Announcements
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) has just released a 2015 draft fisheries management plan for the entire state of New Mexico. The draft is the product of a year and a half effort led by NMDGF Assistant Chief of Fisheries, Kirk Patten, to update the current plan. The plan contains a lot of detail that should be of interest to NM Trout members and NMDGF is specifically asking for our members' comments on it. Members may want to address whether catch-and-release regulations should be applied to more New Mexico streams. Submit any responses on-line by October ... Read More
Nearly two months after the Gold King mine spill, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish biologists say fish caught in sections of the Animas and San Juan rivers are safe to eat. Immediately following the spill, the department issued a catch and release recommendation. However, recent tissue samples from fish revealed only trace amounts of metals that are within acceptable levels for human consumption. The department will continue collecting and testing species of fish. Collections will be taken again at six months post spill, one year post spill and then annually. Link to NM Game & Fish announcement ... Read More
The end of September marked the transfer of the Valles Caldera from management by a trust to management by the National Park Service. It also marked the end of the Land and Water Conservation Fund as Congress failed to reauthorize it. Thus fund made purchase of the Valles Caldera possible. In its 50 year existence it provided funding for a wide array of projects including purchase of public access to trout fishing waters. October is the month you can find out where the big browns are because they will be spawning. If you find a redd the trout will either ... Read More
There will be a public meeting in Albuquerque on New Mexico fisheries management plan on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 6:00 to 7:00 PM. SANTA FE -The Department of Game and Fish is seeking public comment on the draft of a new fisheries management plan that will help guide the department's efforts into the future. The new plan includes management direction for specific waters, primary fish species and project priorities. The last comprehensive, statewide, fisheries management plan was adopted in 1987 and only covered sportfish. The new draft plan includes sportfish as well native and non-game fish. The draft plan also includes ... Read More
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has just released a draft fisheries management plan for the entire state of New Mexico. The draft is the product of a year and a half effort led by NMDGF Fisheries Manager, Kirk Patten, to update the current plan. The plan contains a lot of detail that should be of interest to NM Trout members and NMDGF is specifically asking for our members’ comments on it. Submit them on-line by October 31st to DGF-StatewideFishPlan@state.nm.us. The actual plan is a 23 MB download, so we have included a lower bandwidth copy. September 2015 - ... Read More
Join us for our first meeting after summer, October 13, 7:00 in the Commons Room at Sandia Prep ... Read More
by Jerry Burton From the July/August 2015 Newsletter On October 1st, one of my favorite trout fishing places will change management. The Valles Caldera National Preserve will cease to be managed by a board of trustees, and will be managed by the National Park Service. I'm not sure what the change will bring to the trout fishery, even though I attended one of the public listening sessions held by the Park Service. I have had experience as a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist in working with the Park Service in managing a trout fishery in Great Smoky Mountains National ... Read More
WHAT: Our annual member BBQ will be held on Saturday, May 30 in conjunction with a stream restoration clinic led by Bill Zeedyk, an expert in wetland and stream habitats. Areas on the Rio Cebolla in the Santa Fe National Forest that we had targeted for restoration work have been closed to public access in response to the listing of the NM Meadow Jumping Mouse as an endangered species. We have permission to conduct this event on a private in-holding on the Rio Cebolla. We will learn about techniques that reduce erosion and riparian degradation and improve fish habitat. These same ... Read More