Jicarilla Fishing Blog
Fall is...almost...kind of...
Anglers have been out and about, slowly but surely. I have not received any reports from them, but folks in town have mentioned float tubers and bank anglers on a few of the lakes the last week. Two anglers yesterday at Mundo were catching 12-14" inch Rainbow Trout in the morning, but larger fish were elusive. Temperatures are still getting very summery during the day, but it is finally cooling off nicely at night. If you are into Catfish this might be the last few weeks of the active bite before they slow down for winter.
Of course hunting season has started and obviously that takes precedence for many of our part-time anglers. I told my wife I wouldn't be home much and for most of September, she would be a fishing-widow. Now she just laughs when I tell her such things.
Get out and enjoy the remainder of the season, before you know it I'll be posting ice thickness and snow reports.
J.
Quick Update
Folks,
Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are currently spreading at incredible rates throughout the United States, but in particular in the Southwest. Obviously, if you are an angler you have seen signs about clean, drain, dry and disinfect your fishing equipment before fishing new waters as it has been in the news and boat ramps for the better part of a decade. Aquatic invasive species including New Zeland Mudsnails, Quagga Muscles, Zebra Muscles, and many aquatic plant species pose a huge risk to fisheries.
Currently, the State of New Mexico and the Jicarilla Apache Nation are clean and do not have populations of AIS species. We would all like to keep it that way.
All boats must be clean, drained, and dried before launching at Jicarilla Lakes. Equipment like waders and float tubes need to be sterilized/disinfected before entering our waters, as should be common practice for traveling anglers.
We here at Jicarilla Game and Fish would like to remind anglers that the introduction of any of these species to the Nation would severely impact the fisheries you all come here to enjoy. So each and every one of you must do your part to limit the risk of accidentally transporting invasive species.
We will be implementing inspections of watercraft and equipment in the near future to further prevent the chances of any accidental introduction.
If you have questions on how to do your part contact the fisheries crew at (575) 759-3255 or jicarillafishqs@gmail.com
J.
Summer Heat Wave
Folks,
No fishing reports were submitted in my absence.
The Game Wardens did contact a few anglers and the theme was bait fishing was slow, while spinners and flies were fishing better. It has been very hot and sunny, and the monsoon seems to have taken a break.
Stay out of the sun if you can, evening fishing is better fishing this time of year.
J.
Updates
Folks,
No fishing reports have been submitted.
Which is not to say no fishing has been done, just everyone is keeping it to themselves. There really are not too many secrets around fishing, lots of rumors of secrets, but no real secrets. If you don't submit a report, you are not keeping your favorite lake from blowing up in popularity. Everyone wants up to date reports, but no one seems to want to submit them. Just as a reminder reports can be submitted on the website or by e-mailing jicarillafishqs@gmail.com
To the young man I excavated a treble hook out of last week, did your thumb heal up okay?
No one went out and tried the damsel hatch?
The Fish Crew will be on leave starting this afternoon and will return to the office Monday the 19th. If you have an emergency please call Jicarilla Police Department at 575-759-3222. I will respond to all e-mails and voice mails when I return.
Get out and enjoy,
J.
Quick Updates
No fishing reports have been submitted. I'm starting to sound like a broken record but it seems everyone wants updates but no one wants to give one. I know some folks have been out but I have not heard from them.
Last week someone asked me how I would go about fishing the lake during this time of the year. First I wouldn't be caught out before 6:00 pm and I would probably wrap up at 10:30 pm or when my tummy told me it was grub time. By 5:00 most evenings (that I have been on the lake) the damselflies are cruising low and getting seriously hammered by trout. I'd focus on that bite after the monsoons have been hitting and the temperatures cool since the fish are getting active.
Now I know some of you are saying "but, but, I don't like dry fly fishing...", but the person asked me how I would go about it. I'd also be at the river, hiking habitat to habitat covering miles of water capitalizing on those browns. Using Clouser minnows and some form of crayfish pattern. It is not for the faint-hearted or the weak ankled, but most trophies don't come easy.
Stay home in the A/C or get after it and use some nontraditional times/patterns/techniques to catch big fish. My house doesn't have A/C so I'm going to choose the getting after it approaches!
Get out, and get after it,
J.
Big Browns
Folks,
Have you been bummed about the lakes slowing down in the heat? For those adventurous anglers, the river should be fishing very well. I heard a rumor that crayfish flys are the ticket. Actually, I know for a fact crayfish flys are the ticket.
@Flybrary
Folks,
Just a quick update on a cool nationwide project we have brought to Mundo Lake. @flybraryproject is a neat concept of public fly boxes if you need a fly take a fly, have a fly leave a fly. Of course, this whole process works on the honor system, and the Fish Crew donated a dozen proven winners to start the process. I know a lot of you float tube addicts have a homebrew favorite pattern that you could spare one or two of. It also acts as a neat way for me to see what folks have been using at the lake. Based on the loaded vests and tube pockets I know more than a few of you have a fly collection problem, this is one simple way to trim down your assortments.
The Flybrary is located on the new bear-proof trashcan on the spillway at Mundo.
This sweet Seadek Flybrary patch was free from Castaway Customs (castawaycustoms.com), so not exactly an endorsement just a great way to build the fishing community. Who doesn't love free neat stuff?
J.
Back Home and Back at Work
Folks,
After a much-needed road trip around the breadbasket of America, I have returned. In my absence, no fishing reports were submitted by anglers. The weather has been furnace-like, and as always happens the cold water fishing is slowing down, and of course, the warm water fishing should be heating up. Not to say a trout or two won’t get caught, but springtime 50 fish days are a thing for the upcoming fall.
I have been getting reports of weeds and vegetation making sinker fishing difficult. This is always the case in the summer as sunlight and warm temperatures make the vegetation grow at vigorous rates. We are going to be going into our normal monsoonal patterns if you still insist on listening to the weather professionals on the television.
Enjoy the summer, go catfishing, make fish tacos, be happy!
J.
Quick Update
Folks,
The Youth Jicarilla Wild C.O.R.E program was a success and wrapped up today with kids fishing. The whole department and The Fish Crew was busy baiting hooks, teaching knot tying, and probably most important untangling every pole catastrophe that occurred at the lake.
No fishing reports have been submitted…
That being said it has been really hot and sunny so I think summer is finally here in full bloom. My allergies are telling me that every plant under the sun is enjoying the weather. It is probably time to consider warm water species fishing.
The Fish Crew will be on a two week vacation so there will be no new fishing reports posted until the week of July 15th.
Enjoy the Holidays!
J.
Quick Update
Folks,
Just a quick update. On June 27th the Department will be holding its second annual "Jicarilla Wild C.O.R.E." youth program BBQ and kids fishing day at Mundo Lake.
What does this mean: Kids from kindergarten to high school will undergo 3 days of extensive fish and wildlife conservation education as well as learn important hunting and fishing skills that will serve them for all their years.
What does this mean for you: There will be about 300 people including about 240 children fishing, eating hamburgers, learning about boating safety, how to cook a trout, and how to rig a fishing pole at Mundo lake from 9:00 to 3:00. This last day of the event is going to be fun for the participants, but for you fishermen and fisherladies who were planning on a fishing trip, I would recommend Embom Lake, or picking another day.
J.