New Mexico Outdoor Sports News

ALBUQUERQUE – The New Mexico Game Commission will consider allowing unlimited take of northern pike from Eagle Nest Lake to address the aggressive species’ threat to the lake’s trout and salmon fishery at its meeting Thursday, Dec. 15, in Albuquerque.

This fishing report, provided by the Department of Game and Fish, has been generated from the best information available from area officers, anglers, guides and local businesses. Conditions may vary as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.

Taos, NM–The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Field Office invites the public to comment on the Rocky Mountain Mine Pumice Extraction Environmental Assessment (EA), which evaluates a proposal by CR Minerals Company, LLC (CR Minerals) to mine pumice on public lands adjacent to their current operation in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico.  The draft document is available for public review and comment for 30 days beginning on October 26, 2011.

SANTA FE – The Department of Game and Fish has closed several State Game Commission-owned wildlife areas, campgrounds and fishing areas beginning Thursday, June 30, because of extreme fire conditions and to coincide with closures in bordering national forests and other public lands.

Attention anglers: Extreme fire danger has prompted agencies to impose fire restrictions and closures on public and private lands across New Mexico. Please check for the latest information at http://nmfireinfo.wordpress.com or by calling the fire restrictions hotline at (877) 864-6985.

Its been a long winter and the El Nino storm track left us with a lot of  reserve moisture so farmers, fish and fishermen should be quite happy this season. All of our drainages are over 100% of normal. The fishing has been a bit behind previous years but is finally picking up. Water temps have been lower than in the past due to a lot less sun this winter.

Fished the Red at Aguaje on March 4th

This is an opportunity for all of you guides and industry professionals to take the gloves off for a 2 day fly fishing tournament on the Conejos River. In the past the guides and amateurs fished together in this event but this year for the first time we are going to have a separate event for the guides and prof’s with slightly a different format. Please read the details carefully before submitting an entry.

You are  invited to fish in the Fifth  Annual Conejos Superfly. The Superfly is a fishing tournament held on the Conejos River with two-man teams competing for fun, prizes, and the chance to be 2010 Superfly Champions. There will be games, prizes, fishing excursions, evening parties and a chance to have your name engraved on the coveted Mayfly Trophy. Here are some of the details:

Before you go fishing in BC, you might want to know where it is. While much of the Canadian population lives in the southeastern areas of Canada in places like Toronto or Ontario, British Columbia holds down the fort on the west coast. Vancouver, BC, where the 2010 Olympics will be held, is located north of Seattle by less than 150 miles, and Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is only a 3 hour ferry ride from the home of Starbucks and the Space Needle.

Despite low salmon numbers in many North American fishing areas, Canadian salmon fishing showed surprisingly good numbers and a strong finish to a healthy fishing season.

They say ignorance is bliss, but if you want bliss on your next fishing trip, be sure to do your research. Some fishing lodges and fishing resorts have secrets – the kind of secrets that can make or break a customer’s experience. Here’s an inside look at some of questions to ask and things to be aware of.

Runoff is in full flower on all our  area streams and only the Cimarron and Culebra are fishing well right now. The flow on the Culebra has just started to rise as irrigation season begins and the inflow should improve fishing considerably thru May and June. The Cimarron has been fishing well for the past month and should continue thru June and the Stonefly Hatch. We are fishing the Ute Creek Ranch and the Cimarroncita and both are doing well with the snowmelt adding to whatever is being released from Eagle Nest. We still have access on the Culebra.

EL PASO, Texas – Rock climbers recently noticed canyon wrens nesting at a popular climbing site at Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site. Due to concerns about disturbing the nesting birds, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has temporarily closed Grenade Boulder until hatchlings fledge. It is expected to be closed for about a month.

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Master Naturalist program has reached 1 million volunteer service hours. This major milestone marks the 10th anniversary of the program, which began in Texas but has since given rise to a growing national movement.

LOS OJOS, N.M. -- Snagging season for kokanee salmon opens at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 14 at Heron Lake, Willow Creek and the Pine River above Navajo Lake. The Department published conflicting opening dates in the 2008-2009 Fishing Rules & Information Booklet. According to state fishing rules, the opening date always is the second Friday in November.

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES -- The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish will conduct a public meeting Nov. 13 in Truth or Consequences to discuss the history, status and future of desert bighorn sheep recovery efforts in New Mexico.

TAOS – A native New Mexican once found in streams and rivers throughout the state has returned home after a 60-year absence. Five river otters were released today in the waters of the Rio Pueblo De Taos on Taos Pueblo.

TAOS -- Wild river otters will be swimming and playing in the Rio Grande for the first time in decades next week when Pueblo de Taos, USDA Wildlife Services and the Department of Game and Fish release five otters imported from Washington State.

SANTA FE -- Fall is one of the best times of the year to watch wildlife, and the Department of Game and Fish is again offering special guided tours in elk and wolf country through the Gaining Access into Nature program.