05-07-08: Fishing Report

This fishing report has been generated from the best information available from officers and anglers. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, however, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.

Conchas Lake
Fishing was very good using crank baits, tubes, spinner baits, worms and jigs for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Most of the action was on the north side of the lake and most of the bass were small. Fishing was good using minnows, crank baits and grubs for walleye. The best reports came from anglers fishing around Big Island. Fishing was fair-to-good using minnows, tubes and grubs for crappie. The crappie were found in 4-to-11 feet of water. Fishing was fair using crank baits, spinners and minnows for white bass. We had no reports on other species.

Ute Lake
Crappie fishing was very good this past week for anglers fishing in 6-to-10 feet of water and using live bait, small tubes and grubs. Fishing was good trolling crank baits and drifting live bait in 10-to-14 feet of water for walleye. Most of the fish caught were males. Fishing was very good using cut bait, dough bait and live bait at night for catfish. Anglers reported catching most of the cats in 3-to-4 feet of water. Fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was fair-to-good using jigs, spinner baits, chatter baits, tubes and sweet beavers. Fishing for white bass was slow but a few were taken by anglers trolling for walleye.
Catches of the week
Ute Lake: On May 4, Butch Colantonio of Amarillo, Texas, caught a 5.13-pound largemouth bass. He was using a jig.

If you have a catch of the week story or just want to tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing experience, send it to us at fishforfun2@hotmail.com. We may include your story in our next report. For catches of the week include name, date, location, type of fish, length and bait used.

This report was compiled by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.