Jicarilla Fishing Blog

October 14th, 2025

Folks,

Two reports from pleased anglers have come in from the long weekend. Catfishing is always good at Mundo, especially if there is any inflow, and this local angler manages to catch quite a few, even smiles in the photos! A really nice fish 32" and 17lbs., many taco's worth of fillets. Chicken for bait. 

Our local trout guru was at it again claiming his best fishing since 2023. 15 fish 20"+ over the weekend, including a 24 incher. "Best weekend of the year". He used streamers in size one olive and barred. Nymphs like the Copper John and SOS in 16's and buggers from 8 to 12. Poachers, dungeons, thin mints, jigs, zonkers. 1-3 feet deep all sorts of retrieves, could do no wrong. 

The water is off color from a little bit of runoff entering the lake with the recent rains. The better half of the Fish Crew thinks the water came up 4-6" at Mundo.

J.

 

October 6th, 2025

 

Folks,

Very few fishing reports, in fact just two. Yet again they describe polar opposite conditions. So, again I'm not sure what to make of this information.

If it were me I would just go fishing if I had the time and figure the rest out later, but many folks need more than that to get out there to enjoy themselves. I'd rather get skunked than sit at home wishing I was fishing. I did have to use the ice scraper on the truck windshield this morning.

One angler mentioned "exceptional fishing...size 12 pink jigs, sz 12-10 haresears, sz 10 damselflies and sz 12-8 olive streamers" but not as deep as some anglers like to plunk and troll.

The other angler mentioned " One nice fat rainbow... a miss...just one fish broke the surface...thirty years experience" He seemed quite disappointed with his 5 hours of fishing, guessing by the tone of the e-mail. 

Now maybe you can see the problem with fishing reports. The duality of the information provided by two people at the same lake on the same weekend. The Fish Crew isn't here to sugar coat much so we are just providing both sides of the coin.

If it were me: I'd go fishing before its winter. Best of luck where ever you end up!

J.

October 1st, 2025

Folks,

The one report submitted reflected more or less a very slow day of fishing. Fish Crew observations presented large amounts of highly active and large jumping trout during the cloudy afternoons this week.

Not sure how to rectify those two disparate pieces of information. 

Best of luck,

J. 

September 24th, 2025

Folks,
 
Quick Updates:
 
-Only Mr. Jeffery has submitted a fishing report. He is pretty good at fishing so it may not be helpful to the mere mortals reading the blog but he caught a few in the 18-21" range. Jig leeches and Frenchie Chironomids. 
-If you come fishing, consider submitting a report... If you ever have asked a question and benefitted from reports, consider submitting a report. If you like winning prizes consider submitting a report.
-Enbom Lake will not be stocked until further notice due to the extremely low water
-The Jicarilla Apache Nation manages its own fisheries resources and does not receive funding from the NM Game & Fish Dept.
-The Jicarilla Apache Nation DOES NOT participate in state sanctioned free fishing days. 
 
Have a great time fishing wherever you end up!
 
J.

September 3rd, 2025

Folks,

 
The Fish Crew has been on sabbatical but are now back in the office. It seems the rains have been spotty but something in some places is better than nothing in every place. 
 
Weeds are up and water is low. Summer fishing will be transitioning as the nights begin to cool off. A few anglers have noted slow fishing during the heat of the day and one report mentioned fat 16"-18" trout but slow bites on bait.
 
Hunting season has begun and hopefully monsoons can give us a boost prior to a big winter.
 
J.

August 12th, 2025

Folks,

The hot summer and dry conditions have resulted in us being surrounded by smoke and wild fires again. Middle Mesa Fire to our west and the Oak Fire to our north, not to mention the other more distant fires adding to general smokey conditions.  Stream flows are critically low.

Our local angler extraordinaire Mr. Jeffery has been getting into some topwater action for bass and bluegill, and also mentioned an intense but brief battle with a musky.

Other than those small updates, we are already praying for a heavy cold wet winter.

J.

 

July 31st, 2025

Quick update today folks,
 
The bluegill fishing has been excellent this year as has the catfishing. It has been crazy hot, with some hit or miss monsoon type activities, but mostly misses.
 
Weeds are up and water is down, it is classic warm water summer fishing here.
 
J.

July 24th, 2025

Folks,

Despite some small respites from the drought we are firmly in hot and dry record setting drought. Lakes such and Stone and Enbom are at record low levels. Mundo is holding its own, but low, and with low water comes increased aquatic vegetation. Catch and release trout fishing is a no go. Catfishing, bass, and bluegill

are the name of the game when the temps are this high. We remain in an open fire ban, and the surrounding National Forests are the same. 

Hopefully the rains keep up.

J.

July 8th, 2025

Folks,

Very warm weather, lowering water, and high lake temperatures. Amazingly no fishing reports have been submitted.If you are a catch and release angler it is time to think about cold tailwater fishing.

Just a reminder NO FIRES. Propane cooking only.

J.

June 17th, 2025

Folks,

I'd say the ethical trout catch and release window has passed us until fall. Yesterday morning surface temps at Mundo Lake were 67 degrees. On a positive note I've heard a few very large nice catfish have been caught.

If you are not interested in fishing with 200 kids please avoid Mundo Lake all day on June 25th. The department will be holding its annual Jicarilla WILD Community Outreach and Education event all day at the lake. It is a super cool event with lots of education and conservation minded topics for folks to dig into. If you do plan to fish that day please utilize the east side of the lake for parking as the spillway and campground will be quite busy and Conservation Officers will be directing parking to optimize safety and space for participants and staff.

Mr. Jeffery, my eye in the sky on all things fishing around here has been out there putting folks to shame with the Egans Poacher and a five weight. Just saying. 

Enjoy your summer!

J.