Jemez Adventures Short Fishing Notes – March 2, 2025

These notes on Jemez Mountains fishing are excerpted from the Friends of Fenton Lake articles that appear in the After the Thunder newspaper published in Jemez Springs. They provide a window into Jemez fishing as a function of time and are reported twice a month. 

Fishing typically gets better through March and April, and Fenton Lake fishing should continue to improve dramatically in the next 2 – 4 months if the water stays cool. Bait fishers using worms, eggs, and power baits do well in early spring at the lake, particularly if fishing deep near the bottom. Fly fishers do well with deep nymphs, weighted wooly buggers, and leech-like flies fished deep. As the weather warms bugs start hatching and nymphs fished in the surface film or dry flies can pay. 

Runoff timing in the Jemez River drainage is dependent on weather conditions. The Jemez River flow history and the 2024 flows below show years when runoff occurred as early as mid-March and as late as mid-May. Dry years usually mean early runoff as little snow remains in the high country. 

We are entering the winter-spring change in fish stocking patterns when the lower Jemez winter fishing is ending and stockings are re-focused on higher elevation waters. This transition is usually over by the end of March. The week ending February 28 Fenton Lake received 762 Triploid (sterile) Rainbow trout. In addition many winter stocked fish remain in the lake, so the lake should fish well in early spring. Jemez River flows have averaged about 22 cfs, but will rise significantly in runoff. The lower Jemez River received 500 fish the week ending 2/28, and the the Rio Cebolla got 250 fish. If you wade the lake or fish it from float tubes or kick-boats please remember how cold the lake water is at this time of year and dress for it. 

For those who hunt wild fish we are close to the beginning of spring brown trout fishing – get ready. Quick tip: The East Jemez River usually has good early brown trout fishing in the Las Conchas Rec Area off NM 4 (it’s also naturally gorgeous – bring a camera).