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Thursday, January 18, 2007

Fishing Line
By Bill Dyroff
For the Journal
CATCHES of the WEEK: On the San Juan, Saturday, Joe Ayala of Albuquerque
caught and released a 27-inch rainbow on a size 18 apricot egg at the Upper Flats. Also
Saturday, but at Sandia Pueblo Lakes, Jack Lucero of Albuquerque caught a 211/2-inch,
4-pound rainbow on a night crawler.
FREE FLY FISHING CLINIC at TINGLEY BEACH: On Feb. 10, a Saturday,
members of New Mexico Trout and BioPark Fishing Guide Volunteers will provide a
free fly fishing clinic for all ages at Tingley Beach. Hours will be 10 a.m. to noon.
An event tent will be located on the grass south of Tingley Train Station. Until further
notice, this will be an ongoing activity at Tingley Beach— occurring the second Saturday
of each month.
Participants can learn basic fly tying methods and fly rod casting techniques, or
enhance advanced skills. Fishing etiquette and catch and release practices will also be
introduced.
Equipment and supplies are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and are free;
however, participants are welcome to bring their own. In addition, Tingley Outfitters
provides basic equipment for purchase inside the train station.
No fee or advance registration is required, and there is no fee for access to Tingley
Beach.
For more information: call Tingley Beach Curator, (505) 248-8514.
EAGLE NEST LAKE ICE FISHING SERIES RESULTS: The Eagle Nest Lake Ice
Fishing Series held Saturday attracted 36 entries. Only trout, kokanee salmon and yellow
perch caught at the lake were considered for prizes— with winners determined by total
weight of fish caught.
First place was won by Toby Varoz of Taos who brought 11 pounds of trout and
perch to the weigh-in. He received a prize of $116.00.
TROUT STOCKING PLAN SHOULD IMPROVE FISHING AT BLUEWATER
AND ELSEWHERE: A recent news release from the Department of Game and Fish.
The Department of Game and Fish is moving forward with plans to re-evaluate trout
stocking strategies at Bluewater Lake and other fisheries statewide. This is an effort to
improve trout fishing by addressing challenges imposed by drought, disease and
temporarily closed fish hatcheries.
"Our goal is to make the most of what we've got and provide anglers with the best
trout fishing opportunities possible," fisheries chief Mike Sloane said. "We are currently
renovating two of our fish hatcheries (Lisboa Springs near Pecos and Los Ojos near
Chama, closed since their trout tested positive for whirling disease). Until they are
operating again, we are evaluating the best ways to distribute trout across the state."
Drought and overpopulation of suckers and goldfish have compounded problems at
Bluewater. To reduce the numbers of suckers and goldfish, the Department has stocked

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thousands of non-reproducing tiger muskies into the lake (many of these are now more
than 2 feet long). The Department has also continued stocking trout— larger fish than
in previous years but fewer in number.
"Until the renovations are completed at the hatcheries, our plan is to adjust stocking
schedules to reflect what the remaining three hatcheries are producing and prevent any
one fishing destination from being overly impacted," said Brian Gleadle, the
Department's Northwest Area Operations Chief.
For more information about fishing in New Mexico and a current statewide fishing
and stocking report, please visit the Department Web site, www.wildlife.state.nm.us.
AROUND the STATE
ICE CONDITIONS
EAGLE NEST: As of Monday evening. About a couple of feet of snow on the ice
and the ground; U.S. 64 is clear, but icy in spots. Ice thickness is about 14 inches. Most
days, ice fishermen have been doing real well for 14-inch average rainbows and
10-inch-average perch. Best reports are from the area near the main boat ramp. Best for
the rainbows with salmon eggs, corn, PowerBait, crappie jigs, Swedish Pimples and
Dominators— best for perch with worms. For current ice conditions, contact Eagle
Nest Lake State Park, (505) 377-1594 or Mountain View Cabins, (505) 377-6941.
Sue Finley, Mountain View Cabins
MALOYA and ALICE: As of Tuesday. More than a foot of ice at each lake. Good at
both for 6- to 10-inch rainbows on homemade doughbaits or PowerBait. A heavy snow
pack in both lake areas; use caution while parking.
Greg Romero, park ranger, Sugarite Canyon State Park
FENTON: As of Wednesday. Ice thickness is 8 to 12 inches. But the ice still has
about a dozen or so open holes with bubbling water; definitely not safe areas— avoid
them. Some holes are a couple of feet wide. Caution ... the holes are now more difficult
to see because of 3 inches of new snow on the ice. Fishing has been really good recently
for 12- to 14-inch rainbows with salmon eggs. For current conditions, call the state park,
(505) 829-3630.
Randy Trujillo, park ranger
JICARILLA LAKES: As of Tuesday. Ice fishing conditions good at Horse and
Mundo. The road to Horse is snow-packed and slick— access OK for 4WD vehicles,
and tracks have been made all the way to the lake. The road may be plowed in the near
future. Fishing reports range from slow to fair at Horse; best reports from anglers using
PowerBait and jigs on the bottom. At Mundo, roads have been plowed to the boat
ramp. Mundo has ice at 8 inches to 10 inches and is fishing very well for 9- to 12-inch
rainbows on corn, salmon eggs and jigs. For current information: call Kevin Terry,
Jicarilla Game & Fish, (505) 759-3255.
Kevin Terry, fisheries biologist, Jicarilla Game & Fish
BLUEWATER: As of Wednesday. Ice thickness is about 6 to 8 inches. Extremely
light pressure— some days, no one seen on the ice. No current reports. For updates, call
the state park, (505) 876-2391.
Helen Harry, park ranger
OPEN WATER
NAVAJO LAKE: Cold, cold, cold. Day temperatures about 20 and night lows about

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zero degrees. Little or no fishing pressure; no reports.

Steve Mueller, park superintendent
SAN JUAN RIVER: As of Tuesday. Flowing at 468 cubic feet a second; Navajo Lake
is turning over and clarity of the San Juan changes from 11/2 to 31/2 feet almost
hourly. Good in quality water for catch-and-release of 17- to 20-inch fish, some bigger
to 27 inches (see Catches of the Week above). Best with egg patterns, San Juan Worms,
red or orange Larva and Scintilla Midges. Good in regular water for 12- to 16-inch
rainbows and a few browns; night crawlers and garlic cheese best this week.
Andy Greenberg at Abe's
HERON: As of Monday evening. Extremely light pressure and no reports this week.
About 10 inches of snow on the ground. Main roads are clear. In the park, main roads
have been plowed, but are ice-packed. For current information, contact the state park
office, (505) 588-7470, or Stone House Lodge, (505) 588-7274.
Marilyn Morrison, Stone House Lodge
RIO CHAMA below EL VADO: As of Monday evening. About 10 inches of snow
on the ground. River flow is at 223 cfs, and fairly clear with a greenish cast to it. Only a
couple of groups have been here fishing; no reports.
David Cooper, El Vado Guest Ranch
ISLETA PUEBLO LAKES: As of Tuesday. Despite colder weather, excellent for 12-
to 16-inch rainbows on night crawlers, salmon eggs and PowerBait; some anglers
reported success with artificial lures.
Jason Rector, Aquatics Consultants, for Isleta Lakes
SANDIA PUEBLO LAKES: As of Tuesday. No ice. Good to very good for 11- to
13-inch rainbows, some bigger at 18 inches to 211/2 inches (see Catches of the Week,
above). Best with night crawlers, Pistol Petes, white PowerBait and Super Dupers.
Paul Holmes, lakes manager
COCHITI: As of Tuesday. About 6 to 8 inches of snow on the ground; roads are
clear. Lake is still frozen; not safe.
Murray Lewis, Mainstream Bait Shop, Peña Blanca
NOTES from GAME & FISH: In the Taos Area, water flow on Monday morning at
Embudo was 580 cfs. Fishing was slow to fair for anglers using spinners, streamers and
worms for trout. No reports on other species. Water flow on Monday for the Red River
near Questa was 29 cfs. Fishing was fair for anglers using small beadhead nymphs and
streamers. Monday flow of the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 18 cfs. Trout fishing on
the lower Jemez was fair to good for anglers using small beadhead nymphs, PowerBait
and salmon eggs. Our best reports again this week came from anglers fishing
downstream from Soda Dam. Trout fishing was good at Bosque Redondo for anglers
using flies under a bubble, corn, salmon eggs and PowerBait. Trout fishing was good at
Bill Evans on PowerBait, salmon eggs, salmon egg/corn combinations, spinners and
Pistol Petes. No reports on other species. Fair to good for trout at Bear Canyon on
salmon eggs, Pistol Petes and PowerBait.
Bill Dunn's Report for the Department of Game and Fish
SUMNER: As of Tuesday. Cold weather and very little pressure. No reports from the
lake. Continues good below the dam for 12-inch stocker rainbows. Best reports on
PowerBaits and Mepps spinners. For more information call the park office, (505)

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355-2541.
Lewis Hancock, park ranger
ELEPHANT BUTTE: Not much fishing pressure. I haven't even heard of anyone
fishing. No reports.
JR McManus, Desert Bass Guide Service
WINTER STOCKING, MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY: None planned for
this week.
John Sheffer, assistant manager for distribution, Red River Hatchery
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