By GEORGE MORSE
Sports and Outdoors
Los Alamos Daily Post
Kokanee salmon snagging season opens Wednesday at Navajo Lake, El Vado Lake and Eagle Nest Lake.
Kokanee are a landlocked species of sockeye salmon that spend their entire lives in freshwater and do not migrate to the ocean. Like other species of Pacific salmon, they live for 3-4 years, then spawn. After spawning, they die.
In order to make use of the salmon, a special snagging season is established to allow anglers a chance to harvest the fish before they die using nontraditional methods. The most common way of catching them is by snagging.
Snagging is done by casting a weighted, treble hook into the schools of salmon and jerking it through them, hoping to impale them.
During snagging season daily bag limits and possession limits are increased. Anglers may catch 12 salmon per day and have 24 salmon in their possession.
Any other game fish, such as trout, taken by snagging must be released immediately.
Heron Lake was once the premier snagging destination, but low water levels have limited success in recent years. The State Game and Fish Department uses Heron Lake as a source of eggs. The eggs are harvested from female salmon and fertilized with milt from male salmon. They are taken to the nearby Los Ojos Fish Hatchery, where they are hatched and raised. They are later stocked as small fish in the lakes to replenish the population.
Snagging season at Heron Lake begins Nov. 11 after the egg-taking operation. Possession of kokanee salmon at Heron Lake is prohibited from Oct. 1 until Nov. 11.
All snagging seasons end Dec. 31 at all locations. In recent years, the best snagging success has been at Navajo Lake.
Brown trout and brook trout spawn in the fall. Fishing for these species should pick up soon.
The recent rainfall has helped keep streamflows up and keep water temperatures cool. Conditions for spawning should be very good this fall.
Streamflow in the Rio Grande is still well below normal for this time of year throughout its drainage. The streamflow at Cerro near the Colorado border is just 69.4 cubic feet per second. This is higher than last week.
Streamflow in the Rio Grande at Embudo was 241 cubic feet per second. This is a little higher than last week. It is normal.
The heavy rainfall has damaged some National Forest roads. Expect muddy conditions. A four-wheel drive vehicle is strongly recommended.
Fenton Lake State Park is open. Camping is reservation only. It was stocked Aug. 28 with 325 Rio Grande cutthroat trout averaging 12.9 inches. Fenton Lake was stocked Sept. 17 with 1,866 catchable-size rainbow trout. There are also wild brown trout. Only two cutthroat trout may be kept as part of a five-trout daily bag limit. Call 575.829.3630 for current conditions.
The Rio Cebolla flows into and out of Fenton Lake. It was stocked Sept. 9 with 449 rainbow trout. It also has wild brown trout and Rio Grande cutthroat trout above Fenton Lake.
The Seven Springs Brood Pond, also known as the Kid’s Pond, is open to anglers 11 years of age and younger. There are also some wild brown trout. It is north of Fenton Lake. It was stocked Aug. 20 with 200 rainbow trout averaging 17.4 inches. It was stocked Aug. 27 with 450 catchable-size rainbow trout.
The Jemez River streamflow was 19.0 cubic feet per second. This is higher than last week. It was stocked May 20 with 824 rainbow trout and has wild brown trout.
The Rio Las Vacas, a tributary of the Jemez River, was stocked May 20 with 501 rainbow trout. The San Antonio River, another Jemez tributary, was stocked Sept. 9 with 687 rainbow trout. Both streams have wild brown trout.
Santa Cruz Lake near Chimayo is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The state-record rainbow trout was caught here. Fishing may be picking up as the water cools down. The lake may be stocked again soon. It was stocked Sept. 16 with 3,172 catchable-size rainbow trout. There are also wild brown trout. It is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Monday. Call 505.351.1438 or visit blm.gov/visit/santa-cruz-lake-recreation-area.
Blue-green algae has been detected at Santa Cruz. Do not let pets get in or drink water from the lake. Do not swim in the water.
The streamflow in the Santa Cruz River is 16.8 cubic feet per second. This is a little higher than last week and normal.
The Bureau also manages the Orilla Verde Recreation Area on the Rio Grande at Pilar. The Rio Grande at Pilar was stocked Sept. 23 with 2,000 rainbow trout. There are also wild brown trout, northern pike and smallmouth bass. Some Rio Grande cutthroat trout are now being caught thanks to earlier stockings.
From the Colorado border to the Taos Junction Bridge the limit is two trout per day on the Rio Grande. Streamflow was 195 cubic feet per second at Taos Junction Bridge. This is higher than last week. The Rio Grande Gorge above Pilar was stocked Aug. 21 with 20,000 Rio Grande cutthroat trout averaging 1.3 inches. It was stocked Sept. 16 with 25,027 small rainbow trout averaging. 4.3 inches. It was stocked Sept. 23 with 251 catchable-size rainbow trout.
The Rio Pueblo near Penasco streamflow was 14.8 cubic feet per second. This is higher than last week and above normal. It was stocked Sept. 22 with 1,202 rainbow trout and has wild brown trout.
The Sipapu Pond was stocked Aug. 20 with 68 rainbow trout.
The streamflow on the Red River below Questa was 36.3 cubic feet per second below Questa. This is lower than last week. It was stocked Sept. 18 with 698 rainbow trout and has wild brown trout.
The Red River above Questa streamflow was 20.9 cubic-feet-per-second. This is the same as last week. It was stocked Sept. 8 with 2,904 catchable-size rainbow trout. The East Fork and West Fork of the Red River were each stocked Aug. 25 with 301 rainbow trout.
Goose Lake, a high-elevation lake in the Red River drainage, was stocked June 30 with 451 rainbow trout.
The Red River Hatchery Pond is open again. It was stocked SSept.18 with 400 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 80 rainbow trout averaging 15.5 inches. Fishing is for anglers 11 years old or younger and 65 years old or older.
Eagle Rock Lake near Questa was stocked Sept. 25 with 498 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 54 rainbow trout averaging 16.1 inches.
The Shuree Ponds on the Valle Vidal are open. They were stocked Aug. 7 with 500 rainbow trout averaging 15.8 inches.
Cabresto Lake is a high-elevation lake accessible by four-wheel drive. It has good fishing for wild brook trout and wild cutthroat trout.
Abiquiu Lake is managed by the Corps of Engineers. The fishing has been fair-to-good for smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie and catfish. Anglers are starting to catch some small largemouth bass. There are some good-sized trout in Abiquiu. Camping by reservation. Call 505.685.4371 for more information.
The streamflow in the Chama River below Abiquiu Dam was 98.9 cubic-feet-per-second. This is higher than last week and below normal. It was stocked Sept. 18 with 1,090 rainbow trout. There are some big, wild brown trout here. The limit here is two-trout-per day.
The Canjilon Lakes are now accessible and open. They were stocked ra16.o23 with 1,090 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 11 rainbow trout averaging 18.8 inches. Anglers were also catching some brook trout.
The Trout Lakes near Cebolla are open. Access to these lakes can be difficult when it rains. They were stocked Sept. 23 with 545 rainbow trout.
Laguna del Campo, a small lake near Los Ojos, reopened May 1. It was stocked Sept. 15 with 126 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 150 rainbow trout averaging 17.9 inches. Fishing is for anglers 11 years old and younger or 65 years old and older.
Heron Lake State Park is open. Fishing for rainbow trout has been fair. Kokanee salmon snagging season begins Nov. 11. El Vado Lake State Park is now open for fishing. El Vado Lake was stocked Sept. 10 with 31,700 sub-catchable rainbow trout and stocked Sept. 17 with 8,304 fingerling rainbow trout. Kokanee salmon snagging season begins Wednesday. Call 575.588.7470 for information.
The streamflow in the Chama River below El Vado Dam was 94.4 cubic feet per second. It has wild brown trout. It was stocked Sept. 15 with 504 rainbow trout. It was stocked Sept. 24 with 20,480 small Rio Grande cutthroat trout. The state-record brown trout was caught here.
The Chama River above El Vado Lake streamflow was 29.0 cubic-feet-per-second at La Puente. This is much lower than last week. It was stocked Sept. 15 with 1,008 rainbow trout. It has wild brown trout.
The upper Chama River above the town of Chama is at 18.7 cubic-feet-per-second. This is lower than last week.
The streamflow in the Rio Brazos was 14.7 cubic feet per second. This is just a little higher than last week. It was stocked Sept. 3 with 516 rainbow trout. It has wild brown trout and brook trout in the headwaters.
The Brazos Lodge Pond was stocked May 19 with 200 rainbow trout.
Over in the Four Corners the fishing has been fair at Navajo Lake State Park. Trolling minnow imitating lures like Rapalas could produce a trophy brown trout. The road to Navajo Dam is closed. The fishing for northern pike has been fair to good. Bass fishing has been fair. It was stocked April 29 with 23,214 sub-catchable rainbow trout. Navajo Lake was stocked April 21 with 288,059 kokanee salmon fry. Navajo Lake has the best kokanee salmon fishing in the state Kokanee salmon snagging season begins Wednesday. Camping by reservation only. Boating conditions are good. Call 505.632-2278 for more information.
The San Juan River below Navajo Dam is the best river in New Mexico and well-known in the angling world. The streamflow was 596 cubic feet per second. This is about the same as last week and normal. It has world-class fly-fishing for big trout. Conditions for wading anglers have improved.
The first four miles of river below the dam is known as the Quality Water. Angling is strictly Catch-and-Release using artificial flies and lures with a single barbless hook. The Quality Water is stocked with small rainbow trout that grow quickly. It was stocked Sept. 18 with 24,998 fingerling rainbow trout.
There are also big, wild brown trout. Some of these brown trout would shatter the state record if they could be kept and weighed. The angling for brown trout has been picking up.
The Bait Water below the Quality Water has good fishing and a five-fish limit may be kept here. There are big brown trout here, too. It was stocked Sept. 18 with 2,128 catchable-size rainbow trout and stocked July 2 with 81,424 fingerling rainbow trout.
Lakes in the Aztec area are now being stocked Aztec Pond #1 was stocked Sept. 25 with 109 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 47 rainbow trout averaging 18.8 inches. Tiger Pàrk Pond was stocked with 1,090 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 150 rainbow trout averaging 18.8 inches.
Hopewell Lake is a small, high elevation lake between Tierra Amarilla and Tres Piedras. It has stocked rainbow trout and wild brook trout. The fishing is good. It was stocked Sept. 22 with 2,658 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 185 rainbow trout averaging 18.8 inches. Hopewell gets very weedy this time of year.
The Lagunitas Lakes received their second stocking of the year Sept. 2 of 1,500 rainbow trout.
The Rio de los Pinos north of Tres Piedras near the Colorado border is heavily-stocked with rainbow trout. It also has wild brown trout. There are brook trout in the headwaters. It was stocked Aug. 18 with 1,800 rainbow trout.
Eagle Nest Lake State Park has been good for rainbow trout. This is a big fertile lake that can produce large trout. It was stocked Sept. 9 with 13,723 sub-catchable rainbow trout.
There are also northern pike, yellow perch and an occasional kokanee salmon. The state-record kokanee was caught here. Snagging season for kokanee salmon begins Wednesday. If you catch a pike at Eagle Nest you have to kill it. You cannot release it back into the lake. 575.377.1594 for more information. Weed growth may soon get heavy here.
Blue-green algae has been detected at Eagle Nest. Do not let pets drink from the lake. The toxins produced by the algae can be fatal to dogs and sicken humans.
The Cimarron River at Cimarron Canyon State Park is stocked with rainbow trout. There are also wild brown trout. It was stocked Sept. 24 with 2,425 rainbow trout. The streamflow below Eagle Nest Dam was 16.6 cubic feet per second. The Cimarron River streamflow was 12.5 cubic feet per second.
The Cimarron Gravel Pit Lakes at Maverick Campground were stocked Sept. 24 with 401 catchable-size rainbow trout and 46 rainbow averaging 15.2 inches. They are open.
Lake Maloya in Sugarite Canyon State Park near Raton. Lake Maloya was stocked Sept. 16 with 3,003 rainbow trout. Lake Alice, a smaller lake at the park, was stocked Sept. 16 with 498 rainbow trout. Call 575.445.1507 for more information.
Clayton Lake State Park was stocked Sept. 23 with 3,999 catchable-size rainbow trout. There are also walleye, largemouth bass and catfish here. The state-record walleye was caught here. Be sure to check out the dinosaur tracks at Clayton.
The Charette Lakes between Wagon Mound and Springer were stocked July 1 with 2,500 rainbow trout. There are also yellow perch and some good-sized holdover trout.
Maxwell Lake 13 on the Maxwell Lakes National Wildlife Refuge was stocked April 22 with 2,000 rainbow trout. It had dried up in 2020 and is being stocked again.
Morphy Lake State Park near Mora is open. It was stocked Sept. 17 with 2,988 catchable-size rainbow trout.
Coyote Creek State Park is open. Coyote Creek was stocked Sept. 9 with 800 rainbow trout. Coyote Creek Pond was stocked with 601 rainbow trout.
Storrie Lake State Park near Las Vegas was stocked twice last week with a total of 3,035 catchable-size rainbow trout. There are also catfish here.
The Pecos River in Pecos Canyon State Park was stocked Sept. 18 with 3,001 catchable-size rainbow trout. Fishing has been fair for rainbows and wild brown trout.
The streamflow in the Pecos River at Pecos was 98.1 cubic feet per second. This is higher than last week and above normal.
The Mora Fork of the Pecos River was stocked May 20 with 401 rainbow trout. Cow Creek was stocked Aug. 11 with 500 rainbow trout. Holy Ghost Creek was stocked Sept. 15 with 402 rainbow trout.
The Cowles Ponds were stocked Aug. 18 with 180 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 21 rainbow trout averaging 15.2 inches.
Monastery Lake near Pecos is now open. It was stocked Sept. 15 with 1,401 rainbow trout.
Tingley Beach in Albuquerque is no longer being stocked with rainbow trout. It was stocked Aug. 28 with 449 channel catfish. It was stocked June 12 with 99 largemouth bass averaging 17 inches.
Bluewater Lake near Grants has fair fishing for tiger musky and there are some catfish here. They have been catching some nice holdover rainbow trout. Call 505.876.2391 for information.
McGaffey Lake near Grants was stocked May 28 with 3,504 rainbow trout. It was stocked Aug. 28 with 133 channel catfish.