Re: A Two-fer To Close Out September
Calvin Beauchamps
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The lakes remain closed to ice fishing as the thaw begins. Mundo Lake (below) on Monday was starting to open, but open water season is still a ways off. We have closed the online permit portal to begin to get ready for 2024-2025 permit sales which we will transistion to soon. The 2024-2025 Fishing Proclamtion is posted so you can review changes for the new season.
Not much to update today ice conditions are not great, and the warm weather near 50 during the day is not helping. Snowfall over the weekend is putting quite a bit of slush on the sheets during the afternoon. Less than 3" of clear ice at all lakes. Lots of soft slush and cloudy ice. The Mundo road is extremely muddy and rutted, please use the highway side to access the lake if you would like to help us save the road.
It seems ice season is quickly coming to an end. All lakes are starting to show decreasing ice trends and significant water is on all the sheets due to the rain-snow mix we received last night and this morning. Holes drilled on Monday have not refrozen as of this morning. The road into Mundo is EXTREMELY MUDDY but we would prefer you not drive on the road to keep it from getting throttled.
Seems like it was a very busy and fishy weekend out at the lakes but sadly I only recieved a report from one group. Lucky the fishing is so easy and you all are such good anglers you don't need any help from me. Remember if you submit a report by the 31st, you are entered to win a Los Pinos Fly and Tackle Gift Card!
Weather continues to be very unseasonably warm and temperatures above 50 are expected this week, with nighttime temperatures above freezing. Road conditions can be muddy, and ice sheets are not liking the temperatures. Lots of slush and hidden soft spots have been noticed.
This isn't news to anyone who has been watching the weather but it is in the mid-forties here today with it expected to get to the low fifties over the weekend. It is sad to think this is the start of mud season. The region currently is in Extreme Drought according to the US Drought Monitor and the thought that winter might sputter out is a little hard to grasp in mid-January. Fingers crossed she will come back for a few more months of ice and snow.
The ice sheets are all very dynamic and as of this morning all sheets had inches of water on top of them and holes drilled over the weekend did not re-freeze overnight, insult to injury was the light rain that fell yesterday. As we did not have highly developed ice sheets this is cause for concern and great caution around the ice.
It seems this is a good time to remind everyone that fishing is done at your own risk. Ice fishing is inherently dangerous and there is no such thing as "safe ice". There are countless resources online to teach good ice fishing practices, and sadly we see quite a few anglers each year ignore them. The Fish Crew recommends you carry self-rescue equipment and equipment to help others when on the ice. YOUR SAFETY IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
Stone: Still some open water present which is kind of a clue. 4" ice near the south boat ramp 50 feet offshore. The East Ramp only has 2" weak edges. Lots of pressure ridges and high variation throughout the sheet.
On a side note the Department joined forces with the best brick-and-mortar tackle shop around, Los Pinos Fly & Tackle in the big metropolis of Albuquerque, and now have a lot of exciting prizes for future giveaways. Maybe we start with the best fishing report of the remainder of January is up for a $50 gift card. Been seeing quite a few videos online of Jicarilla fishing mislabeled as New Mexico public waters, cracks me up when people think they are going to keep the best fishing in the state a secret...
Shockingly not much to report. The snow we are getting today is great, but it is hiding a lot of bad ice and sketchy spots in newly formed sheets. This is only the second year in my ten-year tenure where we did not have 100% coverage the second week in January. Ice fishing isn't ready yet.
What a roller coaster of a "winter". Yesterday (1/3/24) There was open water at all three lakes. One angler was fishing from the dam on Mundo yesterday, one angler has been posting photos on the fishing boards of an excellent New Years open water catches at Embom. Pretty cool way to wrap up 2023.
Open water is quickly coming to and end Embom 95% covered, Stone 90% (only open water in the middle of the lake), Mundo 90% covered. The ice sheets are showing lots of signs of movement still but should be stabilizing as they close up.
Quite the strange "winter" we are having been basically t-shirt weather during the days. As of now there is no ice fishing yet. Mundo is 90% covered, Stone 70% covered and Embom is about 90% covered. A few more weeks or a good turn of cold weather. I sure would like another good water year.
A few updates. First we received a dozen or so fishing reports in the month of November and are currently reviewing each to determine who will be the lucky angler going home with a new sit on top kayak. If you happened to of submitted a report in November check back next week to see if you made the podium!
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