FISHING LINE

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Noe Garcia of Albuquerque caught a 24-inch kokanee salmon using a snag hook at Navajo Lake near the dam Saturday.

Ben Sameshima of Tucson caught a 24-inch rainbow trout on the San Juan River near Kiddy Hole using a Yong Wing fly Saturday.

Michelle Cortez of Albuquerque caught a 20-inch rainbow trout using a small gold Kastmaster lure Oct. 27 at Fenton Lake.

AROUND THE STATE

HERON LAKE: This is it. We’re almost there. Snagging season begins Friday at 12:01 a.m. I’ll take a little risk and predict that this will be the best season for kokanee snagging for at least the past five years. Best places might be in the Ridge Rock camping area on the southeast side of the renamed Sierra Vista Boat ramp. Also you might try around the La Laja boat ramp. Have a good time, be safe and catch a lot of fish. Don Wolfley, Stone House Lodge

NOTES from GAME & FISH

Streamflow on the SAN JUAN RIVER on Monday morning was 320 cfs. Fishing for trout in the “quality waters” was very good using midge pattern flies and Blue Winged Olive flies. Fishing the lower section of the river for trout was good using Baetis pattern flies.

At NAVAJO LAKE, fishing for kokanee salmon using snagging hooks was good around the dam.

Monday morning flows on the CHAMA RIVER below El Vado and Abiquiu were 620 cfs and 669 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was good using bead head nymph pattern flies, nightcrawlers and PowerBait. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was fair using eggs, bead head nymphs, woolly buggers and yellow steamers.

Streamflow on the RIO GRANDE at the Taos Junction Bridge Monday morning was 322 cfs. Fishing for trout was very good from the Red River confluence downstream through Pilar. Anglers reported having success using small mayfly dry flies, nymphs and emergers in the afternoons.

At UTE LAKE, fishing for white bass was good using jigging slabs and blade baits in 20 to 30 feet of water.

Fishing for catfish at COCHITI LAKE was good using cut bait in 14-feet of water.

At FENTON LAKE, fishing for trout was good using Kastmaster lures, leach pattern flies, mop flies and bead head nymph flies in conjunction with a strike indicator. Only two cutthroat trout are allowed to be harvested per day within the regular five fish limit.

Fishing for brown trout on the upper streams of the JEMEZ RIVER was good using Copper John flies and worms. Fishing for trout below Battleship Rock was good using a variety of baits.

At EAGLE NEST LAKE, fishing for trout was good using PowerBait and Panther Martin spinners.

At MONASTERY LAKE, fishing for trout was good using dry flies and PowerBait.

Streamflow on the PECOS RIVER near Pecos on Monday morning was 32.4 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using legged nymph flies.

Streamflow on the RED RIVER below the hatchery Monday morning was 47.1 cfs. Fishing for trout was good using salmon eggs, nymph flies, Blue Winged Olives, Copper Johns and Pheasant Tails.

Fishing at ELEPHANT BUTTE LAKE was slow. Anglers reported catching a few white bass.

At QUEMADO LAKE, fishing for trout was good using silver spinners, PowerBait and worms.