Ute Lake Fishing Report & pictures

Water temp = 45 degrees main lake , river arms close to 50 degrees ,  main lake clear --arms are stained.

I'm starting to get better reports on all species of fish.  I personally think we are going to have an excellent year of fishing here at Ute Lake.  The lake is 3-4 feet from being full and we haven't yet even hit the rainy season.  A note of interest :  The dock by the boat ramp located at the park head quarters is not currently there -- it was destroyed in one of our wind storms.  Hopefully the state gets another one soon, but I have heard it may be quite a long time. A boat ramp without a dock is  near useless.

Walleye are starting to hit minnows in 15-30 feet of water (work the humps).  Most are males, but once in a while larger females are being taken.  Trolling as been slow, but fish can be taken.

White bass are starting their run up the river arms.  Trolling can be productive for them along with throwing jerk baits near the shore line.

Catfishing remains good using Sonny's sticky bait.  Fish 8-10 feet of water up either river arm. ...

It is once again snowing as I write the report.   The lake is as clear as I have ever seen it ---even up the river arms.  Water temp = 42 degrees in the main lake and around 45 degrees in the river arms.  There has been very little fishing pressure the last month because of the weather.  Very few locals are even getting out.  The ones that are getting out are catching some fish, but not in any numbers.  Walleye 30-60 feet deep on white/red slabs.  Expect 2-4 fish in 6 hours of fishing.  Some crappie caught in 30 feet of water near deep brush ---9 to be eact.

Whites moving into 30-40 feet of water.  The fish seem to be moving a little more shallow.  Catfish are also being caught up either river arm in about 10 feet of water on Sonny's Stink Bait.

FISH-ON

Rob

I have been out of town the last few weeks Whitetail hunting up in northern Iowa.  Luke and I did get a couple of smaller bucks. It is good to be back.  When we left Iowa it was -21 degrees  ----- pretty chilly!!!!!

I have not been fishing, but a couple of locals showed up this morning and we had a chat.  It seems that the White bass are on fire using Leprechaun slabs in 60 feet of water.  They have also been catching some Walleye, but not in any big numbers.  Expect 1 Wally to 10 Whites.

Hope you all had a great New Years !!!!!

FISH_ON

Rob & Maria

Friday, December 18, 2009

12/18/09

Darren from Clovis N.M. with a couple of brutes he caught at night on 12/17/09 using minnows along with white Leprechaun swim slabs. The small one went 9 pounds and the bigger one over 11 pounds.














Water temp = 44 -45 degrees, main lake clear

Not much fishing pressure, but the fish are still around. Whites continue to be caught using slabs in 30-35 feet of water. Walleye are also being caught in the same type of water.
Cat fishing --- slow
Crappie --- some slabs being caught on minnows in 30-35 feet of water. Its slow, but the fish caught are quality ones.
No report on other species.

I will be White tail deer & Rooster hunting up in Iowa the next few weeks, so you all have a safe and Merry Holidays.
See you next year!!!!!

FISH-ON,

Rob & Maria

Posted by The Tackle Box at 8:31 AM

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Dec. 5th, 2009 BURRRRRRR

Taos and cousins with a nice Walleye and a White bass caught 11/28/09.

Taos with his 4.5 pound Walleye caught on a White Leprechaun slab on 11/28/09

Peter Patrone with son Pete Jr. with a nice catch of Walleye and Whites caught 11/24/09.

Dec. 5th, 2009 Water Temp = 47 degrees Main lake lightly stained --- river arms heavily stained.

Fishing pressure very light the last week because of below freezing temps. We are starting to climb out of the deep freeze with high temps projected to be around 50 next week. The only reports I have is for Walleye and the White bass. Fish in 20-40 feet of water with White colored slabs. The Rogers park area has been producing fish more consistently for me than anywhere else. The Mine canyon area along with the big flat north of the golf course is also producing fish. Patients is needed, but if stick at it you will catch some fish.

FISH-ON,

Rob & Maria

Posted by The Tackle Box at 9:10 AM

Friday, November 13, 2009

Nov.13th, 2009

Boat inspections are done and the tourney entrants for the New Mexico High Desert Walleye tournament are waiting for the 6:30 a.m. take off time.

The top three teams at the end off the tourney are (left to right) 3rd place JD Carr & Brett Mills, 2nd place John & Hank McWilliams, and 1st place Jim O'conner & Jeff Cooper.

Lionel and Larry from Colorado with their catch taken on 11-06-09.

Susan Latham from Logan with another stinger of Channel cats taken 11-05-09 on Sonny's sticky bait.

Water temp = 55-56 degrees Main lake lightly stained with the river arms heavily stained.

The High Desert Walleye Tourney was held Nov. 7th & 8th and here are the results:1st place =Jeff Cooper and Jim O'Conner---27.93 pounds

2nd place = John and Hank McWilliams----22.14 pounds

3rd place = JD Carr and Brett Mills ---------21.81 pounds

4th place = Kevin Audrain and Kalin Audrain - 20.35 pounds

5th place = Ed Rodriguez and Donnie Bell -----19.34 pounds

6th place = Mike Alvarado and Brian Stangel ---14.32 pounds

7th place = Donnie & JJ Tollison --------------13.66 pounds

There were 11 teams and the top 5 places paid out....

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Fish are Snapping

Mike Alvarado from Santa Fe with his limit of Walleye and some White bass caught on 10/22/09 slabbing White Leprechaun Swim Slabs.

My wife Maria took this picture of our limit of Walleyes taken 10-23-09. We were fishing 30-50 feet of water using White Leprechaun slabs.

Jerry and Ish from Roswell with their Mule deer taken opening day --10-24-09

Water Temp = 59 degrees

Main lake is lightly stained with the arms heavily stained.

The wind is becoming a little more blustery around here lately. It will dictate how many fish you will catch. When slabbing in 50 feet of water, wind above 15-20 MHP makes this very difficult. If you are planning a trip to catch some fish, you may want to check the weather report referring to the wind.

Walleye --- Slamming White Leprechaun swim slabs in the main channel in 30-55 feet of water. Your presentation must be vertical from the boat for the best results. Minnows are also working at the same depths.

White bass ---Excellent bite early in the morning fishing White slabs in 25-35 feet of water around Horseshoe Bend. Fishing in front of the Dam has...

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Oct.20th, 2009

Truit Taylor and Norris Thomas from Portalis, N.M. with fish caught 10/18/09. We only fished a few hours ---the wind blew us off the water.









John Trenfield and son from Amarillo, Tx. with 10 of the 35 fish caught on 10-17-09. It was an excellent day for fishing and catching.

Water temp = 61 degrees in the morning

65 degrees in the afternoon

Water lightly stained in the main lake with heavier stain in the river arms.

Fishing has been pretty good if the wind is not blowing 30 MPH. Slabbing in 30-50 foot of water is nearly impossible with strong winds. It can be done, but it beats the hell out of you.

The High Desert Walleye Tourney is coming up Nov. 7th & 8th. You can contact myself or you can call James Welch (director) at 505-314-3256 for further information. It is a well ran tourney and growing every year.

White bass is really starting to heat up. White slabs in 25-35 feet of water has been very consistent for me. I carry a huge inventory of the Leprechaun swim slab --- the best slabs that I have fished with. Stop by...

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Sept. 29th,2009

A mature cow Elk taken a week ago during a muzzle loading hunt near Crested Butte Co. with my son Luke and brothers Jamie from Wi. and Steve from Ia.(not pictured)

A stringer full of 5 lb Channel cats caught 9/28/09 on Sonny's sticky stink bait by Johnny Latham from Logan and his son Mark from Hereford, Tx. They caught their limit of 30 cats in 6 hours in 5-6 feet of water.

 

Sept.29th, 2009 Water temp 68 degrees

I have been out of the state on a Elk hunt the last few weeks which has prevented me to up-date the fishing report. I'm back now, but I personally have not fished the lake in over three weeks. Except for what I'm calling an exceptional cat fish bite going on right now (I saw the fish), the rest of the report will be fictitious.

Walleye --- 7-9 pounders being caught on about anything anywhere. I have not heard of any smaller fish being caught.

Bass ---Large & Small mouth are pounding white crank baits in 30 feet of water which is very uncommon. Again, large fish are the rule usually around 5-6 pounds...

Friday, September 4, 2009

Sept.4th,2009

Peter Sr. and Peter Jr. from Colorado with Walleye caught 8/28/09.

Water temp = 76 degrees, main lake clear with stained river arms.

The fishing is remaining pretty good for all species of fish. My last guiding trip put 6 keeper Walleye in the boat along with 3-4 that were short. All fish were caught trolling in 12-20 feet over thick brush.

Walleye ----Limits are hard to come by, but 4-5 hours of fishing should put quite a few in the live well. Minnows on the bottom in 20 feet of water near the channel edges or try trolling over brush with Wally Divers and Reef Runners.

White Bass ----Slabbing in 30 foot of water around Horseshoe will produce large quantities of fish. Find the schools and you are in for some fun. Use white colored slabs for best results.

Catfish----Sonny's stink bait will produce around 10-15 cats in 5 hours of fishing in 4-10 feet of water near brush.

Small mouth---Work the rocky points with shallow running cranks or spinner baits and you should come up with quite a few. Go to drop shotting a little deeper as the day goes on.

Large...