Heron Lake, New Mexico

[mountainboy]

Last weekend I went Kokanee Salmon fishing at one of my favorite NM lakes. I thought I'd share a few pics:

My ol' fishing boat: '81 Sears Gamefisher

Trolling:

The stove:

The light:

A nice Coleman night:

My catch, 6 nice Kokanee Salmon:

A good time to be had!!

Mike

 

[AZMinyard]

Re: Heron Lake, New Mexico

Where is the lake located? I have relatives in NM that I may actually have to go visit . . . given the fishing and all . . .

 

[mountainboy]

Re: Heron Lake, New Mexico

The lake is in Northern NM. It is around the Chama area. A good map of NM will direct you right to it.

Mike

 

[AZMinyard]

Re: Heron Lake, New Mexico

Excellent - thanks! I had no idea that there was any version of salmon in NM. Spent years and years chasing trout and catfish outside of Gallup with my Grandfather, but never salmon.

Any salmon fishing tips?

 

[mountainboy]

Re: Heron Lake, New Mexico

The Kokanee are a landlocked fish. They are stocked as fingerlings and grow well. Heron, Eaglenest, and Navajo all hold them, but I've always like Heron.

I troll for them using leadcore line because they start going deep (25 to 35 feet) around July. I don't have downriggers, but a lot of anglers use them. I use bright red or orange lures to get them: needlefish, doublewammies, wedding rings, arnies, etc. and I tip the hook with a kernel of white corn. I also use a flasher to attract the fish and a liter of line about 3 feet then attach the lure to the end with a swivel.

The Kokanee trolling goes until the end of September at Heron then starting in October and November the NM Game and Fish start collecting eggs to grow more Kokanee. Also in October at Eaglenest and Navajo the 4 year old salmon start to spawn and anglers are allowed to snag for the fish with big weighted treble hooks which is great fun. The limit per day is 12 and they taste great in the ol' smoker.

I've done a lot of fishing around Grants: Bluewater and Ramah lake, but my favorite areas tend to be in the Northern part of the state.

Mike