JemezCentral Up to Date Fishing Report

November 24, 2020
   

In spite of an early blast of winter, fishing remains good throughout the Jemez. This will be the case until the streams begin to ice up. 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 November 24, 2020…Rating…(Excellent) Fishing for the recently stocked rainbows and the occasional resident brown should be good now and throughout the winter months. NMDGF will continue to stock this river making it a wonderful winter time fishery.

 Salmon eggs, worms and meal worms can be very effective for the stockers and the resident browns. Spinners are a good bet this time of year (gold or brass blades are recommended).  Hare’s Ear, Brassies and Copper Johns should bring action for the fly fisher.

The Jemez River was stocked on Tuesday, November 10th with 1000 Rainbows and most recently on Tuesday, November 24th with 1000 Rainbow Trout.

 

 

 

 

                  

East Fork Jemez River

Fishing Report November 5, 2020…(Rating…Good For Resident Browns) .

 The river volume is very low right now but fish are being caught. There are plenty of places to access this ‘away from the road’ river. The beautiful setting is a real bonus. The East Fork will start accumulating ice soon, so catch this river while you can.
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 a couple 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 November 21, 2020…(Rating…Fair)

Fishing has slowed some on Rio San Antonio as NMDGF has suspended stocking operations on this river until next spring.  However, there is a great opportunity to fish the brown trout fishery north of Hwy 126 and from Dark Canyon south along Hwy 4 to Battleship Rock. Worms and meal worms are a great bet this time of year and most any sub-surface fly.

I received another report from Scott Parrish who fished the Rio San Antonio south of La Cueva Picnic Area down about a mile on November 18th. Scott fished a Pheasant Tail Nymph with a small split shot below an indicator and caught and released eight nice rainbows and two small cutthroats mostly in the afternoon as the water warmed. Thank you Scott for the e-mail and report. always appreciated.

Rio San Antonio was stocked most recently on Wednesday, September 23rd with 750 Rainbow Trout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fenton Lake

Fishing Update November5, 2020(Recently Stocked)

 Fenton lake is now fully open for public use effective October 1, 2020, everyday from 6am-9pm. Overnight camping (five electric sites only)  is now available by reservation only. NM residents only. This is a great time to fish the lake as both the resident browns and stocked rainbows are very active. Less people is certainly an added bonus. Meal worms, flashy spinners and Wooly Buggers  are doing well right now.

 

Fenton Lake was stocked on Wednesday, September 30th with 2200 Rainbows and most recently on Tuesday, November 3rd with 1000 Rainbow Trout.

 

 

 

 

 

 Rio Guadalupe

Fishing Update August 28, 2020….(Great For Browns) 

 FR 376 remains open providing excellent access to this wonderful brown trout fishery. The river is low but in good shape right now. Try to visit this river before the ice comes for a beautiful outdoor experience. The brown trout spawn is certainly waning but try any bright, flashy spinner or sub-surface fly for success. Of course, worms are always a good bet.

 

 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 November 5, 2020( Rating…Very Low Water Conditions)  

Water volume in the Rio las Vacas is very low and is very difficult to fish. This river has not been stocked for over a year. A few small browns and holdover rainbows are being caught. Hwy 126 is open to thru traffic allowing for access to this river from the east. Nat a good year on the Vacas for sure. Let’s hope for better water conditions next year.

 
 The Rio de Las Vacas has not been stocked since last year (2019) .
 

 

 

 

 Rio Cebolla

Fishing Update November 5, 2020 (Fair).

This little river is a good bet in the Jemez right now for stocked Rainbows. Fish above the lake on up to the hatchery or below Fenton for the stocked rainbows and above the hatchery for resident browns and native cutthroats. Worms, meal worms and salmon eggs will catch the stockers. 

 Rio Cebolla was stocked on Wednesday, September 23rd with 400 Rainbow Trout and most recently on Wednesday, October 7th with 400 Rainbows.

   

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Gregorio Lake

Fishing Update November 5, 2020…(Rating….Slow)

This high altitude, wilderness lake is accessed by a beautiful one mile hike. The water level has been drawn down because of irrigation requirements and this season’s stocked fish have been hit pretty hard and fishing has slowed considerably. Access will be limited soon because of winter time conditions. 

San Gregorio was stocked on Tuesday, June 2nd with 5000 Rainbow Trout.

 

 

 

 

 

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).