JemezCentral Up to Date Fishing Report

November 13, 2019
  

Autumn might be the best time to fish the lakes and streams of the Jemez Mountains. Less people, less bugs, ideal weather and great water conditions allow for increased stocking activity and fabulous fishing. All waters in the Jemez have been recently stocked. Whether fishing for the stocked rainbows or the resident browns, this is a great time of year to ‘hit the Jemez’. This past week (11/11), ice has been forming on all of the higher altitude waters, including Fenton Lake. This may make fishing more difficult for early morning fishing.  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 6, 2019…Rating…(Fishing Well, Recently Stocked)

The Jemez river will be in the stocking rotation throughout the fall and winter months. The river is stocked from Battleship Rock on south to the Gilman turnoff.

 Salmon eggs, worms and meal worms can be very effective for the stockers and the occasional resident brown. Spinners are a good bet this time of year (gold or brass blades are recommended).  Any sub-surface dark colored nymph pattern should bring action for the fly fisher.

The Jemez River was stocked on Wednesday, October 9th with 1000 Rainbows and most recently on Wednesday, November 6th with 1000 Rainbow Trout.

 

 

 

 

                  

East Fork Jemez River

Fishing Report October 9, 2019…(Rating…Fishing Well) .

 The river is in good shape right now. Bring a box of worms (BTW, Amanda’s stocks fresh worms throughout the year) or any dry placed on the surface will bring action .
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 October 9, 2019…(Rating…Slow For Stockers)

Although the river has been stocked fairly recently from La Cueva Picnic Area upstream to the San Antonio Campground, this section gets fished out quickly. NMDGF puts them in and anglers take them out.(‘put and take’) Try using Panther Martins, Fireballs and meal worms. The upper river (above Hwy 126) is fishing awesome for resident browns.  Any bait, nymph pattern or spinner should bring action.

Rio San Antonio was stocked most recently on Wednesday, September 18th with 750 Rainbows.

 

 

 

 

Fenton Lake

Fishing Update November 13, 2019…(Rating…Recently Stocked)

 Fishing has been terrific at Fenton with the recent influx of stocked fish. The lake has been stocked four times in the last four weeks including 500 catchable sized RG Cutthroat trout (14-18″ fish). Mealworms and any dry fly placed on the water seems to be the best bet for catching fish. I have also had good reports from anglers using Panther Martins…yellow dots with a gold blade is what I’m hearing. Boats with electric motors or oars are allowed on the lake. The lake has begun to experience early morning ice which will limit fishing until mid-day.

Fenton Lake was stocked on Wednesday, October 16th with 800 Rainbow Trout and most recently on Wednesday, November 6th with 1000 Rainbows. Bonus Stocking on Sunday, October 22nd with 500 Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout. (14-18″ brood fish from the Seven Springs Hatchery)

 

 

 

 

 

 Rio Guadalupe

Fishing Update November 12, 2019….(Ice Is Forming) 

 FR 376 is closed from Gilman Tunnels north to three miles south of Porter Landing in order to facilitate repair work on the road. This closure  somewhat limits access to Rio Guadalupe, although much of the upper river is accessible . Ice has begun to form in the deep, dark canyons of the river making fishing difficult.

 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 October 9, 2019( Rating…Slow)  

Rio de Las Vacas is running low and warm water conditions have prevented any stocking since the end of May. Certainly worth a try though.

 
 The Rio de Las Vacas was stocked on Wednesday, April 17th with 998 Rainbow Trout and most recently on Friday, May 24th with 1000 Rainbows .
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rio Cebolla

Fishing Update October 17, 2019 (Recently Stocked) 

Rio Cebolla is fishing very well for stocked rainbows. Throw something in the water and the stockers will respond. The upper river is accessible for RG Cutthroat and resident browns.

 Rio Cebolla was stocked on Wednesday, October 2nd with 400 Rainbow Trout and most recently on Wednesday, October 16th with 400 rainbows.

   

 

  

 

 

 

 

San Gregorio Lake

Fishing Update November 12, 2019…(Rating….Ice)

This high altitude, wilderness lake is accessed by a beautiful one mile hike. I have had reports of ice forming on the lake, making fishing difficult to impossible.

San Gregorio was stocked on Wednesday, June 28th with 3900 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, 2018 through March 31, 2019. 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).