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“It was a great day for smallmouth, largemouth and walleye.”
Source: New Mexico Game and Fish
Photos: Courtesy
SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT
- Alumni Pond: Closed for repairs until further notice.
- Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing for catfish was fair to good when using PowerBait.
- Bill Evans Lake: Fishing for trout was very good when using gold spoons. Fishing for bass was slow.
- Caballo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for striped bass was slow to fair when using jerkbaits. Fishing for catfish was good when using cut bait and very good when using chicken.
- Escondida Lake: Fishing for trout was good when using worms.
- Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 48.9 cfs. Fishing for trout was very good when using Parachute Adams flies.
- Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 47.2 cfs.
- Glenwood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Lake Roberts: Fishing for trout was good when using PowerBait.
- Percha Dam: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Quemado Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Rancho Grande Ponds: Fishing for rainbow trout was very good when using PowerBait.
- Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 1.37 cfs.
- Snow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Trees Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
- Young Pond: Fishing for bluegill was slow to fair when using worms.
- Gila River: Adam Hayes (pictured) caught two trout using a Parachute Adams fly on March 27. “First time fly fishing in the Gila – awesome experience,” he said.
- Bear Canyon Lake: Ayden Jasso caught eight catfish using PowerBait on March 29.
- Elephant Butte Lake: Israel Valles caught two smallmouth bass using a jerkbait on March 30. “It was a great day for smallmouth, largemouth and walleye,” he said.
- Lake Roberts: Jason (not pictured) caught five trout using PowerBait on March 29.
New Mexico’s Walleye Spawn
Currently, the spring walleye spawn is occurring as part of the Department’s efforts to produce more sport fish for anglers. Through the dedicated work of New Mexico Game and Fish biologists, hatchery workers and conservation officers, millions of eggs are produced through artificial spawning in Conchas Lake, Caballo Lake and Santa Rosa Lake, to name a few locations. The success of the stocking program translates to improved opportunities for anglers. The best time for anglers to target walleye is around dusk and into the night during the spring when they are preparing to spawn.
Fish are squeezed over a pan, releasing eggs from the females or milt from the males. The contents are then stirred together using a crane or turkey feather and the fertilized eggs are brought to the nearest hatchery.
Fish are caught using gillnets and are evaluated for ideal spawning health. Here, a walleye is captured for potential egg extraction.
Eggs are counted for scientific purposes. Game and Fish biologists also evaluate their overall condition and later measure fertilization.
This is just a sneak peek at the work Department biologists and other staff are doing during the walleye spawn. Stay tuned to the Department’s social media channels for more details as they wrap up their work this spring.
