Jicarilla Fishing Blog
@Flybrary
Folks,
Just a quick update on a cool nationwide project we have brought to Mundo Lake. @flybraryproject is a neat concept of public fly boxes if you need a fly take a fly, have a fly leave a fly. Of course, this whole process works on the honor system, and the Fish Crew donated a dozen proven winners to start the process. I know a lot of you float tube addicts have a homebrew favorite pattern that you could spare one or two of. It also acts as a neat way for me to see what folks have been using at the lake. Based on the loaded vests and tube pockets I know more than a few of you have a fly collection problem, this is one simple way to trim down your assortments.
The Flybrary is located on the new bear-proof trashcan on the spillway at Mundo.
This sweet Seadek Flybrary patch was free from Castaway Customs (castawaycustoms.com), so not exactly an endorsement just a great way to build the fishing community. Who doesn't love free neat stuff?
J.
Back Home and Back at Work
Folks,
After a much-needed road trip around the breadbasket of America, I have returned. In my absence, no fishing reports were submitted by anglers. The weather has been furnace-like, and as always happens the cold water fishing is slowing down, and of course, the warm water fishing should be heating up. Not to say a trout or two won’t get caught, but springtime 50 fish days are a thing for the upcoming fall.
I have been getting reports of weeds and vegetation making sinker fishing difficult. This is always the case in the summer as sunlight and warm temperatures make the vegetation grow at vigorous rates. We are going to be going into our normal monsoonal patterns if you still insist on listening to the weather professionals on the television.
Enjoy the summer, go catfishing, make fish tacos, be happy!
J.
Quick Update
Folks,
The Youth Jicarilla Wild C.O.R.E program was a success and wrapped up today with kids fishing. The whole department and The Fish Crew was busy baiting hooks, teaching knot tying, and probably most important untangling every pole catastrophe that occurred at the lake.
No fishing reports have been submitted…
That being said it has been really hot and sunny so I think summer is finally here in full bloom. My allergies are telling me that every plant under the sun is enjoying the weather. It is probably time to consider warm water species fishing.
The Fish Crew will be on a two week vacation so there will be no new fishing reports posted until the week of July 15th.
Enjoy the Holidays!
J.
Quick Update
Folks,
Just a quick update. On June 27th the Department will be holding its second annual "Jicarilla Wild C.O.R.E." youth program BBQ and kids fishing day at Mundo Lake.
What does this mean: Kids from kindergarten to high school will undergo 3 days of extensive fish and wildlife conservation education as well as learn important hunting and fishing skills that will serve them for all their years.
What does this mean for you: There will be about 300 people including about 240 children fishing, eating hamburgers, learning about boating safety, how to cook a trout, and how to rig a fishing pole at Mundo lake from 9:00 to 3:00. This last day of the event is going to be fun for the participants, but for you fishermen and fisherladies who were planning on a fishing trip, I would recommend Embom Lake, or picking another day.
J.
Quick Update
Folks,
Just a picture I snapped today at Embom. The weeds are coming in quick at Embom but the fishing is still going well for those with the touch. This guy is a fish hound for sure. There also is a picture of a real monster caught at Embom on our instagram page, you can find it on the homepage by clicking the camera icon.
June 18th 2019
Folks,
Fishing reports are coming in from my local on the ground troops, but I have not received any recent reports from out of town anglers. Fishing has been better in the late evening and early morning, which should be no surprise since temperatures have been high 70’s and low 80’s and sunny during the day. Powerbait, fly and water bobber, and fly anglers using sinking type lines have all reported excellent catches. Anglers willing to walk away from the popular spots have also been rewarded with larger fish.
It feels like summer is here to stay, and we are thankful for the amazing spring. It might be getting time to shift gears and start thinking about warm water action, especially during the heat of the day.
J.
June 10th 2019
Photo: Two anglers combined bag at Mundo June 10th 2019
Folks
Received three reports from this weekend and the previous week. Mixed emotions with some anglers doing very well and others not so good. Local anglers are still reporting excellent catches especially in the morning and evening, with day time fishing slowing significantly if it is high heat and direct sun.
Today we had the Mundo road regraded so it is smooth sailing until the next monsoon. As always if you are hand loading a float tube, and your vehicle doesn’t like the road due to mud or ruts you can easily load off the highway right near the dam, it is only a 20 yard walk.
This morning two of our regulars where hammering fish and even said the catfish bite was starting to turn on. Largest trout was 17” and the biggest catfish was 18”.
Go fish, before it gets to be full on summer,
J.
Spring Fishing
Folks,
No fishing reports have been submitted, but the Fish Crew has been hounding folks at the lake for your benefit. It turns out this year continues to provide great fishing. Anglers mentioned excellent catches and many fish an hour at both Mundo and Enbom. Some of the highlights have been multiple fish at 20 inches caught at Enbom lake this week and quite a few in the 16-18” range. Consistent catches on silver spinners, olive wooly buggers, hares ears and prince nymphs. Anglers mentioned overcast days producing more fish than bright sunny days. Anglers who are willing to get off the spillway and venture into less pressured areas are producing more, and larger fish. So it is business as usually as far as I can tell. The weather has been highly variable with the weatherman being wrong more than right (per usual).
Get out and go fishing, submit reports, be happy!
J.
Misplaced Equipment
ATTENTION ANGLERS:
On Wednesday May 29th 2019 it was discovered that the Jicarilla Game & Fish Departments thermograph system had been removed from Mundo Lake. This system was deployed on April 15th 2019, and was last seen by staff on Thursday May 23rd. This equipment monitors hourly lake temperature at three levels in the lake (top, middle, and bottom). The data collected has to be manually downloaded, but continuous hourly temperatures will be recorded for up to five years per device. They are meant to be deployed for long periods of time, and only downloaded when data is needed for analysis.
The system was comprised of three thermographs suspended by a foam buoy with orange “JGFD” painted on it in two locations. Black nylon rope (approximately 1/2” in diameter) was attached at the top to the buoy and at the bottom by metal cans filled with concrete (anchoring it to the bottom). The rope was approximately 36 feet in the length.
The three thermographs were Hobo Pro V2 models made by ONSET (see photos). The serial numbers of the missing units are as follows:
Top: 10872907
Middle: 10873306
Bottom: 10855082
These temperature data loggers are approximately $120.00 each, but the data they collect can never be replaced once the equipment is lost or stolen.
JGFD will be deploying a new system because this data is very important for continued trophy fisheries management. If you become entangled in the thermograph system, break or cut your line immediately, do no pull up the system or tamper with it in any way!
If you have any information relating to this missing equipment or why thermographs are being deployed please contact Jacob Mazzone at Jicarilla Game & Fish Department by calling (575) 759-3255 or through e-mail at jicarillafishqs@gmail.com
Misplaced Equipment
Folks,
Today I went out to Mundo Lake and noticed our Thermograph equipment was gone. Some of you may have noticed a white buoy with orange JGFD on it floating in the north east corner of the lake. This buoy was suspending multiple thermographs in the water column that all took hourly temperature readings. If you thought this was discarded refuse please contact me to set up a return of the equipment. Lake temperature monitoring is very import to fisheries management and the equipment is not inexpensive (but good luck pawning it). If you just thought you found a new anchor rope, please contact me. We just want to get our instruments back in the lake as soon as possible to keep collecting data. If you have any information or tips regarding this loss of equipment, please contact me.
The Office Number is (575) 759-3255 and my e-mail is jicarillafishqs@gmail.com