SouTHwest FIsHING ADveNTures
tangled with somebody else’s, and nobody likes tangling their lines together. So, whether you go out for a hike, biking, or fishing always remember to be safe and protect others as well. Until the next fishing adventure, have a safe summer and God bless! By Angel Chavez, local Fisherman
O
n this month's fishing adventure, I headed down south to Quemado Lake, operated by the Gila National Forest. It is quite a drive if you're traveling from Gallup. It's about an average of a 2 hour drive. Since it is on National Forest Land, keep in mind that it does require a New Mexico State Fishing license with its updated bylaws regarding public safety. However, the lake does have Day only access to campground, restrooms, trash, and running water. It seems to be a popular lake in the area to take your boat out and fish. There are open campsites for overnight camping with a fee. Quemado Lake has multiple fish species such as Native Gila Trout, Rainbow Trout, Bass, Catfish, and the Hybrid Tiger Muskie so you’ll definitely have a great time reeling in any of these fish. On this fishing adventure, I didn’t land any 20 inchers or catch the Hybrid Tiger Muskie. This time my wife and son out fished me. What we were able to catch were recent trout stockers that were very small. We did our best to catch and release. A good fishing tip: when you are catching and releasing fish back into the water, you want to keep the fish in the water as much as possible while handling gently and flattening a little tip of the small barb on your hook allowing a much easier removal. This trip did have some real-life adventure experiences for me. These adventures include losing the top half of one of my favorite fishing rods, jumping in the lake trying to retrieve it with no luck, losing my hat, and getting a bad sunburn as a result. But on the flip side, more great quality memories with my family were made. We had a great time and got to get some fresh air and much needed sunlight. With the state closures of certain lakes due to the precautions of the virus, I encourage you to research any lake you are looking to fish to see if it is operating or not. Fishing can be a great way to get some fresh air. Remember to maintain social distancing because if you do not, you’ll get your line July 2020
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