Jicarilla Fish Weblog

The days have been long and hot on the Jicarilla fishing lakes over the past week. Water temperatures have responded, and fishing the mornings and evenings have been more productive as a result. Mundo Lake is clearing up with the downswing of the green algae bloom that reduced visibility to less than a foot last week. Visibility is currently around six feet and should be improving daily. Water temperatures at Mundo range from approximately 70°on the surface to 55° in the deepest part of the lake (spillway). Due to the fairly stable temperature stratification, the oxygen levels are depleted on the bottom (10%saturation), moving the fish up in the water column to about 8 feet and up. The Rainbows have been hitting the surface for gray and tan bodied mayflies (size 12-14) in the mornings and evenings and to a lesser extent throughout the day. Spinners and lures as well as flies have been working well. Wollybuggers, pistol petes, and green beadhead nymphs are the subsurface patterns reported successful. Worms and powerbait off of a bobber are the baits of choice right now in Mundo. The Largemouth Bass have been very active around the reeds and rocky structure of the spillway. They are hitting on jigs, grubs, and lures. Most of the action for Bass has been near the shorelines where the vegetation is the thickest. The Channel catfish have also been hitting well, and the fish are well dispersed throughout the lake. Anglers have been doubling up on catfish and trout with worms and powerbait, but traditional stink baits are more productive if trying to target catfish. Catfish well over 20” have been landed, but the average size is around 12”. The Jicarilla Game and Fish department would like to announce a fishing derby to be held at Mundo Lake on Saturday July 7th. The event will be based on creel weights by the limit for each species (6 trout, 8 catfish, and 2 bass any size July 7th only) There will be a prize for the heaviest creel of each species, as well as door prizes and prizes for the kids 12 and under division. The prize list is growing daily and will be available soon and updated on this website. Contestants may compete for all three prizes or choose to focus on one species or the other. Entry fees will be $20 for anglers that do not have a valid Jicarilla fishing permit or $15 for those who do. There will also be an on site raffle for tournament participants at $10 a ticket. The raffle has the grand prize of a guided cow elk hunt with two nights stay at the Jicarilla Inn Best Western ($1,400 value), as well as a spring turkey tag ($500), a waterfowl season permit ($100) and three annual fishing permits ($60).
Enbom Lake has had light pressure over the past week. The recent weed harvesting has provided some avenues for fishing from the shorelines, but weed and filamentous algae growth still dominates most of the lake. Conditions are just right for float tubing or small vessel boats. The water temperature at Enbom is at approximately 70°F, and the water is very clear all the way to the bottom. Rising trout are a common sight at Enbom throughout the day, and there are some big boys lurking.
Horse Lake also has clear water, and the plant growth is lagging behind the other lakes. Very few anglers have been on Horse Lake this year, providing the Jicarilla’s most private and peaceful fishing opportunities. The Rainbows in Horse are averaging a chunky 9-11”, but there may be some winterkill survivors up to and over 20”. Stone Lake is currently supporting a large green algae bloom similar to what Mundo was going through last week. The really thick pea green areas are concentrated on the north side of the lake, reducing visibility to less than a foot. The southwest side by the aerators is still pretty clear to around 5 feet, but will most likely turn as the bloom maxes out. There have not been any reports from Stone this past week, but given the water conditions big flashy and bright lures and flies should be a good choice. Don’t forget the dry flies though, just in case a good hatch elicits surface activity. Have a good week and put the Mundo Lake tournament down on your calendar(7-7-07). For more information call Kevin Terry at 505-759-3255.

Summer is here, and fishing season is in full bloom. Mundo Lake is fishing well despite a green algae bloom that has diminished visibility to less than a foot. The oxygen levels and water temperature (approx.65F) are still sufficient to keep the fish stress free and feeding. The Rainbows have been hitting the surface consistently into the late mornings (11:00am) and in the evenings. Most of the dryfly action is for tan bodied mayflies and lake midges but any size 10-12 dries should provoke energetic rises. Pistol Petes and wollybuggers are also working well all day. The trout are congregating in the upper half of the water column and fishing bait from bobbers as opposed to the bottom, should produce more trout. Worms, powerbait, and Salmon eggs have all been producing for trout baits. The Catfish are hitting well on a number of baits including worms, and there have even been a few reports of cats on the fly. These fish are more tolerant to lower oxygen levels and will still be on the bottom for the most part. The Bass are active and should be getting into spawning behavior. They will be found in the more shallow areas of the lake, especially those with vegetation or rocky structure. The average size for the bass is 10” but a few big boys are getting caught as well. A boat pulling jigs and lures out from the vegetated shorelines should produce good action and fewer snags for Bass anglers. Jigs and grubs as well as spoons and lures have all been working.
Enbom Lake has had a recent haircut, and the shorelines are reasonably clear for anglers from the shore. Pressure has been light, but rising fish are a daily reminder that the Rainbow Trout are getting fatter. Since the fish have been oriented to the surface, bait fishing from a bobber may produce more fish than fishing on the bottom. The shallow north side of the lake is still very weedy, but fish are rising in available pockets. A good pair of waders, especially boots, and a dry fly might create an interesting dynamic in this section (just a thought).
The angler reports from Stone Lake have been a bit deceiving lately. The general sentiment is that fishing is very slow, but a few anglers have managed to catch a couple of hogs. A local angler caught a 22” Rainbow on Saturday (6/16/07) with a rainbow colored castmaster, and another local group reportedly caught a few with large deer hair jigs similar to muddler minnows. On the contrary a group of 6 fly anglers had week of fishing with less than 10 fish total. This might indicate that larger more flashy lures and flies may provoke opportunistic strikes as opposed with trying to compete with and imitate the abundant natural food sources in Stone Lake such as damselfly nymphs. There has been some surface activity for mayflies in the mornings and evenings when the hatches are thick and the winds are down.
The reports from Horse lake have been few and far between but consistent. The fishing is tough at Horse and this is probably due to numerous factors. One, the lake has roughly doubled in surface area from last year. Two, there was a severe winterkill event with almost a total loss. Three, the fish stocked this year were small and are just reaching the catchable size (9”) and there were only approximately 10,000 stocked to avoid killing a large number of fish again this winter. Angling conditions should improve as the season progresses and fish get larger. However, fishing from a boat or actively moving along shorelines is suggested to cover more water and intercept more of these well dispersed Rainbows. Have a good week of fishing and be sure to prepare for the hot weather with plenty of water, sunscreen, and hats.
-Kevin Terry

If diverse fishing opportunities are what you’re looking for, then Mundo Lake is your one stop shop. It has been fishing really well for all three of the primary species. The Rainbow Trout are mostly 8-12”, but there are a good number from 16-20”. The estimated ratio is about 7 to 1 (small to large) and achieving the limit of 6 should be accomplished in 3-4 hours. The trout are rising to lake midges that have been hatching in the mornings and evenings. During the day the Rainbows have been hitting powerbait of various colors and worms on the bottom. You may also pick up a few catfish with worms and powerbait and essentially double up on your opportunities. If you are targeting Catfish, the best densities have been on the south and southeast sides where there is inundated structure and shallow warmer water. Chicken liver and stink baits of various kinds (pieces of fish and amphibians are NOT allowed) should get you into some Cats, and night fishing is also permitted at Mundo. We are stocking around 7,000 10.5”avg. Channel catfish today (6/12/07) at Mundo. The Largemouth Bass have been hitting really well along the dam and in the cattails on the northwest and west sides of the lake. They have been taking grubs of different colors as well as jigs and spinner/spoon baits. Most of the bass are 10-13” and 1.5-2.5 lbs. but there are some up to 20” and 5lbs. Senika Atole a local tribal member caught a beautiful 18” 3.5 lb Largemouth on a white jig with frog legs (Check out the picture in the photo gallery).
Enbom Lake has had light fishing pressure over the past week. The fisheries technician has been, and continues to harvest weeds from along the shorelines. He has seen rising fish in the mornings when the midge hatches are the thickest. Fishing from a float tube or boat for these rising fish is probably the best way to get some action and no weeds. The weed harvesting should be complete by Friday (6/15/07), and tangle free fishing from the shores will be possible once again.
Stone Lake continues to give anglers nightmares, and has been consistently poor fishing. Large fish are being located in good numbers with fish finding technology, but none seem to be biting. There has been some spotty surface action in the mornings for chironomidae lake midges (black and grey stripes). These fish are very spread out and randomly rising to emergers and adults, so glassy surface conditions are the best for spotting the subtle rises.
Horse Lake is ready to fish, as the 4-6 inch Rainbows that we stocked in late march are now in the 9-10” size class and built like footballs. There have been rumors of larger fish surviving the winter but the two gill nets set last week (6/6/07) produced only fish from the cohort stocked in March. The stomach samples from the fish that died in the gill nets, consisted primarily of the lime green damselfly nymphs that are so prevalent in the Jicarilla Lakes. Horse Lake is very fertile and grows fish fast, so expect them to be 15-17 inches by September. Stay tuned for updates, and enjoy fishing on the Jicarilla fishing lakes.

Fishing pressure has been extremely light at Stone Lake over the past few weeks. The few fishing reports that we have received indicate that fishing is very slow despite prolific hatches of lake midges, spinner mayflies, and damselflies. There is light surface activity in the mornings, and the fish that have been located with fishfinders deep (8ft) along the weed lines are not hitting very well. The water temperature at Stone is currently 65° Fahrenheit and the water is clear to about 6 ft.
Enbom Lake has been slow and the weeds have taken over along the shorelines. A few reports of large Rainbows (up to 24”) have come in, but frustration with weeds has been the general sentiment. We began weed harvesting at Enbom this morning (6/5/07) and should be finished by early next week. This will open up the shores again for awhile and may increase fishing success as well. The temperature at Enbom is currently 64.5 ° Fahrenheit and the water is murky from algal growth. The PH is on the alkaline side of things at 9.5 and may be stressing the fish.
Mundo Lake is fishing well with all types of gear and for all three species of fish. The Largemouth Bass have been hitting on various bass lures including frog imitations and are congregated around the cattails, docks, and the rocky section of the spillway. Big Channel Catfish (up to 27”) are being caught on the south side of the lake. Anglers are using worms, chicken liver and stink bait. Remember that night fishing is allowed (24 hrs) at Mundo Lake and catfish can be very active at night. The Rainbows are hitting powerbait, salmon eggs, spinners, and both nymphs and dry flies. The average rainbow is 8-12” but there are a few up to 24”. Chandler Elote caught a 20” 3.5 lb. Rainbow on 6-4-07 with a lure. (see picture in the photo gallery)
The Navajo River is beginning to clear up a little, and the flow has come down substantially. Locals have been doing well for browns around 20" with worms. There hasn't been many reports from fly fishermen but it may be worth a try for those of you who like river fishing. Use caution for rattlesnakes when in the deep grass along the riverbanks. Have a great week of fishing and feel free to call Kevin at 505-759-3255 for more information.