As winter loosens its grip on Northern New Mexico, anglers are getting the urge to pick up a rod and try their luck on waters throughout Rio Arriba County.
The new fishing season begins Thursday (4/1) and runs to March 31, 2011 in New Mexico. A season license for New Mexico residents costs $25, while anglers between the ages of 12 to 17 can purchase a junior license for $8 and anglers 65 to 69 pay $8 for a senior fishing license. Children under 12 do not need to purchase a license, and anglers 70 and older can receive a free fishing license.
In addition to the fishing license, anglers need to purchase a Habitat Access and Improvement Stamp that costs $4 for the season. If anglers plan on fishing on waters that run through the National Forest Service or the federal Bureau of Land Management, they will also need to purchase a Habitat Improvement Stamp, which costs $5 for the season. Anglers wishing to fish with two rods can pay $4 for a second rod stamp.
Early season angling opportunities in Rio Arriba County are limited due to wintry conditions. High mountain lakes, such as Hopewell and Canjilon, are still iced over and difficult to access because of the heavy snowpack, and high mountain streams are still iced over and difficult to access this time of year.
Abiquiú Lake may offer the best early-season angling prospects. Walleye and smallmouth bass will begin moving into shallow water in preparation to spawn this time of year. Some large Brown trout can also be caught from the bank early in the season.
Heron Lake is still covered with ice but should have open water soon. Early spring is one of the few times of the year that lake trout can be taken from the bank. Fishing for rainbow trout is also good from the bank this time of year.
El Vado Lake also offers bank fishing and some big trout are usually taken early in the season.
The best stream fishing will likely be on the Rio Chama below El Vado and Abiquiú dams, These areas are less affected by runoff from melting snow, and heavy water releases from the dams have not started. The Rio Chama below El Vado typically yields some big brown trout this time of year, and below Abiquiú, the Rio Chama is home to some sizable browns and was stocked with rainbow trout during the winter.
The Rio Grande river offers fair trout fishing right now and some northern pike can be taken this time of year. The Rio Grande will likely be rising as the snowpack melts and spring runoff progresses.
Santa Cruz Lake offers good fishing this time of year and the state-record rainbow trout was taken in March 1999 from this lake. The lake is well-stocked with rainbow trout and holds a natural population of brown trout.
Nambé Lake recently opened to fishing and is heavily-stocked with good-size trout. A state-fishing license is not required at Nambé. Tribal permits are available for $15 per day.
San Ildefonso Lake and the San Juan Fishing Lakes are other options for local anglers and state fishing licenses are not required. A permit to fish at San Ildefonso is $12 per day. Permits for fishing at the San Juan Fishing lakes $8 per day.