Jicarilla Fishing Blog

Return to the office (28June2024)

Folks,

The Fish Crew is now whole again, but one of us has a significant limp. Vacations can be hard on a guy. We have not recieved many entries to our giveway so please submit your historical photos of fishing the Jicarilla soon!

In our absence summer and somehow monsoon has hit with full steam. Lake tempertures are well past the safe and ethical catch and release zone. around 70 surface temp.

With the warmer temperatures aquatic vegetation growth is becoming obvious.

No fishing reports have been submitted.

Just normal summer stuff.

1/2 Fish Crew Leave

Folks,

This half of the fish crew is going on a long and some what needed boat ride and will not be around for the next two weeks so there will not be any updates until the last week of June.

The fire ban is still in effect, only propane stoves and grills are allowed.

Construction of the Mundo Lake Recreational Improvement Project will begin in July so plan for partial closures of camping facilities starting at the beginning of July 2024. Closures will be announced as the schedule for mobilization and groundbreaking is finalized.

I would like to take this time to remind folks, especially our catch and release trout anglers that water temperatures are beginning to rise and will soon be at the 65-68 degree danger zone. If you value your catch and release ethics and big trout these are the temperatures that warrant targeting warm water species or finding cooler locals to fish. Just because a fish "swam away strong" does not mean that it has a high survival post release, you'd swim away strong too if you just got off the hook. There are a myriad of environmental aspects that negatively impact trout survival as temperatures increase including pH, and lower dissolved oxygen. Carry a thermometer, it's a good piece of kit every angler should use.

In this down time of the blog we are starting a new competitive give away. Submit your best historical picture of one of the jicarilla lakes and be entered into a chance to win a prize package. It is a fantastic prize package. Think polaroids you'll have to scan of your Nonna with the Horse Lake monster from the 1970s and the like. The entries will be judged by the Fish Crew and a winner selected Mid-July. ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED TO jicarillafishqs@gmail.com by July 16th.

Let us all protect our resources and enjoy the summer.

Mundo Spillway Closure

FYI Mundo Lake spillway will be closed Thursday June 6th, 2024. THIS THURSDAY. The JGFD is holding its annual youth education program this week and Thursdays events will be held at the spillway. The lake is still open to fishing but there will be a couple hundred kids and chaperons running around. This would be a great day to try one of the other lakes. Event ends a 2:00 (ish) and as soon as everything is cleaned up the spillway will be open again to the public.

May 30th, 2024

Folks,

Getting great reports, easy fishing for the most and largest fish in the 4 corners. Some folks seem to be forgetful of the Proclamation at times. Know the limits and read the regulations. A lot of tickets for simple violations are being written. Save yourself and the warden the hassle and follow the rules.

We are still under a fire ban at the camping areas and lakes. Propane only for cooking. Please be very careful as we are having red flag days and there is quite a bit of smoke in the air already from fires around the state.

Mundo Update: Our contractors are surveying for Mundo Lake improvement over the next few weeks and we are planning on a July closure to the camping facilities first followed by a closure of the road to the spillway. We will keep you all updated as the plans become more refined.

Enjoy your weekend!

May 20th, 2024

A few minor reports were submitted, but if you're waiting for reports you are already missing the best fishing in the Southwest.

All three lakes are cranking out 20 plus inch trout with almost humorous consistency, even beginners from Facebook are landing 25's. The folks online trying to act like they discovered us are pretty neat to see. Watching them realize we are one of the 50 best stillwaters in North America for a reason.

Cold snaps hopefully will keep us in good catch and release water temperatures for a little bit longer.

Best of luck.

April 30th, 2024

Folks,

Nothing really new to report, fishing is still the best in the southwest. Fish over 22" being captured with an almost comical consistency.

Only one report was submitted from Mundo lake that said smaller fish were really interested in small mayfly imitations. Maybe what they say is true, this is not the quality waters and big fish eat big flies? If you are a catch and release person, this isn't 5x country, 3x is closer to minimum ethical. If you are a boater make sure your craft is safe and properly inflated before launching, also make sure it was cleaned, drained and dried before bringing it to the Nation to limit the spread of invasive species.

We are noticing with great fishing comes many anglers and we would like to remind folks fishing is fun and fishing this awesome isn't going to be your little secret. Be polite and courteous to all. Do not leave trailers in the lake while you fish, do not block ramps, be a good steward of our resources and kind to each other. The common sense rules like giving other anglers a wide berth and pack it in pack it out all still apply.

April 22nd, 2024

Folks,

Been selling permits like it is going out of style. Dozens of anglers at each lake over the weekend. I assume the amount of permits have to do with the quality of fishing. Hard to tell as no fishing reports have been submitted, but I doubt everyone came out of the wood work for no good reason. Easy fishing as always.

Submit reports to jicarillafishqs@gmail.com, who knows maybe you could win something.

Water temps are on the rise very early with the weather and summer isn't going to be friendly if the long term reports are to be believed. Winter was dissapointing and very little run off occured. Maybe we will have a cold summer and an active monsoon.

Hold over fishing has been great.

April 15th, 2024

Folks,

Many fish being caught. Two anglers reported float tube fishing as being exceptional with at least a dozen fish between 18-26" being caught and released this weekend. That's right folks I said twenty six inches. based on what I've been seeing on the fishing pages that makes us cranking out the most consistent big fish anywhere around. Even novice anglers from shore are reporting 20 plus inch monsters with consistency. Amazing hold over fish, and fishing. Should only get better until it gets too warm.

Brown and black buggers, shallow. Eggsucking buggers etc. If they can do it, you can too!

Lots of photo's floating around the internet with our fish, folkings trying to keep it a secret.

April 10th, 2024

Folks,

After a week absence for training the Fish Crew is back out and about.

Some Updates:

-Mundo Camping area gate is OPEN

-Enbom Lake gate is OPEN

-Mundo Docks are DEPLOYED for the season

Fishing reports include 10" fish through 22" inch fish with just one group reporting over a dozen fish in the 18-22" range being caught in a half day. Seems like pretty decent fishing. Minimal fishing reports have been submitted.

Just a reminder lake road access and lake/camping access will be closed during pre-announced times over the following 18-24 months. These closures are to insure the safety of work crews and anglers during construction phases of two projects. One at Mundo Lake and the other a Enbom Lake. Final timelines for construction have not been set but anticipated closures will impact Mundo Lake spillway access and camping area summer of 2024 through fall of 2024, while Enbom activities will impact all access late fall 2024 until at least summer of 2025. These are rough estimates, and we are trying dillegently to minimize closures and will provide as much lead time as possible. Please check the blog or call the office prior to making angling plans during the construction projects. The start of both projects will not be a suprize so don't get worried yet.

March 25th, 2024

Folks,

NTM Online Portal is now open. The new season starts April 1st, 2024. Permits will be texted and e-mailed this year for convenience. They still need to be printed, signed, and carried on your person when fishing.

There are a few days remaining in the 2023-2024 season but any permits that are needed between now and the end of the season (March 31st, 2024) will need to be purchased on site here at the JGFD Office.

Based on all the photos of monster fish being posted around the internet Mundo and Embom are cranking out more 20 plus inch fish a day than anywhere else in New Mexico and probably a few other western states. They are not in the 505, we are in the 575.

One report from Stone indicated a skunk and a uniform bottom with very clear water. Water temps in the low 40's.

MUD SEASON is here, if you don't need to drive on a muddy road please don't. Parking on the east side of Mundo is always an option for the walking angler.