GO FISH Area fishing report, week of May 20

Editor’s note: This fishing report, compiled by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, has been generated from the best information available from officers and anglers. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, however, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.

Catches of the week

Navajo Lake: May 9, Alex Candelaria, 11, of Bloomfield while fishing with his gandparents caught and released a 15-inch, 2-pound, 4-ounce crappie. He was using a jig.

Santa Rosa Lake: May 17, Mavia Vasquez of Albuquerque caught a 17-inch smallmouth bass with a 13-inch girth and a 22-inch walleye. She was using a dark-colored tube.

Conchas Lake: May 18, Tom McWhorter of Bosque Farms caught a 4.65-pound largemouth bass. He was using a worm.

Chama River: May 18, Anthony Martinez of Cuba caught a 22-inch brown trout. He was fishing below El Vado and using a night crawler.

Heron Lake: May 19, Tom O’Brien of Rio Rancho caught a 38.25-inch, 25.5-pound lake trout. He was using a jig in 51 feet of water.

If you have a catch of the week story or just want to tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing experience, send it to us at fishforfun2@hotmail.com. We may include your story in our next report. For catches of the week include name, date, location, type of fish, length and bait used.

Fishing report, May 20

CHARETTE LAKES: Trout fishing was fair to good this past week for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs, spinners and worms. Fishing for perch was fair using worms and power bait.

CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest Lake as of Monday was 21 cfs. Trout fishing was very good for anglers using small gold spinners, bead head hares ears, copper john barrs, salmon eggs and worms. Trout fishing at the Gravel Pit Lakes was fair for anglers using power bait, worms, Pistol Petes and spinners.

CLAYTON LAKE: Anglers fishing from boats had the best luck this past week. They reported catching limits of trout while using spinners and spoons. Anglers trolling also caught a few walleye but rated the walleye fishing as slow. There were no reports on other species.

CONCHAS LAKE: Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was very good this past week although anglers reported that most of the fish caught were small. Best baits were sweet beavers, brush hogs, lizards, salt craws, worms and jerk baits worked shallow. Fishing for crappie was good for anglers using minnows, tubes and jigs. Fishing for walleye was fair for anglers using crank baits, jigs, tubes, grubs and minnows. Fishing for catfish was good using liver, dough baits and night crawlers. We had no reports on other species.

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was good this past week for anglers using small spinners, worms, salmon eggs, power bait, copper john barrs and corn.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using Panther Martins, Wedding Rings, Z Rays, salmon eggs and power bait. Anglers trolling for trout also picked up a few kokanee. Fishing for perch was fair for anglers using worms.

LAKE MALOYA, LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing was fair to good this past week at both lakes. Anglers fishing at Lake Maloya did well using home made dough baits, Pistol Petes, Panther Martins, Rooster Tails and Daredevles. Fishing at Lake Alice was good for anglers using power bait and home made dough baits.

MAXWELL LAKES: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait, worms and minnows.

MC ALLISTER LAKE: Due to poor water quality, the lake will remain closed until further notice.

MONASTERY LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using power bait and corn.

MORPHY LAKE: Trout fishing was good this past week for anglers using power bait, corn, spoons, wooly buggers and spinners.

PECOS RIVER: Water flow near the town of Pecos as of Monday morning was 320cfs. Trout fishing this past week was slow to fair for anglers using spinners, salmon eggs, night crawlers and wooly buggers. Fishing on the Mora was good for anglers using night crawlers and copper john barrs.

RED RIVER: Water flow below the hatchery was 246cfs. The water was murky. We had no reports from anglers this week.

RIO GRANDE: The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 2,000cfs. Trout fishing was fair for anglers using small jerk baits, night crawlers and spinners.

SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing picked up this past week as several northern pike were caught by anglers using Rat-L-Traps and Mepps spinners. Fishing for catfish was fair using cut bait and worms. We had no reports on other species.

STORRIE LAKE: Trout fishing was fair for anglers using garlic cheese, power bait and salmon eggs. Fishing for all other species was slow.

STUBBLEFIELD: Fishing was fair using spinner/night crawler rigs for walleye. We had no reports on other species.

UTE LAKE: Crappie fishing was the hot ticket again this past week. Several anglers reported doing very well using minnows, jigs, tubes and artificial leeches. Most of the crappie were in less than 10 feet of water. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was good for anglers using jerk baits, tubes, worms, jigs, lizards, grubs and spinner baits. The bass were shallow and most of the fish caught were males. Fishing for catfish was very good for anglers using night crawlers, liver and dough baits and fishing shallow. Fishing for walleye and white bass was slow to fair as anglers reported that these two species appeared to be scattered. A few were caught by anglers trolling crank baits at various depths and a few more were taken by anglers drifting minnows.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing for crappie was fair this past week for anglers using jigs, grubs, night crawlers and minnows. Most of the crappie caught this past week were taken by anglers fishing brush in the main channel. Fishing for walleye was slow to fair for anglers trolling Reef Runners and Wally Divers. A few were also taken on grubs and tubes. A few smallmouth bass were taken by anglers using top water lures, tubes, crank baits and jerk baits. We had no reports on other species.