SOUTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK
Elephant Butte Lake: Ray Padilla caught this catfish using carp and shad cut bait on Oct. 18. He had also caught a pair of blue catfish weighing 14 and 16 pounds earlier that morning at Caballo Lake.
Elephant Butte Lake: Vladimir Avina caught five crappie using white grubs on Oct. 18. "Fishing has been amazing at the Butte when using nightcrawlers and soft plastics," he said. "I caught a few crappie on a white grub and a monster drum on a nightcrawler."
Gila River: Michael L. Pangburn caught a smallmouth bass using a nightcrawler jig on Oct. 15.
SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT
Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing conditions have been adversely affected in the aftermath of the Trout Fire.
Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using carp and shad cut bait. Fishing for crappie was good when using white grubs.
Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 51.2 cfs. Fishing for smallmouth bass was slow to fair when using nightcrawler jigs.
Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 33.4 cfs.
Quemado Lake:The most recent report was received Oct. 9. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using Pautzke Fire Balls.
Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 0 cfs.
Young Pond:The most recent report was received Oct. 9. At that time, fishing for bluegill was very good when using hot dogs and shrimp.
We received no reports for the following waterbodies over the past three weeks:Bill Evans Lake, Caballo Lake, Escondida Lake,Glenwood Pond, Lake Roberts, Percha Dam, Rancho Grande Ponds, Snow Lake and Trees Lake.
