By GEORGE MORSE
Sports & Outdoors
Los Alamos Daily Post

This year’s monsoon season has not been a generous one. Streamflows are well-below normal and reservoir levels have been steadily dropping all summer long in New Mexico. Fortunately, we haven’t had a particularly bad wildfire season.

The recent Medio Fire that filled the air with smoke and was readily visible from Los Alamos burning in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains north of Santa Fe was cause for some concern. It received some welcome rainfall and firefighters appear to be gaining control of it.

The Medio Fire burned 3,721 acres and was 59-percent contained Wednesday.

Our neighbors to the north, Colorado hasn’t been as fortunate. The Pine Gulch Fire north of Grand Junction recently became the largest wildfire in Colorado history, burning more than 139,000 acres. Smoke from the Pine Gulch Fire reached New Mexico, creating hazy days and beautiful sunsets. It was 77-percent contained Sunday.

Another Colorado wildfire, the East Fork Fire, is burning near Trinidad. It has already had an impact on a state park in New Mexico.

Sugarite Canyon State Park near Raton has been evacuated and closed due to the East Fork Fire. The Fire is threatening the watershed that feeds Lake Maloya in Sugarite Canyon. A popular fishing destination, Lake Maloya was just recently stocked with trout. It also supplies water for the city of Raton. Lake Alice, a smaller lake, is also found in Sugarite Canyon State Park. The East Fork Fire has burned 1,680 acres. It is just 15-percent contained and further growth is expected.

There is still no overnight camping at any of New Mexico’s State Parks. Fenton Lake State Park in the Jemez Mountains and Bluewater Lake State park near Grants remain closed to all activities.

Most developed campgrounds on Santa Fe National Forest and Carson National Forest lands are open. Monastery Lake near Pecos is closed. All state fish hatcheries are closed to the public due to COVID-19.

Fishing should start improving soon as temperatures start to fall. Small game hunting seasons for blue grouse, squirrel and dove begin Tuesday (Sept. 1). Bow-hunting seasons for big game, including elk, begin Tuesday as well.

The best fishing currently in the Jemez Mountains is in the area’s streams and rivers. Most are running very low and have not been stocked. The Jemez River is flowing at just 10.7 cubic-feet-per-second. They all contain wild brown trout.

Most of the stockings have been in the Rio Cebolla near Fenton Lake. It was stocked Aug. 26 with 469 rainbow trout.

The Rio San Antonio near La Cueva was stocked Aug. 26 with 751 rainbow trout.

The Department stocked 710 Rio Grande cutthroat trout averaging 5.4 inches in length Aug. 17 in the Rio San Antonio.

This stocking is a “put-and-grow” stocking to try to establish a self-sustaining population of cutthroat trout. Please release these fish to give them a chance to grow and reproduce.

San Gregorio Lake is open but has not been stocked in more than a month. It may still be fair for any remaining rainbow trout from earlier stockings.

Abiquiu Lake is open for fishing 24/7. There is no overnight camping. The lake level is low and four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for the launching of boats as the ramp does not reach the water. Fishing has been fair for smallmouth bass and walleye. A 32-inch walleye was caught recently. Night fishing for catfish should be worth a try.

Blue-green algae has been detected at Abiquiu Lake. The algae does not affect the fish and they may be safely eaten.

Pets, livestock and children should not be allowed to play in or drink water from the lake. Swimming in the lake is discouraged. Blue-green algae can cause health risks if ingested, inhaled or touched. Avoid areas where algae tends to accumulate, like the back of coves and along shorelines.

The Chama River below Abiquiu Dam is running at 608 cubic-feet-per-second. This is a medium flow and fishing could be fair. The water here is usually murky. There are stocked rainbow trout here and some big, wild brown trout. The limit here is two fish per-day. It was stocked Aug. 19 with 1,022 rainbow trout.

Streamflow in the Chama River below El Vado Dam is 796 cubic-feet-per-second. This is a medium-to-heavy flow and makes for fair-to-good fishing conditions for the stocked rainbow trout and wild brown trout found here. The state-record brown trout was caught here.

The State Game and Fish Department stocked 4,085 Rio Grande cutthroat trout averaging 4.7 inches in size July 15 in the Chama River below El Vado Dam. It was stocked again July 21 with another 6,061 small Rio Grande cutthroat trout.

These were “put-and-grow” stockings to try to establish a fishery for cutthroats here. These fish should grow to catchable-size by next year. Please release them if caught and give them a chance to grow.

El Vado Lake State Park and Heron Lake State Park are open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fishing from the bank has been fair for smallmouth bass, brown trout and carp at El Vado Lake. The fishing has been fair for rainbow trout at Heron Lake. No reports on the fishing for kokanee salmon and for lake trout.

The Chama River above El Vado Lake is low and streamflow at La Puente is 27.2 cubic-feet-per-second. Stream temperatures are warm. Above Chama the streamflow is 18.8 cubic-feet-per-second. The river was stocked Aug. 19 with 1,038 rainbow trout. Most of the stockings take place close to the town of Chama.

Streamflow in the Chama River below Heron Dam has increased by several hundred cubic-feet-per-second as they are releasing water from Heron Lake. This water is very cold and the trout will be more active here.

The streamflow in the nearby Brazos River was 16.1 cubic-feet-per-second. The fishing should be at least fair for stocked rainbow trout and wild brown trout.

El Rito Creek, a small stream that flows through the town of El Rito, was stocked July 28 with 1,960 small Rio Grande cutthroat trout averaging 4.7 inches in size. Please release these trout and give them a chance to grow.

Laguna del Campo near Los Ojos was stocked Aug. 7 with 50 rainbow trout averaging 16.8 inches in size. Weed growth is probably getting heavy in this little lake. It is limited to anglers 14 years old and younger and anglers 65 years old or older. The limit is three fish per-day and the lake is open sunrise to sunset.

The Canjilon Lakes are fishing well thanks to recent stockings of rainbow trout and Rio Grande cutthroat trout. The lakes were stocked Aug. 25 with 1,084 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 230 rainbow trout averaging 17.0 inches in size.

These little lakes are likely getting very weedy and receive heavy fishing pressure.

The fishing has been slow at the Trout Lakes near Cebolla. They have not been stocked in several weeks.

The Lagunitas Lakes were stocked several weeks ago and the fishing is slow-to-fair. The campground is open. Anglers might try fishing the small streams in the Cruces Basin Wilderness Area.

Hopewell Lake between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla had been fishing well. In addition to recent stockings of rainbow trout, there was a stocking of Rio Grande cutthroat trout and it also contains wild brook trout. Weed growth is getting heavy in this lake. There have been problems with water quality here and it will not be stocked again until September when the weather cools down.

The Rio de los Pinos Wildlife Management Area near the Colorado border is open. The fishing has been just fair for stocked rainbow trout and wild brown trout. It is open for day-use only. The flow is low and water temperatures are warm. It was stocked Aug. 27 with 2,100 rainbow trout.

Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area near Chimayo is open for day use Thursday-Sunday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. There is no overnight camping. It has not been recently stocked and the fishing could be slow as the trout have likely retreated to deeper water. Boats can no longer be launched here. The streamflow in the Santa Cruz River above the lake was 16.0 cubic-feet-per-second.

The streamflow in the Rio Grande is very low at just 167 cubic-feet-per-second at Taos Junction Bridge. Flows near Cerro at the Colorado border are extremely low at 42.3 cubic-feet-per-second. The fishing has been fair for rainbow trout and brown trout. Smallmouth bass are also being caught. Remember that there is a 12-inch size limit on smallmouths, as many of them are small.

The Rio Pueblo near Penasco is low again at 6.07 cubic-feet-per-second. The fish are concentrated in the deeper pools.

The fishing has been fair-to-good for stocked rainbow trout and some wild brown trout. .

There is still a good flow in the Red River at 37.5 cubic-feet-per-second below Red River Fish Hatchery. Flows have dropped above Questa to 19.6 cubic-feet-per-second. The Red River above Questa was stocked Aug. 25 with 2,899 rainbow trout. The Red River below Questa was stocked Aug. 27 with 1,501 rainbow trout. The East Fork of the Red River was stocked Aug. 26 with 300 rainbow trout. The West Fork of the Red River was stocked Aug. 23 with 300 rainbow trout. The fishing has been good.

Eagle Rock Lake near Questa is a small lake right off the highway and receives heavy fishing pressure. It was stocked Aug. 24 with 499 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 53 rainbow trout averaging 14.5 inches in size. The fishing is fair-to-good as long as the stockers last.

The Shuree Ponds on the Valle Vidal near Costilla were stocked Aug. 19 with 500 rainbow trout averaging 15.2 inches in length. The fishing is limited to artificial flies and lures having a single, barbless hook. The limit is two-fish-per-day. The fishing should be good

Eagle Nest Lake State Park is open Thursday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weed growth may be starting to get heavy here. Trout fishing has been fair-to-good. Northern pike fishing has been fair-to-good. Anglers should try crank baits and swim baits resembling small rainbow trout. Perch fishing should be fair with worms. Anglers may pick up a few kokanee salmon while trolling for trout.

Cimarron Canyon State Park is open Thursday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Cimarron River was stocked Aug. 26 with 2,425 rainbow trout. It also contains wild brown trout. The Cimarron Gravel Pit Lakes at Maverick Campground were stocked Aug. 26 with 35 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 45 rainbow trout averaging 14.9 inches in length.

The Cimarron River below Eagle Nest Dam it is now flowing at 36.6 cubic-feet-per-second.

The fishing should be fair at Stubblefield Lake for largemouth bass, walleye and catfish. Water levels here may be getting low. The state-record channel catfish was caught at Stubblefield Lake.

Trout fishing at Maxwell Lake 13 on the Maxwell Lakes National Wildlife Refuge will be slow due to warm water temperatures. The trout here are mostly good-sized holdovers and they have moved to deeper water. There are also largemouth bass and catfish here. The state-record yellow perch was caught at Maxwell Lakes.

As mentioned earlier in this report, Sugarite Canyon State Park is closed due to a wildfire in Colorado.

Clayton Lake State Park is open Friday-Sunday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The trout fishing here has been very slow and it has not been stocked recently. There are also some big walleye, catfish and some largemouth bass here. The boat ramp is closed. The state-record walleye was caught at Clayton Lake.

The Charette Lakes between Wagon Mound and Springer have been fair for stocked rainbow trout with some holdover trout. There are also yellow perch here.

Springer Lake has been slow-to-fair for northern pike and catfish.

Coyote Creek State Park near Guadalupita is open Friday-Sunday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. It was stocked Aug. 25 with 800 rainbow trout. The Coyote Creek Pond was stocked Aug. 25 with 599 rainbow trout. The fishing has been fair-to-good.

Storrie Lake State Park is open Thursday-Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. It has not been stocked recently and the trout fishing is very slow. There are also catfish here.

The Gallinas River near Las Vegas is running low at 2.78 cubic-feet-per-second. The trout are concentrated in the deeper pools. The fishing is fair. It was stocked Aug. 25 with 500 rainbow trout. The Gallinas Ice Pond was stocked Aug. 26 with 198 rainbow trout.

Conchas Lake State Park is open Friday-Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fishing has been fair-to-good for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, bluegill and crappie.

Ute Lake State Park near Logan reopened Aug. 26 after being closed Aug. 12 due to an employee having tested positive for COVID-19. The Marina and two boat ramps are open. It is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The fishing for smallmouth bass has been fair-to-good. The fishing for largemouth bass, walleye and white bass has been fair.

At Pecos Canyon State Park, roadside day-use fishing areas are open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mora, Burt Clancy, Terrero and Willow Creek areas open Thursday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Open to New Mexico residents only. This area receives very heavy fishing pressure. The Pecos River was stocked last week with a total of 1,301 catchable-size rainbow trout and 50 rainbow trout averaging 16.0 inches in size. There are also wild brown trout here. The streamflow is at 27.7 cubic-feet-per-second, which is low.

The Mora Fork of the Pecos River was stocked Aug. Aug. 25 with 201 rainbow trout. Cow Creek in the Pecos drainage was stocked Aug. 26 with 500 rainbow trout.

The Cowles Ponds are open and were stocked Aug. 19 with 181 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 20 rainbow trout averaging 16.0 inches in size.

The Pecos River at Villanueva State Park has been stocked with channel catfish. Villanueva State Park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Santa Rosa Lake State Park is open Friday-Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The lake is very low and muddy. The boat ramp does not reach the water. Fishing is slow-to-fair for walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie and catfish.

Over in the Four Corners, Navajo Lake State Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The fishing should be good for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike. Fishing for catfish should be fair. Trout fishing should be slow-to-fair with the trout hanging out in deeper water. This lake has the best kokanee salmon fishing in the state. They are usually caught by trolling at the proper depth. Fishing is usually best in deep water near the dam. Check with the marina to see if they have information as to what depth the kokanee are being caught at. The salmon are beginning to develop the hooked jaws and bright red colors prior to spawning.

The streamflow in the San Juan River below Navajo Dam was a little lower at 892 cubic-feet-per-second. The trout fishing has been good with a variety of fly patterns in the Quality Water. They have been catching some big brown trout in the Quality Water, which may be feeding on small rainbow trout. The Quality Water was stocked Aug. 19 with 65,041 small rainbow trout. The fishing has been good in the Bait Water below the Quality Water with flies, lures and bait. The Bait Water was stocked Aug. 19 with 3,611 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 300 rainbow trout averaging 17 inches in length.

Tingley Beach in Albuquerque is now open. It was stocked July 30 with a total of 573 channel catfish, so the fishing should be picking up here. It has been fair for catfish and bluegill. It was stocked July 14 with 50 largemouth bass averaging 15 inches in size.

The drainage canals in the Albuquerque area are not being stocked with rainbow trout. Fishing for catfish, carp and a few largemouth bass has been fair. The Rio Grande in Albuquerque is running well below normal. Fishing has been fair for catfish and carp.

Escondida Lake near Socorro was stocked July 30 with 270 channel catfish averaging 18 inches in size. It was stocked July 14 with 40 largemouth bass averaging 15 inches in size. The fishing has been fair-to-good.

Elephant Butte Lake State Park is open Thursday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The fishing has been very good for white bass. The fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye has been slow-to-fair. The fishing for catfish is good.

Lake water levels are dropping significantly as they are letting a lot more water out than is coming in. The lake is extremely low.

The Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam is flowing at 963 cubic-feet-per-second. That is a little low for this time of year. The fishing has been fair for catfish and white bass.

Caballo Lake State Park is open Thursday-Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fishing has been fair for white bass, walleye and catfish.

In the Ruidoso area, the trout fishing is slowing down a bit at Alto Lake. The best fishing is for catfish and largemouth bass.

The trout fishing is still holding up at Grindstone Reservoir. It was stocked Aug. 18 with 2,999 rainbow trout. There are also smallmouth bass here and the fishing for bluegill has been good.

These lakes are administered by the City of Ruidoso. They are limiting the number of cars that can be admitted each day. Ruidoso residents are given preference. The Ruidoso River is running very low at 0.28 cubic-feet-per-second. It was stocked Aug. 17 with 1,014 rainbow trout. The fish are likely stacked on top of each other in the deeper pools and quite visible. The fishing should be good but it will likely get fished out quickly.

The Timberon Ponds were stocked Aug. 17 with 248 rainbow trout. These little ponds are also stocked with catfish. They were stocked July 30 with 129 channel catfish.

In the Silver City area, the trout fishing has been slow-to- fair at Lake Roberts. The water is too warm and the trout lethargic. This is a designated trophy-bass water with a daily limit of two largemouth bass 18 inches in size or longer. The fishing for catfish has been fair. The bluegill fishing has been good.

Bear Canyon Reservoir is open. The trout fishing is about over here. The best fishing is for catfish, crappie and largemouth bass.

Bill Evans Lake is open. Trout fishing is likely over here too. This is a designated trophy-bass water with a daily limit of two largemouth bass per-day 18 inches in size or longer. The state-record largemouth bass was caught at Bill Evans Lake There are also catfish here.

The streamflow in the Gila River is dropping and is now at 24.3 cubic-feet-per-second Some big flathead catfish have been caught in the lower Gila River. There are also channel catfish and smallmouth bass here. In the upper reaches and in the forks of the Gila River, the fishing is for rainbow trout, brown trout and some Gila trout.

The fishing at Quemado Lake has been fair-to-good for rainbow trout. It was stocked Aug. 3 with 3,910 small, 8-inch rainbow trout. This is a “put-and-grow” stocking so try to release these trout now to give them a chance to grow.