Jicarilla Fishing Blog

The recent storm left the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes unblemished for the most part. The sun will soon heal the muddy roads, but care should be taken at Enbom and Stone when using the dirt roads. Fishing was very tough over the weekend at Stone. There were some very nice fish taken, but the hours per fish were long. On the contrary, the fishing was good at Stone prior to the storm. Mundo Lake is fishing well for the few folks out there, and one very nice Rainbow was taken late last week. There hasn’t been any news from Enbom this week.
Stone Lake remains tough this week. Fishing just before the storm on Thursday and Friday was fair to good, but the catch rates dropped substantially on Saturday and Sunday. The biggest fish reported was 27” and the weight is unknown although Rosenburg Tafoya the fisheries technician showed up in time to weigh the headless, tailless, gutless specimen at over 8 lbs. There were also several fish (3-4) in the 24-25” class, which has been a common size this fall. The average Rainbow in Stone is just over 20” and 5lbs. With the higher catch rates before the storm we were able to see some of the falls smallest fish which were 14-15” footballs. These are the smaller end of the 6” fish that were stocked in late April. Given the diverse array of flies and lures that had some success it would be a guess this week as to what is really working the best. In my opinion it is good to go big and flashy whether it be flies or lures. All told, the catch rates this week were somewhere in the neighborhood of 1fish/4 hours. The ice season is now only a matter of weeks away, so if you want to try for that trophy, time is of the essence. The Jicarilla Game and Fish Department and the USFWS are teaming up this week to perform the standard fall sampling at Stone Lake. We should have some population and size information to report in a few weeks.
Mundo Lake is fishing well for Rainbows that average 10-12”. The only substantial pressure has been from bait anglers using orange, pink, and chartreuse powerbait near the shore along the dam. Catch rates have been variable, but a 6 fish limit should be attainable in 3 hours or less. There was one 20” Rainbow caught at Mundo late last week with powerbait. Overall, the pressure has been minimal at Mundo Lake.
Enbom has been devoid of anglers for going on 2 weeks. There are still fish in Enbom but they are few and far between right now. Enbom should still be an option for anglers if the wind drives them away from Stone Lake. This Fall has been an interesting time for fishing on the Jicarilla Lakes. There are certainly some of the heaviest trout in the state and some of the toughest fishing as well. We strive to provide you with up to date accurate info, but this is fishing after all. Please share any reports, questions, concerns, etc. Have a great week and consider this, you won’t need a butterball if you have a 10 lb. Stone Lake Trout on your table.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

The warm weather continues to offer great conditions at the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes. The water temps are in the mid to high 40’s and water clarity is spectacular. However, moody is the best way to describe the fish themselves this week. Stone Lake has been great and horrible this week, and there doesn’t seem to be any predictable pattern whatsoever. Mundo Lake has offered average trout catch rates for the few who have been out there. Enbom has been very slow which can probably be attributed to the dwindling numbers of fish remaining. The weather outlook is calling for a change later this week with overcast conditions expected for the weekend. Stone Lake is a mystery as usual with some of the falls best and worst reports. Starting with the good, the best report was from 2 anglers who caught 11 Rainbows in 4 hours. All 11 were over 20” and they averaged 6lbs. Another angler caught 3 Rainbows from a float tube with 2 at 21” and 1 at 24” 7lbs. I also had a good outing on Friday catching my personal best at Stone Lake. The fish was a Rainbow at just over 25” and 9lbs. I caught him on a damsel fly on the northeast side of the lake. I spent 4 hours out there and caught 2 fish with one definite miss. The guy next to me was having success with woolly buggers and sinking line from his float tube. When I left he had landed 3. The best action was from 11 to 2 on Friday. The worst reports were from Sunday where almost everyone struck out regardless of the time of day or strategy. The weeds are still the biggest issue out there right now. They are especially hard on anglers using lures where every other cast is sure to land some weeds. Fishing from the shore is not recommended at Stone right now. Enbom Lake has been very slow, with only a handful of anglers catching fish. I talked with one guy who caught 5 fish in as many hours and that was the best report this week. The numbers are down at Enbom, but there are still some fish in there. Enbom should be considered a retreat from the wind this week. Mundo is picking up for Rainbows from 8-13”. The best reports are from powerbait fished on the bottom near the dam. I arrived at Mundo just in time to catch an angler on his way out with a stringer of 6. He told me that he was using orange and chartreuse powerbait and caught all 6 fish in 2 hours. The docks have been removed from Mundo, but shoreline access is decent. I still haven’t heard anything about Catfish. The open water is here for now, so pull the boat back out and get on the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes. Kevin Terry Fisheries Biologist

The warm weather continues to offer great conditions at the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes. The water temps are in the mid to high 40’s and water clarity is spectacular. However, moody is the best way to describe the fish themselves this week. Stone Lake has been great and horrible this week, and there doesn’t seem to be any predictable pattern whatsoever. Mundo Lake has offered average trout catch rates for the few who have been out there. Enbom has been very slow which can probably be attributed to the dwindling numbers of fish remaining. The weather outlook is calling for a change later this week with overcast conditions expected for the weekend.
Stone Lake is a mystery as usual with some of the falls best and worst reports. Starting with the good, the best report was from 2 anglers who caught 11 Rainbows in 4 hours. All 11 were over 20” and they averaged 6lbs. Another angler caught 3 Rainbows from a float tube with 2 at 21” and 1 at 24” 7lbs. I also had a good outing on Friday catching my personal best at Stone Lake. The fish was a Rainbow at just over 25” and 9lbs. I caught him on a damsel fly on the northeast side of the lake. I spent 4 hours out there and caught 2 fish with one definite miss. The guy next to me was having success with woolly buggers and sinking line from his float tube. When I left he had landed 3. The best action was from 11 to 2 on Friday. The worst reports were from Sunday where almost everyone struck out regardless of the time of day or strategy. The weeds are still the biggest issue out there right now. They are especially hard on anglers using lures where every other cast is sure to land some weeds. Fishing from the shore is not recommended at Stone right now.
Enbom Lake has been very slow, with only a handful of anglers catching fish. I talked with one guy who caught 5 fish in as many hours and that was the best report this week. The numbers are down at Enbom, but there are still some fish in there. Enbom should be considered a retreat from the wind this week.
Mundo is picking up for Rainbows from 8-13”. The best reports are from powerbait fished on the bottom near the dam. I arrived at Mundo just in time to catch an angler on his way out with a stringer of 6. He told me that he was using orange and chartreuse powerbait and caught all 6 fish in 2 hours. The docks have been removed from Mundo, but shoreline access is decent. I still haven’t heard anything about Catfish. The open water is here for now, so pull the boat back out and get on the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

The Jicarilla Fishing Lakes have had low pressure over the past week. Enbom Lake is on fire, especially with lures and flies, and it is the one lake where angler pressure has been up. Stone Lake is still tricky due to floating debris and periods when the fishing shuts down, and several folks struck out over the weekend. Mundo Lake on the other hand has been empty lately and I did not receive a single report. The weather has been hinting at change and this morning found us with 3 inches of fresh snow. The storm is supposed to drop another inch or two before clearing up for what looks like a nice weekend.
Stone Lake is considered fair right now for Rainbows and Browns that average very near 20”. This past weekend was really slow, and several folks were skunked with flies and lures. Stone Lake is still considered fair however do to water conditions and the fact that this is prime time for the big fish historically. This fall has been especially inconsistent at Stone and I have talked to more than one angler who slammed them one day and couldn’t find a fish the next. If you are looking for a good shot at a real trophy, then Stone Lake is worth a trip.
Enbom Lake is the place to go if you get frustrated at Stone or if you are looking to fill up the freezer for the winter. Conditions are prime, and the weeds are a non-issue right now. Catch rates have been phenomenal with up to 10 fish per hour. Panther martins and olive woolly buggers are knocking them dead and I’m sure there are a bunch of other flies and lures that will work just as well. Catching your 20 fish limit (Enbom only) is a very good possibility. Bait anglers are also catching fish on various colors of powerbait, but catch rates are slower than flies and lures. All of the fish in Enbom are Rainbow Trout and they have a cookie cutter average at 13-14” with a few larger fish mixed in. I had the chance to survey the stomach contents of several Enbom fish last week and all of them were packed with damsel fly larvae.
Mundo Lake has been a ghost town for the past few weeks. I have not received a single report nor heard any gossip which is pretty unusual. If you are fishing Mundo for trout I would try the same stuff that is working in Enbom. The docks will be pulled out of Mundo soon, so this weekend is probably your last chance to use them. Have a good week and a Happy Halloween.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

The Jicarilla Fishing Lakes are in good shape and fishing well for trout. The water temps are hovering around 50°F and visibility is excellent at all 3 fishing Lakes. Enbom Lake is fishing extremely well for Rainbows in the 13-14” range with a few larger fish here and there. The Limit for trout at Enbom Lake went up to 20 fish per day and 40 in possession on Oct. 15th, 2009. Stone Lake is considered fair to good and has been producing primarily Rainbow Trout in the 16-24” range. Mundo Lake is fishing fair to good for Rainbows and Catfish and slow for Bass. There has been some talk around town of an early winter but I hope that we still have a month plus of open water.
Enbom Lake is clear, cool, and very productive for Rainbows that average 13-14”. There are some of the larger fish around though, with a chance of Rainbows up to and over 20”. The Best reports are from fly anglers with good action on black and olive woolly Buggers and beadhead nymphs including pheasant tails, prince nymphs, and hares ear nymphs. Bait anglers are also doing very well with powerbait of various colors. As previously mentioned, the limit at Enbom went up to 20 fish per day with 40 fish in possession. The limit increase is intended to help us clean out the lake as much as possible before the ice season hits. Enbom Lake has a 90% chance of complete winterkill and the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department is determined to minimize the waste of fish. This is the time when catch and release anglers can take home fish for friends and family who cannot understand why we put them back. You may even see me out there with a stringer for my trout loving Aunt.
Stone Lake is still tricky, but there have been some good reports. The best report was from the 16th and it suggests that the fish are off and on throughout the day. The reason I say this is because the angler hooked four fish in one hour and then the bite was off. The 3 Rainbows landed in this hour were 5lbs., 4lbs., and 1.5lbs and they were all stuffed with feed. The best reports for flies are from Buggers but some nymph patterns are working also. There has been a decent mayfly (callibaetis) hatch lately, and fish have been observed rising in the SW and NW bays. However, catching fish on the dry fly is very difficult in Stone Lake. Large lures and spoons (up to 1oz.) are also getting decent action. The best reports are daredevils and castmasters. There is a good amount of floating debris in Stone Right now and there have been several angler complaints. These debris mats make it especially difficult to troll the lake, and they cause problems for folks casting and fly fishing as well. This is typical for this time of year and a sign that our weed problems are almost over. The recent stormy windy weather should help to expedite the natural fallout and drift off of this material.
Mundo has been fishing fair to good for Rainbow Trout, with an average size of 12”. Bait fishing has been good with powerbait and worms. Woolly Buggers and beadheads are working for flies. The Bass fishing has all but turned off and pressure is very low. The Channel Catfish are hitting the usual liver and stinkbaits, but there hasn’t been any real stand out reports to share. All in all, pressure is down at Mundo Lake.
As some of you web users have noticed, I have been out of town for a few weeks. I apologize for the lack of reports and will be trying to catch up in the next week or so. If you have any question or comments please call or email. Good luck and tight lines.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

The Jicarilla Fishing Lakes are following the scrub oak and aspen into prime fall like conditions. The surface water temps are just over 60°F across the board and fishing is picking up. We did get a few reports this week and there was a slight bump in fishing pressure. The colors are spectacular and the Elk are talking up a storm in the mornings and evenings. Everything adds up for a great fall trip to the Jicarilla Lakes.
Mundo Lake is in good shape with clear cool water and very limited weed issues. The only reports at Mundo this week are from trout anglers. The trout fishing is considered fair right now and the average size is 11-12”. Lures including castmasters and small spinners are working as are flies including wollybuggers and pheasant tails and probably several other nymph patterns. The docks have been relatively unoccupied and the campground is fairly empty as well.
Enbom Lake is the hotspot for the second week in a row. The average trout is 13-14” but there was some hearsay that 2 20+ inchers were pulled out over the weekend. Fishing is considered good to excellent depending on the time of day. Early morning fishing has been quite good for bait anglers using powerbait and also for the possibility of contacting rising fish with a dry fly. A size 12-14 parachute Adams will take fish if there is any surface activity. The middle part of the day is still producing fish and the bait anglers are having good success with yellow powerbait. Nymph patterns and small lures are also a good bet during the day. In the evening there may be another chance for dry fly fishing and catch rates should pick up a bit for bait and lure anglers as well.
Stone Lake is beginning to show signs of getting into that fall groove that we have all been waiting for. There were a few anglers out there this weekend and they put in some hard hours. The best first hand report that I received was from 2 anglers that fished 6 hours on Saturday afternoon and 5 hours on Sunday morning. They landed 2 fish total, with 1 Rainbow at 18” and 1 Rainbow at 20”. They also had 1 break off and several other bites. They were using the standard red and white daredevil as well as castmasters. The really intriguing part of the story is that these guys saw a bunch of fish and had a lot of follow ups to the boat. That suggests that these fish are starting to forage and search out feed and that they are willing to pursue prey. This bodes well for what can be the best 2 months at Stone Lake (October/November). There are some real monsters in Stone right now and headhunters should give a shot. This is the time to check your drag and spool some fresh line.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

The Jicarilla Lakes are getting primed for the fall fishing season. Nighttime temps have dropped below freezing for the first time this week and the water temps are dropping steadily. Enbom Lake is excellent with bait and flies. Mundo Lake is fair to good. Stone Lake is producing trout between 18 and 23 inches, but the fishing is fair to slow. Angling pressure remains low at all three of the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes.
Enbom Lake is the big producer lately. The Rainbows are averaging 13” but there are good numbers of 14-17” fish. We have received good reports from anglers using orange powerbait on the top and bottom. Flies and small lures are also working well at Enbom. Standard nymphs and woolly buggers are catching fish throughout the day and a parachute adams pattern will work for risers in the morning and evening. The weeds are not completely out of the picture, but apparently they are not as bothersome recently. The limit at Enbom will go up to 20 fish per day on October 15th which gives you some time to plan a fall trip to the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes.
Mundo Lake is in need of some attention. While the local focus has shifted to fall hunting, Mundo has been neglected recently. There have been a handful of anglers out there, and the few hearsay reports that I have received suggest that the trout fishing is fair to slow. I can’t presume as to what baits, lures and flies are working, but I can assume that the fish are going to be more active and opportunistic as the water temps drop into the prime zone for trout and the aquatic insect hatches decline with many of them in the sedentary larval and pupae life stages. There has not been any news from Bass or Catfish anglers this week.
I received 2 reports from Stone Lake this week. The first is a second hand report from an angler who was fishing jigs for the better part of the day. He landed 3 Rainbows with the largest at 23” and the smallest at 18”. He also lost a few fish and one that was significantly larger than the 23. The other report comes from a pair of anglers who again spent the better part of a day at Stone. They caught one fish between them at 18”. These folks were using spoons and large hardware. Conditions are improving daily at Stone and things are shaping up for another good fall season. We would love to see some 10 lbers this year so let’s all get together and generate some good reports. The pressure has been very moderate for the last 2 fall seasons, so there is no reason to hold back info from the other anglers.
The Navajo River has been off and on lately, with turbid conditions following the storms we have been getting almost daily. The water has been clearing up in a day or 2 after these events, so check the recent weather if you are traveling to the Navajo. Spawning season is almost here for the Browns, and some larger fish will be moving into the Navajo from the San Juan River. This is a beautiful time of year on the Jicarilla so get up here and wet a line.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist

This week we have very little to report from the Jicarilla Fishing Lakes. Fishing pressure has been down and there have not been any reports. There has been a little hearsay but even the talk is minimal. The lakes should be fishing about the same as they have been for the past few weeks. Weed harvesting efforts continue at Stone Lake and more and more fishable water is becoming available. The trapping contest is over at Enbom and the campsites are open again. I did get a nice picture of a brown from the Navajo River but I am not sure what it was caught on.
Mundo Lake is in the upper 60’s with good clarity. Rising fish can be seen on the lake in the early morning and especially in the evenings. The Bass have plenty of small bluegill to eat thanks to a good spawn this year. There hasn’t been any news from the cat anglers but they may be at Dulce Lake.
Enbom Lake is the one place where I have heard a little gossip. The skinny is that at least 2 fish in the 17-18” class were caught over the weekend. I also heard that they are biting well on powerbait below a bobber.
Stone Lake is a ghost town again. My recent reporter has not checked in this week and I couldn’t tell you one way or the other what is happening out there. Conditions are good though, and the water temp is heading in the right direction. The Elk have just started bugling, and that has been a timer for me in the past few years.
The Navajo River is still looking good. It is low and really clear which is quite rare for the Navajo which usually has some turbidity. I received a picture of a pretty Brown but I couldn’t tell how big it was or what it was caught on. I also heard talk of a few Rainbows coming out of the newly improved stretch.

Kevin Terry
Fisheries Biologist