New Mexico Fly Fishing Reports

January 1, 2013

Northeast

Cabresto Lake: The lake and campground closed May 14 and will stay closed while the dam is being rebuilt.
Charette Lakes: Closed for the season.
Clayton Lake: Closed for the season.
Conchas Lake: Fishing from the bank was slow for all species. We had no reports from boaters. Coyote Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Eagle Nest Lake: On Monday the lake opened to walk in only ice fishing. No snow mobiles or ATVs allowed on the ice at this time. There is approximately 10 inches of ice near the boat ramp and 9 inches in the Six Mile area. The gate to Six Mile is expected to open in a few days.
Lake Maloya: As of Monday the lake was covered with a thin layer of ice. For updated conditions call the Sugarite Canyon State Park office at 575-445-5607.
Los Pinos: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Manzano Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Maxwell Lake 13: Closed for the season.
Monastery Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Morphy Lake: Closed for the season.
Pecos River: Trout fishing was slow but there were a few fish taken on egg patterns, small copper John Barrs and salmon eggs. Most of the action was below the town of Pecos to the Villanueva area.
Red River: Water flow below the hatchery was 26 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Red River City Ponds: Closed for the season.
Rio Grande: The water flow Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 344 cfs. Trout fishing in the Pilar area was fair to good using bead head pheasant tails, San Juan worms, sparkle worms and brassies. A few fish were also taken by anglers using Pistol Petes and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.
Rio Hondo: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Mora: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Santa Barbara: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Springer Lake: We had no reports from anglers.
Storrie Lake: There is a thin layer of ice on the lake. For updated conditions contact the Storrie Lake State Park office at 505-425-7278.
Stubblefield Lake: The lake has reopened with a new agreement reached with the Vermejo Conservancy District. However, with the current low water conditions, fishing is discouraged at this time.
Ute Lake: Fishing pressure was very light this past week with just a few anglers out searching for walleye. They picked up a few using jig and minnow combinations and slab spoons. We had no reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the mid 40s.

Northwest

Abiquiu Lake: Fishing pressure was non existent this past week. We had no reports from anglers.
Animas River: Monday morning water flow at Aztec was 306 cfs. Trout fishing was good using San Juan worms, egg patterns, salmon eggs and Power Bait.
Albuquerque Area Drains: Trout fishing on the drains was good for some slow for others. Anglers did well fishing the Albuquerque South Drain, Bernalillo and Corrales Drains. Best baits salmon eggs on a small hook, small bead head pheasant tails, streamers, small brassies, small copper John Barrs, Power Bait, wax worms and homemade dough bait. We had no reports from the Belen or Peralta Drains.
Bluewater Lake: As of the 29th of December there was approximately 5 inches of ice on the lake from the boat dock about 100 feet out. We had no reports from anglers. For updated ice conditions contact the Bluewater State Park office at 505-876-2391.
Canjilon Lakes: We had no reports from anglers.
Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 158 cfs and 74 cfs respectively. Fishing pressure was very light at both locations but anglers reported good fishing below Abiquiu. They were using small wooly buggers, copper John Barrs and salmon eggs.
Cochiti Lake: As of Sunday there was some ice (described as slushy) forming around the boat ramp and other areas of the lake. However there was some open water for bank fishing. Fishing was slow for all species.
El Vado Lake: As of Sunday the lake was completely covered in a thin layer of ice and unsafe for fishing at this time.
Fenton Lake: The lake is off limits to fishing at this time. Plan on heading up here for great ice out fishing in the spring.
Heron Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Jackson Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Jemez Waters: Water flow on the Jemez River as of Monday morning was 18 cfs and the area was receiving a rather heavy snow fall. Trout fishing on the lower Jemez was very good for anglers using small copper John Barrs, San Juan worms and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other streams in this area.
Laguna del Campo: Closed for the season.
Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Navajo Lake: Fishing pressure was extremely light and we had no reports from anglers.
Ramah Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
San Juan: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 355 cfs. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was very good for anglers using Griffith’s gnats, dead chickens, small red midge larva, black and olive wooly buggers, San Juan worms and olive bunny leeches. The best dry fly action was in the mid to late afternoon hours. Fishing through the bait waters was good using Super Dupers, wooly buggers, Pistol Petes, worms and salmon eggs.
Santa Cruz Lake: The boat ramp has been closed due to low water conditions. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Seven Springs Brood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week. This water is open to fishing for youth under the age of 12 and an excellent place to take youngsters and get them interested in fishing. The pond is well stocked to offer youngsters a great fishing experience.
Tingley Beach: We checked this one on Friday. Saw lots of activity at the Central Pond but the Children’s Pond and Catch and Release Pond were all but deserted. There is a little ice along the east banks of the ponds but plenty of open water for fishing. Anglers doing best at the Central Pond were using salmon eggs, wax worms and Power Bait for trout. Through the weekend the same baits worked well here and at the Children’s Pond. Fishing pressure at the Catch and Release Pond remained light and fishing was slow.

Southwest

Bear Canyon: Trout fishing was good using garlic scented Power Bait, salmon eggs and homemade dough bait.
Bill Evans Lake: Trout fishing was fair using garlic cheese, garlic scented Power Bait and homemade dough bait. We had no reports on other species.
Caballo Lake: All boat ramps have been closed and will remain closed until such time as water levels rise and is deemed safe for launching. Fishing pressure was extremely light again this past week and we had no reports from anglers.
Elephant Butte: Fishing pressure this past week was very light. A few black bass were caught by anglers using spoons and jigs worked deep and slow off points. We had no reports on other species. The Monticello, Dam Site and Rock Canyon boat ramps remain closed due to low water conditions.
Escondida Lake: About 50 percent of the lake is free of ice and fishing has been quite good this past week. Anglers did well using garlic scented Power Bait, wax worms, salmon eggs and homemade dough baits.
Gila River: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 69 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Glenwood Pond: Trout fishing was good using Power Bait.
Lake Roberts: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Percha Dam: The water was low and fishing was slow for all species.
Quemado Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Grande: Water flow below Elephant Butte as of Monday was .70 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Snow Lake: With access roads open and a recent double stocking of rainbow trout, put this lake high on your list for some fall fishing from the bank. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Southeast

Bataan Lake: Trout fishing was good using Panther Martins, small spoons, Power Bait and salmon eggs. We had no reports on other species.
Black River: As of Monday stream flow above Malaga was 9.1 cfs. Trout fishing was fair using egg patterns, brassies and small copper John Barrs.
Blue Hole Park Pond: Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs, salmon egg corn combinations, Power Bait and homemade dough bait.
Bonito Lake: Closed.
Bosque Redondo: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Bottomless Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Brantley Lake: Anglers are to practice catch-and-release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish.
Carlsbad Municipal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
El Rito Creek: Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs and small bead head pheasant tail nymphs.
Green Meadow Lake: Trout fishing was good using Pistol Petes, worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait and homemade dough baits. A few trout were also taken on spinners.
Grindstone Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Jal Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait, worms and salmon eggs.
Lake Van: Trout fishing was very good using Power Bait, homemade dough bait, Pistol Petes and garlic cheese. We had no reports on other species.
Oasis Park Lake: Trout fishing was fair using Power Bait, garlic cheese and salmon eggs.
Pecos River: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 20
cfs. We had no reports from anglers
this week.
Perch Lake: Trout fishing was good using salmon peach and rainbow Power Bait, garlic cheese, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes.
Ruidoso River: Water flow at Hollywood on Monday was 4.8 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Santa Rosa Lake: As of Monday there was ice around the shoreline and the only option for fishing was to launch a canoe or kayak. We had no reports from anglers. The boat ramp remains closed to motorized craft.
Sumner Lake: Fishing pressure continued to be extremely light and fishing was slow for all species. The Violation Canyon boat ramp remains open at this time and will remain open as long as lake levels permit.

I have been talking to Troy, Isaac and Pat about the fishing and it is time to get your fish on! I had a chance to go down and spend a couple days and make some casts myself and had a great time. Troy and I caught a lot of fish in the softer water and about 70% took the worm most of the other fish were tuned into yellow stoneflies. Water color was that perfect light green and flows were friendly. Because of the lower than normal snowpack you can plan on being able to fish all of the early hatches and have a May with no missed days. The road to Platoro is now open all the way and the guides have been out “sampling” the fishing and they told me they have had days with tons of “Doubles”! Fish wintered well and are healthy. The higher you get the more it is likely to be wormy, midgy, and see some baetis. Lower river will fish more effectively with Stoneflies and then experimenting with Rainbow Warriors, Chironocones, PT’s, Flashbangs, dead drifted leeches, and Salvations. Lower river fish will go on the worm during wet conditions or whenever you are walking in mud next to river!

Get a chance give us a call and book some time with us. The cabins and guides all have holes in the schedule in May and early June. Most of Colorado will be blown out with heavy runoff for the next 6 weeks while the Conejos drainage with the convenience of the dam at Platoro will run clear and fish well with no crowds during those 6 weeks.