Nov.28, 2011

Art from ABQ with our limit of Walleye taken 11/28/11.

Charlie from Santa Fe with opur limit of Eyes taken 11/25/11

Lyle with daughter Brandi and son-in-law Mike with Walleye taken 11/23/11.

Fish taken 11/18/11.

Fish are biting if the wind isn't. Water temp = 47 degrees.

Nov.14th, 2011

Mike Alvarodo from Santa Fe, N.M. with eight Walleye that we took on 11/12/11. Fish were all caught on the White Leprechaun swim slab in 28-40 feet of water.


Water Temp - 53 degrees, main lake cloudy. Fishing has really picked up the last week or so. The Walleye are not on fire, but limits are the rule if you are patient and put in your time. Fish 30-40 foot flats that are 10 feet from the main channel (70 ft) The White bass are also hitting, but you need to fish the 10-30 foot flats that are 100 yards from the main channel.


FISH-ON,

Rob & Maria

9/7/11

Melissa and Steve from Logan, N.M. with a bunch of Whites taken on 9/1/11

Water Temp = 77 degrees, Main lake clear with the arms stained. I have been literally wearing my clients out lately catching White bass. The schools are big and the fish are large. We are catching a Walleye here and there, but the main focus is on the Whites. We had a cold front move in on Sunday (9/4/11) and it shut the fishery down, but it woke up again on Monday.

White bass--GOOD to EXCELLENT--find the schools---from where the Ute empties into the Canadian to Horseshoe---then use Leprechaun swim slabs (White) to hammer them.

Walleye--FAIR--Catching one here and there, but I think it would be hard to catch a limit of them right now.

Small and Large mouth bass --FAir to GOOD--I have heard of some good fish being taken --jigs in the trees and frogs early in the morning.

Channel catfish--EXCELLENT--stink baits and chicken liver fished near brush in 6-15 feet of water.

FISH-ON,

Rob & Maria

8/18/11

Ana Morrow, my sister in law, with a nice 24 inch -- 4lb-- Walleye taken on 8/16/11.

Mark Souza from Panhandle, TX with a 5 pound 4 ounce Smallie taken on 8/14/11.

Coloradans with a bunch of fish taken 7/31/11

Water temp = 79-80 degrees, main lake clear, river arms stained. The lake continues to drop an 1/2 inch a day due to evaporation and we continue to be in a drought. We have received an inch or so of rain since last October.

Fishing is slowing down a bit, but they can still be caught. White bass is the best bite right now along with the Cat fish.

Walleye--POOR to FAIR--Fish crawlers in 20-30 feet of water will catch a couple. Do not expect limits. I have also caught a few suspended in 50 feet of water.

White bass--GOOD to EXCELLENT--If you find the schools you will whack em and stack em. The problem is you find the schools about every other day. Trolling deep running cranks along with slabbing is the preferred method.

Catfish--GOOD--Stink baits and chicken livers in 6-20 feet of water will entice them onto your hook.

Small & Large mouth bass--FAIR--Early morning top water bite, then move into deeper water --(20-30 ft) for some mid day smallies. I have not seen any Large mouth taken in the last week or so.

FISH ON,

Rob & Maria

UP DATE

Bud Rusk from Amarillo with 7 Walleye and a White that we caught on 7/27/11 -----Trolling over brush.

Brothers Jack, Garrison and Tucker Scott from Hobbs, N.M. with a bunch of White bass and 4 Walleye that they caught on 7/28/11.

July 27th, 2011

Josh and son Hudson from Hereford, Texas with Walleye and White bass taken on 7/24/11. We hammered the Whites for over 2 hours suspended 30 feet down in 50 feet of water. The school had to be 100 yards x 50 yards in size.

Water Temp = 78 degrees, main lake clear with the arms lightly stained.

Walleye--FAIR to GOOD--It is starting to get a bit more difficult to catch a bunch of them, but they are biting. I'm still trolling over brush for the Walleye----its a good thing I own a tackle shop!!!!

White bass--GOOD to EXCELLENT--Its all about finding the schools. Look for large schools suspended 30 feet down on your fish finder. Trolling deep divers is how I find the schools, and once I find them, I switch to slabs and proceed to get into some serious action.

Small and Large mouth bass--GOOD--Early morning top water action then go deeper with tubes and worms in 10-25 feet of water. Main lake points and the back of coves will produce fish.

Catfish--GOOD to EXCELLENT--Chicken liver, night crawlers and stink baits will all catch a catfish. fish coves in 15-25 feet of water .

Look for some updates the next few days, I will be on trips the next 7 days.

FISH-ON,

Rob & Maria

July 8th, 2011

Bill with grandsons Michael and Austin with a nice batch of Walleye taken 7/6/11.

Some folks from Amarillo, Texas with their catch taken in late June.

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

The fishing for most species remains good. There are days when it is tougher than others, but that is why they call it fishing. My best suggestion for you during the next week or two is to be on the water early and get off it around noon -----it is HOT and it sounds like it will remain HOT. Another suggestion is if you are keeping your fish for supper, throw them right on ice when you catch them this time of year. Live wells do not keep fish alive that well in the hot temps we are having. Nothing like butchering fresh fish that are mushy because they have been 1/2 cooked in a live well!!!!!

Walleye--GOOD--Crawlers in 15-30 feet of water or trolling over brush in 8-20 feet of water.

Catfish--GOOD--Liver or stink baits in 4-30 feet of water.. They seem to be spread out all over the lake.

Crappie--SLOW--The bite is over. You might catch one here and there, but do not count on a bunch of them.

Small and Large mouth bass--FAIR--I'm seeing a bunch of them surfacing in the morning, and I continue seeing them through the morning ---just cruising around 2-3 feet under the surface.

White bass --FAIR-- I have caught a few, but not very many. I would stick to the coves a little more if I was after them

FISH-ON

Rob & Maria

June 16th, 2011

Stephanie and Mike Broderick with 1/2 of their kids Loren, Michael and Zack with 8 Walleye and a couple of Whites taken 6/11/11. It was a great day!!!!! Loren -----Congrats on catching most of the fish!!!!!


Edward Kuplach with a couple of Whites taken 6/16/11. It was a tough day of catching, but that is why they call it fishing.

Adolfo and son Fabian with limits of Walleye taken on 6/12/11. We trolled 4 hours in 12 feet of water over brush.

Water temp = 71 degrees, main lake clear with river arms lightly stained.

The fishing has been pretty good for all species of fish, except when the barometric pressure is low. I find that the fishing at Ute lake is best when the pressure is between 29.9 and 30.1 pounds, however when it gets to be lower than 29.8, it starts to get tough. Today 6/16/11, the pressure was 29.65 and it was tough fishing.

Small and Large mouth bass -- Excellent--the bass fisherman are saying that they have rarely seen the lake on fire like it currently is when it comes to bass fishing. They are hitting about anything thrown at them. There is also a good morning top water bite. I have seen numerous large Smallies break water during my Walleye trips.

Walleye--Good to Excellent--Crawlers fished in 17-22 feet of water is a good place to start. Another method is to troll over brush in 10-15 feet of water---I love to do this---and it will usually pay off. Where the Ute comes into the Canadian up to Horse shoe is the place to go.

White bass--Fair --I'm catching a few here and there, but there is still not a great bite going on. Some days I'll catch 5-10 and the next day maybe 1 or 2.

Crappie --Good--Using minnows up the Canadian is the ticket. I have seen several good stringers the past week. Fish the rocks or brush in 2-4 feet of water. You might need to move quite a bit, but sooner or later you start to catch them.

Channel catfish--Good to Excellent--They are moving into the main lake's coves and flats. fish chicken livers or stink baits in 2-8 feet of water. Try to be near brush or reeds for your best results.

Its Fathers Day weekend coming up so bring your dad out to the lake & enjoy a good time on the water.

FISH-ON,

Rob & Maria

June 8th, 2011

My son Luke with some Walleye we caught in 3 hours on 6/7/11.

Marcus Anderson with a nice
3 pound Walleye. 6/6/11

Ron with a nice three pound Large mouth taken on a crank bait. 6/1/11

Ana Morrow with fish caught on 6/4/11

Bubba and Penny from Hobbs with some Walleye. 6/2/11

Donna with a couple Eyes caught on 6/4/11.

Don with an excellent batch of eyes that we caught on 6/2/11.

Penny & Bubba

A great batch of fish taken on 6/3/11. We were using night crawlers in 20 feet of water.

Water Temp = 67 degrees, main lake clear, river arms stained. I have been on the water quite a bit the last week or so with some excellent results to report. Night crawlers are working better than minnows for Walleye and bass right now for some reason. I'm not even taking minnows out with me on the boat and that is extremely rare.

Walleye --EXCELLENT-- Fish crank baits over brush in 10 feet of water or try crawlers in 20 feet of water. Yesterday Luke out fished me 8 Walleye to zero. I only had one of the lures he was using on the boat, but I have a bunch in the shop.

White Bass --FAIR to GOOD--I have been catching between 5-10 on my fishing trips. I would troll deeper water looking for suspended fish if I was targeting only the white bass.

Crappie --FAIR--Still seeing some come in, but not as many. The upper Canadian remains the place to go for them. Casting small grubs or minnows in 4-6 feet of water has been the ticket.

Channel cats --FAIR to GOOD--They are now starting to be caught in the main lake and its coves. You can still catch them up the river arms, but the bigger fish have moved into the main lake. Use stink baits or chicken livers in 4-8 feet of water. fish near reeds and brush for the best results.

Large and Small mouth bass--GOOD to EXCELLENT-- Top water early for the Smallies and senkos whacky rigged later. The large mouth are on their beds in 4-6 feet of water.

FISH-ON

Rob & Maria

May 25, 2011

Todd Town with the big bass from the Sun Country tourney held here last weekend. It was 4.87 pounds.

"Lucky" Bob Lechel and Ken "The Man" Hansel were the 1st place finishers of last weekends Sun Country tourney. They led from the start to the finish and ended up with 21.68 pounds.

Water temp = 62 degrees, main lake lightly stained, river arms heavily stained. The last two days the wind has blown like a banshee. The next 5-7 days do not look to bad, but we will have a little breeze now and then. Our nights are still chilly, but it is staying in the mid 50's. If you are camping bring a jacket. Fishing has been pretty good and its only going to get better.

Walleye--GOOD--Minnows in 10-30 feet of water is producing fish around Watson Island. Trolling in the middle of the channel is also producing. I have not yet tried this yet this year, but trolling shallow runners over the brush in 8-12 feet of water has got to catch some.

Small mouth bass--GOOD--I say this because of last weeks Sun Country Tourney. Most fish weighed were Smallies and many of them were 2-3 pounders. I suspect many were caught on plastics in 5-10 feet of water near the shoreline. Night crawlers and minnows should hammer them.

Large mouth bass--FAIR--Some are being caught, but most are out smarting your average tourney fisherman. They are wanting to get on their beds one day, then off of them the next. A couple more days of warmer days and they should start on a good bite.

Crappie--GOOD to EXCELLENT--I have seen limits from the upper Canadian, but they are coming from the same fisherman. He is definitely on them, but other than that I am seeing a few here and there. He only throws a small white jig, but minnows will also work. 2-4 feet of water near underwater boulders is the best place I can tell you.

Channel catfish--ON FIRE--Chicken liver, stink baits, night crawlers ,dead minnows. Fish up the Canadian past the Ranch house in 2-4 feet of water. My friend caught over 50 cats in a 5 hour trip. He only kept 8 fish, but he said it was one hell of a bite.

White bass--FAIR--I'm starting to catch a few more, but they are still pretty scattered around the lake.

Have a great Holiday weekend,

FISH-ON,

Rob & Maria

May 18th, 2011

Steve and Steve from Amarillo with one limit of Walleye taken 5/15/11.



Water temp = 60 degrees, main lake lightly stained and river arms a bit more stained.

Fishing seems to be excellent one day and then the next your not sure if there is any fish in the lake. I believe that the barometric pressure is the main reason for this. One day it is 30.2, the next is 29.7, then 30.0 etc. We need to have 2-3 days of stable pressure and then the fishing should be more consistent.

Walleye--GOOD--I have been catching four or five 6-8" Walleye to every keeper Walleye. Its good to see the small ones---it means our Walleye fishery is in good shape. Make sure you handle the little guys with great care while getting the hook out of them and return them to the water asap. Trolling deep divers in 50-65 feet of water will catch some Walleye. They are suspended about 15-20 feet down. The Canadian is producing better. Stop by the shop for the exact lure that I have been using.

Large and Small mouth bass---GOOD-- I have started to catch quite a few smallies, but not any big ones. Grubs would be my choice ---working the deeper points for the bigger fish. Whacky rigged plastics in the reeds would be how I would go after the Large mouth. The thicker the better.

White bass --FAIR to GOOD--Starting to catch a few more, but still not in any large numbers. There has been a school around Watson Island for the last few days. Trolling or throwing cast masters will produce some.

Channel cats--EXCELLENT--Cheese stink baits or chicken liver in 1-3 feet of water will produce fish. Larger cats in the Ute arm, smaller but more qty in the Canadian arm.

Crappie--GOOD--Minnows up the Canadian near the ranch house is the best place .

FISH-ON,

Rob & Maria

May 12th, 2011

My little brother Jamie Blum from Sturgeon Bay, Wi. (Cheese Head Country) with a limit of Walleye taken 5/8/11. The bigger eye was just short of 4 pounds.


Water Temp = 59 degrees, main lake lightly stained with the river arms heavily stained. The last three days have been rather breezy to say the least. The next 5-6 days are predicted to be in the mid 70's with light winds ---- it should be a great weekend coming up!!!!! Fishing pressure has been rather light due to the winds, but I think the bite is on for most species.

Walleye--FAIR to GOOD--The Walleye have moved into a little deeper water. 20-30 feet of water has been where I have had luck. Minnows and crawlers on the bottom near deep water. Trolling has been slower, but it should really pick up any day.

Small mouth bass --FAIR---quite a few 10-13 inchers are being caught in 2-6 feet of water with tubes, but the larger smallies are not on fire yet.

Large mouth bass --FAIR--Not many being caught, but no one has been fishing the last few days. The wind has churned up the water, so maybe the bite will turn on. They have been staging in 2-4 feet of water, but are elusive. Get into the reeds and you should be able to capture a couple.

Crappie--FAIR to GOOD--I have seen a few limits come in last weekend. The Canadian arm seems to be producing more of them last weekend.

Catfish--SLOW to FAIR--Not much to report, except I did see 12 channel cats come in last Sunday all caught on stink baits up the Canadian in 4 feet of water.

White bass---SLOW to FAIR--I'm catching one here and there. I have heard that a school has been around Watson Island, but that was before the winds arrived.

FISH-ON

Rob & Maria

April 27th, 2011

Ryan Gardner & dad Ted with 4 gobblers taken opening morning of April 15th. 2nd Turkey from the left is a Merriam (white tipped tail fan) along with 3 Rio Grandes.

Wendy, with sons Scott and Dalton & husband Roger Holmes with Walleye taken 4/23/11.

Linda & husband from Clovis with supper caught on 4/21/11 using minnows in 15 feet of water.

Scott and Dalton Holmes from Plains, Ks. with fish caught on 4/22/11.



Water Temp = 59 degrees, main lake clear with river arms moderately stained .

Fishing has been holding its own, but the wind has been making it challenging from day to day. I am looking forward to a trip when it is not blowing 30 MPH or more. This weekend might be the ticket. Over all the fishing is pretty good. All species can be caught & they are looking very healthy.

Walleye--GOOD to EXCELLENT--Minnows in 15 feet of water continue to produce and trolling for suspended Walleye in the main channel is also working. Fish from the dam to Horseshoe bend for the best results. Most Walleye are males in the 17 inch size.

Small mouth--GOOD--Fish structure near the main points of the lake. Windy days will produce bigger fish near the downwind shoreline. The Smallies that I have been catching are accidents using minnows for the Walleye. I would throw crank baits that imitate the minnows if I was going after them.

Large mouth--GOOD--The thicker it is the better. Wacky rigged Senkos or Grubs in the back of the coves will produce fish.

Crappie--GOOD--The Ute has been producing the quantity of fish while the Canadian is producing the quality fish. Minnows fished near either large rocks near shore or brush in 2-4 feet of water will work.

White bass--POOR-- I have been catching one here and there, but there is no pattern.

Channel cat--FAIR-- Not much pressure on these guys the last week, but I would go up the Canadian with stink baits and liver and fish 2-4 feet of water near the reeds.

FISH-ON,

Rob & Maria

April 19, 2011

Crappie, Catfish and Walleye all caught on minnows on 4/18/11.

Debbie Pate from Kansas with a 22 inch Walleye and a couple other fish taken 4/17/11.

Ray and Curtis from Edgewood, N.M. with a good catch of Walleye taken 4/16/11.

Rande Gardiner and brother with a batch of Eye's caught on 4/17/11

Main lake lightly stained with the river arms moderately stained. Water temp = 56 degrees in the main lake.

The fish have been co-operating pretty good the last week. I had three guiding trips last week and 4 more on the books for this week. There are days that the fish are snapping and then a front moves thru and it slows for a day, but we are still able to catch a few.

Walleye --GOOD--I have been using minnows in 10-20 feet of water near the main lake channel. You have to work at it, but you can catch them. Trolling Reef Runners and Walleye divers is also producing a few fish up around the Ranch house.

Crappie--GOOD to EXCELLENT--I have seen a few limits come out of the Ute arm and also a few limits from the upper Canadian. Cast grubs near rocks or soak a minnow shallow around the brush.

Catfish--FAIR to GOOD--The Canadian remains the place to fish --use chicken liver or stink baits in 2-6 feet of water. We have caught a few Cats on minnows while going after the Crappie.

Small and Large mouth bass--GOOD--I have not been fishing for them but I saw some nice bass at the tourney weigh-ins this past weekend. Grubs and tubes in the thick stuff is the preferred method.

White bass--FAIR to GOOD---I have been catching a few here and there, but I have seen limits come out of the Ranch House area trolling Wally divers and throwing spinners. Another place to try is in back of Watson Island.

FISH-ON,

Rob & Maria

April 13, 2011

Ron, Al and Robert all from Colorado with their Walleye taken on 4/11/2011.

Water Temp = 56 degrees , main lake slightly cloudy, river arms heavily stained.

I believe that the Walleye have spawned the last few days mainly because all of them I have seen are 100% male. The wind has calmed down a bit from this last weekend and the up coming weekend weather looks great. Its time to get out and catch some fish!!!

The Hereford Bass Club is having a 1 day open tournament this Sunday. Hours are from 6:30 a.m. - 2:30p.m. Meet at the Marina boat ramp and the cost is $25.00 per person

Walleye ---EXCELLENT---Fishing minnows Carolina rigged in 10-16 feet of water will help fill your limit. Casting cranks and jigs to the shoreline will also produce fish.

Small and Large mouth bass---GOOD---Throwing tubes and grubs will produce large mouth if thrown in the thick brush/trees. Small mouth are more on the main lake points in 10-15 feet of water.

Channel cats---FAIR--You need to go up the Canadian past the Crappie wall if you want to catch a mess of them. Stink baits are the ticket.

White bass---FAIR---I am catching a few of there here and there, but have not hammered them lately. I would try up around the Ranch House mainly because historically this time of year is a good place to go for them.

Crappie--FAIR--I have seen a few come by the store, but I don't think many people are fishing for them yet. I believe if you went fishing for them you would have some good results.

FISH-ON,

Rob & Maria

April 5th, 2011

Jim and Jerry from Raton, N.M. with a bunch of Walleye taken 4/5/11 using minnows working 15-25 feet near the main channel.

Clay Carter and Randy Brown from Amarillo Texas with a nice stringer of Walleye and a couple of Smallies taken 4/1/11 using minnows in 16 feet of water.

Water temp = 55 degrees main lake & clear, river arms around 60 degrees and stained.

The fishing is starting to really pick up. I saw many limits of Walleye this last weekend along with Channel cats and Smallies. Reports of Large mouth being caught up near their beds and in brush.

Walleye--GOOD to EXCELLENT--You have to work for them, but they are on a good bite. Minnows in 15-20 feet of water around the points in the main lake. Throwing grubs in 10 feet of water also is producing fish. They should really start to hit by mid April.

Small & Large mouth ---FAIR---I am starting to catch a few smallies while trying to catch the elusive Walleye, but they are few and far between. They are either more shallow or deeper than 12-20 feet of water. The locals are catching a Large mouth here and there back in the coves or up the river arms in the stained water. Crank baits and jerk baits have been the ticket.

Catfish--GOOD to EXCELLENT ---Use Sonny's stink bait up the Canadian in 4 feet of water. Its about a 12 mile boat ride, but that is where you can catch-em. Chicken liver has also caught a few.

White bass --- FAIR--I have heard that trolling up around the Ranch house has caught limits of them, but I have not been up that far yet this year. I have not caught many of them since two weeks ago when they were stacked up in the Ute arm.

Crappie---FAIR---Starting to see a few caught, but still not in any numbers. The Ute arm is where the few I have seen are coming from. Trolling has been the method, but the minnow bite should heat up in the next week or two.

FISH-ON

Rob & Maria

3/25/2011

Josh & brother Jed with fish caught on 3/24/11. The Crappie might be moving in!!

Water temp = 51 degrees , main lake clear, river arms lightly stained. The fishing seems to have slowed down the last few days. Yesterday I was on the water 6 hours with Josh & Jed with 30-40 mph winds. We could not find a Walleye, but we did manage some Crappie. Usually I can get some Walleye in windy conditions, but not yesterday. Fishing pressure has been light this week, but the weekend looks good weather wise for fishing.

Walleye--Slow--A few being caught in 15-20 feet of water using minnows.

White bass---Fair--They were on fire early in the week, but have since moved on.

Catfish --The Canadian arm in 4-8 feet of water continues to catch fish using Sonny's stinky bait.

Small & Large mouth---Slow to Fair-- I have seen a few caught, but there is not enough fishermen to get an accurate report.

Crappie--Fair-Good---Historically, when I start catching Crappie while trolling for Walleye it means that they are on the move. I believe they will continue to move up the Ute arm in larger numbers over the next few days. I was trolling Bombers and Flicker shad for Walleye in the Ute arm when we started to catch the Crappie.

NOTE: CASH ONLY FOR LICENSES

FISH-ON,

Rob & Maria

3/18/11

Preston Reid with his 20 inch Walleye and a big White bass taken 3/18/11.

March 17, 2011

March 10, 2011

Jim with a 5.25 pounder along with a 4 pounder and a couple of 2-3 pound Walleye caught 3/10/11 on minnows.

A Colorado fisherman with a nice batch of Crappie and a 19 inch Walleye taken 03/09/2011 trolling up the Ute arm.

Water temp = 46-47 degrees, lake is clear.

It has been a rather long and cold winter, but it looks like we have rounded the corner to spring. The next week is fore casted to be in the 70's and the wind is not supposed to howl. The fishing has picked up quite a bit the last few days and I think it is very close to busting loose when our water temperature hits 50 degrees. I was out a couple of days ago --- trolling the Ute arm in 30 feet of water and caught a couple 20 inch Walleye. It was right after a cold front moved through and it was what I would consider to be slow fishing, but I was encouraged to catch a couple. Since then I have seen quite a few Walleye come in and a bunch of Whites and one really nice batch of Crappie.

Walleye--GOOD--Minnows on the bottom from 12-30 feet. Work the drop offs near the main channel . Trolling is also producing --- lead core at 3 colors with Berkley Frenzies up the Ute.

White bass--GOOD to EXCELLENT--Trolling up the Ute around Rogers Park has been producing quite a few fish. Trolling Wally Divers has been the ticket. I have not been up the Canadian arm yet, but I imagine it is also a good place to fish. Historically, the Whites start to stack up in the river arms to spawn this time of year.

Crappie--SLOW to FAIR--Although you see a nice batch of Crappie in the picture, it was a situation of being at the right place at the right time. I have only been able to catch one here and one there.

Channel catfish---GOOD--Use stink baits up the Canadian near the Adobe house to catch them. fish 3-8 feet of water.

Small and Large mouth bass--Not much to report except I have been catching a few Smallies on the flats near deep water.

FISH-ON,

Rob & Maria