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“Dedicated to Conservation and the Bass Fishermen of New Mexico”

2010 New Mexico B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Conservation Information


Mission Statement - New Mexico BASS Federation Nation Conservation Program

The mission of the New Mexico BASS Federation Nation Conservation Program is to provide conservation leadership by developing and supporting actions to protect, improve and sustain quality aquatic resources and user access. As role models, we continue to improve fishing through education, partnerships, communication and strong advocacy for sport fishing and sound natural resource management.


Conservation Director
Earl Conway
505.610.5156
Contact Earl Conway via email

New Mexico BASS Federation Nation Conservation Program News and Tips:
  • I encourage you all to get involved by using the links below. Ethanol (at least corn based) is not the answer to our energy crisis. Regardless of your thoughts on the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel this should not be done blindly and without regard to scientific testing of the effects on all engines that would be required to use it. If you want to discuss my thoughts on ethanol I'll be happy to have that conversation with anyone off-line. Deny E 15 Waiver Bob Lechel - President - NMBFN
  • Keep them alive! Last year we unfortunately proved that even the most experienced angler, conservation director and tournament director still have problems keeping fish alive. This year we will face more challenges but here are some lessons from previous years.
  • Check your live well before every day of fishing. Make sure you have drained all of the stagnant water as it may be oxygen deficient and have toxic biological waste from the previous days residuals. Turn on the live well before takeoff to ensure the pumps are working and to put fresh water in the live well before you catch that first fish. Don’t let them flop around on a dry surface waiting until you get water in the live well. This will severely stress the fish and remove their protective film.
  • Make sure you live wells don’t drain out while you are on plane in rough weather and long runs. Some of the live well systems have a tendency to let the water out during long runs. If the water level gets too low during rough boating, the fish get beat up severely. If necessary use additional drain plugs.
  • Use the chemicals we provide you or use your own if you have it. Don’t wait until the end of the day and dump it in the weigh-in bag. That isn’t going to help much. Use the recommended amount a couple times during the day.
  • Get that hook out! Recent research shows that deep hooked fish have a much better chance if the hook is removed instead of cutting the line and hoping it will rust out. New hook materials and coatings are protecting the hook from rust and digestive juices so the fish actually has to either pass the hook or ulcerate to the point the hook falls out. Either way, it is better to risk short term injury during removal than to leave the hook in the fish. The In-fisherman recently published an excellent article with diagrams on how to remove the hook. Most of us have been afraid to touch the gills, but they aren't as fragile as we once thought. Another tip if the fish does start to bleed is to pour a little carbonated citrus soda (Sprite or 7-Up) on the wound and the bleeding should stop immediately. Keep a fish survival kit in your boat with a fizzing needle, hook remover and a small bottle of Sprite. Not only will your fish live to be released, you won't see that dead fish deduction on your weigh-in slip.
  • Fizz Your Bass!Fizz your fish if needed but don’t over-fizz. Watch this YouTube video "Fizz your Bass" and ask Earl Conway for a deflation needle to carry in your boat if you don’t have one. He can also help you learn how to do it. This may be very important at Navajo as we may be fishing deeper than last year.
  • The Mussels are coming! We must do everything we can to slow their invasion and prepare for the day when our waters become infested. For now, let’s do what we can to help educate others about the issue and keep a close eye out for boathouse and other recreational boats coming in from other states that may be infested. Report any suspected boats to the AIS hotline at (1-877-786-7267). This 24-hour hotline will get the message to the local authorities so they can spring into action.
  • Don't move a mussel! There is a good possibility that we will be seeing boat inspections for zebra and quagga mussels in the next few years. We already have golden algae and other invasive species in New Mexico waters. The key to stopping the spread of invasive species is a clean, dry boat. The closest infestations are Brantley Lake (golden algae), Pueblo Reservoir (zebra mussels) and Lake Mead (zebra and quagga mussels). There is also European milfoil and other invasive species in the state. Dry your boat and add a little "409" detergent or dilute Clorox solution to your bilge to kill any microscopic hitchhikers. Learn to inspect your boat and identify these plants and animals at www.100th meridian.org. In the near future, there will be local training for a "Level I" certification. We are hopeful that NMBFN can do self-inspection rather than waiting in the inspection line some day.Arizona has lost the battle against the quagga mussel in the Colorado River lakes with full infestation at Lake Mead and new populations showing up all the way down to Yuma. We will be doing boat inspection at our first tournament this year. Anyone that has recently been on Arizona waters or Pueblo Reservoir needs to be especially careful not to transport mussels to New Mexico. We will also be having Inspection training classes in conjunction with our tournaments with the goal to have at least one “Level 1” certified inspector in each club. You don’t want to be the person remembered for first introducing these mussels to our state! The key to stopping the spread of invasive species is a clean, dry boat.
  • State agencies prepare for the mussel invasion. House Bill 467 has been introduced to give state agencies a better chance of slowing the spread of aquatic invasive species. Currently, there are few options if a boat shows up from another state with zebra or quagga mussels hanging from the boat and motor. This new bill would give state agencies the right to inspect and detain vessels if needed. The Game and Fish Department would have responsibility for developing rules of enforcement.
  • 2008 NMBFN Conservation archive!