JemezCentral Up to Date Fishing Report

April 23, 2024
   

 

Most waters in the Jemez are in run-off mode with some ice and are very difficult to fish, the exception being Rio Cebolla, which is stocked throughout the spring and can be very fishable.

Fenton Lake is now free of ice and is OPEN for 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 April 16, 2024…Rating… (Recently Stocked) The Jemez River will be hit and miss for the next 4-6 weeks as run-off begins in earnest. Right now, the river is running very high and is muddy. Although recently stocked, fishing is very difficult. On a good day, Fireballs and worms are the go-to for the bait fishers. Fly guys are tossing mostly sub-surface bugs. Hare’s Ear, Prince and Pheasant Tail nymphs have been reported as doing well.

 

The Jemez River was stocked on Wednesday, April 3rd with 1100 Rainbow Trout and most recently on Tuesday, April 16th with 700 Rainbows.

 

 

 

 

                  

East Fork Jemez River

Fishing Report April 16, 2024… (Rating… Wait).

The East Fork of the Jemez River is in spring run-off mode right now with a lot of ice and snow still. Your best opportunity is the very lower portion near Battleship Rock.
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…April 23, 2024. (Rating…Recently Stocked)

Rio San Antonio is in very good shape right now, top to bottom. This river is certainly worth a try as conditions have improved. 

Rio San Antonio was stocked on Tuesday, April 16th with 525 Rainbow Trout and most recently on Tuesday, April 23rd with 525 Rainbows. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Fenton Lake

 

 

 

Fishing Update April 23, 2024 (Recently stocked)

 Fenton Lake State Park is open for day use from 7am to 7:00pm every day. All loops in the campground remain closed for camping with only the five electrical sites open, which are available by reservation only. Fenton Lake is in the midst of some of the best fishing of the year as the lake is now completely free of ice. This time of year (ice off) Fenton Lake can be awesome…which it is. Just about whatever you can throw into the lake will be successful.

 

Fenton Lake was stocked on Wednesday, April 3rd with 420 Rainbow Trout and most recently on Tuesday, April 23rd with 980 Rainbows.

 

 

 

 

 

Rio Guadalupe

Fishing Update April 23, 2024…. (Wait) 

 FR 376 is now open, providing access to this great river. However, Rio Guadalupe is very difficult to fish right now as snowy, icy conditions and spring run-off takes its hold. 

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 April 16, 2024(Rating…Recently Stocked)  

Rio de Las Vacas is running very high and with color. This river has been recently stocked and is certainly worth a try.

 
 The Rio de Las Vacas was stocked for the first time in a year on Tuesday, April 16th with 700 Rainbow Trout.
 

 

 

 

 Rio Cebolla

Fishing Update April 23, 2024 (Recently Stocked)

Rio Cebolla is fishing quite well right above and below the lake. The upper portion (above the hatchery) remains snowy and icy. Give this little creek a try, as it is a good bet when all other rivers in the Jemez are running off and difficult to fish.

 Rio Cebolla was stocked on Wednesday, April 3rd with 455 Rainbows and most recently on Tuesday, April 23rd with 280 Rainbow Trout.

   

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Gregorio Lake

Fishing Update April 16, 2024… (Rating…No Bueno)

 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 fall of 2022 as an experiment to see if they can survive and thrive through the harsh, high altitude San Pedro Parks Wilderness winter. The lake level is very low right now and has been most of the last two summers, so it is unlikely that any of the RGCT survived. The trail to the lake remains covered with snow.

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).