FISHING LINE

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

At Bluewater Lake, Duane Fuller of Dateland, Ariz. caught a 38-inch, 38-pound channel catfish on Sept. 20. He was using spiced sausage. It was a state record breaking catch. … Khalil Rodriguez, 15, of Albuquerque caught and released a 30-inch tiger muskie on Sept. 18. He was using a live action lure.

Steven Walker of Artesia caught a 27-inch, 8½-pound, channel catfish at Lake Van on Sept. 19. He was using hotdogs. Josh Austin of Las Cruces caught and released a 3½-pound smallmouth bass at Navajo Lake on Saturday. He was fishing a high school bass tournament and using a drop shot rig.

AROUND THE STATE

SHADY LAKES: In October, Shady Lakes will be open on the weekends only at 9 a.m. After 54 years in business, our last day will be Oct. 30. Our last trout stocking was one month ago. The east trout pond is biting moderately well, especially on salmon eggs and worms. Average size is a nice pan-size 10-incher rainbow, yet the water is clear to see there are numerous bigger trout remaining to challenge you. The bass slow down in September with the cooler temperatures. There are still some moderately strong reports of two to four bass caught and released using plastic worms but, by this time of year, the bass have seen just about everything tossed out at them. Bluegill can still be caught on worms. There’s a heavy cover of water lilies in these ponds at this time of year. Jan Phillips, director ISLETA LAKES: Both SUNRISE and TURTLE lakes were fully stocked with channel catfish. Fishing has been very good at both lakes, and most anglers are using stink baits, chicken livers, worms and hot dogs. Very little trout activity at this time. Carlos Trujillo, Isleta Lakes & RV Park NOTES from GAME & FISH: Stream flow on the CIMARRON RIVER below Eagle Nest on Monday was 20 cfs. Fishing was very good using San Juan worms, bead-head, pheasant tail nymphs, woolly worms, copper John Barrs, elk hair caddis flies, worms and salmon eggs for trout. Stream flow on the RIO GRANDE on Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 225 cfs. Fishing was very good using spinners, Kastmasters, small streamers, PowerBait and night crawlers for trout. Fishing at EAGLE NEST LAKE for rainbow trout was good using PowerBait from the bank and trolling Platte River specials tipped with PowerBait At LAKE MALOYA, fishing was fair to good using PowerBait for rainbow trout and Pistol Petes for brown trout. Fishing at TINGLEY BEACH’S Central and Youth Ponds was slow to fair using hot dogs, homemade dough baits and worms for catfish. Fishing was fair using worms for bluegill. Stream flow on the JEMEZ RIVER near Jemez Springs on Monday morning was 20 cfs. Fishing on the upper CEBOLLA was good using stimulators, copper John Barrs and worms for rainbow trout. At FENTON LAKE, fishing was fair using Pistol Petes, woolly buggers, Kastmasters and PowerBait for trout. Monday morning water flows on the CHAMA RIVER below El Vado and Abiquiu were 501 cfs and 491 cfs, respectively. Fishing below El Vado was fair to good using Rapalas, woolly buggers, night crawlers, Panther Martin spinners, Kastmasters and salmon eggs for brown, cutthroat and rainbow trout. Fishing above El Vado was fair to good using Panther Martin spinners and Pistol Petes for brown trout. Fishing at CLAYTON LAKE was good using beef liver for catfish up to 17 inches. Stream flow on the SAN JUAN RIVER as of Monday morning was 469 cfs. Fishing through the quality waters section was good using RS2s, WD40s, foam wing emergers, parachute Adams, scintillas, San Juan worms and crystal flash midges. Fishing through the bait section was good using night crawlers, woolly buggers, copper John Barrs, San Juan worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. Fishing at NAVAJO LAKE was good using swim baits, top water lures, senkos, tubes, jigs, crank baits and jerk baits for smallmouth and largemouth bass. Fishing was good using swim baits, top water lures, crank baits and spinner baits for northern pike. Kokanee snagging season opens October 1. At ELEPHANT BUTTE LAKE, fishing was fair using crank baits, swim baits and curly tail grubs for white bass.