Jicarilla Fishing Blog
Ice Conditions (4/4/2023)
As of today, Stone Lake is 90% open water and very turbid. Mundo Lake is less than 30% open and the lake is very turbid. The high wind is surely helping but we have a long way to go, especially as it is snowing outside currently. Spring sure is fun. The road is impassable due to melting snow, and access to the lake is only available on the east side.
The online permit system is open for 2023-2024 business, please read all information thoroughly before buying a permit online. Our office is also open for permit sales Monday thru Friday 8-5 on all normal non-holiday days.
J.
Spring?
Not quite, though the melt is on and off here we are still seeing cold nights. but the edges of the ice sheet at all the lakes are separated by the afternoon. We are seeing significant inflow at all lakes, which is always what the doctor ordered. I'll keep updating as the situation moves along, but I'm still hoping for another few feet of snow to really cap off the season. 
Online Permit System
Folks,
Just an update: I have turned off the Online Permit System in order to begin the transition to offering the new 2023-2024 season year (April 1st, 2023- March 31st, 2024) permits. It should hopefully be turned on later this week and allow for pre-season purchasing for the remainder of the month but will no longer be selling 2022-2023 permits. This should not cause any interuption as the ice is no longer safe but there is no open water to fish as of yet.
Have a great weekend.
J.
END OF ICE SEASON
Folks,
It is time to say goodbye to the longest ice season in recent memory. After the rains over the weekend and above-freezing temperatures overnight the last weekdays the sheet is covered in 9" of slush and water. Stone lake is predominately slushed around the edges.
We may be closed for ice fishing but open water season is still off for some length of time.
The Fish Crew will keep you updated as the situation progresses!
J.
March 8th 2023
Folks,
Ice is starting to deteriorate with 7" of ice and 7" of hard slush/snow on the ice, during the day slush is going to be turning into water (47 degrees yesterday when we went out). This has been the longest ice fishing season in my ten years here, but reports from an angler over the weekend indicated slow fishing which makes sense after the long winter. Nothing lasts forever, especially a hot bite.
The Fish Crew is transitioning to getting ready for spring, there will be some big updates coming in the next few months and we are excited to get the 2023-24 fishing season up and running on April 1st.
J.
March 2nd, 2023
Folks,
This winter can't quite figure out what it wants to do. Last night we got about 5 inches of snow and now it is sunny, but we are under an extreme winter weather advisory. Yesterday Ice conditions at Mundo were approximately 12" of ice and 4" of packed snow. If it were to warm up there will be deep slush/water on the ice sheet. This is the latest in the year and the thickest ice we've had in the last ten years. Not sure what that means.
Packed snow, drifting snow, and ice are possible on all roads, use caution. If it warms up the road into Mundo will be extremely muddy, Department suggests accessing the lake from the east side as it limits damage to the road if this is the case.
No reports have been submitted and limited evidence of anglers could be seen from the week.
J.
February 21st, 2023
Folks,
Lots of anglers out this week though no reports have been submitted. If you'd like to submit a report or a photo to be featured in the blog please write the Fish Crew an e-mail at jicarillafishqs@gmail.com
The ice sheet is starting to begin degrading, Sundays day daytime high temperature of 50 degrees didn't help. Snow was melting by 9:00 this morning at the office and the road into Mundo was soft and very muddy. With warm days will bring lots of slush on the sheet making ice sheet observation very difficult. Ice fishing is inherently dangerous, use at your own risk. 6-8" of ice with 14" of packed snow/slush ice.
It is very rare to have ice at the end of February, and the sheet can't last forever.
Of course the weatherman is calling for a week long winter storm system to come in this evening. Hopefully it brings lots of snow, but it also sounds like high winters are in the forecast as well. Snow does not build ice.
Hopefully the snow keeps up and we can get a big finish to the 2022-2023 winter season.
J.
St. Valentine
Happy Valentines Day Fish Folks,
Chris Tomer said this storm is going to stick around till Wednesday next week and is potentially (!I hope!) going to bring a lot of snow to Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. We sure could use that.
That being said this weekend was pretty darn warm and it did impact the ice sheet. Today Mundo had 6" of ice and another 8-10 inches of hard-packed snow and slush ice which due to the cold temperatures was firm but not consolidated. There is a stiff breeze this morning drifting the fresh snow across roads and blowing across the lake.
Be careful it is most likely going to be winter driving conditions for a while.
No fishing reports have been submitted, no anglers were on the lake when the Fish Crew checked the ice this morning.
Enjoy some time with your sweet heart today!
J.
February 1st, 2023
Folks,
The year is seemingly flying by. One report from Mundo was recieved from this weekend and it indicated about a trout an hour most of the day in 12' to 16' feet of water. The report also indicated some folks bringing in some nice catfish as well. Angler was using the good ole standard jig and wax worm tipping. Pretty standard stuff out there. Ice was reported at 8" with 4-6" of compact snow on top.
The Fish Crew has been out of the office sick this week, if you left a message on the voicemail and wonder where I am please use the contact us tab on the website!
J.
January 27th, 2023
Folks,
Some reports from yesterday came in and I'd thought I would pass them on. Yesterday a group had a slow day of fishing and only had one bite in 6 hours using all sorts of common rigs. Another group mentioned multiple trout in the 14-16" range as well as some catfish for fish tacos, all fish were caught on white or purple marabou jigs. I guess location is key as is time of day.
Just a quick update. Keep submitting reports! Good or bad days of fishing happen, there is no reason to be ashamed or secretive. Help the greater community and submit reports to jicarillafishqs@gmail.com or use the contact us tab on the website!
J.