DON’T RISK A TICKET: RENEW YOUR FISHING LICENSE FOR 2005-2006
SANTA FE – Need some incentive to buy a new fishing license for the 2005-2006 season that began April 1? How about 644,707 hungry trout? That’s how many catchable-sized rainbows were stocked in lakes and streams statewide in the past two months. “As the weather gets warmer and anglers start getting out the gear, we start stocking more fish,” said Mike Sloane, Chief of Fisheries for the Department of Game and Fish. “This spring, we had plenty of trout in our hatcheries, so we decided to stock them early for anglers to enjoy.” Trout averaging about 10 inches long were stocked in waters statewide, but some popular areas got an extra load or two. Anglers near Santa Fe, Espanola and Taos should have good luck this spring at Santa Cruz Lake or in the Rio Grande near Pilar. Both spots received about 12,000 rainbow trout in the past two months. Bonito Lake near Ruidoso, which opened for the season April 1, received 6,240 trout, about half of them 13-inchers. Nearby Grindstone Reservoir got about 3,000 9-inchers. About 10,000 trout went into the Albuquerque Drain. Burn Lake in Las Cruces got 5,291 trout and 13,500 were stocked in McAllister Lake. All New Mexico anglers ages 12 and over need a license to legally fish in the state’s public waters. Anglers under age 12 don’t need a license. Resident anglers age 70 or over need a license, but it is free. License fees are the same as last year — $17.50 for state residents, $39 for nonresidents – and the licenses are valid from April 1, 2005, to March 31, 2006. Licenses can be purchased at more than 230 vendors statewide, any Department of Game and Fish office, or via the Department’s web site, www.wildlife,state.nm.us.
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