Jicarilla Fishing

Fishing Report 7-14-09

2009-07-14T15:27:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report 7-14-09

The 3rd annual Pony Express 3-Species Fishing Derby (7/11) was a great success, and the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department would like to thank all of you that attended. Competition was tight and fishing was good for all three species. Enbom has also been fishing quite well with flies and small spinners and lures. Bait will catch fish in Enbom but the weeds are still a big issue for bottom fishing. Believe it or not we have a report from Stone Lake, and the news is good. This weekend (7/17-7/19) will be the 51st Annual Little Beaver Celebration. This means that you should expect large crowds in and around Dulce. The festivities usually leave the lakes relatively empty in terms of anglers, but the campground at Mundo will be busy.
Mundo Lake is fishing well for all four species. The water is clear and the weeds are certainly an obstacle in some areas. With the clear water you should be able to see the problem areas. The average trout is 12” and the catch rates are somewhere between 3-6 fish per hour with better fishing in the early morning and evenings. Powerbait is working good in rainbow, chartreuse, and sherbert colors. On the fly side, a wide variety of nymphs including wolly buggers, typical beadheads, damsel flies, and others are fishing well. Also, there have been reports of success with dry damsel fly patterns in blue. Conditions have been great for float tubers and kickboats. Small spinners and lures are also working well for folks trolling or casting from the shore. The Bass fishing has been excellent for fish averaging 10-12”. A wide variety of Bass gear has been reported, and several remarkable fish have been caught recently. Audie Reval a local tribal member caught one such fish on Friday (7-10) with a white spinnerbait. The fish measured 21” and is estimated at 7-8 lbs. A picture will be in the photo gallery on the www.jicarillahunt.com website along with another hog that Audie caught 2 weeks ago. Catfishing has been good with chicken and beef liver, and the grand prize for the 3-species derby was taken primarily on the heaviest catfish creel of 15 fish and 12 ¾ lbs. The top three anglers in the Trout division were: 1st place-Tito Ortega with 6 fish for 4.86 lbs. 2nd place was Herman Garcia with 6 fish for 4.76 lbs. 3rd place went to Steve Benavidez with 6 fish for 3.88 lbs. The Bass Division was taken by Senika Atole with 5 Bass for 3.4 lbs. Second place went to Greg vigil who had 4 fish for 3.32 lbs., and third place went to Jamil Montoya who had 5 fish for 3.25 lbs. The Catfish Division went to Steve Bowen who had 15 fish for 12.75 lbs. Steve also won the grand prize with a combined creel weight of 13.75 lbs. 2nd place in the catfish division went to Eudane Vicenti with 8 fish for 5 lbs. Ruben Garcia took 3rd place with 6 fish for 4 lbs. In 1st place for the kids division was Oryan Atole, followed by Vaneya Garcia in 2nd, and Domingo DeJesus in 3rd. Thanks again to everyone that participated.
Enbom continues to fish well with flies and lures. The best action is in the evenings and there have been rising fish daily at this time. The weeds are still an issue to anglers fishing on the bottom, but bait fishing from a bobber will produce trout in the 13-14” size class. A float tube or small boat is still recommended, but there is plenty of shoreline action right now while the weeds are still down a bit from harvesting. Some of the larger fish in the 17-19” range have also been mentioned recently. Enbom is another spot that has the potential for good dry fly action with blue damsel patterns and parachute adams.
We have news alas from the lonely Stone Lake. The news is good in several regards, and may tempt a few of you to give it a shot. First of all, the water has cleared up and the algae bloom is over. Secondly, Ron Tanner and his Mother Betty spent a successful day at Stone on Saturday trolling their secret weapon near the aerators. The weapon is classified top-secret, but the results were kindly offered by Ron and Betty. They landed 5 fish and Betty told me she lost a whopper. Two of the fish were holdovers and the largest was weighed and measured by yours truly at 22” and 5.5 lbs. The other 3 fish were spring stockers which even without heads were more than impressive specimens bearing the shoulders that we know and love. I would estimate the fish to be 14-16” and well over a pound each. Considering that those 3 fish were really the first of the stockers that I have heard of being taken from Stone, there should be around 99,997 left for you. Good Luck and Have a great week.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 7-7-09

2009-07-07T11:17:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report 7-7-09

The Jicarilla Fishing Lakes are completely in the summertime groove. Mundo Lake and now Enbom Lake have been fishing excellent, with the fish in Enbom showing substantial growth. The warm water species are extremely active and visible in the clear water of Mundo Lake. Stone Lake is clearing up nicely, but the rumors I have received second hand suggest that the fishing is slow. Access from the shoreline is now possible at Enbom Lake, and weed harvesting operations will be finished tomorrow. The Harvester will be relocated to Mundo Lake after the Little Beaver Holiday Weekend (7/17-7/20). We are gearing up for the3rd annual 3-Species Derby on Saturday (7/11) and expect another fun event. This derby will have an interesting twist this year due to the increase in the daily limit of Channel Catfish (15/day), and Largemouth Bass (5/day). Derby details will be posted on www.jicarillanut.com and rules will be printed and distributed to every participant.
Mundo Lake has been very productive for all four species. The Rainbows are averaging 12” and the best bite is early morning and evenings with flies. Bait anglers are picking up trout with powerbait, but the catch rate is down and reports of larger fish have been down as well. However, a few big Rainbows are still showing up including a fish estimated at 5 lbs. by a Mundo Lake regular. The Largemouth are biting well on a variety of lures and grubs, and they can be seen cruising and lying in wait near the shorelines. I was told of a monster Bass that was caught and released over the weekend near the big snag in the southeast corner. The story goes that the fish was 8 lbs and 20+” long. I am trying to track down a photo and will post it on the website as soon as possible. The catfishing has been hit or miss lately, but should be good this week with the full moon. The nighttime temps have been very comfortable so it might be time to get the light up bobber out. Bluegill are spawning and are easily caught with tiny beadhead flies and jigs. The larger fish are guarding nests and will aggressively do so against your fly or lure.
Enbom Lake has been cleaned up, and is ready for a variety of angler strategies. For a brief time period (2-3weeks) bait fishing on the bottom will be possible in many areas and appears to have been productive over the weekend. Small spinners and lures are also catching nice Rainbows with an average size of a chunky 13-14”. These fish are still making some aerial appearances and appear to be shooting for the elusive adult damsel fly. I have spoken with anglers in the past who have had success with the dry Damsel pattern at Enbom. A few folks have told me that the guys fly fishing in float tubes are tearing it up, but they don’t know exactly what they are using.
Stone Lake is still empty for the most part. I heard of one guy who gave it a shot with no success, but I am not sure how long he tried. The water has been slowly clearing up from that extended green algae bloom and looks pretty fishy. If you try Stone I would suggest fishing very deep (15-20 ft.) with long leaders and slow action. Given the incredible abundance and high diversity of aquatic invertebrates in Stone Lake, I think it should be more about getting your fly or lure to the fish than it is matching a color or pattern right now. Good luck.
I am not sure if anyone has fished the Navajo River lately but it has been clear for the most part this year, and has a huge crop of grasshoppers along the banks. For more specifics on this little known fishery, feel free to call me at (575) 759-3255. I hope to see you at the derby this weekend.
Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 6-30-09

2009-06-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report 6-30-09

We are gearing up for the Holiday weekend at the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes. The Weed Harvester has been fixed and will be running at Enbom Lake this week. The lake will be fishable by this weekend. Mundo Lake continues to offer the most diverse and best fishing opportunities at the Jicarilla Lakes. Stone Lake has been lonely again, and I have not received a single report for two weeks. We have had a tremendous year for spring rains, which has caused temporary issues with roads and flashy turbid conditions in the river. The roads are currently dry, and the outlook is pretty good for the weekend with a chance for thunderstorms in the afternoons.
The 3-species derby is set to go on July 11th and we have some great prizes this year.
Mundo Lake continues to fish excellent for all four species. The Trout are averaging 12”, but there are Rainbows up to 18” showing up here and there. The bait fishermen are using powerbait and worms. Flies are still catching more trout on average, and are fishing well behind a bubble or with a fly rod. Small beadhead nymphs are also catching high numbers of bluegill around the docks and vegetation. The Bass are hitting well on plastics and spinner baits. It is definitely time to break out the weedless stuff, as the best Bass action is in the thick stuff. The Bass have also been making some acrobatic surface appearances chasing the blue damsel fly adults. Fly fisherman after Bass should try a popper or dry damsel pattern. The catfishing has been the least predictable lately. The fishing has been hit or miss, but the best reports have been on liver. Several folks have reported a limit of catfish (15/day) and fishing from a bobber down seams to be the ticket.
Enbom has been fishing well for the few float tubers, boaters, and hardy shore anglers out there. The weed harvester is finally in action though, and things will be murky for a few days as we clean out the weeds. The lake should settle down by the holiday weekend with access open from the bank. Fish have been jumping throughout the day and appear to be shooting for the damsel adults. A wide variety of flies and small lures will take these chubby little (12-13” avg.) Trout. There are almost certainly some of the big boys still out there also, so be prepared.
Stone Lake is looking for a few good anglers. The depths are cool and productive and the trout are getting fatter and fatter. At this point, the 100,000 plus spring stockers (6”) should be baby whales at around 10-12”. There are also some very healthy largemouth waiting in the shallows.
The 3rd annual 3-species derby will be happening at Mundo Lake on Saturday Jully 11th,2009. Adults are $25 which includes a daily permit. Adults who have an annual Jicarilla Fishing Permit will be $20. Kids 12 and under are $5 and the daily permit is included. Registration will begin at 7:00am at the Mundo Lake spillway under the big white tent. We have some excellent prizes this year as well as a one day on-site raffle for hunting and fishing permits. This has been a great event for the past two years, and promises to be even better this year. We’ll see you at the lake.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 6-23-09

2009-06-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report 6-23-09

The longest day of the year has come and gone and the dog days of summer are on the brink. The cure to hot lazy days is and always has been fishing so come out and toss a line. Mundo Lake continues to fish well across the board for all 4 species. Enbom is weedy but productive for a few folks. Stone Lake has been neglected lately, and may be a sleeper. The Navajo River may also be worth a shot for the occasional Rainbow and Brown Trout.
Mundo has been fishing fair for Rainbow Trout with bait. Catch rates appear to be in the 1-2 fish per hour range with powerbait, worms, and salmon eggs. Fishing bait on the bottom will result in the occasional weed fish this time of year. Fishing for trout with flies continues to be the most productive method at Mundo Lake. The catch rates are around 5-6 fish per hour and float tubers have had very high success rates. The best flies reported have been beadhead nymphs including princes and hares ears, wolly buggers in black, purple, and olive, and also several dry flies including parachute adams. The Largemouth Bass have been hitting well near shore especially in the weedy hard to get at areas. Weedless grubs, lures, and flies are the key for Bass right now. Spinner baits in purple have been reported this week. Channel Catfish have been hit or miss lately, but the fishing is still considered good. The best action reported is from night time anglers using liver.
Enbom is still weedy, and we are having issues getting our weed harvester transported to the lake. Several anglers have had success however, and they are primarily using a float tube or small boat to access the small open water areas spread out on the south side of the lake. Flies are the best bet right now, and fish are hitting the surface throughout the day increasing in the evening.
Stone Lake is a lonely place to fish right now. There has been such low pressure that a passer by might think it devoid of fish altogether. The algae bloom is persisting in areas, but has not engulfed the entire lake by any means. The one report I did hear was 1 fish in 5 hours and I am not sure what the angler was using. My guess would be that the trout are holding deep (+12 feet) in the cooler water and feeding on damsel flies as they migrate to the shorelines. Please let us know what is happening out there if you fish Stone Lake.
The Navajo River has been looking good with relatively clear water. Folks that know this 12 mile section of river also know that clearish water is almost never the case. There is a bumper crop of grasshoppers along the river this year and several local anglers have had success fishing them. The average Navajo River Rainbow is going to be around 10-15” and the rarely caught browns can be over 20”. There is very little fishing pressure on this section of Navajo River and the lower end will almost certainly provide peace, quiet, and solitude
This week we would like to announce the opening of P.A.S.S Boat and Tackle Shop at Mundo Lake. This is a small business run by the local Higher Education P.A.S.S. (Planning Ahead for Student Success) program. They will be renting 12’ jon boats with trolling motors, as well as selling tackle, fishing permits, and snacks and drinks. The business will be located at Mundo Lake on Wednesday through Sunday 3:00pm-8:00pm. For details or to make a reservation please call (505) 860-8403.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 6-16-09

2009-06-16T09:44:00.001-07:00

Fishing Report 6-16-09

The Jicarilla Fishing Lakes have made the transition to summer like conditions. The surface water temperatures are at 65°F across the board, and the aquatic vegetation is becoming a nuisance at Enbom Lake and Stone Lake. Fishing at Mundo has been excellent for all four species and the water quality is in good shape. Pressure is way down at Stone Lake, and there is still a large algae bloom affecting water clarity with a milky green hue. Enbom has plenty of feeding trout, but the weeds are a major issue that is driving anglers crazy. Weed Harvesting will begin at Enbom within the week.
Mundo Lake continues to be the Hot Spot on the Jicarilla Lakes. All four species are biting, and a wide variety of techniques are working. The usual baits including powerbait and worms are catching trout that average 10-12”. Flies are probably working the best for trout, and wollybuggers, beadheads, and damselfly nymphs have been used most frequently. There is a little dryfly action in the evenings. Largemouth Bass have been biting well on buzz baits, plastic worms and streamer flies. The Bass are congregating near shore around emergent vegetation and habitat structure. The large Bass (15”+) are spawning, and can be spotted near shore guarding nests. Catfish are hitting the usual stinkbaits and liver. Fishing for Cats seems to be better on the south end of the Lake.
Enbom is a weedy mess right now, but the fish are biting near and on the surface. Bait fishing on the bottom is not recommended until we get in there with the weed harvester. The harvester will be moved to Enbom late this week and the lake should be cleaned up pretty well by the weekend of the 27th. There are some spots with adequate depth to prevent weeds growing all the way to the surface but a small boat is the only efficient way to access them.
Stone Lake is still battling an algae bloom. Visibility is poor in spots and decent in others. Fishing pressure has been low, and there have not been any reports this week. The damsel flies are crawling out in good numbers. The North side of the lake has been least affected by the bloom, and would be a recommended starting location if you want try and fool some big fish.
The 3rd annual Pony Express 3-Species derby is set to go on Saturday July 11th, 2009 at Mundo Lake. The format will be very similar to years past, with prizes for 1st-3rd place for each of the 3 species , and a grand prize for the heaviest combined creel. We are ordering prizes right now, and there will be information on them soon. As usual, we will have an on-site raffle for hunting and fishing permits. These permits include a guided cow-elk hunt, 2 Spring Turkey Permits, 3 annual Waterfowl Permits, and 4 annual fishing Permits. This is a fun, family friendly event and the proceeds will help fund the Little Beaver Pony Express Race that will be held on Friday July 17th, 2009.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 6-9-09

2009-06-09T14:59:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report 6-9-09

The Jicarilla Fishing Lakes are beginning to fish with summer-like conditions. The water is warming up into the mid 60’s on the surface. Mundo Lake is fishing well for all 4 species and the weeds are still not a problem. On the other hand, Enbom is getting weedy enough to cause annoyance but fish are still being caught in good numbers. Stone Lake is slow and has a green algae bloom that is affecting clarity. Two Bass were caught and reported at Stone over the weekend, but I haven’t heard anything else this week. The date has been set for the annual Pony Express 3-Species Fishing Derby at Mundo Lake. The date will be Saturday July 11th, 2009 and details will be available soon.
Mundo Lake is fishing excellent for all 4 species, which include Trout, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Bluegill. The Bass are spawning, which means that you can find them near shore and often sight fish to them. While they are protecting the nests and courting, they can sometimes be antagonized to strike since they are displaying aggressive territorial behavior patterns. Tube jigs and other plastics are working, as are spinnerbaits and quite a few other Bass Lures. The electrofishing survey at Mundo revealed that there are huge numbers of Bass in the 10-12 inch class, with fewer large fish (>15”) and fewer small fish (<6”). By removing some of these 10-12” fish, anglers can help us manage the Bass fishery. They taste great and offer a nice filet at these sizes. Carlos Carrasco from Albuquerque caught a beauty at Mundo on Friday. It was a fat female that measured 17.5” and weighed in at 5.5 lbs. Check out the picture in the photo gallery!!
The Rainbows are biting well on flies (especially beadheads), small lures, spinners, and bait. The best bait reports are on powerbait. Channel Catfish are biting well and anglers on the south and southwest side of the lake are doing the best. Mundo Lake is overpopulated with Channel Catfish and the fish are slightly underweight. Liver and stinkbait have been reported, and cats are getting picked up occasionally by powerbait and worms.
Enbom is fishing very well for 10-13” Rainbows with a few larger fish mixed in. The weeds are starting to cause trouble in areas, but fishing from the shore is still possible and productive. The best reports are on yellow powerbait, and flies. There has been some dry fly activity at Enbom especially in the afternoons and evenings. A parachute adams is a good all around pattern for the rise at Enbom. Beadheads and wollybuggers are also pulling fish. Fishing from a float tube or small boat will decrease the weed problems and allow anglers to target different areas. Aquatic weed harvesting will start at Enbom this year, and might begin as early as next week.
Stone Lake has been fishing slow, with very low traffic. The one report this week was from a Bass angler who worked hard to catch 2 nice Bass in the 14” range. There is a green algae bloom that has reduced visibility substantially (2ft). There has been a caddis hatch lately, and several fish that were sampled in gill nets last week were packed with green caddis pupae. The damsels have also started to migrate to the shorelines. It’s hard to tell exactly how the fishing is with such low pressure, but there is certainly plenty of insect activity at Stone Lake right now. As usual, electrofishing was not a very productive means of sampling Stone Lake. However, we did shock some extremely chunky Trout and Bass between 14 and 22”. We are suggesting Stone to the serious trophy anglers again this week. Please let us know how you do out there if you go to Stone. Catch the Big One!!!!

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 6-1-09

2009-06-02T12:18:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report 6/1/09

The Jicarilla Fishing Lakes are fishing well for multiple species. The water temperature is rising, with surface temps in the low to mid 60’s. These warmer temperatures make successful catch and release more difficult. By reducing fight time and handling time you can give the fish a better chance at survival in warmer water. Stone Lake is still fishing slow, but several fish have been caught in the past week. Both Enbom and Mundo are on fire, and the warm water species in Mundo have really turned on. 1,000 lbs. of Trophy sized (16-18”) Rainbow trout were stocked into Mundo and Enbom Lakes on Friday May 22nd. This load was divided equally between the two lakes, and these nice fish have been caught at both lakes.
Mundo Lake is definitely the hot spot right now on the Jicarilla Lakes. Trout are biting on a wide variety of lures, flies, and bait. Powerbait has been the bait reported most frequently in several colors including rainbow, orange, and green. Lures including castmasters, daredevils, and spinners are working for trout and have also produced Bass near the shorelines and around the docks. A huge assortment of primarily nymph patterns have been successful on the fly side of things. The most common reports are wollybuggers and beadheads including princes and pheasant tails. Some Bass have been picked up by the larger wollybuggers and streamers, and the bluegill are hitting well on the smaller beadhead’s. The Bass are really turning on, and can be caught near the shorelines, especially around vegetation and structure including the docks. Plastics, jigs, rapalas, and spinnerbaits have all been proven. The catfish are also biting, and in some case the numbers are high. Eudane Vicenti a tribal member and Game and Fish employee caught 80 catfish with tainted liver in a day, and approximately 15 were in the 20” range. The Cats are a little on the skinny side, as Mundo is currently overpopulated with Channel Catfish. The limit on Channel Cats went up to 15 fish per day this year, so come and get some filets.
Enbom has been excellent for the past two weeks, and the latest infusion of trophy class Rainbows has made for a good mix. The average fish is still in the 8-12” range, but watch out for the line jerker that is bound to show up when least expected. Bait reported has been powerbait, worms, and salmon eggs and it appears that most of the bait action is at or near the bottom. Lures and spinners are working well with a better hit to hook up ratio in the smaller sizes. Flies including buggers, beadheads, and even some dry stuff like #12 chironmidaes have been catching good numbers. The weeds are starting to show up, but haven’t become an issue thus far.
Stone Lake is still considered slow and is currently recommended to only the most serious of headhunters. The damsels are getting going and fish typically line up near the shore in 6-10 feet of water gobbling these nymphs as they actively swim to the shorelines to crawl out and complete their life cycle. There have been a few reports of success on damsels in the olive to chartreuse colors. Also, a couple of fish were reported caught with a frog pattern daredevil from the shore. There haven’t been any reports of Bass being caught but they have been visually observed in likely spots with vegetation or structure. We will be conducting electrofishing surveys this week at Mundo and Stone with the helps of the USFWS, and will have good data to report to all of you next week. Get your fish on!!!!!

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 5-12-09

2009-05-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report 5-12-09
The Jicarilla Fishing Lakes are fishing fair to excellent right now. Stone continues to be very tough with anglers forced to compete with the giant Chironomidae hatch. However, there were some beautiful fish caught over the weekend’s “Stone Lake Open” competition. Mundo is excellent for Trout and good for Bass along the shorelines. Enbom is also fishing very well for Rainbows averaging 8-10”. All in all, the water is clear, cool, and weed free at all three lakes. The daytime temps have been quite comfortable in the mid to high 70’s and camping is a go, with cool nights in the 40’s. A trip to the Jicarilla is just what you need to start the summer off right.
Mundo is in excellent fishing condition with some anglers reporting trouble keeping them off of the line. Shoreline fishing is at its best since the weeds have yet to become an issue out there. I haven’t heard a negative report from bait, fly, or lure fishermen, which suggests that about anything you throw should produce Trout. Lures like castmasters and small spinners, and flies like wolly buggers and the hybrid Pistol Petes are great for trout and also offer great opportunities for feisty Bass near the shorelines. If you’re looking for Bass, you should also be looking for any submerged or emergent vegation near the shorelines or in shallow water. Typical Bass gear like spinnerbaits and plastics are also getting a good bite in these areas. The Trout are averaging 8-10” but there are some very nice fish (16-18”) mixed in. Mundo is the perfect lake for children right now considering the good bite.
Enbom is fishing well and as always offers beautiful views and frequently peace and quiet. This is a float tuber’s special and can be covered in a kick boat without a problem. The wind is typically less severe on Enbom and should offer refuge from the white caps that frequent Stone Lake this time of year. The best reports from Enbom are on flies and small lures. The Trout are averaging 10” and are hitting a wide assortment of nymph patterns. The trout do rise to dry flies including chironomidae midges (#12) and similarly sized mayfly and caddis patterns throughout the day. Small spinners and lures have been good as well.
Stone Lake is still causing trouble for the average angler. However, several folks have been able to dial in on the behemoths and we saw some very nice fish over the weekend’s derby. The “Stone Lake Open” was a 2 day event (5/9-5/10) with a total of 11 competitors. The winner Mike Sexton, a flyfisherman out of Pagosa Springs Colorado landed eight Trout for a total of 148”. Mike took home $1,070 dollars. He was using a beadhead Damselfly pattern to catch 7 out of 8 fish. In 2nd place Ron Tanner from Albuquerque used a worden’s triple teaser to troll himself into $500. Ron also caught 8 Trout for a total of 124”s of fish. Ron’s 87 year old mother Betty Tanner also from Albuquerque, came in 3rd with 5 fish on the triple teaser, giving herself a $300 mothers day gift. Betty was the life of the event, and proved to be tough as nails for two long days of fishing. All in all, we saw 30 Trout with only 2 of the 100,000 + spring stockers showing up. As usual these fish were heavy and strong making lost fish an interesting twist. Also this event posed lures vs. flies and certainly made for a tight dynamic event. The Jicarilla Game and Fish Department would like to thank all 11 participants for making the 1st Stone Lake Open a successful event. Of the remaining 9 fish caught, 5 were caught on flies, 3 were caught on daredevils, and 1 was caught by a pistol pete. The fly of the comp. was definitely damsels despite a chironomidae hatch that could choke a jet engine. The huge majority of the action came from the 2 south bays, with the southeast bay showing up to surprise everyone as the big producer. If you’re looking for a big trout, Stone Lake is certainly worth the hours. Wind, as usual, was an issue out there putting trolling motors to the test. The best bite was in the morning between 7and 10 and the afternoon between 2 and 4. Mysteries prevail again at Stone, so get out the goofy hat, corncob pipe, and crack the case for all of us.

Kevin Terry, Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 5-5-09

2009-05-05T10:24:00.001-07:00

Fishing Report 5-5-09

The Fishing continues be steady, with good fishing at Mundo and Enbom, and slow fishing at Stone Lake. The Stone Lake Open is set to go this weekend (5/8,5/9,5/10) , and we will be accepting late cash entries Thursday afternoon and all day Friday at Stone Lake. For details on this event please check the fishing menu on the www.jicarillahunt.com website. The current weather outlook is positive for the weekend with projected temperatures in the mid 70’s under mostly sunny skies. The wind may be a factor but shouldn’t be as severe as it often is in the spring. Remember that camping is free at all three lakes with your Jicarilla Fishing Permit.
Mundo Lake is fishing very well with flies lures and bait. There hasn’t been a big change in gear for the past couple of weeks, which means that powerbait and worms are working for trout anglers that fish bait. I haven’t been told that a specific color of powerbait is doing any better than others. A wide variety of beadhead nymphs are working for fly anglers and they include wollybuggers, prince nymphs, hares ears, copper johns and likely many other patterns. Flies near the banks and submerged vegetation are working for both Trout and Bass with the occasional bluegill, if you’re looking to mix things up. Bass anglers have been successful with spinner baits and plastics with several 14-15” fish caught, and a 8-10” average. Spinners and small lures are working for trout form the shore or trolling in the deeper water. The average trout is 12”, but there are now approximately 13,000 8” Rainbows in the lake. These fish were stocked on Thursday( 4/30) and should be on the bite this week and into the weekend. I still haven’t heard anything about catfish. The water clarity is about as good as it gets at Mundo, with visibility up 7ft. The current surface temperature is 54°F which is great for Trout activity.
Enbom Lake is clearing up (visibility 4ft.) and the fishing has been good. Most of the reports at Enbom have been from spinners and flies, but several bait fishermen have done well also. The arsenal for Enbom should be very similar to Mundo this week. The chironomidae’s have been hatching in big numbers at Enbom as well as at the other lakes. It’s almost time for the damsels to kick of and olive is probably a good color to use at all three lakes. The average trout in Enbom is 10” but there are fish up to 18” here and there. The temperature in Enbom is also 54°F and slowly rising in the recent warm spell.
Stone Lake continues to boggle even the most patient of anglers. The action is considered slow this week and the fish have moved offshore for the most part. I spent the day on Friday fishing to occasional cruisers (1 every 30 minutes or so) on the north shore. These fish were actively foraging and interested in our flies but shied away after an excruciatingly close look in almost every instance. I managed to fool one nice 18” male with a smaller #10 olive beadhead wollybugger but my partner was skunked and we fished to at least 20 of these fish. We saw enough of these beauties to keep us trying, but they obviously strung us along. There have been several success stories however, with a few folks getting into as many as 8 fish. The best report this week was from olive jigs fished deep. Lures including large daredevils and castmasters have produced a few fish also. The best fly patterns reported were damselflies and black chironomidae nymphs. I received a few reports on stomach contents and the fish certainly seem to have switched over to insects. The highest proportion of insects in stomach contents was definitely black chironomidae nymphs which certainly reflects the huge hatches we have seen. The other insects observed were damsels, boatmen (aka backswimmers), and callibaetis mayflies. Several snails were also observed. The Callibaetis Mayflies have been coming off in low numbers lately and are worth fishing as nymphs and rarely even dry flies. These insects are large (#10) and have a tan body with a light underside and darker back and wing case. A hares ear pattern emulates this fly fairly well. I hope to see you out at Stone this weekend for what is shaping up to be a challenging event. Best of Luck, and don’t cut’em any slack.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist
Jicarilla Game and Fish Department

Fishing Report 4-28-09

2009-04-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report 4-28-09

The good old spring wind has made its presence known lately at the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes. However, despite the gale force winds, several folks did have success over the weekend. The hot lakes were Enbom and Mundo, but Stone produced a few large trout to hardy anglers. The water quality is in good shape and water clarity is excellent at Stone and Mundo, and improving at Enbom. The Stone Lake Open is just around the corner (5/8,5/9,5/10) and interested anglers should send in their entries ASAP. For more info on the Stone Lake Open please view the announcement in the fishing menu on www.jicarillahunt.com.
Mundo Lake is fishing very well with virtually anything. According to reports, the Rainbows are biting on bait, lures, and flies. The average size is around 12” with some fish up to 18” reported. Anglers are getting into several fish per hour. The bait most frequently reported is powerbait (no specific color), but worms and fireballs are getting action also. A wide variety of beadhead nymphs (size #16-#12) are getting the best bite for flies, but woolly buggers in black and green are working as well and offer a better chance of doubling up on Bass and Trout when fishing near the shorelines. The Bass fishing is still slow for the most part though. The chironomidae (lake midge) hatch continues to grow in numbers at all three lakes and may offer some dry fly action at Mundo and Enbom if calm early morning and evening conditions exist. Again I haven’t heard anything from the cat fishermen, but I suspect that the bite should be improving now that we are firmly in the 50’s for water temperature. Spinners (panther martins, rooster tails etc.) and small lures like castmasters and daredevils are getting a consistent bite for Rainbows.
Enbom is picking up quite well as the water continues to clear up. The average Rainbow is coming in around 9-10” but a few of the larger 14-18” fish are showing up here and there. Powerbait and worms are taking 2-3 fish per hour with more action at times. Spinners are also taking fish in a wide variety of colors, but should be relatively small to increase the hook up to bite ratio. As usual in Enbom, flies are getting a good bite fished behind a water bubble or with a fly rod. Many of the more common nymphs (pheasant tails, princes, hares ears, copper johns) have been successful, as have woolly buggers in black and green. Enbom Lake is our most protected lake from the wind and should be considered if you get blown off of Stone.
The fishing is tough at Stone Lake, as it often is, but some very nice fish have been caught from shore, float tube, and by boat. The water clarity is excellent and the temperature is hanging around 52°F. Damsel fly imitations have been reported by several anglers, but several other fly patterns have also caught fish. These patterns include leeches, green wooly buggers, egg-sucking leeches in black and purple, prince nymphs, and chironomidae patterns like zebra midges. One angler also reported substantial success (4-5 fish/day) trolling lures. Daredevils in the classic red and white, castmasters in silver and orange, and spoons in silver orange and chartreuse have all been reported by anglers fishing from the shore. There have been a few cruisers hanging around the east shore and the north shore, but the spawn appears to tapering off to some degree. However, if the wind is down, it is certainly worth your time looking for these fish along any shoreline with a rocky (shale) substrate. Persistence pays at this tricky fishery so good luck and keep your line wet.
We have extended the deadline for receiving entries to the Stone Lake Open via check to Wednesday May 6th. We will also be accepting cash entries at Stone Lake on Thursday may 7th (3:00-6:00pm) and all day on Friday May 8th (practice day). If you have questions please call Kevin Terry at the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department (575) 759-3255.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 4-21-09

2009-04-21T14:20:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report 4-21-09

The bugs are hatching, the turkeys are gobbling, and the fishing is getting better and better on the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes. The spawn is on at Stone Lake, with large spawners congregating on the shale ledges off of the north shore and the east shore known as Manghani Point. The water clarity is excellent at Stone Lake and the temperature is creeping up steadily into the low 50’s. This is a good opportunity to sight fish for large trout from the shoreline at Stone. Mundo has been producing some nice fish in the 14-17” range, with the average around 12”. Enbom is still off color with a rusty hue, but the year’s fish have been stocked and they should be on the bite in the near future. All in all, the fishing is improving at the Jicarilla Lakes but should be considered fair in general.
Mundo Lake is still clearing up, with an opaque greenish hue and visibility to 4-5 feet. The chironomidaes are hatching in the mornings in decent numbers. Anglers have had fair success with flies, lures, and bait. The best fly reports are on black and green wolly buggers and various beadhead nymphs including princes, hares ears, and copper johns. The lures reported are castmasters in silver and blue and panther martins. The hybrid fly/lure the “pistol pete” has also been fished effectively at Mundo. Green and yellow powerbait are the colors most reported from the bait anglers. There isn’t any news on Bass or Catfish this week.
Stone Lake has excellent clarity with 6+ feet of visibility. Cruising spawners have been sighted and effectively fished on the north shore and the east shore (Manghani Point). The fishing is tough for these picky fish but they have taken a few different fly patterns and lures. The males are a bit more aggressive and seem to be enticed more often than the fat females they are vying for. However, both males and females in spawning condition were caught over the weekend. The successful lures include blue fox spinners, daredevils in red/white and chartreuse/orange, and castmasters in silver and orange. Fred Lucero a tribal member and Dulce local caught a beautiful 22” 6 lb. female with a blue and silver blue fox spoon, from the north shore on Saturday. The flies that have produced include orange and pink egg patterns, purple egg-sucking leeches, green salamander streamers, green beadhead wolly buggers, and damselflies. Chironomidaes are hatching in good numbers, but haven’t been fished much (as far as I know) and should certainly be in your fly arsenal for Stone. I had the opportunity to guide two raffle winners at Stone on Sunday and we had a blast sight fishing to cruisers on Manghani Point. We hooked fish on egg sucking leeches, egg patterns and had the best luck with damsel fly patterns and a chartreuse beadhead wolly bugger. Len Furmanek a Stone Lake vet and his son Andrew got in on the action Sunday evening each catching fish on an olive beadhead wolly bugger. Len’s fish was a beautiful female in spawning condition that measured 22” and 6.5 lbs and Andrew caught a male that measured 21” and weighed just over 4 lbs. Soon we’ll have some great new photos up in the photo gallery on the. www.jicarillahunt.com website.
A few fish have been caught at Enbom Lake despite poor visibility and a rusty color to the water. The water quality is fine though, with good oxygen levels (90% saturation). We stocked approximately 5,000 8” Rainbows on Thursday (4/16). A few of these fish and a couple of the larger 14-18” fish that were previously stocked have been caught. The best reports were on flies including wolly buggers and beadheads. The bite on bait was very slow at Enbom over the weekend.
Things are picking up at the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes. We are looking forward to the upcoming “Stone Lake Open” on May 8th, 9th, and 10th. Camping season is here at last, so remember that camping is free with your Jicarilla Fishing Permit. Have a great week and even better fishing.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 4-14-09

2009-04-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report 4-14-09

Tough times continue for anglers at the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes. Fishing has been slow all around with bait, lures, and flies. There were several groups of anglers at both lakes over the weekend. The few reports that I did receive were not very encouraging. In Fact, as far as I know there wasn’t a single fish landed at Stone Lake over the weekend. A few trout have been caught at Mundo, but the fishing is still considered slow. Enbom Lake has been stocked, but the numbers are still low and fishing is slow. We are receiving a load of catchable sized Rainbows (8”) on Thursday (4/16), and they will be stocked into Mundo and Enbom. The local forecast is calling for off and on rain and snow showers through Saturday (4/18) and temperatures in the high 40’s to low 60’s.
Mundo Lake is still clearing up slowly with temps in the high 40’s. A few trout have been caught with lures primarily. One angler reported a 16” Rainbow using an orange and silver castmaster. Worms, salmon eggs, and powerbait are fishing slow with the occasional bite on the bottom. A few fish have also been taken on flies including wolly buggers and beadhead nymphs. There have not been any catfish reports this week, but the year’s first Bass was caught on the south side with a white spinner.
Stone Lake is still very tough for anglers with flies and lures. Several groups of anglers were skunked over the weekend, and I did not receive any reports of success. The water is still clearing up, but visibility is good and the water temps are creeping up towards 50°F. I spent an hour on the north side of Stone Monday morning looking for cruisers. I did not see any spawners, but I did hook and land a nice 20” 4lb. Male in spawning condition. I was using a purple egg-sucking Leech form the shore with a full sinking fly line. The fish hit approximately 15-20 feet from shore in the area known to produce spawners this time of year. I hope this is a good omen for things to come, but in the mean time we’ll continue to watch.
Enbom has been stocked with over 500 big (14-18”) Rainbows, and will be stocked on Thursday with approximately 5,000 8” Rainbows. Fishing should be decent by early next week after these trout acclimate to the lake. Have a great week, and keep your lines wet.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 4-7-09

2009-04-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report 4-7-09

Fishing on the Jicarilla Lakes remains SLOW. A few Rainbows have been caught at Mundo Lake, but the fish are few and far between. We haven’t received any good news from Stone yet, despite several attempts over the weekend and on Monday. Snow melt runoff is all but over at the lakes with a trickle still coming off Elk Creek into Stone Lake. The clarity is improving at all three lakes, but Enbom is still murky compared to Stone and Mundo. The years first trophy load of fish will be stocked into Enbom and Mundo lakes this week, with approximately 500 lbs. of 16-20” fish going into each lake. These fish should be acclimated and biting by the weekend.
Mundo Lake is steadily clearing up, with visibility around 3-4 feet. The bite has been very slow for trout with bait, flies, and lures. Several boats have been out trolling the lake with little success. Several anglers have reported catfish caught on liver and stink baits on the southeast side of the lake near the big dead tree. There have not been any reports of Bass thus far. The water temp remains cool at around 45°F. Unforeseen setbacks on dock installations have slowed us up, but there should be at least one dock out by the weekend.
Stone Lake is fishing miserably slow for the few good folks that have given it a shot. There have been several boats, as well as shoreline anglers throwing both lures and flies with very low success ( a few bites have been reported). The water quality is in good shape with clear water (4-6ft) visibility. The water temperature is little below average at 44°F, and the good spring hatches really haven’t begun. There were only a few Chironomidaes coming off this morning, and they probably not worth fishing quite yet. The cruisers that frequent the north shore are still missing in action, but we are watching for them. Right now we are playing the waiting game at Stone and will report any significant changes. The action should pick up soon so please stay tuned.
The Jicarilla Game and Fish Department is pleased to announce the first annual Stone Lake Open fishing tournament. This will be a three day (5/8, 5/9, 5/10) catch and release event with cash prizes. Entry fees will be $200.00/ participant, and includes an annual Jicarilla Fishing Permit. For more information please view the announcement under fishing reports on the www.jicarillahunt.com website or call Kevin Terry at the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department (575) 759-3255.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Stone Lake Open: Fishing Derby

2009-04-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

Stone Lake Open
Fishing Derby

May 8th, 9th, &10th 2009

The Jicarilla Game and Fish Department is pleased to announce the first annual Stone Lake Open Fishing Derby. The derby is going to be a semi-competitive (FUN!!!!) 3 day event with cash prizes. The event will be held beginning Friday, May 8th and continue through Sunday, May 10th 2009. Entry fees for the event will be $200.00 per individual participant. This $200.00 entry fee will include your 2009-2010 Annual Jicarilla Fishing Permit!!
Cash prizes will be awarded on a percentage breakdown, with $170.00 out of every $200.00 entry fee going directly into the cash prize pot. Entry fees, via check or money order, must be received by the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department no later than Monday May 4th, 2009. An entry form can be downloaded from the www.jicarillahunt.com website under the fishing menu. Make the check or money order payable to the "Stone Lake Open". Mail the entry fee and the completed entry form to the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department at Po Box 313 Dulce, NM 87528. Call Kevin Terry at the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department (575) 759-3255 if you need the entry form faxed or mailed to you directly. Anglers that wish to participate in the event and use their Annual Jicarilla Fishing Permit prior to the event, may fill out the entry form and register ($200.00) in person at the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department (Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm) on or after Monday April 6th 2009.
The Stone Lake open/Invitational will be a catch and release event based on the Stone Lake Special Regulations (see 2009-10 Fishing Proclamation on www.jicarillahunt.com). This means that participants may only use barbless artificial flies and lures. Participants may fish from boats (No Wake!), float tubes, kayaks, or from the shore. More than one participant may fish from a single boat, but every individual must hook and land their fish completely on their own. Once a fish is landed it will be placed in a mesh catch bag (provided) and held in the water until an event official reaches the angler and assumes possession of the fish. Participants will alert officials using flags to indicate that they have a fish in possession. Officials will be spread out in regions around and on Stone Lake. Every official will have data sheets with the participants’ information on them. They will record the fish lengths (mm) and transfer the information to the data sheets. Cash Prizes will be awarded after the event based on the accumulative tally of these fish lengths.
Camping at Stone Lake will be FREE!!! to participants of the Stone Lake Open. There will be portapotties at several locations around the lake. The phone # for the Jicarilla Inn Best Western is (575) 759-3663 and reservations should be made ASAP if you prefer to stay in the hotel. There is a local grocery store, liquor store, and several restaurants located in Dulce.

Please call Kevin Terry @ (575) 759-3255 With Any Questions

SCHEDULE:

Thursday May 7th, 2009
12:00 – Dark- Camp Set Up / Practice
3:00pm-6:00pm – Sign up @ the East Side Boat Ramp.

Friday May 8th,2009
Practice Day
6:00am - Dark- Practice Fishing Stone Lake. Staff will be on site to answer questions.
7:00am-12:00pm - Sign up @ the East Side Boat Ramp.
7:00pm-10:00pm – Bonfire Meeting to discuss derby and a Hot Dog cookout with Refreshments. (last chance to sign in)

Saturday May 9th, 2009
Day 1 Comp.
7:00am-11:00am- Fishing
11:00am-1:00pm- Lunch on your own
1:00pm-7:30pm- Fishing

Sunday May 10th, 2009
Day 2 Comp.
7:00am-2:00pm- Fishing
3:30pm-Awards Ceremony at Lake. Snacks/Refreshments provided.

This Event is designed to be FUN!!!! Details on percentage breakdown, and entry updates will follow. Come on out and win some CASH!!!!!!

Fishing Report 3-31-09

2009-03-31T08:19:00.001-07:00

Fishing Report 3-31-09

The fishing continues to be very slow at the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes. The water temps are still way down in the mid to low 40’s and the recent weather trend has been windy and cool, with snow/rain spats here and there. The forecast is for more of the same this week and especially on Friday (4/3) and Saturday (4/4). Water clarity is improving at both Lakes with approximately 3-4 ft of visibility.
Stone Lake has been very tough with more than 5 folks striking out over the weekend. The best report this week at Stone has been for 1 strike each for two anglers (pretty glum). At least one report came from a pair of anglers who really ran the gamut of lures and flies. The same anglers also spent considerable time searching for the shoreline cruisers that frequent the north shore and usually kick off the year’s good fishing. These fish are typically paired up and often display aggressive spawning behavior. So far, the spawners have made only brief appearances suggesting that the time is near. As usual, the wind has been a factor lately at Stone. Afternoons have been very gusty with whitecaps here and there. Plan on fishing in the wind after 11:00 am. The year’s first chironomidaes have been wiggling to the surface in small numbers. This is the most prolific of the spring hatches and will kick off when the water gets a little warmer.
Mundo Lake is beginning to fish for Rainbows in the 10-14” range. The fishing is still considered slow, but anglers were catching a few here and there with lures and flies. Try using small panther martins, roostertails, and pistol petes with spinning gear. Black and olive wolly buggers and a variety of beadhead nymphs should take trout with fly gear. Catfish have been reported this year, but one report suggested that the cat fishing was slow over the weekend. The main dock at the spillway parking lot will be in place by the weekend (4/4).
Don’t forget to pick up your new 2009-2010 annual Jicarilla Fishing permit on Wednesday April 1st, 2009. You can get a permit at any of our vendors or at the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department office (M-F, 8-5) in Dulce (see the vendor list in the non-tribal fishing proclamation listed in the fishing menu on the www.jicarillahunt.com website or call (575) 759-3255). Stay tuned for news and updates on fishing and events, and get ready to catch the big one.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 3-24-09

2009-03-24T16:18:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report 3-24-09

The Jicarilla Fishing Lakes are finally completely open water thanks to severe winds that ripped through the area on Sunday (3/22). Mundo Lake was nearly 80% ice cover on Friday, and now it is completely open. There haven’t been any reports from Mundo yet, but I suspect that will change sometime this week. The water clarity is off a bit with a greenish brown tint and approximately 2-3 feet of visibility. The major runoff period is behind us, so you can expect to see Mundo clearing up in a week or two. The larger of the Largemouth Bass in Mundo seem to hit well in April and May, and might be worth an early shot.
Stone Lake has also opened up completely. There was one group of skilled Fly Anglers who gave it a shot on Friday with float tubes in what was then the open section on the East side of the Lake. This group of 5 anglers spent 3 hours and a bunch of different fly patterns without getting a single bite. They covered an area known to be productive with flies proven to work at Stone. I have had the same report come in from several of my co-workers who have been flinging lures from the shore around the lake. This suggests that the fishing is very slow right now. The water temperature is in the low 40’s, and visibility is at approximately 3 feet. The Rainbows are probably hunkered down feeding opportunistically and preparing themselves for the gorge fest of a chironomidae hatch that should begin in the first couple weeks in April. The open water did allow us to set our spring gill nets yesterday and the results bode well for trophy quality fishing again this spring. The average length of the 24 fish that were netted was 17 inches, and the average weight was just over 3 lbs. The largest fish sampled was a 21 inch male weighing in at over 5 lbs. The average condition factor (K) (length to weight relationship) was well above the mark set for healthy trout, which means that the fish in Stone are HEAVIER than an average trout per inch. We caught one 16” female that weighed in at 3.2 lbs. The stomachs of the fish that did not survive the gill net were examined, and the results were quite interesting. The majority of the fish had at least one but up to seven, 3-6” tiger salamanders in the stomach contents. Check out photos of the harvested fish and the salamanders in the photo gallery. Other contents included water boatmen, bloodworms in red and green, and water beetles. The first Spring Stocking occurred at Stone Lake yesterday (3/23/09) with 25,000 4-7” Rainbows. We will be stocking an additional 25,000 4-7” Rainbows today (3/24/09). As most of you know, these fish will grow fast in Stone Lake, and they should be 14-18” by the fall. As for those of you looking for cruisers on the north shore, the year’s first sighting has come about. I spent around 20 minutes this morning walking the shoreline and saw only 1 pair of fish in the shallows. It’s still a little early yet, but these fish will be moving in sometime in the next few weeks. Please DO NOT!!! snag these fish. This can be a very exciting way to sight fish for large spawners in Stone Lake and the fish can usually be coaxed to hit wolly buggers, spoons, eggs and egg-sucking leaches. I hope that all of you still have your 2008-2009 annual Jicarilla Fishing Permits, because we still have 1 week to use them before the 2009-2010 season officially kicks off. I’ll see you out there.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 3-17-09

2009-03-17T15:33:00.001-07:00

Fishing Report 3-17-09

The Jicarilla Fishing Lakes are still locked in, with thin ice and open water edges. Mundo Lake is at 95 % ice cover with a 10-15 foot ring of alternating open water and thin overnight ice. There is one open water hole approximately ½ acre in size behind the big snag in the southeast corner where the main drainage to Mundo enters the lake. There may be a few Cats and Bass hanging out in this small hole, but there haven’t been any reports thus far. The lake is slowly but steadily spilling over, which means that we will begin the open water season at max capacity for the 2nd year in a row.
Stone Lake is a bit more promising in terms of potential ice out in the next week or two. There are now two nice holes (2-3 acres) that are growing daily. One hole is on the southwest cove around the cluster of aerators, and does include the south side boat ramp. The other is on the east side of the lake near the other set of aerators. However, this morning at 8:00 there was a fresh ½” of clear ice that settled on the open areas overnight. This ice is gone by the afternoon in warm temps, but may persist on cold or cloudy days. Definitely check a local Dulce forecast before venturing to far to try out these 2 potholes. There haven’t been any reports from Stone yet, but I will be watching closely this week and will try to post changes before the weekend. See you soon.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 3-10-09

2009-03-10T15:26:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report 3-10-09

Winter has returned in brief spurts to the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes. The cold snaps have slowed up the ice off process limiting fishing to one 200 yard stretch of open water on the East side of Stone Lake. This small section can be fished from the shore and the water quality is good with clear cold water. Rosenburg Tafoya, the Fisheries Technician got one hit yesterday while he gave it a quick shot with a jig he uses for ice fishing. Mundo Lake is still locked up in ice, with a 5-10 foot ring of open water on the edges. The ice conditions are extremely dangerous and ice angling is closed at all lakes. Anglers that possess a Jicarilla Ice fishing Season Permit (12/15-3/15), may fish from the shore in the small open water section at Stone Lake until Sunday March 15th 2009. We are on the brink of open water and changes will be updated as they occur on the website-www.jicarillahunt.com.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 3-3-09

2009-03-04T07:37:00.000-08:00

Fishing Report 3-3-09

The Jicarilla Fishing Lakes are in the early stages of ice off. The edges and drainage areas are opening up on a daily basis. It is not safe to be out on the ice regardless of appearance at some areas. Therefore, the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes will be closed until further notice. We will update the report as soon as there is sufficient open water for fishing. That time period is estimated at around 2 weeks from now depending on the weather. We are looking forward to good spring fishing, so stay tuned for news on the first open water opportunities. It’s time to get the gear out, dust it off, and get ready.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 2-17-09

2009-02-17T14:40:00.000-08:00

Fishing Report 2-17-09

This weeks report will be short and sweet. We only received one report this week from Stone Lake, and zero from Mundo. Rosenburg Tafoya caught three Rainbows in a half hour today (2/17) at Mundo Lake, with a white curly tail jig. He also had several bumps on his bait pole while using yellow powerbait. The ice at Mundo is holding at eight inches and the ice is covered with 2-3”s of new Snow.
The one report from Stone Lake indicates that the fishing is still quite slow. One angler on Saturday caught 1 fish in 4 hours with a white curly tail jig and a pink jig head. The wind at Stone Lake was a bit more severe than that at Mundo, and there may be some drifting here and there. The ice at the South end of Stone is measuring 6 inches, and the North end has 8 inches. Please use caution around the aeration holes (200 ft) as they have been expanding in the warming weather.
The roads to the lakes are clear and dry, but the various access roads around the lakes will have mud. Keep this in mind, especially on the warmer days and in the afternoons. Good luck, and please let us know how you do out there.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 2-10-09

2009-02-12T08:17:00.001-08:00

Fishing Report 2-10-09

This weeks report starts with a big THANKS to all of the anglers that attended our 3rd annual Jicarilla Ice Derby on Saturday (2-7-09). All told, we had 217 contestants on Mundo and Stone Lakes combined. The lake of the day was Mundo which produced the top three heaviest creels. As expected, Stone Lake had the longest fish of the day at 19.5” and 3.5 lbs. This years event raised just shy of $6,000, and the proceeds will be used to purchase and stock trophy class Rainbows in Enbom and Mundo Lakes this spring. The tremendous turnout also promises that next year will be even bigger and better. With that in mind, we are requesting suggestions or complaints from all of you, so that we can do our best to make the 4th annual Ice Derby the best event in the State (www.jicarillahunt.com). A big thanks also goes out to all of our local and regional sponsors that contributed generously to the Derby. These sponsors include Classic Eyewear in Farmington, the Jicarilla True value, the Apache Nugget Corporation and the Wild Horse Casino, 64 Express Gas Station, the National Wild Turkey Federation, and the Public Relations Office of the Jicarilla Apache Nation.
The Adult division had prizes for the three heaviest creels of the day, as well as the longest fish of the day. The battle between first and second was as close as it gets with a difference of three hundredths of a pound. Victor Mora out of Albuquerque ended up on top with 14.55 lbs in a mixed bag of Channel Catfish and Rainbow Trout totaling 26 fish. Anthony Valerio came in a close second with 14.52 lbs. in a mixed bag of Channel Catfish and Rainbow Trout totaling 25 fish. Third place went to Isaiah Foster of Pagosa Springs Colorado with a mixed bag of Channel Catfish and Rainbow Trout totaling 8.5 lbs. The longest fish went to Gary Williams with a nice 19.5” 3.5 lb. Rainbow from Stone Lake. The top three kids were Joetta Waupekenay, Vanaya Garcia, and Zack Mathis respectively. Joetta took the top prize with a nice 18” Rainbow from Stone Lake. Vanaya Garcia took second with a Mundo Lake Rainbow that measured 13.5”s. Zack Mathis took third place with a Mundo Lake Rainbow that went 13”s.
The strategy of the day was to fish near the shorelines with waxworms, meal worms, and jigs. The South and West sides of Mundo proved to be the hot spots. Powerbait, worms, and fireballs also had a fair bite. Most of the folks on the Lakes had at least 1 fish on the ice, with the average around 3 fish per angler. Stone Lake was tough to say the least, with 1-2 soft bites the average. Reports from Stone also indicate that there were several break offs and lost fish. The current status of fishing at Stone would have to be characterized as very slow. The recent storm has left 6-10 inches of new snow, and forecasts indicate that the trend will continue through the weekend. This means that the roads around Stone and Mundo will be snowy and or Muddy. Four wheel drives will be very helpful for the next week or so. If you’re not sure about your vehicle, park on the pavement and walk in to the Lake. Once again, Thank you all for making the 3rd annual Ice Derby a big success, and stay tuned to www.jicarillahunt.com for photos from the event, and www.fishenchantment.com for open forums, contests, and more information on upcoming events around the State.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 2-3-09

2009-02-04T07:34:00.000-08:00

Fishing Report 2-3-09

The last weekend before the derby proved to be tough fishing at both lakes. At least 10 anglers were skunked at Stone, with only 3 fish reported total this weekend. Mundo faired a bit better, but several anglers hit the zero mark there as well. As things set now, the derby should be a strategic event where the patient angler will persevere. The forecast for Saturday’s event is mostly cloudy with a slight chance (20%) of rain or snow showers. If you are planning to attend the derby, be prepared for the weather with some warm and waterproof gear just in case. There will be food and drink concessions available at Mundo Lake.
Stone Lake was fishing very slow over the weekend. The only success came to a white curly tail jig with a pink head. This angler concentrated his effort on the north shore of the lake approximately 50 ft. from the shoreline. The road on the north side of the lake has been very muddy in the afternoons and requires 4 wheel drive at the least. The access to the south and east sides of the lake are much better. Windy weather combined with warm afternoons has done some damage to the ice around the aerator holes. Anglers should remain at least 100ft from the open aeration holes. The ice thickness is 10-14 inches.
Mundo Lake has been slow with the usual baits for rainbows from 11-14”. Several anglers were skunked at Mundo over the weekend, but a few others did well with jigs. Wax worms are fishing fair and doing better when tipped on an active jig. 1-2 hits per hour is the average right now at Mundo. The ice is 10-12 inches.
We are looking forward to another great event this year with over $2,000 in prizes. Please feel free to contact the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department at (575) 759-3255 with any questions. We’ll see you on Saturday.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 1-26-09

2009-01-27T07:19:00.000-08:00

Fishing Report 1-26-09

The 3rd annual Jicarilla ice Derby is just two weekends away (2-7-09) and the current fishing conditions suggest that this year’s event will be another battle of the lakes. The derby will be held at Mundo and Stone Lakes combined, and contestants can fish either one or both from 7:30am to 4pm. Registration will begin at 7 am at the Mundo Lake pullout off of the j-8 road (Stone Lake Road). As always, for more information please contact Kevin Terry at the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department (575-759-3255) or email me through the fisheries contact on the www.jicarillahunt.com website.
Mundo Lake has been fishing very well with bait. There are times when the bite slows down, but several anglers caught their 6 trout limit in an hour or less this past weekend. Yellow, rainbow, and orange powerbait have the best reports, but salmon eggs and worms are working also. During this ice season larger fish (17-18”) have made appearances at Mundo, which adds an exciting twist to this years event. Over the weekend at least three of these bigger fish were documented by Rosenburg Tafoya doing creel surveys. The average Mundo Lake rainbow is 12-13”. There have also been several reports of smaller 12-14” catfish coming through the ice. The ice is in good shape at about 10-11” of solid ice.
Stone Lake on the other hand has been quite slow this past week. Most anglers are getting a few subtle bites per day, but the hook rate is pretty low. At least five anglers were skunked this weekend, and there were only a handful of fish landed. Folks are still getting the best action on white jigs with bright orange, pink, or chartreuse jig heads. The road on the north side of the lake has been getting quite muddy on the warmer afternoons and anglers should keep this in mind. The fish that have been landed are in 17-20” range and fat. Right now, there doesn’t appear to be a real sweet spot at Stone, so I suggest a little exploration for those of you scouting for the derby.
Both Horse Lake and Enbom Lake are closed for the winter, as they have each suffered winterkill events. Have a great weekend, and we hope to see you all at the 3rd annual Jicarilla Ice Derby!!!!!!

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

Fishing Report 1-20-09

2009-01-22T07:37:00.000-08:00

Fishing Report 1-20-09

Stone Lake- Ice Thickness- 8”-10”
Good on White jigs, orange or pink jig heads w white body.
16-20” Rainbows

Mundo Lake- Ice Thickness – 8”-10”
Excellent with yellow, green, and orange powerbait. Jigs work very well also. White jigs with orange or pink jighead. Worms are working well.
12”-16” Rainbows.
Some catfish have also been caught.

Enbom- closed due to winterkill
Horse Lake - closed due to winterkill

Rosenburg Tafoya
Fisheries Technician

Bad News at Horse Lake 1-15-09

2009-01-15T15:27:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is the update from Horse Lake. While the long wait for access is over, a new wait begins for open water and spring stocking. As expected, Horse lake fell victim yet again to winterkill. The dissolved oxygen levels are well below the documented lethal limit for Rainbow Trout. Despite the oxygen probes confirmed assessment we gave a good effort (2hrs.) without a single bite. The winterkill has happened earlier than expected this year and is most likely the result of the excessive productivity that plagued open water fishing all year at Horse. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Kevin Terry