Mike Smith
Carlsbad Current-Argus
msmith@currentargus.com

Looking at the photos on Brian Powers’ Instagram page, it’s easy to see his love for the wonders of nature.

And he turned that love into a career: Powers, 36, can be found during working hours at White Sands National Park, 18 miles west of Alamogordo, where he works as a park ranger.

The job brought him to New Mexico in August 2023 as part of a wide-ranging career that has spanned five other states. A California native, Powers majored in recreation and parks management at California State University in Chico.

When he’s not working the gypsum fields of White Sands National Park, Powers likes to pack up his fishing gear and spend time along the lakes and streams of nearby Lincoln County.

The Artesia Daily Press chatted with Powers and asked him about his love for nature in general and for fishing in particular.

First off, tell us how you found your way to southeast New Mexico.

I was born and raised in Northern California. My job brought me here to New Mexico although I have been interested in living in New Mexico for many years. I move around quite a bit due to my career. I have lived in six different states over the last 14 years – California, Washington, Oregon, North Carolina, Mississippi and New Mexico.

Tell us about the love you have for the outdoors that is so well-documented through the photographs on your Instagram page.

For as long as I can remember the outdoors have always been the place I have gone to reconnect with myself, to recharge, and find peace whether it be through fishing, photography, hiking, or other activities. It’s why I make it a point to go fishing as much as I do. It’s also why my career is in an outdoors related field. I’m very passionate about recreating in, creating art in, and protecting the outdoors.

How did you get hooked, if you will, on fishing?

It all starts with my father Steve who first took me fishing when I was five or six years old. Over our many fishing trips during my childhood he taught me patience, conservation, and shared his love for the sport with me. I loved being out on the water with him and quickly became addicted to that feeling you get when you’re reeling in a fish. In the thirty or so years since that first outing with my dad, I have gone fishing in California, Nevada, Oregon, North Carolina, Florida, Hawaii, Texas and Puerto Rico – at lakes, ponds, bays, 18 rivers and out on the ocean. Fishing provides me with an opportunity to disconnect from the stresses of my job and the world around me and allows me to focus just on one task and that is catching fish.

What is your favorite fish to catch?

I grew up and learned the sport through trout fishing so that is my go-to fish to catch. It reminds me of my childhood fishing with my dad.

What is your favorite bait?

I feel like my secret weapon is the Kastmaster lure I typically throw. I like to toss out worms or Powerbait on one rod and then I will cast out my Kastmaster on my second fishing pole. If they aren’t biting bait, I can usually get them off of the lure. I have caught a lot of fish this year doing that.

What is your favorite fishing spot in Lincoln County and why?

I really enjoy fishing at Bonito Lake. The fishing is really good, and it’s surrounded by such beautiful scenery. My favorite is when I’m the first one at the lake around 6:30 a.m. and it’s below freezing with fog formed over the top of the water. It makes catching those brook and rainbow trout even sweeter.

Do you like to fish from the bank or in a boat?

I like fishing on a boat, but I don’t own one currently, so I am exclusively a bank fisherman. I have been looking into possibly getting a kayak in the future.

Anything else you would like to add?

This has been an all-time personal best year of fishing for me. Since March I have gone fishing 25 times and I have caught at least one fish on each of those fishing trips. Fishing allows me to disconnect from the world and my worries for a few hours and connect with nature. It gives me so much joy to go out there and do something that I love to do.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5536 extension-2361.

Dec. 4

WELFARE

5:40 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to the welfare of a child.

6:56 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 7th St. and W. Mains St. in reference to the welfare of a child.

DOMESTIC

6:14 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

 Dec. 5

Arrest

Ashby Torres arrested for failure to appear.

Jonathan Aldo Olguin Garcia arrested for battery, criminal trespass.

Gabriel Lujan JR. Arrested for criminal trespass.

DOMESTIC

12:02 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 1st St. in reference to domestic.

WELFARE

1:02 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DISTURBANCE

7:57 am -Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to disturbance.

LARCENY

8:18 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of N. 5th St. in reference to larceny.

FRAUD

8:26 am – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Main St. in reference to fraud.

UNWANTED

8:27 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to an unwanted subject.

WELFARE

9:15 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of W. Texas Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

SUSPICIOUS

9:38 am – Officer dispatched to N. 13th St. and W. Yucca Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

9:54 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block f W. Richey Ave. in reference to suspicious trespass.

HARASSMENT

1:08 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Texas Ave. in reference to stalking harassment.

1:59 pm – Officer dispatched to 3300 block of W. Main St. in reference to harassment.

UNWANTED

4:28 pm – Officer dispatched to Bulldog Blvd. in reference to an unwanted subject.

FRAUD

4:32 pm – Officer dispatched to 2600 block of W. Main St. in reference to fraud.

WELFARE

4:40 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Gilchrist Ave. in reference to metal welfare.

SUSPICIOUS

4:48 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Hank Ave. in reference to suspicious trespass.

LARCENY

5:56 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to larceny.

UNWANTED

6:06 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Hank Ave. in reference to an unwanted subject.

SUSPICIOUS

7:18 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of W. Cleveland Ave. in reference to suspicious trespass.

LARCENY

7:44 pm – Officer dispatched to 2000 block of W. Clayton Ave. in reference to larceny.

WELFARE

8:07 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

8:19 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to the welfare of a child.

Dec. 6

Arrest

Brenda Ann Espinosa arrested for failure to appear.

Tabytha Leann Carrasco Lopez arrested for criminal trespass.

Maria Martha Cazares Hernandez arrested for municipal failure to comply.

SUSPICIOUS

9:58 am – Officer dispatched to 200 block of N. 26th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

DOMESTIC

12:13 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Champ Clark Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

DISTURBANCE

1:22 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to disturbance.

VANDAL

2:33 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Quay Ave. and S. 5th St. in reference to vandal.

SUSPICIOUS

3:52 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 17th St. and W. Booker Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

SHOTS FIRED

3:58 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to shots fired with a gun shot wound.

DOMESTIC

7:04 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 6th St. in reference to verbal domestic.

7:14 pm- Officer dispatched to S. 13th St. and W. Briscoe Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

WANTED

8:02 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to a wanted subject.

DISTURBANCE

9:02 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 8th St. and W. Champ Clark Ave. in reference to disturbance.

WELFARE

9:42 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Mann Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

SUSPICIOUS

9:48 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

Dec. 7

THREATS

 12:00 am – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to threats.

DISTURBANCE

12:11 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to disturbance.

SUSPICIOUS

1:38 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

SHOTS FIRED

2:23 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to shots fired in the area.

WELFARE

4:53 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of N. 13th St. in reference to the welfare of a child.

DOMESTIC

9:23 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

STOLEN

9:37 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Cleveland in reference to a stolen vehicle.

BATTERY

12:17 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 13th St. in reference to battery.

WELFARE

2:33 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Main St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

SUSPICIOUS

2:43 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Hank Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

UNWANTED

3:25 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Cleveland Ave. in reference to an unwanted subject.

DOMESTIC

7:29 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to physical domestic.

SUSPICIOUS

8:20 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to suspicious person.

DISTURBANCE

10:24 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to disturbance.

Dec. 8

Arrest

Gabriel Lujan Jr. Arrested for criminal trespass.

Luz Elena T Aguirre arrested for failure to pay fines.

HARASSMENT

7:54 am – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to harassment.

WELFARE

8:14 am – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

THREATS

8:51 am – Officer dispatched to 1700 block of W. Main St. in reference to threats.

LARCENY

1:02 pm – Officer dispatched to 200 block of S. 19th St. in reference to larceny.

ACCIDENT

6:46 pm – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

SUSPICIOUS

8:33 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

THREATS

8:52 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of S. 8th St. in reference to threats.

UNWANTED

10:57 pm –  Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

WELFARE

11:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

SUSPICIOUS

11:27 pm –  Officer dispatched to 1100 block of Heathcliff Ct. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

Dec. 9

Arrest

Lilliana Renee Tucker arrested for battery against a household member

Kristina A Perez arrested for contempt of court, failure to comply.

BATTERY

12:02 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to battery.

SHOTS FIRED

12:59 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to shots fired in the area.

UNWANTED

2:02 am – Officer dispatched to S. 15th St. and W. Ray Ave. in reference to an unwanted subject.

OVERDOSE

3:33 am – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Bush Ave. in reference to an overdose.

SUSPICIOUS

4:39 am- Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Main St. in reference to a suspicious trespass.

DISTURBANCE

7:04 am- Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to disturbance.

SUSPICIOUS

8:08 am – Officer dispatched to 2100 block of W. Grand Ave. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

VANDAL

8:15 am – Officer dispatched to 400 block of W. Kemp Ave. in reference to vehicle vandal.

WANTED

11:01 am – Officer dispatched to 2600 block of W. Missouri Ave. in reference to a wanted subject.

DOMESTIC

11:23 am – Officer dispatched to 3100 block of W. Dallas Ave. in reference to domestic.

ACCIDENT

12:14 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Richey Ave. and N. 26th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

SUSPICIOUS

12:40 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Hank Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

SHOTS FIRED

12:48 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to shots fired in the area. DISTURBANCE

5:46 pm – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to family disturbance.

DISTURBANCE

8:27 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 13th St. and W. Main St. in reference to disorderly disturbance.

WELFARE

11:59 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.