By GEORGE MORSE
Sports And Outdoors
Los Alamos Daily Post

One of New Mexico’s premier fishing destinations is the San Juan River below Navajo Dam. Located in the Four Corners area of Northwestern New Mexico, the San Juan has earned a reputation among fly-fishing anglers across the country for producing big trout on small flies.

Anglers planning a trip to the San Juan need to be aware that conditions here will be undergoing significant changes in the coming weeks. The Bureau of Reclamation, which manages the control of the releases of water from beneath Navajo Dam, plans to increase the streamflow below Navajo Dam. The streamflow was increased to 2,000 cubic-feet-per-second Tuesday (5/16) and will be steadily increased until May 25 to approximately 5,000 cubic-feet-per-second.

The high streamflows will make for difficult and even dangerous fishing conditions for wading anglers. Best to use a boat and float the San Juan rather than risk wading in the strong current. This is a great time to hire a guide and boat to float the San Juan. The guides are skilled and experienced at fishing the San Juan during these high flows. The fishing can still be good despite the high flows if you know where and how to fish them.

The streamflow will then be gradually lowered until the middle of June to a basic flow of 500 cubic-feet-per-second. This increasing and decreasing of streamflow is meant to simulate the effects of spring runoff, which no longer occurs naturally below Navajo Dam. It also controls the water level of Navajo Lake behind the dam, which this year could go over the spillway.

Streamflows are running very high in all the major rivers of New Mexico. Wading anglers need to use extra caution at this time of year.

The Bureau of Land Management manages Santa Cruz Lake Recreation Area near Chimayo. It will be open from 6:30 a.m., until 8 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. The fishing should be good for stocked rainbow trout and some wild brown trout. It was stocked twice April 26 with a total of 800 rainbow trout averaging over 14 inches in length. It was stocked May 2 with 2,585 catchable-size rainbow trout. Overlook Campground is open. For updated conditions, check the Bureau of Land Management website or call 505.351.1438.

The Bureau also manages the Orilla Verde Recreation Area along the Rio Grande at Pilar. Camping is on a first-come basis. No reservations. The Rio Grande streamflow was 2,930 cubic-feet-per-second at Taos Junction Bridge. It was 2,280 cubic-feet-per-second at Cerro near the Colorado border. This is much higher than last week and well-above normal. The Rio Grande at Pilar was stocked May 9 with 1,600 rainbow trout. There are some big, wild brown trout. Northern pike are caught on big streamers in the Pilar and Taos Junction Bridge areas. The high water makes fishing conditions difficult.

From the Colorado state line downstream to the Taos Junction Bridge, the limit is two-trout-per-day in the Rio Grande.

The Rio Grande Gorge above Pilar was stocked May 8 with 201 rainbow trout.

Fenton Lake State Park is open for camping. Lake is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Camping by reservation only. It is heavily-stocked with rainbow trout. It also has some wild brown trout and some Rio Grande cutthroat trout from earlier stockings. It was stocked May 9 with 406 rainbow trout averaging 14.1 inches in size and stocked May 10 with 1,760 catchable-size rainbow trout. Only two cutthroat trout may be kept as part of the five fish daily limit at Fenton. For more information and current lake conditions call 575.829.3630.

The Rio Cebolla, which flows into and below Fenton Lake, was stocked May 10 with 180 rainbow trout.

The Jemez River reached flood stage two weeks ago, overflowing its banks. The streamflow Sunday was 211 cubic-feet-per-second. Streamflow has been dropping and a little below normal. State Road 4 is not closed. The US Forest Service closed fishing and camping areas along State Road 4 below Jemez Springs. The river is still very high with spring runoff and fishing will be very difficult. The Jemez River was stocked May 4 with 828 rainbow trout.

The smaller tributaries of the Jemez River are also swollen with runoff. The Rio San Antonio was stocked May 4 with 600 rainbow trout. The Rio de las Vacas was stocked May 10 with 400 rainbow trout. San Gregorio Lake likely has rapidly deteriorating ice and should be open. Portions of State Road 126 were closed due to heavy snow and muddy conditions last week but may be open now. Check nmroads.com for closures:

The Seven Springs Brood Pond, also known as the Kid’s Pond, is open. The fishing is for anglers 11-years of age or younger. It was stocked May 4 with 360 rainbow trout. It also has some wild brown trout and some Rio Grande cutthroat trout from an earlier stocking. The limit is three trout-per-day.

Eagle Nest Lake at Eagle Nest State Park now has plenty of open water for bank fishing. Boating is open.

Fishing should be good for rainbow trout, yellow perch, northern pike and an occasional kokanee salmon. The state-record kokanee was caught at Eagle Nest. It was stocked April 19 with 95,939 kokanee salmon fry. It was stocked May 8 with 819 rainbow trout averaging 15.8 inches in length. It was stocked May 9 with 5,539 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 1,610 rainbow trout averaging 14.1 inches I size. For more information and current conditions, call 575.377.1594.

The Cimarron River in Cimarron Canyon State Park is opening up. The streamflow below Eagle Nest Dam was 12.2 cubic-feet-per-second. This is higher than last week. The Cimarron River near the town of Cimarron streamflow was measured at 46.3 cubic-feet-per second. It was stocked May 11 with 1,940 rainbow trout. Check the Carson National Forest website to see if campgrounds are open.

The Cimarron Gravel Pit Lakes at Maverick Campground are open now. They were stocked May 11 with 353 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 45 rainbow trout averaging 14.0 inches in size..

Lake Maloya and Lake Alice at Sugarite State Park near Raton have open water. Lake Maloya was stocked May 1 with 2,150 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 308 rainbow trout averaging 17.4 inches in length. Lake Alice was stocked with 398 rainbow trout. Call 575.445.5607 for current conditions.

Clayton Lake reopened March 1. The state-record walleye was caught here and it is heavily-stocked with rainbow trout.

It was stocked May 2 with 2,150 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 400 rainbow trout averaging 17.5 inches in size. Call 575.374.8808 for conditions.

Heron Lake State Park is open now. There is open water for bank fishing. It was stocked April 20 with 65,651 kokanee salmon fry. It was stocked May 10 with 66,500 fingerling rainbow trout. The boat ramps are closed. The lake level is still low.

Call 575.588.7470 for conditions at both Heron Lake and El Vado Lake.

El Vado Lake State Park has rainbow trout, brown trout, perch and small smallmouth bass. Lake surface is closed due to poor ice conditions. Boating is closed. The Dam Day Use Area is closed for construction. Water level is low. The banks are very muddy. Try fishing at the north end of the lake where the Chama River comes in.

Laguna del Campo, a popular, small lake near Los Ojos, is open. It was stocked May 10 with 148 rainbow trout averaging 14.1 inches in length.

Bluewater Lake State Park is open. Camping is allowed by reservation only. Lake water level is low but it is rising.

Currently, the lake is open water. Tiger muskies were being caught and the fishing for them was fair using big crank baits, spinners and hot dogs. The limit on tiger muskies is one-per-day at least 40 inches in length. It was stocked March 15 with 6,000 rainbow trout. The trout fishing should be good until the stockers are caught by anglers or eaten by tiger muskies. Call (505).876.2391 for current conditions.

McGaffey Lake is being stocked again. It was stocked May 10 with 1,216 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 200 rainbow trout averaging 13.9 inches in size.

Morphy Lake State Park near Mora has reopened. This lake was heavily-impacted by the Calf Canyon/Hermit Peak Fire. It was stocked May 11 with 400 rainbow trout averaging 14.0 inches in length.

Coyote Creek State Park is open. Coyote Creek was stocked May 8 with 638 rainbow trout. The Coyote Creek Pond was stocked with 417 rainbow trout.

The Charette Lakes have good fishing for holdover rainbow trout and were stocked April 20 with 2,801 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 250 rainbow trout averaging 17.4 inches in size. There are also yellow perch here.

Storrie Lake State Park near Las Vegas is open for bank fishing. Boating is closed. It was stocked April 17 with 3,745 rainbow trout. It also has some big catfish.

Pecos Canyon State Park is open. In the Canyon, the river has thawed and streamflow was measured 438 cubic-feet per second. This is a lower than last week and well-above normal. There is lot of open water. It was stocked May 1 with 300 rainbow trout averaging 14.2 inches in length. The streamflow at Anton Chico is 488 cubic-feet-per-second which is still well-above average. It is lower than last week. The fishing has been fair-to-good for rainbow trout and brown trout, but high water may make fishing difficult. The Pecos River at Villanueva State Park was stocked April 25 with 321 rainbow trout.

A Flood Advisory for the Pecos River was canceled. Anglers should pay attention for rising water anywhere in the state.

The Mora Fork of the Pecos River was stocked April 6 with 325 rainbow trout. Cow Creek in the Pecos drainage was stocked May 3 with 320 rainbow trout.

Monastery Lake near Pecos reopened March 9 after the ice melted. It was stocked May 1 with 100 rainbow trout averaging 14.2 inches in size. It was stocked May 9 with 718 catchable-size rainbow trout. Fishing should be good.

The Cowles Ponds near Cowles were stocked May 10 with 180 rainbow trout.

Over in the Four Corners, Navajo Lake State Park is open. Camping is by reservation only. Trolling minnow-imitating lures like Rapalas could produce a trophy brown trout. Fishing for northern pike has been fair. It was stocked May 10 with 17,376 sub-catchable rainbow trout. It was stocked April 24 with 157,253 kokanee salmon fry. Boating conditions are good. Call 505.632.2278 for conditions. Navajo Lake does not freeze.

Aztec Pond #1 in Aztec was stocked April 4 with 244 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 45 rainbow trout averaging 14.7 inches in length. Tiger Park Pond in Aztec was stocked May 3 with 482 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 405 rainbow trout averaging 14.0 inches in size.

Lake Farmington was stocked three times April 25 with a total of 865 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 802 rainbow trout averaging 15.1 inches in length.

Popular fishing locations on Carson National Forest include the Canjilon Lakes, the Trout Lakes near Cebolla and Hopewell Lake between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla. These are high-elevation lakes that were frozen but are now open.

The Forest Service roads to the Trout Lakes and Canjilon Lakes are likely snowpacked and difficult to travel. Hopewell Lake is close to Highway 64 and may be accessed by hiking in or by snowmobile.

The campground at Hopewell Lake is now closed. The ice fishing has been good for stocked rainbow trout and wild brook trout. US Highway 64 has been reopened. Hopewell Lake was completely frozen over April 29 with no open water. The ice is starting to deteriorate here and there should be plenty of open water now. Caution should be used and conditions around the lake will be very muddy. Check nmroads.com for road conditions.

The Rio de los Pinos is near the border with Colorado. It is running high and is hard to fish.

The best river in the state and well-known throughout the angling world is the San Juan River below Navajo Dam. The streamflow here is 1,240 cubic-feet-per-second. This is a much higher than last week and almost normal. Streamflow will be increased 2,000 cubic-feet-per-second Monday (5/15). The San Juan offers world-class fly fishing for big trout.

The fishing has been good with a variety of fly patterns in the four miles of Quality Water below the Dam. The fishing here is catch-and-release with flies and lures having a single, barbless hook. There are big, wild brown trout in the Quality Water. Some of these fish would likely shatter the state record if they could be kept and weighed. The Quality Water was stocked three times last week with a total of 67,610 sub-catchable rainbow trout.

The fishing in the Bait Water of the San Juan below the Quality Water has been fair-to-good with flies, bait and lures. A regular daily limit of five trout may be kept here. There are some big brown trout here, too. It was stocked May 3 with 1,808 rainbow trout.

The following locations are also open for fishing:

Abiquiu Lake is open, including the boat ramp and picnic areas. Camping is open. It is managed by the Corps of Engineers. Reservations may be made at www.recreation.gov. The water level is low, but higher than last year at Abiquiu. A four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended for launching boats. The fishing has been slow-to-fair for walleye, catfish and smallmouth bass. There are some good-sized trout in Abiquiu. They may have moved into shallow water. Call 505.685.4371 for more information.

The Chama River below Abiquiu Dam is flowing at 1,560 cubic-feet-per-second. This is a little higher than last week and above normal. The water is murky. It was stocked May 4 with 868 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 405 rainbow trout averaging 14.0 inches in length. The fishing is likely fair for stocked and holdover rainbow trout. There are a few big, wild brown trout here. The limit here is two-fish-per-day.

Streamflow in the Chama River below El Vado Dam was 3,200 cubic-feet-per-second. This is a higher than last week and well-above normal. The state-record brown trout was caught here. It was stocked May 2 with 482 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 400 rainbow trout averaging 14. 2 inches in length.

Above El Vado Lake, the Chama River at La Puente has thawed and streamflow was measured 3,300 cubic-feet-per- second. This is higher than last week and well-above normal. It was stocked May 2 with 844 rainbow trout.

The Brazos River was flowing at 2,570 cubic-feet-per-second, which is more than double what it was two weeks ago.

Streamflow here is almost 400-percent of normal. It was stocked May 2 with 482 rainbow trout.

Cochiti Lake is open. The fishing has been fair-to-good for northern pike. Fishing for catfish could be worthwhile. Tetilla Peak Recreation Area is open, but the campground is closed.

Tingley Beach in Albuquerque will not be stocked with trout again until fall. It is now being stocked with channel catfish.

It was stocked April 27 with 624 catfish averaging 18 inches in length.

The Rio Pueblo near Penasco is free of ice and streamflow was measured at 213 cubic-feet-per-second. This is a higher than last week and above normal. It was stocked May 8 with 962 rainbow trout.

The Red River below the Fish Hatchery is flowing at 182 cubic-feet-per-second. This is a lower than last week and above normal. It was stocked May 3 with 559 rainbow trout. It was stocked April 17 with 1,711 sub-catchable Rio Grande cutthroat trout. The Red River above Questa is high and streamflow was measured aa 192 cubic-feet-per-second. It was stocked April 14 with 500 fingerling Rio Grande cutthroat trout.

The Red River Hatchery Pond is open. Fishing is for anglers 11 years of age or younger and 65 years old or older. The limit is now five-fish-per day. It was stocked in May with 320 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 80 rainbow trout averaging 17.5 inches in size.

Eagle Rock Lake near Questa is open. The ice is gone. It was stocked May 3 with 400 catchable-size rainbow trout and with 54 rainbow trout averaging 17.6 inches in length.

Cabresto Lake, a small, high-elevation lake accessible by four-wheel drive vehicle near Questa, has good ice fishing for wild brook trout and wild cutthroat trout. Ice is likely starting to deteriorate so use caution.