JemezCentral Up to Date Fishing Report

March 13, 2023
   

 

Fishing in the Jemez will be limited over the next three to six weeks as ice conditions at the lake will not allow for any fishing (ice fishing or otherwise). The streams remain icy high up and high and discolored at lower elevations. You can find information about specific Jemez area waters below. Also, if you have info to add, please send to: fishingreport@jemezcentral.com. All photos in this report are of summer time conditions unless otherwise noted.

 

 

 

Jemez River

Fishing Report March 13, 2023…Rating… (Recently Stocked) The Jemez River continues to gain volume and color as spring run-off gets into full swing. It’s probably going to be well into April before conditions become ideal again. In the meantime, your best bet would be to fish along the edges where the current is slower and drift a worm. This might bring a little action. We’ll keep you posted as conditions improve.

 

The Jemez River was stocked most recently on Wednesday, March 9th with 1721 Rainbow Trout.

 

 

 

 

                  

East Fork Jemez River

Fishing Report March 13, 2023… (Rating… Best to Wait).

The East Fork of the Jemez River still has a lot of ice and snow higher up and the river will be running high and muddy as spring run-off progresses. Best to wait for things to settle down.
Just a reminder that the East Fork is now being managed as a Brown Trout fishery and is no longer being stocked with Rainbows. The brown trout population has come back after the burn scar flooding of years ago. Please, because of the delicate nature of this population of browns, I would encourage a strict catch and release practice.

 

 

San Antonio

 

Fishing Report…March 13, 2023. (Rating…Best to Wait)

Rio San Antonio will be in full run-off conditions for a while as the great winter snowpack continues to fill all streams in the Jemez. We’ll keep you posted as conditions improve.

Rio San Antonio has not been stocked since October 6th with 750 Rainbow Trout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Fenton Lake

 

 

 

Fishing Update March 13, 2023 (Closed to All Fishing)

 Fenton Lake State Park is open for day use from 7am to 7:00pm every day. All loops of the campground are now closed for camping with only the five electrical sites open, which are available by reservation year around. Fenton Lake is now closed to all fishing. The Ice is too thin to safely ice fish and there is no open water to fish from the bank or boat. Fishing will be fabulous once the ice comes off but we are two to three weeks away from that. We will keep you posted.

 

Fenton Lake was stocked on Tuesday, February 21st with 1500 Rainbow Trout and most recently on Wednesday, March 9th with 1100 Rainbows.

 

 

 

 

 

Rio Guadalupe

Fishing Update March 13, 2022…. (Time to Wait) 

 FR 376 will remain closed until mid-April limiting access to Rio Guadalupe. Because of the heavy snowpack at the headwaters, spring run-off will make for difficult fishing well into May this year.

This gem of a river is being managed as a brown trout fishery so you will not see the stocking truck along this wild river.

 

 

 

Rio De Las Vacas

 

Fishing Update March 13, 2023 (Rating…Best to Wait)  

As the heavy snowpack at the headwaters of the Vacas in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness continues to melt, this river will be difficult to fish. Fishing will be fabulous once we get into May.

 
 The Rio de Las Vacas has not been stocked since last October (2022).
 

 

 

 

 Rio Cebolla

Fishing Update March 13, 2023 (Recently Stocked)

Rio Cebolla above the lake up to the hatchery is normally your best bet this time of year. While all other streams in the Jemez will be in full run-off mode for the next 3 to 6 weeks, this little creek will be higher in volume but seldom takes on color. NMDGF should be stocking this creek soon and often. Also, of note, The Kid’s Pond at the hatchery is generally ice free and fishing should be fabulous for the kiddos (11 and under). The pond is fishing quite well right now.

 Rio Cebolla was last stocked most recently on Wednesday, March 9th with 248 Rainbow Trout.

   

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Gregorio Lake

Fishing Update March 13, 2022… (Rating…Winter Still)

 This high-altitude lake is accessed by a beautiful one-mile hike. San Gregorio is no longer part of the stocking rotation because of its wilderness status. NMDGF did, however, pack some Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout fingerlings into the lake during the summer of 2021 and fall of 2022 as an experiment to see if they can survive and thrive through the harsh high altitude San Pedro Parks Wilderness winter. It will be interesting to see if any of these fish survive and provide a quality fishing experience. Fingers crossed. However, right now, the trail to the lake is covered with several feet of snow and the lake is cover with ice. May be best to wait till May.

San Gregorio has not been stocked with rainbow trout since June of 2020 and will not be stocked for the foreseeable future.

 

 

 

 

 

Fishing The Jemez

Children Are Welcome!

The Jemez is a great place to bring your young children to fish.  They can be successful fishing anywhere in the Jemez, but for those that are 11 yr and younger, the Kid’s Pond at the hatchery is a great place for the youngsters.  Stop in at Amanda’s Jemez Mountain Country Store for any supplies or snacks that you might need. Make sure you take proper precaution with your children around the water.  Early Spring can often bring high water and strong currents, which can be a danger for kids and adults alike.

                         Fenton Lake Catch

Facts about Fishing

The cost of a license for New Mexico residents is $35 for a license that is good for the license year  April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021. Non-resident licenses are $65 for the year. Short-term licenses are the same price for residents and non-residents alike and can be purchased for one day ($22) or five days ($34). Seniors (ages 65-69) and handicapped can purchase an annual license for $18. Juniors (age 12-17) pay $11 for an annual license. Active duty military and military veterans that are NM residents are being offered reduced priced licenses.  Licenses are free for individuals over the age of 70. All necessary habitat stamps and fees are included in the pricing structure notated above.  A second rod validation (optional) is available for $4. Applicants for hunting and fishing licenses are required by law to provide the last four digits of their social security number. Special trout waters are found in the Jemez and are normally well-marked, but it might be a good idea to consult your fishing proclamation for special regulations that may exist.  The website http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us has complete fishing rules and information. Fishing and hunting licenses are available at Amanda’s Jemez Mountain Country Store in La Cueva (575-829-4333).