Jicarilla Fish Weblog

The ice fishing success rates on the Jicarilla Lakes have been quite variable over the past week. As usual, Mundo Lake has been the most consistent with fair to good fishing. Anglers have been catching healthy Rainbow trout on Mundo, using both bait and jigs. These fish average 10-13” with the occasional 15-16” fish mixed in. Brightly colored jigs (yellow, white, neon) fished with or without bait tips have been working well, as have traditional baits like corn, salmon eggs, wax worms, and powerbait. At Horse Lake, the bite has been slow and unpredictable. A weekend angler reported 17 people on the ice Saturday (1/27/07) with only 2 fish landed between all of them (green glitter powerbait). In contrast, a report from Monday (1/29/07) has one angler catching two lunkers (17”, 18”) in three hours of afternoon fishing (1-4pm). This angler caught one fish on a large white curly tail, and the other on corn. The variability in fishing success at these two lakes is creating an intriguing dynamic for the upcoming multi-lake Ice Fishing Tournament on Saturday February 10th, 2007. For details on this tournament or for general fishing information, please look below in the current fishing report section of our website www.jicarillahunt.com or call Kevin Terry at the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department (505)759-3255.

Fishing Report 1/23/07

The ice fishing on the Jicarilla fishing lakes continues to be steady. Good weekend reports have come in from Horse Lake with at least one fish over 20” and others in the 18” range. Brightly colored jigs continue to catch fish, and wax worms have also been successful. At Mundo Lake the fishing remains consistent for rainbows in the 12” class using corn and salmon eggs as well as jig bait combos.

Jicarilla Ice Fishing Tournament

When: The tournament will be held on Saturday February 10th, 2007. Registration begins at 7:00am until 10:00 am. The tournament begins at 8:00am and ends at 4:00pm. All fish must be turned into the judges table (registration booth) by 4:30pm in order to be accepted for the tournament.

Who: The tournament is open to the general public as well as Jicarilla Apache Tribal members. There will be an adult division and a kids 12 and under division.

Where: The tournament will take place on Horse, Mundo, and Stone lakes combined. Contestants may fish any combination of these lakes during tournament hours. There will be no creel limits on these lakes during the tournament.

Registration: A registration booth will be set up at the Mundo Lake pullout off of the J-8 road (please view the map on this site). Registration begins at 7:00am and continues until 10:00am. The entry fees are $20 for adult contestants that do not possess a valid Jicarilla fishing permit (this entry fee includes one day use) or $15 for adult contestants that have a valid Jicarilla fishing permit. The entry fee for kids 12 and under is 5$

Rules: Contestants must follow the regulations, excluding creel limits, identified in the Non-Tribal Member Fishing Proclamation available on this site, with the exception of Stone Lake. Non Tribal ice fishing will be allowed for tournament contestants on this day only (2/10/07). There is absolutely no bait allowed at stone lake. Artificial grubs and lures that have been impregnated with scent or flavors before packaging will be allowed, as will artificial spray on scent products. Worms, salmon eggs, corn, powerbait and other common baits will NOT be allowed on the ice at Stone Lake. Please leave such items in the car while fishing Stone Lake. Conservation officers will be patrolling and citations are steep. Traditional baits may be used at Horse and Mundo Lakes according to the proclamation (refer to permitted and prohibited bait sections).

Prizes: Prizes will be awarded to 1-3rd place in total creel weight (lbs.) as well as for the longest fish (Total length mm) caught in the adult division. In the kids division prizes will be awarded to the three longest fish (total length mm) caught (only one entry per contestant). There will also be randomly drawn door prizes for registered contestants at the awards ceremony. An on-site raffle will also be held at $10 a ticket. 100% of the proceeds of this raffle will be used to buy equipment for the tribal youth fishing day. The grand prize for this raffle will be a Jicarilla Spring Turkey hunt valued at $500.

Adult division:
1st place by weight- 3hp gas ice auger ($400)
2nd place by weight- Two-person ice shelter, equipment sled, 8" hand auger ($260)
3rd place by weight- High Velocity Hand Auger ($100)

Longest Fish (total length mm)- Deluxe ice fishing chair with storage ($80)

Kids division:
1st place total length- Equipment sled, Ice pole with reel ($65)
2nd place total length- Ice pole with reel, 24 piece ice fishing tackle kit ($45)
3rd place total length- Ice pole with reel ($25)

For more information please call Kevin Terry (fisheries biologist) at (505)759-3255 monday through friday 7-4.

The road into Horse Lake has been plowed. Slippery snow packed conditions still exist and 4wd is recommended for safe access. Thanks

Kevin Terry (Fisheries Biologist)

The Ice fishing conditions are good for both Horse and Mundo Lakes. The road to Horse Lake is snow packed and slippery but access is open to 4wd vehicles and tracks have been made all the way to the lake. Reports have come in of fair fishing at Horse over the weekend, using powerbait and jigs on the bottom. Mundo lake has plowed access and is fishing very well for Rainbows in the 9-12” size class, with corn, Salmon eggs and jigs, and the ice is in good condition (8-10”). The road to Horse Lake may be plowed in the near future and more information is available through Kevin Terry at the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department ((505) 759-3255). Thanks for viewing the website and feedback is always welcomed. Have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Horse Lake continues to have excellent ice fishing. An angler report from Sunday (1/7-07) indicates that fishing is good for big rainbows. This angler reported catching five nice fish (2@17”, 1@18”, 2@20”) on Sunday. The action is primarily on jigs of bright coloration and fishing seems to be slower during midday. Mundo Lake is also fishing well on the South side where the ice is solid (6-8”). Anglers have reported success with corn, catching fish in the 12-15” size class. For more information please call Kevin Terry at the Jicarilla Game and Fish Department (505-759-3255).

Ice fishing pictures from 12/29/06 are finally in the website gallery. We apologize for the delay due to website problems.