New Mexico fishing and stocking report for Feb. 20

Catches of the week

• Alumni Pond: Justin Sanchez, 3, of Dona Ana, caught his first fish, a rainbow trout, Feb 12. He was using worms.
• Elephant Butte Lake: Jacob Wood, age 6, of Los Lunas, caught his first white bass of the year Feb. 18. He was using white curly tail grubs and spoons.
• Tingley Beach: Richard Muniz of Albuquerque caught a 21-inch largemouth bass Feb. 18. He was using salmon eggs.

The following report came in late but deserves a mention:

• Escondida Lake: Joseph Cashus Reichenbach, 2, of Socorro, caught 4 rainbow trout with his new fishing gear Feb. 9. He was using pink and yellow PowerBait and had a little help from his dad.

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 fishforfun2@hotmail.com. We may include your story in our next report.

For catches of the week, include name, age, hometown, date, and location, type of fish, length and weight if possible and bait, lure or fly used.

Feb. 20 

Northeast

Cabresto Lake: Trout fishing was good using ice jigs tipped with wax worms and PowerBait.

Charette Lakes: Closed for the season.

Clayton Lake:  Closed for the season.

Cimarron River: Stream flow below Eagle Nest on Monday was 1.24 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Conchas Lake: Fishing was slow to fair using slab spoons and jig and grub combinations fished deep for walleye and white bass. We had no other reports.

Costilla Creek: Check this one out next spring.

Cowles Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Eagle Nest Lake: Most of the ice has come off the lake and it is open to bank fishing but as of Monday, it was still closed to boating. Fishing was fair using PowerBait for trout. Fishing pressure was light. For updated conditions, contact the state park office at (575) 377-1594.

Gallinas River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Hopewell Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Put this one on your list for spring fishing.

Lake Alice: As of this past Sunday, there was some open water for bank fishing but the lake was closed to ice fishing. For updated ice conditions, call the state park office at (575) 445-5607.

Lake Maloya: Bank fishing as good using corn and PowerBait for trout. For updates on ice conditions, call the state park office at (575) 445-5607.

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

Maxwell Lake 13: Closed for the season.

Monastery Lake: Fishing was very good using PowerBait for trout.

Morphy Lake:  Closed for the season.

Pecos River: Streamflow near Pecos on Monday was 25.5 cfs. Fishing was slow.

Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday was 45.1 cfs. Fishing was fair using salmon eggs for trout.

Red River City Ponds: Closed for the season.

Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 490 cfs. Fishing in the Taos area was fair to good using San Juan worms, bead-head pheasant tail nymphs, olive streamers and night crawlers for trout. Anglers using large streamers reported catching a few northern pike. We had no other reports.

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

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

Rio Pueblo: Stream flow near Penasco was 11.2 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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: Fishing was slow to fair using Fire Balls and PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports. For updated ice conditions, call the state park office at (505) 425-7278.

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

Ute Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light.

Northwest

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

Animas River: Water flow below Aztec on Monday morning was 129 cfs. Fishing was good using small bead-head nymphs, PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms for trout.

Albuquerque Area Drains: Fishing in the Albuquerque, Bernalillo, Corrales and Peralta drains was good using wooly buggers, worms, PowerBait, corn and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

Bluewater Lake: As of this past Sunday morning, the lake was clear of ice. The main boat ramp was closed but the secondary ramp was open. Fishing was good using PowerBait, salmon eggs, corn and worms for trout. We had no reports on other species. For updated ice conditions, call the state park office at (505) 876-2391.  

Brazos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Canjilon Lakes: Closed by the U.S. Forest Service until further notice.

Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 96.98 cfs and 33.9 cfs respectively. Fishing below Abiquiu was good using earth worms, salmon eggs, wooly worms, small bead-head pheasant tails, zebra midges and red larva.  We had no reports from below El Vado.

Cochiti Lake: Fishing was slow for all species.

El Vado Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Fenton Lake: Fishing was very good using green garlic PowerBait, worms and Fire Balls for trout. For updated conditions, contact the state park office at (575) 829-3630.

Heron Lake: Fishing from the bank was good using PowerBait and corn for rainbow trout up to 17 inches. Anglers having the best luck were using garlic PowerBait. We had no other reports.

Jackson Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.

Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez River near Jemez Springs on Monday morning was 24.8 cfs. Trout fishing on the Jemez was slow with just a few trout caught by anglers using worms and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other streams.

Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.

Lagunitas Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Farmington: Fishing was good using Fire Balls and PowerBait for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Manzano Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, salmon eggs and corn for trout. We had no reports on other species.

Navajo Lake: Fishing was slow but there were a few northern pike caught by anglers using swim baits and deep running crank baits.  

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

San Juan River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 322 cfs. Fly fishing action through the Quality waters was good using small white bunny leeches, olive, white and black streamers, red larva, egg patterns and zebra midges. Trout fishing through the bait waters was fair using PowerBait, Fire Balls, wooly worms, bunny leeches and small spoons. A river enhancement project has begun and the area between the Simon Point Day-Use Area downriver to the Crusher Hole Day-Use Area is closed to boat and foot traffic until March 1, 2018. Temporary closures of multiple day-use areas are expected until April 2018.  For more information, visit nmparks.com or contact Navajo Lake State Park, (505) 632-2278. 

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

Tingley Beach: Trout fishing at the Youth and Central ponds was good using PowerBait, Zeke’s trout bait, salmon eggs and worms. Fishing for all other species was slow. We had no other reports.

Trout Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Southwest

Alumni Pond: Fishing was good using garlic cheese and PowerBait for trout.

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms for trout. We had no other reports.

Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout. We had no other reports.

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

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was fair to good using curly tail grubs, spoons and blade baits for white bass. Fishing was fair to good using pumpkin green Zoom worms, liver and red worms for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

Escondida Lake: Fishing was good using wooly buggers, PowerBait, Fire Balls, Zeke’s trout bait, corn and worms for trout. Fishing was fair using stink bait, worms and PowerBait for catfish. We had no other reports.

Gila River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 336 cfs. We had reports from anglers this week.

Glenwood Pond: Fishing was good using PowerBait for trout.

Lake Roberts: Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for rainbow trout and an occasional Gila trout. We had no other reports.    

Percha Dam: We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Rancho Grande Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 0.35 cfs. Fishing was slow to fair using PowerBait for trout. Fishing was fair to good using liver and stink bait for catfish. Dudley Bristow, pastor of the First Baptist Church in T or C, caught an 18-inch largemouth bass at Rotary Park Feb. 17. He was fishing for trout and using a size 10 hook and PowerBait.

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

Young Pond: Fishing was good for anglers using garlic PowerBait and Zeke’s trout bait for trout. We had no other reports.

Southeast

Alto Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports

Bataan Lake: Fishing was good using Kastmasters, PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.  

Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 11.2 cfs. Fishing continued good this past week for anglers using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was very good for anglers using PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout.

Bonito Lake: Closed until further notice by the city of Alamogordo due to fire damage.

Bosque Redondo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bottomless Lakes: Fishing was fair using PowerBait for trout.

Brantley Lake: Anglers are required to catch and release all fish here as high levels of pesticides have been found in some fish. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing was fair to good using liver for catfish. Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms for trout. We had no other reports.

Chaparral Park Lake: Fishing was fair to good using salmon eggs, corn and PowerBait for trout.

El Rito Creek: Fishing was good using PowerBait, Zeke’s trout bait and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

Eunice Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait and Fire Balls for trout.

Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for trout.

Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was good using wooly worms, wooly buggers, salmon eggs and PowerBait for trout.

Jal Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.

Lake Van: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, worms, salmon egg corn combinations and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was very good using salmon eggs and PowerBait for trout.

Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 48.8 cfs. Fishing below Sumner Lake was fair to good using worms, salmon eggs and PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.

Perch Lake: Fishing was good using Pistol Petes, Fire Balls and PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.

Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood was 56.3 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

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

Sumner Lake: Fishing was slow with just a few walleye and crappie caught by anglers using jigs and worms just off the bottom. We had no other reports.