Jicarilla Fishing Blog

16^th May 2013

Hey Folks,

Well fishermen are finally sending in reports from Stone consistently and are reporting a lot of what you may have already guessed.  Fish are being caught by those willing to put in the hours, and mighty fine fish indeed. Two fly fisherman reported monster rainbow trout (24” with one topping the fisherman’s guess-ta-mate scales at 6Lbs) on damsel fly patterns. Fisherman using Dare Devils are also reporting sizeable catches in the evenings.

Mundo Lake has been drawing boat anglers as well as shore fisherman all week. With this increased traffic and use of the lake remember folks; the lifejacket you ware is the one that saves a life. Also with increased thunderstorm activity please stay safe and off the lake if lighting is approaching.

The Navajo River is running well with spring runoff but anglers are slowly trickling in information about spinners in the evening in rainbow and brown trout colors bringing the fish.  Still have yet to receive a report of fly anglers utilizing the river.

Get out there and catch a whale, and remember to stay safe

Jacob

P.S. Today members of the Natural Resources Departments went out in force and cleaned Mundo, Stone, Embom, Dulce, and the Navajo River. Hats off to these employees who took the whole day in the heat to make the Jicarilla and even better place to fish and enjoy! Please remember to utilize trash cans or pack out what you pack in.

9^th May 2013

Hello Everyone,

Seems as spring fishing has finally heated up! I am starting to get consistent reports from Stone, that large fish (18”-22”) are falling prey to anglers with spinners (rainbow trout patterned as well as classic bucktail colors) and spoons (small to medium daredevils). I have not received any reports from fly anglers on hot flies, so get out there and send me some feedback!

Mundo Lake is on fire with anglers catching fish ranging from our resident catch and release tiger musky to large trout. Anglers are reporting catching fish on anything and everything ranging from streamer flies to powerbait, and even bass in pre-spawn areas on larger baitfish imitations. If you’re still looking to get into your first steady action days Mundo is the place to spend this weekend fishing. Catfish are abundant and very willing to supply all day action to anglers wanting to take home lunch, dinner and maybe a midnight snack.

Reports are slowly coming in of anglers paying their dues on the Navajo River and being rewarded with big brown trout. These anglers have been enjoying the solitude as well as twenty inch plus brown trout. There are not large numbers of trout in the river but their size more than makes up for it! I would like to hear about fly fisherman plying their trade on the river, but alas I might have to go check it out myself, to flesh out the reports...If I have to go and catch them myself I guess I will make that sacrifice, for the sake of the fishing reports of course (in the fisheries business this is know as "extensive stream research").

-Jacob

Jicarillafishqs@gmail.com

 May 2, 2013

 Hello Everybody,

As many of you may already know Jicarilla Game and Fish has a new fisheries biologist. My name is Jacob Mazzone and as the tribes new fisheries man I’ve set up shop in the Game and Fish building.

It has been a very busy first week.  First I wanted to thank all of you that I have met and have welcomed me warmly into the community.  Secondly I’d like to welcome questions on the blog as well as when you see me on the local lakes and streams. I will gladly answer to the best of my ability any fishing or fisheries biology related questions. Send questions via the contact us link on the website or the fishing questions e-mail: jicarillafishqs@gmail.com 

Now for the information you’ve probably come to find… Fishing has been heating up this spring as the temperatures rise and the days get longer. Fishing in Mundo Lake has been drawing fisherman  all week with consistent trout action. The lake is ripe with large catfish, good eating size bluegill, as well as some awesome hold over trout. Fisherman reported having good luck on rainbow trout colored spoons and spinners while the fly fisherman noticed consistent midge hatches, as well as quite a few grasshoppers making trout snacks with the higher winds.  Also don’t be afraid to strip streamers for catfish and lunker bass.

Game and Fish conducted our annual Mundo Lake fish survey earlier this week as some of you may have noticed while fishing. During our survey the crew tagged one tiger musky as well as many largemouth bass. If you catch a bass with a tag and wish to keep it please pull the tag out and drop it by the Game and Fish building. The tags are located on the left side of the fish's dorsal fin. Jicarilla Fishing Proclamations list tiger musky as Strictly Catch and Release.

Reports from Stone Lake have slowly been coming in; high winds earlier this week seemed to cause difficulties for float tubers. The weather report is looking good, and the bugs are hatching; expect to start seeing cruising trout on the hunt for dinner.

Your reports make these blog installments full of useful real time information. Despite my job title, I don’t get out fishing as much as you’d think so your reporting is very important!

­­Good luck on the water!

-Jacob

jicarillafishqs@gmail.com

Hello all,

We have stocked! Over the past few weeks, Dulce, Enbom, Mundo, Stone, and Horse Lakes have been stocked with 5-10" rainbows. Weather conditions have been windy, and although water levels are not as high as we would hope for, conditions are good! 

Consequently, fishing conditions have rapidly improved.

Mundo lake: over 8,000 fish were stocked in Spring. Reports of good catch rates on all types of fishing methods have been reported. Larger fish have been caught as well, indicating winter survival! 

Stone lake: No recent reports, however, fishing should be excellent right now, and should only improve as Spring progresses.

Enbom lake: Approx. 3,000 fish were stocked. No reports but fishing should be excellent!

Dulce: Approx. 6,000 fish were stocked. People have been catching stockers on lures, spinners, and bait.

Navajo River: Some great reports have been coming off the river in the past week. German Browns in excess of 20" have been caught on spinners and worms!

We will be stocking larger (10-16") fish in early May! and Catfish in Mundo in June! Visit the blog for reports!

I hope to make it out this weekend, as the weather forecast looks promising. Hope to see you out there!

Kyle

A friendly reminder. A new license year begins today April 1, 2013, and ends on March 31, 2014. It's time to renew annual fishing licenses!

Hello all,

I have received many calls asking about the status of the Jicarilla Lakes. I was able to see all of the lakes today, and all except for Horse Lake have 90% or better open water. Horse Lake still has large sheets of ice, which I expect to melt within the next few days. No fishing reports have come in, other than from Mundo Lake, where folks are catching some decent sized Catfish. We will be evaluating water conditions and surveying fish populations within the next few days. You can count on the first open-water fishing report once we gather the necessary information. We will also post a stocking report soon!

Remember, the new permit season begins April 1st. Fishing permits are available at many retailers throughout the state (check the NT Fishing proclamation) and of course, our office in Dulce.

Kyle 

Recent warm weather is melting snow and ice and deteriorating ice fishing conditions. Although ice is still ice in many place, the Dept. is advising folks to use extreme caution, or better yet, please wait till Spring open water. Be safe!

By the way, no reports from any lakes this week.

Kyle

We were able to release the fishing proclamation earlier than scheduled! Download your copy today for the 2013-14 fishing season, beginning April 1st and ending March 31, 2014. 

Visit our website on March 8, 2013 to download the 2013-2014 fishing proclamation!