ANGLERS' GOOD FORTUNE.

Byline: STACI MATLOCK

Some Santa Feans ready for warm weather were dismayed by last Friday's little snowstorm and wintry temperatures. Not Toner Mitchell, a flyfishing guide and manager of The Reel Life.

April snows translate into more runoff water in the rivers and better fishing into the summer.

"I get nervous when we don't get a big snowy winter" and snow into April, said Mitchell, who grew up in Santa Fe.

Mountain snowpack and ongoing runoff mean most reservoirs and lakes should remain at good levels into early summer.

Fishing has been slow to good recently on several of the state's rivers. Mitchell and other anglers say the fishing will keep getting better as the snow melts off and river flows calm.

Late snows also decrease the chances of wildfires shutting access to rivers on the national forests. "I breathe easier if there's no big fires by July 4," Mitchell said. "If they have to close the forest, it's bad for business."

Hardcore anglers seem to find a place to fish in New Mexico all year, but the official season for new fishing licenses began April 1.

One of the new state laws that anglers should be mindful of this year gives the Department of Game and Fish authority to inspect boats and require decontamination if aquatic invaders are suspected of hitching a ride.

The Aquatic Invasive Species Control Act approved by the state Legislature in March takes immediate effect in an effort to prevent the spread of zebra and quagga mussels, among other aquatic invaders. The mussels have been reported in neighboring states, except Texas, and are not yet affecting New Mexico's waters. The mussels spread by traveling on boats, water craft and other equipment. Anglers and boaters are asked to clean their gear especially when traveling from an infected state to New Mexico.

A two-fly rule is in effect on the San Juan River and guides report Game and Fish officers are checking anglers for licenses, barbless flies and the number of flies on rigs.

Here are a few fishing tips and predictions for some of the state's waters from experienced anglers and guides.

Lakes' conditions

Wind wrought havoc on lake guides from Heron Lake to Elephant Butte Reservoir from mid-March to mid-April.

Desert Bass fishing guide JR McManus reported canceling several guiding trips on Elephant Butte and Don Wolfley because of high winds. "Hopefully, the winds will be behind us by Saturday," Wolfley said. "I'm keeping my fingers crossed."

Heron Lake is still recovering from a drought that drained it into 2003 when water levels dropped so low the boat ramps and the marina closed. "It's really coming back," said Wolfley. "The boat ramps are operable. They're letting water in from Willow Creek and it's flowing in at 500 cubic feet per second," he said.

Wolfley said fishing for lake trout, a cold-water-loving fish, is great on the lake now. His clients have caught 10- and 13-pounders in the past week. He likes spinners such as Blue Fox and Panther Martin for lake trout. Tip the hooks with cut bait from suckers and carp for even better strikes, he recommends.

When the water warms up the kokanee salmon will start schooling. "That's a lot more action. You get a lot of strikes," Wolfley said. For the kokanee, he prefers beaded lures by Mack. Whatever is used, plop white corn on the hook tips. "They look like maggots. That's part of the kokanee's natural food."

McManus has guided anglers on Elephant Butte Reservoir for 18 years through his guide service and he has plenty of tips for catching big ones. But he encourages his clients, as many guides do now, to release fish after they're caught.

McManus, a longtime bass-tournament competitor, said Elephant Butte Reservoir levels took a dive for a few years until 2006. Now the water levels are recovering and fishing is improving every year, he said.

Anglers can fish for large-mouth, small-mouth and white bass, catfish, striped bass, blue gill and walleye at the 40-mile long reservoir.

"For someone who doesn't know what they're doing, live bait (like minnows and worms) is always best," McManus said.

McManus finds for more experienced anglers, white or chartreuse-colored crank bait works well for most bass species at the lake.

McManus said the fish are sluggish when the water temperature is below 55 degrees, like on windy or cloudy days. "Big heavy winds pull cold water off the bottom of lake and push it to top," he said. He said the best fishing is when the air temperature is warm enough to boost water temperatures up for several days. Then drop a line into shallower spots where the water warms more quickly.

McManus likes a 10-pound bottom-weighted test line with bait floating 18 inches above for a typical rig to catch bass. On striped bass, he uses a heavier 15- to 17-pound test line. "You could catch a real big fish," said McManus, whose largest striper to date weighed 521o2 pounds.

Walleye spawn in shallower depths in spring when the water temperature hits around 60 degrees. They feed then at 10 to 15 feet deep, McManus said.

Rick Castell, the northwest area fisheries biologist for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, made his predictions for fishing in early April. In an agency publication, he wrote Navajo Lake in northwestern New Mexico is "always a good bet." The lake's high levels should mean "adequate spawning" for game fish in the spring, he wrote. Castell notes crappie fishing is usually good in mid-May, and predicts black bass fishing will be fair to good. Anglers are reporting better luck with northern pike.

At Abiqui" Lake, Castell predicts trout fishing will remain poor while fishing for walleye will be good. He thinks there will be fair fishing for crappie, large-mouth and small-mouth bass fishing.

Rivers' outlook

The San Juan River, the Rio Grande and the Pecos River are likely to have average to a little above average flows into June.

Guides at High Desert Angler in Santa Fe rated the San Juan River below Navajo Dam as fair to good. "The release from the dam is still murky but improving with visibility reportedly at 2-4 feet. Midge nymphing is the most productive," according to the shop's guide blog.

The peak spring release from Navajo Lake into the San Juan by the Bureau of Reclamation was reduced from three weeks to 14 days and is expected to start around May 18 with a one-week ramp up, the Bureau of Reclamation said on Friday. The water then will roar out at 5,000 cubic feet per second. It will be reduced to about 500 cfs by mid-June.

Fishing on the Rio Grande has been slow for pike, trout and small-mouth bass, according to fishing reports. Reports on the caddis hatch are mixed, but Mitchell said it is happening and progressing rapidly north up the river. "There's a huge amount of food available in the river (for fish)," said Mitchell, who is also the new president of the Truchas Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

He said the Rio Grande has great fishing right after spring runoff and right after the irrigation season is over.

Fishing on the Chama River is good, but fluctuations in flows because of periodic water releases from dams can make it challenging because the changes confuse fish.

Lower, slower flows after spring runoff also are less dangerous for flyfishers wading the river. Mitchell said visitors and novice flyfishers should call fly shops to find out the normal flow for streams.

Anglers can pick up a Santa Fe National Forest map to find good fishing spots on Rio Cebolla, Rio Las Vacas, Jemez River main and east forks, and the Guadalupe River. Jemez streams are stocked regularly with rainbow trout from March to September.

Contact Staci Matlock at 986-3055 or [e-mail].

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

u For fishing reports from New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: www.wildlife.state.nm.us/recreation/fishing/index.htm

u High Desert Angler posts weekly http://highdesertangler.blogspot.com

u Coalition of San Juan anglers www.sanjuanriverforum.com/

u For more information about bass fishing, visit www.bassresource.com.

u To check stream flows see the U.S. Geological Survey's Web site at www.nm.water.usgs.gov.