JemezCentral Up to Date Fishing Report

February 13, 2024
   

 

The Guadalupe Box

Most waters in the Jemez are iced over and are very difficult to fish, the exception being the Jemez River which is stocked throughout the winter and is generally ice free.

Fenton Lake is now CLOSED for ice fishing effective Tuesday, February 27th. 

 

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

Jemez River

Jemez River

Fishing Report February 27, 2024…Rating… (Recently Stocked) The Jemez River is in great shape right now, recently stocked and fishing very well. 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 February 13th with 800 Rainbows and most recently on February 27th with 800 Rainbow Trout.

 

 

 

 

                  

East Fork Jemez River

Jemez East Fork

Jemez East Fork

Fishing Report December 18, 2023… (Rating… Icy).

The East Fork of the Jemez River is in winter mode right now with a lot of ice and snow. 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

Rio San Antonio

Rio San Antonio

 

Fishing Report…December 18, 2023. (Rating…Mostly icy)

Rio San Antonio is very difficult to fish right now with icy and snowy conditions. Best to wait till spring.

Matthew Cleary’s Beautiful Healthy Brown From the Upper San Antonio.

Rio San Antonio was stocked most recently on Wednesday, October 4th with 750 Rainbow Trout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Fenton Lake

Fenton Lake

Fenton Lake (Summertime)

 

 

 

Fishing Update February 27, 2024 (Closed for Ice Fishing)

 Fenton Lake State Park is open for day use from 7am to 6:00pm every day. All loops in the campground are now closed for camping with only the five electrical sites open, which are available by reservation only. Fenton Lake is now CLOSED for ice fishing due to soft ice. With no open water, there are currently no fishing opportunities at Fenton.

 

Beautiful Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout

Fenton Lake was stocked on Tuesday February 13th with 400 Rainbow Trout and most recently on Tuesday, February 27th with 400 Rainbows.

 

 

 

 

 

Rio Guadalupe

The Guadalupe Box

The Guadalupe Box

Fishing Update December 18, 2023…. (Wait till Spring) 

 FR 376 will remain open through the end of the year providing access to this great river, however, Rio Guadalupe is very difficult to fish right now with snowy, icy conditions. 

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

 

Rio de Las Vacas

Rio de Las Vacas

Fishing Update December 18, 2023 (Rating…Poor)  

Rio de Las Vacas has low water conditions right now and has not been stocked since May. Fishing is difficult with snowy, icy conditions.

Rio de Las Vacas On August 28, 2018

 
 
The Rio de Las Vacas was stocked most recently on Wednesday, May 10th, with 400 Rainbow Trout.
 

 

 

 

 Rio Cebolla

Fishing Update December18, 2023 (Fair)

Rio Cebolla is fishing quite well right above and below the lake. The upper portion is snowy and icy.

14″ Brown From upper Rio Cebolla. Caught and Released by Brendon Armstead of Rio Rancho.


 
Rio Cebolla was stocked on Tuesday, October 17th with 401 Rainbows and most recently on Thursday, October 26th with 500 Rainbow Trout.

Beautiful Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout caught and released from the upper Rio Cebolla above McKinney Pond. Photo courtesy of John Sandlin,


   

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Gregorio Lake

San Gregorio Lake

San Gregorio Lake

Fishing Update December 18, 2023… (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 is 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.

 

 

Cute Catch

 

 

 

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

Big 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).

Having fun in the Jemez