Northern Indian Pueblos Stock Up for Spring Fishing

Dave Martinez, San Ildefonso Pueblo Ranger.

The coming of spring marks the beginning of the fishing season for many of northern New Mexico’s tribes who have heavily stocked their lakes to satisfy eager anglers.

“We’ve got loads of fish in there,” says San Ildefonso Pueblo Ranger, Dave Martinez, as he waved an arm at the tribe’s five-acre lake located west of Pojoaque just off the highway to Los Alamos. “And some big ones, too.”

Anglers have reported seeing a legendary trout reputed to be well over 22 inches cruising the lake and sporting a tag from last year’s fishing derby. The fish is worth $100 to the lucky angler who lands him and many have tried, Martinez said

“A lot of people swear they hooked him but then he got away,” Martinez says.

That fish is just one among over 5,000 trout stocked in recent weeks to satisfy anglers who pay $12 a day to catch and keep up to six fish. Kids under 12 fish for six bucks.

During a St. Paddy’s’ Day outing to the lake last week the weather was sunny and warm, the lake surface dimpled by rising trout and fellow anglers friendly and hospitable.

It proved to be an exciting afternoon for fishermen like Fred Vigil, 46, of Pojoaque, a school maintenance worker who bagged himself a 19-inch rainbow trout and was giddy with joy. 

                                
“Just look at him,” he said as he showed off the big fish and a danced a little jig. 

Due to a supply of fresh river water and a set of aerators that pump oxygen into the water some of the pond’s trout can survive over the winter and grow to good size, Martinez said.

The pueblo doesn’t plan to host a fishing derby until the last week of April so anglers have plenty of time to get in on the great fishing action, Martinez noted.

The lake is open daily, well behaved, leashed dogs are welcome and the atmosphere at the pond amid the Bosque is informal and friendly.

Anglers looking to get up into a little higher country can expect to find good fishing at Nambe Lake and Falls when it opens on March 25, says Nambe Ranger, Joe Vigil.

The tribe stocked the mountain lake with about 10,000 fish after it closed for the season last fall and just added another 6,000 in the last couple of weeks, Vigil says.

During last year’s fishing derby a 4-year-old Truchas boy fishing with his grandfather caught a 22-inch rainbow trout on a Mickey Mouse rod and earned himself $1,000 , says Vigil, a retired Santa Fe and Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s deputy.

Nambe Lake features good bank fishing and allows small boats with electric motors, float tubes and rafts. Well behaved dogs on leashes are welcome. Anglers will find some fishing supplies and a limited amount of groceries and ice at the ranger’s shed at the entrance to the lake.

The tribe charges $15 a day for adults, $8 for kids ages 7 to 12 and $10 for seniors over 60 years old, Vigil says.

And anglers seeking a more urban experience can try their luck at Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo’s lakes located just north of Espanola where the a fishing derby is scheduled for opening day on April 10th, says Martin Monroe, Director of retail for the tribe’s Tsay Corp.

Monroe says the tribe will stock about 5,000 fish before the derby and feature cash prizes including $1,000 for the top fish. Cost to enter the derby is $25 at the gate on opening day or $20 up front beforehand at the tribes’ RV Mini-Mart located in the Conoco/Phillips gas station off Riverside Drive about a quarter mile north of the Wal-Mart on State Rd. 68.

After the derby fishing at the tribes’ lakes costs $8 a day with kids under 16 and seniors over 65 paying $5.

Anglers fishing on tribal lands do not require a state fishing license. Current state fishing licenses expire April 1st.

If You Go:

San Ildefonso Pueblo fishing lake is off St. Rd. 502, west of Pojoaque on the way to Los Alamos. Follow the signs. Nambe Lake and Falls is off St. Rd. 503, north of Pojoaque. Follow the signs. Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo lakes are off Riverside Drive in Espanola just north of the Walmart on St. Rd. 68. Turn in at the Conoco/Phillips RV Mini-Mart.



 

A Visit to Tsankawi at Bandelier Takes One Back in Time

Sitting upon the edge of a cliff at Tsankawi, legs dangling in space, basking in the midwinter sun, one can look out over the snow dusted valley below and perhaps understand why the ancient Indians choose to live here hundreds of years ago.

Today it offers visitors spectacular views, a great winter hike and a quiet, contemplative place in which to consider what life must have been like for the native people over 400 years ago.

High atop this mesa, ancestors of San Ildefonso Pueblo built a village and on the south facing cliff face, they carved out shallow caves in the soft volcanic rock where they cooked, slept and hid from the elements.

Their comings and goings cut deep trails into the soft rock crisscrossing the site and following them leads one into a glimpse of what their world must have been like then.

In the valley floor below they grew dry land crops such as corn, beans and squash, gathered wood and water and hunted game.

Crawling into one of the sandy floored caves, a visitor finds the roof blackened by the smoke of previous cook fires and a window carved in the wall that provides a view upon the valley and the far off Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Stepping carefully amid the rocky ruins of the mesa top village a sharp eye may see that someone has placed a couple of pottery shards atop a flat rock. They should be left them alone because this is an outdoor museum and removing them is a federal law offense.

And on the trail below, if one stops often enough to look up at the rock walls above, a visitor may see one of the many messages that the Indians left behind, like a large spiral carved in the rock or a depiction of an animal.

More clues about the life they lived arise as one rounds a corner and sees a series of steps notched into the sloping rock face.

Climbing those leads to a natural depression with a slight overhang, what appears to be a natural cistern that collects rain water runoff from the rock face above.

The rock here was formed by residue from the volcanic eruption of the nearby Jemez Mountains which also formed the massive, grassy meadows of the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

The soft rock that makes up the colorful mesas, buttes and canyons in the surrounding area is easily eroded by water and also easy to excavate.

Tsankawi is an intriguing 1.5 mile hike involving a climb up and down three sets of ladders fashioned from lodge poles, incredible scenic views and a great deal of Native American history as spelled out in a guided, numerical tour pamphlet available at the park entrance.

Tsankawi is a remote section of Bandelier National Monument which is located about 15 miles farther south on State Rd. 4 after passing through the town of White Rock.

Tsankawi in Tewa, the traditional language of San Ildefonso Pueblo means “village between two canyons at the clump of sharp, round cacti,” according to the park’s brochure.

The village ruins at Tsankawi remain unexcavated at the wishes of the San Ildefonso Puebloans but modern technology has allowed archeologists to determine the village consisted of 275 rooms alone on the mesa top.

It is believed that the ancestors of San Ildefonso Pueblo left their mesa top village sometime during the 1500s to relocate in the valley below along the banks of the Rio Grande.

The Valles Caldera Offers Sleigh Rides, Cross Country Sking, Snow Shoeing and More

Sleigh driver Jeff Grider of Bear Creek Adventures and passenger, Rourke McDermott, Landscape Architect for the Valles Caldera National Preserve,  ride atop the a horse drawn sleigh at the preserve in the Jemez Mountains during a recent outing.

A brilliant bed of deep, creamy snow awaits visitors to the Valles Caldera National Preserve this winter where cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and sightseeing is at its best right now.

“You couldn’t ask for better conditions,” says Kimberly DeVall, Recreation Specialist for the preserve. “We’ve got about three feet of snow on the ground and another full moon night coming up.”

The preserve is scheduled to be open to cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and sightseeing under the full moon on Saturday night, Feb. 27, Devall says.

“It’s spectacular seeing your shadow at nine o’clock at night,” DeVall says of the moon-lit 90,000-acre preserve located off State Road 4 between Los Alamos and Jemez Springs.

The last full moon event on Jan. 30 which features campfires and hot beverages and snacks at the visitors’ center drew about 300 outdoor enthusiasts to the preserve.

Weekend and special event visitation so far this winter has passed all of last year’s total for the entire season, says DeVall.

Last year the preserve saw 1,814 visitors during the winter season and earned $12,474 while this year, with several weeks still yet to to go, the preserve has already seen 2,979 visitors and earned $31,699 in revenues.

“We’re really starting to come into our own as a winter recreation destination,” DeVall said of the big jump in visitors.

The preserve boasts 38 miles of winter trails with 29 of those groomed for cross-country skiers, ranging from an easy 1.5-mile loop to a more adventurous 15k circuit, DeVall said.

Those seeking the kind of quiet solitude only a wide expanse of snow-covered pasture and deep forest can provide should head up to the old “ Baca” location for some winter recreating while the snow is still around.

During one recent sunny weekend one could see many cross-country skiers and people on snowshoes dotting the bright white layer of snow covering the massive expanse of pasture formed by the collapsed volcano known as the Valles Caldera.

“We usually do the Sandias (mountains) but decided to try something different this weekend,” said Brain Schwaner, 45, of Albuquerque and an employee at Sandia National Labs. “This is so much easier and more scenic, I’m surprised there aren’t more people here, it’s a great place to learn the sport.”

Schwaner’s skiing partner, Michael West, 51, a cardiologist from Albuquerque, was impressed with the preserves’ stunning beauty and the gorgeous weather that day.

“Just fantastic,” he exclaimed while taking a break from the trail.

From Left to right,  Michael West and Brian Schwaner,  both of Albuquerque cross country ski at the Valles Caldera National Preserve during an early February weekend.

And drifting along upon a cold, clean mountain breeze one could detect the musty aroma of horses, leather and the tinkle of  bells as visitors enjoyed an old fashioned sleigh ride through the  snow covered woods and fields of this awesome public preserve.

“People really enjoy this ride,” said Jeff Grider, 34, of nearby La Cueva, as he quietly coaxed his team of Pinto Draft horses, Moonie and Molly, to pull a gently swaying sleigh along a road cut through the snow.

In the back, about a dozen visitors bundled up in blankets, snapped pictures and chatted excitedly as a tour guide provided details about the preserves’ history, wildlife and other attractions.

Vern Loose, 66, of Albuquerque said after the sleigh ride he was amazed at the preserve’s beauty.

“Being out in this is absolutely spectacular, “ he said. “I just love the combination of the sunshine and the snow.”

The last weekend to take a sleigh ride at the preserve is the weekend of Feb. 20 and 21^st . Check the preserve’s website at www.vallescaldera.gov for available reservations and other information about visiting.

Grider said the preserve remains essentially the same as it did when as a youth he used to visit his uncle who was the ranch caretaker for the Dunigan family of Texas who owned it and later sold it to the public.

The vast herds of elk, the great fishing in the little creeks feeding the East Fork of the Jemez River and the Rio San Antonio and the spiraling flocks of bald eagles can all still be enjoyed by those visiting the preserve during warmer months.

But in the middle of the winter it is the cold, quiet remoteness of the preserve that stirs memories of snowmobile trips to the ranch where his uncle would be working to carve out the road so the Dunigans could come visit.

“He’d spend days on it,” said Grider, who is a firefighter during the summer and does some ranch work himself.

Nowadays visitors to the preserve will still find the road into the preserve covered in snow and flanked by high drifts but it is easily managed in four-wheel-drive and an experienced winter driver can probably handle it in two if they just kept rolling and avoided the soft edges.

Visitors to the preserve will find a new visitors’ center just a couple miles in off the highway where snowshoes are available for rent along with other goodies like lip balm and some snacks and beverages.

Those wishing to cross-country ski need to bring their own gear. The cost of admission is $10 and no pets are allowed.

If You Go:

From Santa Fe head north on US84/285 to Pojoaque and take State Road 502 to White Rock and then follow State Road 4 up through the mountains and upon emerging into a great, open area look for the entrance to the preserve on your right, further down the road, about 65 miles. Make a round trip of it by continuing on State Road 4 through Jemez Springs and Jemez Pueblo to State Road 550 for a quick drive down to Bernalillo and then back up to Santa Fe on I-25.  Great green chile cheeseburgers can be had in a classic New Mexico bar, the Los Ojos, in Jemez Springs.

San Juan Stamp Dies in Legislature

A bill to raise money for habitat improvement projects on New Mexico’s trophy class, trout stream, the San Juan River, stalled during the 30-day legislature session but its sponsor says he’ll continue to work on the measure and may try again next year.

“This was a good healthy start, it showed there was a lot of support for the idea of improving habitat on the river,’ said Rep. Tom Taylor, R-San Juan on the last day of the 30-day session. “But the question is just how do you do that.”

House Bill 51, as introduced, would have created a new habitat stamp for anglers fishing the trophy waters of the San Juan River. It would have added an extra $5 cost to a fishing license for state residents and $10 for out of state residents and was expected to raise up to about $325,00 a year during its ten year life span.

The bill was backed by Governor Bill Richardson and state Game Commission Chairman , Jim McClintic, with support from the San Juan  River Guides Association and New Mexico Trout.

Proponents argued the money was needed to make improvements to fish habitat, angler access and other amenities on the river which contributes $30 to $40 million dollars annually to the state’s economy.

The Governor had sought and obtained $250,000 from the legislature last year for habitat improvements to the river but then froze those funds along with all other capital improvement projects due to the state’s massive budget shortfall.

House Bill 51 opponents such as Trout Unlimited and the San Juan Quality Waters Coalition raised questions regarding the cost to anglers, plans for use of the money, effectiveness of habitat improvements and jurisdictional issues.

Taylor said he will continue to work on the measure during the interim with all interested parties and may seek another way to fund improvements.

“I’m not a big fan of raising fees in the first place,” he said.

This article also appeared in the Santa Fe New Mexican

Annual Hunting and Fishing Show Brings Outdoors Enthusiasts Together

    Mark Chavez, Feb. 2008.

Just when it seems the winter blues may never end the annual hunting and fishing show arrives to boost our outdoor spirits and tide us over till spring.

“I love it,” says chainsaw artist, Mark Chavez, 52 of Albuquerque, who will be performing his craft for the crowds at the state fairgrounds in Albuquerque this Valentine’s Day weekend.  “I’ve met a lot of cool outdoorsmen here and it’s great fun for the family.”

This years’ show kicks off at noon on Friday and runs through Sunday at 5 p.m. and will feature many new exhibits and provide plenty of kicks for the kids, says promoter Bob Gerding of Bob Gerding’s Outdoor Adventures.

“We’re really emphasizing kids’ activities to make it a real family affair,” says Gerding who is in his 12^th year of bringing the outdoors inside.

Kids can learn how to handle a weapon safely and shoot straight at the show’s adult supervised BB gun range inside  Gerding’s Hunting and Fishing Show at the Manuel Lujan Complex on the fairgrounds.

Kids can also pick up the knack of handling a fishing rod at the bait casting pool where children with an eye for the prize can win fishing outfits and other prizes, Gerding says.

Kids under age 12 get into the show for free while adults pay $8 each and parking at the fairgrounds is $4.

Chavez the wood sculptor says he plans on displaying an elaborate wooden bench featuring elk, bear, owl and trout carved into it.

“I’m still working on burning elk hoof prints into the seat,” he said.”It’ll make a nice addition for someone’s lodge or game room.”

In addition to performance artists like Chavez visitors to the show will find an array of interesting exhibits and plenty of seminars.

Aspiring anglers will find a casting pool and expert anglers to teach them the craft of casting with a fly rod or a spin casting rig and those wishing to the learn the art of outdoor cooking will find expert’s armed with cast iron skillets and plenty of recipes.

There’ll be a turkey calling contest, raffles for all sorts of goodies and services and door prizes too, said Gerding.

Show co-sponsor 94 Rock where Gerding can be heard on most Thursday mornings talking fishing with dee jay T.J.Trout, will be giving away guided fishing trips including a Tiger Muskie expedition to Bluewater Lake and a day on the private waters of Brush Ranch on the Pecos River.

Visitors will also find amazing displays of stuffed animals at taxidermy booths and enticing photographs or videos from lodges in thrilling locations like Alaska, Montana, Oklahoma and even Africa.

There’ll be jewelers and knife makers on site selling goods with an outdoor theme for those seeking a special Valentine’s Day gift for their loved ones.

And the hall will be crammed full of the latest models of recreational vehicles including campers, trailers, off road motorcycles and all terrain vehicles, Gerding says.

There’ll be informational booths sets up by outdoor advocacy groups like New Mexico Trout, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Becoming an Outdoor Woman in New Mexico.

The outdoor woman’s organization sponsors a three day series of workshops at the National Rifle Association’s Whittington Center in Raton where women of all ages can learn outdoor skills like map and compass reading, shooting, cooking, fishing and wildlife photography and calling.

There’s even an introduction to camping class for single moms so they can expose their kids to the outdoor life and all it has to offer, says Leilani McGranahan, Coordinator for the organization.

“It’s a sure fire cure for cabin fever,” Gerding says of his show.

Show times are noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb 12^th, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13^th and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb 14^th.  Entrance is $8 for adults, free for kids age 12 and under and parking at the fairgrounds is $4.

“If You Go”

Those traveling to the show from Santa Fe can make a day of it on Saturday by taking the train out of Santa Fe to downtown Albuquerque and boarding a bus headed by the fairgrounds.

The weekend rate for the train is $5 for a day pass with trains leaving downtown Santa Fe at 8:10 a.m. and 11:25 a.m. on Saturday, according to the schedule and fares posted at www. nmrailrunner.com. The return train leaves the downtown Albuquerque station at 4:41 p.m. with the last train out at 7:54 p.m.

Any number of Albuquerque city buses run by the sprawling state fairgrounds from the train depot downtown including the Route 66 bus which heads up Central Ave. with a stop at San Pedro where one can walk a short distance to the entrance most convenient to the show.

 A day pass on the bus costs $2 and the Rt. 66 bus runs every 15 minutes, all day until around 9 p.m., well after the last train has left town.  For further information about bus routes and schedules all the city's help line at (505) 768-2000 or visit the Abq Ride website at www.cabq.gov/transit.

Those who wish to drive from Santa Fe can head south on 1-25 and take Central Ave. east to San Pedro and then head north to the entrance. The Fairgrounds in located between Lomas and Central and San Pedro and Louisiana and there are any number of alternative routes one can take through the city.

For a more scenic trip try driving down to Albuquerque on State Road 14 through Madrid and Cedar Crest and then cross under I-40 and head west on the frontage road which eventually turns into old Route 66, now known as Central Ave. Follow into the city and take San Pedro to the entrance for the show where parking is $4.