FISHING LINE

CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Briana Valdez, 11, of Anthony caught a 16-inch rainbow trout using yellow PowerBait salmon eggs Dec. 14, at Alto Lake. Ernest Almanza, of Deming caught an 18-inch rainbow trout using cheeseflavored PowerBait on Dec. 12, at Bill Evans Lake.

Adam Sena, of Los Lunas caught a 26-inch, 7-pound rainbow trout using a custom-tied brown nymph below Abiquiú Lake on Dec. 12, on the Chama River. Luke Grossetete and fishing partner Fisher Joe, both of Albuquerque, caught and released two limits of catfish using cut bait Dec. 14, at Cochiti Lake.

NOTES FROM GAME & FISH

Fishing for trout at TINGLEY BEACH was fair to good using garlic scented PowerBait and white PowerBait worms.

At the ALBUQUERQUE AREA DRAINS, fishing for trout was fair to good using salmon eggs and PowerBait.

Fishing for trout at MANZANO LAKE was fair to good using corn-colored PowerBait and white PowerBait.

Anglers at FENTON LAKE reported a thin layer of ice prohibiting fishing from the shore. The lake is closed to ice fishing until ice conditions improve. Remember only two cutthroat trout are allowed to be harvested per day within the regular five fish limit.

Streamflow on the JEMEZ RIVER on Monday morning was 17.3 cfs. Fishing for trout below Battleship Rock was fair to good using worms.

Streamflow on the CIMARRON RIVER near Cimarron on Monday morning was 15.4 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing at MONASTERY LAKE for trout was good using gold beadhead black Woolly Bugger flies and small olive leech pattern flies. There was a thin layer of ice in the mornings that melted in the afternoons.

EAGLE NEST LAKE is closed to boating and ice fishing due to recent weather conditions that have produced unsafe lake conditions. The lake is currently closed to all watercraft including canoes, kayaks and inflatables as well as all types of motor boats. A layer of ice has formed over portions of the lake. These conditions prohibit boating or ice fishing activities. It is anticipated that ice conditions should improve soon. Park staff will continue monitoring ice conditions and will advise when the lake is safe for ice fishing. Fishing from the shore is only permitted where open water touches the shore.

Streamflow on the RIO GRANDE at the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 510 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

CLAYTON LAKE is closed to fishing and boating until March 1.

Streamflow on the SAN JUAN RIVER on Monday morning was 577 cfs. Fishing for trout in the “quality waters” section was fair to good using red midge larva pattern flies, princess nymph flies, white bunny leeches and size 24 gray adult midge pattern flies.

Water flow on the ANIMAS RIVER below Aztec on Monday morning was 209 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Monday morning flows on the CHAMA RIVER below El Vado and Abiquiú were 298 cfs and 305 cfs, respectively. We had no reports this week from below El Vado Lake. Fishing for trout below Abiquiú Lake was good using brown and black gold beadhead nymphs, egg pattern flies, Woolly Buggers, salmon eggs and PowerBait.

Due to low water levels at ABIQUIÚ LAKE, anglers are advised to use fourwheel drive vehicles to launch boats and watch for obstructions on the water.

At BLUEWATER LAKE, the winter trout stocking plan is to stock 6,000 catchable-size rainbow trout per month through March.

At ALUMNI POND, fishing for trout was fair to good using mini marshmallows, garlic-favored PowerBait and cheese.

Fishing for trout at BILL EVANS LAKE was good using cheese-flavored PowerBait.

At YOUNG POND, fishing for trout was good using mini marshmallows and Pistol Pete lures.

Fishing for trout at ALTO LAKE was fair to good using yellow PowerBait and salmon eggs.

At GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR, fishing for trout was fair to good using PowerBait.

We had no reports from anglers at ELEPHANT BUTTE LAKE this week.