Jicarilla Fishing Blog

Quick Updates

No fishing reports have been submitted. I'm starting to sound like a broken record but it seems everyone wants updates but no one wants to give one. I know some folks have been out but I have not heard from them.

Last week someone asked me how I would go about fishing the lake during this time of the year. First I wouldn't be caught out before 6:00 pm and I would probably wrap up at 10:30 pm or when my tummy told me it was grub time. By 5:00 most evenings (that I have been on the lake) the damselflies are cruising low and getting seriously hammered by trout. I'd focus on that bite after the monsoons have been hitting and the temperatures cool since the fish are getting active.

Now I know some of you are saying "but, but, I don't like dry fly fishing...", but the person asked me how I would go about it. I'd also be at the river, hiking habitat to habitat covering miles of water capitalizing on those browns. Using Clouser minnows and some form of crayfish pattern. It is not for the faint-hearted or the weak ankled, but most trophies don't come easy.

Stay home in the A/C or get after it and use some nontraditional times/patterns/techniques to catch big fish. My house doesn't have A/C so I'm going to choose the getting after it approaches!

Get out, and get after it,

Big Browns

Folks,

Have you been bummed about the lakes slowing down in the heat? For those adventurous anglers, the river should be fishing very well. I heard a rumor that crayfish flys are the ticket. Actually, I know for a fact crayfish flys are the ticket.

@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?

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!

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 15^th.

Enjoy the Holidays!

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.

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.

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,

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!