stream flow Monday morning was 320 cfs. In accordance with the Public Health Order, effective Dec. 3, NM State Parks reopened to New Mexico residents for day-use only. Please check the State Parks’ website for more information. Fishing for trout was good using black leech pattern flies, black midge pupa pattern flies and black midge cluster pattern flies.
Seven Springs Brood Pond: Closed due to COVID health concerns. Check the department’s Alerts page for future updates.
Tingley Beach: Fishing for trout was good using yellow and garlic flavored PowerBait.
Trout Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Credit: Source link
