ROOSEVELT LAKE - Lake elevation is 2,107 feet and the lake level is 52 percent.

A full moon this week means fishing under lights will be a challenge, but night fishing is not out of the question. Predatory bass will be cruising the shallows at night looking for a meal. For night fishing, think vibration, silouhette and smell. I like using a black popper. I actually have a Pop R spray painted black. Sometimes I'll put on a cut-down Senko as a trailer -- when I quit chugging, the minuturized Senko flutters down. If you get a 3- to 5-pound bass blasting your popper at night during a full moon, it's an experience you'll not forget in this lifetime (or maybe even after).

Also starting to get some reports of topwater action at first and last light. Right now it seems like the boils are of short duration, but as a rule, the length and timing of the boils will continue increasing as we summer wains. By September, most of us will be fishing topwater off-and-on throughout the day.

Keep some flutter-down lures handy for when the boils subside. A spoon, Senk, curly tail -- any or all can work at times. Typically the larger bass are hanging on the bottom below boils, that way they don't have to expend much energy to get a meal -- body parts come floating down to them.

This is definitely prime catfish season. For channels, think sink bait. For flatheads, live bait such as bluegills or small carp work best. For channel catfish, try any stinkbait. Although you can catch channels during the day, the prime bite has likely shifted to the nighttime hours.

Not hearing much on the crappie front, but the speckled beauties should be congregated in larger schools, mostly over open water. Once you find them, live minnows and mini-jigs can do the trick.

APACHE LAKE - Lake elevation is 1,907 feet (93 percent full). Bass fishing remains fair to good. You might also find bass chasing shad at the surface, especially at first light. Try working the major points using soft plastic crayfish like lures worked along the bottom. Crankbaits can also work well at times. A few good-sized smallies are being caught -- please practice catch-and-release on these fish, which are in the comeback mode. Walleye fishing should be decent at first and last light using night crawler rigs, or jigs tipped with worms. Apache is also full of some really nice yellow bass. Try gold KastMasters or yellow/gold Rooster Tails. Catfishing should be good. Carp fishing is very good. You might even catch one of the monster buffalo fish (see picture from Canyon Lake).

CANYON LAKE - Lake elevation is still holding at around 1,658 feet, which is 96 percent full. This is a good time to possibly see or hear desert bighorn sheep in the rut, although with available water from recent rains they dont' have to rely on lake water to drink, so they may spend more time along the uplands.

While Canyon is the land of the lunkers, it can be tough to fish, especially for novice anglers. Catch rates are typically low and even veteran anglers get skunked here. But the possibility of catching a hawg keeps many anglers coming back time and again. This is a pretty good lake for bluegill and yellow bass. Try small crappie-like lures, such as 2-inch curly tails, along the rocky shoreline. Shore fishing for channel catfish and carp can also be viable both day and night right now. As the season progresses, the better fishing for bottom dwellers will transition to the nighttime hours.

SAGUARO LAKE - Lake elevation is 1,524 feet at 93 percent full. Largemouth bass fishing is fair to good when the recreational boating pressure is lower, especially at night. The bite is a little more sporadic right now. With a full moon this week, fishing under submersible lights won't be as effective, but you can still catch foraging bass at night, you just have to move around more like you do during the daytime and works the major points, islands and reefs -- sound familiar?

This is also a great place to take the youngsters at night for some sunfish action on one of the many fishing piers. Try meal worms or night crawlers under a bobber.

Haven't heard much for crappie anglers here, but the speckled beauties should be congregating in larger schools suspended in deeper water, quite often off extended underwater points or along the Yellow Cliffs.

Look for a first-light topwater bass bite. Sometimes it is sporadic to non-existent. But if you hit it right, you might be able to get some good action. This bite should continue getting better and better as the season progresses. There might also be a topwater bite right before monsoon-generated storms hit. But be sure to get off the water of there is lightning.

This is the prime flathead catfish season. Try live bluegill or small carp as bait. Look for the deeper holes, especially uplake where there is a little current. For bluegills, try the backs of rocky coves using night crawlers or meal worms on light tackle.

Angler report:

Hey Rory!

Fishing during the storms at Bartlett Lake was a great time (the weekend of July 14-15). My cousin and I fished from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. around Bartlett flats and Yellow Cliffs. We landed several carp and flathead catfish (see picture on the left) by using corn and live bluegill. We released them all with hopes of them growing larger for future catches.

Thanks for the reports! -Andrew

HORSESHOE LAKE - Lake is empty.

LOWER SALT RIVER (below Saguaro Lake) – They are releasing from 969 cfs out of Stewart Mountain Dam from Saguaro. You might be able to catch some bass or sunfish in the deeper holes. Good time for tubing the Salt -- take along a fishing rod.

Creeks Below the Mogollon Rim

The following creeks are being stocked weekly right now:

* Tonto Creek
* Christopher Creek 
* Haigler Creek
* East Verde River

Don't forget we have a new interactive 2012 trout stocking schedule that actually shows the locations we stock along the creeks.

COLORADO RIVER NORTHWEST

Angler report:

We spent the first couple of days (July 7-10) camping in Knowles Canyon.   There were a few striper boils in the mouth of the canyon, and once in a while we could sneak up and get a few casts into the boil.  We were using Silver Crippled Hearing and Kast Masters. After the boil would go down, we would float over the school, graph the depth of the fish with fish finder. We would then vertically jig with anchovies and the same silver spoons. One day this worked really well. All of the stripers those first few days were caught with these methodologies.

Fishing slowed down as the week went on. 

Later in the week we moved down to Moki Canyon.  We did really well trolling Cabalas Grave digger deep running shad. We found that deep running shad plugs (15 feet) did really well.  We trolled the rocky shoreline opposite the Moki mouth and caught walleye, stripers, smallmouth and one nice largemouth.    Mornings seemed best, but for some reason one morning was a bust.

It seems some boats were getting stripers deep off at the mouth of Moki.  It seemed most boats in the Moki area were very satisfied. When we were leaving to go home, I graphed some large schools inside Moki, but didn't get a chance to fish them. Not one boil was seen in Moki.

Thanks to Wayne for pointing out lighter line was needed to troll the deep shad lures. We found this true also, but we lost more lures since we were fishing a rocky shoreline and the stripers were very nice.   Bring extra line and lures.

Rich Tolway, Phoenix Az

LEES FERRY -- Report By: Terry Gunn, July 6, 2012

Fly Fishing Up-River: Our monsoon season has recently arrived bringing clouds, and welcome cooler weather.

The trout fishing at Lees Ferry continues to be better than we have seen in many years. The AZ Game and Fish department has confirmed through creel surveys that fishing is better than it has been in more than a decade. The trout are in superb condition, growing fast, and we are seeing fish of all sizes in the system which is indicative of a very healthy fishery and should continue that way for the foreseeable future.

The cicadas are singing and the fish have just recently begun to key in on them. It always takes a while for the cicadas to start flying and getting into the river but when they do the fish will really start to key in on them. Judging from past years I think that this is going to be a good cicada year. I’m not sure if it is going to be one of those banner years where a trout will rise 20-feet to take your fly in the middle of the river; we’ll have to wait a couple of weeks and see. I expect the cicada fishing to last at least another 3 weeks and possibly longer. One thing is obvious; the fish that are eating the cicada flies are overall larger this year. The best cicada fishing is done from the boat, casting the fly into the shore. Our cicada is an annual variety where most cicadas are a periodic variety, which only shows up every 7 or 14 year

Our water levels rose on July 1 as they do every year. There are still a few places to wade, however, this is the season when our most productive fishing is from the boat, drifting. The heavy nymph fishing continues to be productive and consistent. I’m using a very long leader (14-ft from the indicator to the AAA split shot), with a San Juan worm and a size #14 ginger scud. We have been drifting the riffles and runs that we would usually wade. This style of fishing is especially productive and consistent in the higher water. The current high flows will continue through August and it is during these high flows that we generally catch the largest fish of the year. The reason that the fishing is so good and the fish are in such great shape is that the high water flows move the larger food items around (scuds and worms) and the fish are feeding like crazy; it’s when the fish are actively feeding that the fishing is at its best.

The next water flow change will be in September when the flows will drop substantially and remain low through November. The fall weather is the best of the year and usually provides good fishing.

The trout continue to eat midges in certain areas of the river and your best bet is to fish a double midge rig on a long leader with a split shot. Assorted zebra midges are the ticket and the larger sizes work best. I have been surprised at the intensity of the midge hatches in the higher water, I usually associate prolific midge hatches to lower flow releases but that has not been the case.

The streamer fishing has been picking up and will likely get hot since the water flows have increase this summer. The reason for this is that the higher flows move larger food items around (scuds, worms, etc.). Be sure to stop by the shop to see the flies that are currently working. The flies change on a daily basis and every day the LFA guides let everyone at the shop know the top producing flies and how to use them.

Walk In Fly Fishing Report, By Dean Wyndam:

The fishing has been very good the past few weeks. The flows have come up the past few days and this has changed things somewhat but everyone seems to be catching fish. Some of the smaller fish have been showing up especially in the upper boulder area but larger fish in the 17-inch-plus range are being caught all up and down the walk in section. Cicadas are just starting to show up in the walk in area so dries are working but not as well as up river. Midges and San Juan worms are working best with streamers doing well in the evening or late afternoon.

With the higher flows the upper boulder field is doing best in the early morning when the flows are at the lowest. Midges and San Juan worms are the best combo here.

From the large boulder down to the Paria River streamers have been working very well. This might be an area to try some cicada patterns with a dropper. Remember with the higher flows wading in this area is hazardous with all of the slick rocks and fast water. The fish here will be closer to the shore that they were last month so most takes will be at the end of the drift.

The point where the Paria River enters the Colorado is also a good place to fish but with the higher flows this can be a difficult area to wade; if you wade here, a wading staff is recommended. Midges and San Juan worms seem to be working well here also. Streamers work well as the water rises in the afternoon.

I would rate the walk in a solid 8 for the past few weeks. Hope to see you on the water.

Walk in Spin Fishing Report:

Spin fishing has not been really good at the walk in area. The best spin fishing has been of off Paria Beach. However, with the higher flows everything will be changing for the better. As the flows come up it is easier to get a good drift with the spinner and not be dragging moss off of the bottom. There is still quite a bit of moss in the water but this will become less of a problem as the flows stay high. Kastmasters and panther martins are the best producing lures here at the Ferry.

The only area that is really productive for spinners is Paria Beach or the area where the Paria River enters the Colorado River. There are some deeper holes here and some really nice seams where larger fish have been taken. Just a reminder be very cautious when wading in this area, a wading staff is recommended. Also you will need to have new line on your reel, we recommend 4lb test. If you see me at the river please come by and say hello.

I would rate the spin fishing at 6, rising to a 7 with the higher flows.

Whirling disease detected for 2nd time at Lees Ferry.

This is the 2nd time that WD has been detected at Lees Ferry. The first detection was in 2007; this was the year that Lake Powell dropped to its lowest level and as a result, the discharge temperatures from the dam were more than 60 degrees. This past year the discharge temperatures increased again, this time it was a result of the huge inflows into the lake which caused another 60 degree discharge. There has always been the thought that it was our cold water that prevented Lees Ferry from being infected with WD and I find it an interesting coincidence that both detections were made during periods of warm water. Water temps returned to normal (48 degrees) last December.

Fishing here this year has been off the charts good and most all the fish that we are catching are in prime+ condition.

Like the Green and San Juan, I’m not expecting this WD detection to have an impact on the Lees Ferry fishery. The one thing that it should impact is our awareness to make sure that we all take the necessary steps to clean our gear so that WD is not spread to other waters in AZ or elsewhere.

LAKE MEAD – The current elevation is still around 1,115 ft msl.  The water level will continue to drop approximately one foot to six inches per week. Be careful boating because structure previously submerged may be at the surface and watch for floating debris. There seems to be an abundance of shad currently which may be the reason for the lack of bite.  Cut anchovies are still the bait of choice. 

Check the moon phases before you go –last new moon was July 19.   The next new moon will be Friday, Aug. 17.  Dark nights work best when fishing under light.  Fishing for stripers in 50 plus feet of water will normally find the larger fish.  If they are not taking the anchovies try swimming baits and see if you can get them to bite. Jigging in 50-60 feet deep has been doing well on Mead.  If you can locate the shad, the stripers are not far behind.  Trolling usually works best in areas were shad are found and best done in the early mornings and evenings.  The bite for largemouth and smallmouth was reported good using plastic worms and crawdads with purple and browns in them.  Several fishermen said that top water lures were working for them.  All the fishermen contacted were hopeful for the coming years with rising water conditions and the abundance of baitfish they have seen this year.   

Launching conditions at South Cove have improved as the water level has gone up. There are currently four lanes.  As the water raises logs and other debris can become hazards, so be careful boating.

Important notice: With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders.  Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.

For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's web pages at azgfd.gov or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.

LAKE MOHAVE – The lake level has risen to about 644 feet above msl.  The black bass are hitting soft baits when worked slowly especially on grass beds in 20 to 30 feet deep.  Trolling with anchovies in 30-50 feet has been producing some stripers, while catfish are on the bottom.  Michael and Dan caught a stringer of stripers from a boat using anchovies with a big fish weighing 6.42 lbs. at 27 ? inches and another 5.16 lbs. at 26 ½ inches.  While the number of stripers in Mohave has been decreasing, the quality of the fish caught has increased. 

Submersible lights fished during the new moon are an effective way to catch stripers. Next new moon is August 17th.  Cut anchovies usually work the best. 

Biologists from both Arizona Game and Fish Department and Nevada Division of Wildlife with the help of volunteers, National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation personnel have continued to install fish habitat in Carp Cove, Box Cove, Shoshone, and Arrowhead.  Fish habitat consists of PVC structures, wood pallet structures, tamarisk bundles, and some Christmas trees. The largemouth, smallmouth, bluegill and catfish are really utilizing the new structures. Additional habitat will be added at several locations over the next two years. These structures are fish magnets.

There is a wheelchair accessible fishing pier just south of the main launch ramp at Katherine's Landing. If you fish Mohave and are having luck, please e-mail me at gcummins@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

Important notice: With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.

For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's web pages at www.azgfd.gov  or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.

WILLOW BEACH – Willow Beach is stocked every Friday with 3,000 13 inch rainbow trout.  Rainbow, peach, garlic and yellow Power Baits and Powerworms were being used most for trout.  Jakes original and Jakes Juniors, Panther Martin and Rooster Tails are also usually effective. Fishing is usually best near the fishing pier after the Friday stocking. Most of the nice stripers and trout are seem to be caught between river mile 49 and 53. A picture of a large striper was sent in and was caught around mile 52.  Willow Beach can be hit or miss bait fishing. Try different baits including swim baits when nobody seems to be hooking anything. 

Important notice: With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see. If you fish Willow beach and are having luck, please e-mail me at gcummins@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.
For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's web pages at www.azgfd.gov  or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.

COLORADO RIVER BELOW DAVIS DAM – Trout continue to bite in the casino area with some larger fish in the deep holes.  Several folks have called and spoke of very large trout being caught in the Laughlin area.  Rusty from Riviera Marina sent pictures of Jackson M. with a beautiful 2.36 lbs. 13 ¾ inch bluegill caught in still water below old Bullhead City.  Fred M. weighed in a nice stringer of largemouth and bluegill.  His biggest largemouth was 2.34 lbs. at a friction under 17 inches.  He was fishing in the Needles area backwater with night crawlers.

Topock Gorge- Most bass are being taken on minnows and night crawlers. Smallmouth are ranging from 2 – 5 pounds, and sunfish up to 1.5 pounds.  A 5.5 beauty was the largest black bass so far this year.  Stripers caught in May averaged between 2-5 pounds but have dropped to 1-2 pounds recently.  Catfish have been harder to catch.  A beautiful 7.42 pound channel was recently caught on anchovies by Rex while fishing for stripers.    Sunfish are in the river and being taken on plastics like small worms, curly tails, and 4 inch Robo Worms.  The largemouth and smallmouth bass action has been outstanding.  Derek landed a nice 2.9 pound largemouth using a spinner a little ways up river.  Anchovies are still the bait of choice for the stripers. John and 11 year old son Jack limited out on bass and with Jack besting his dad with a 4.5 pound largemouth. Thanks Georgia for the fishing report.

TOPOCK MARSH – The action at Topock Marsh has been steadily improving. Night crawlers and live minnows have been tempting catfish from North Dyke.  Dayton sent a picture of one of his largemouth and reports that the bass and sunfish are moving off their nests. Bass can be hit and miss but live bait has been reported to work the best now.  Stripers appear abundant from the February AZGFD survey. Small crappies are being taken throughout the marsh. 

You can access the marsh by boat at the North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. All three also provide plenty of area for shoreline fishing too. For more information on the marsh, contact the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge at (760) 326-3853 or go to http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/havasu/index.html.

Important notice: With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.

For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's web pages at www.azgfd.gov  or visit http://100thmeridian.org/..

SOUTHWESTERN WATERS

Note: If you would like more information on southwestern waters, visit http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/where_fish_southwest.shtml. Our Yuma Regional office has recently updated all the information to provide you more insight into these fisheries.

For more information, visit the updated "Where to Fish" pages at http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/where_fish_southwest.shtml.

If you have a fishing report or good fishing pictures to share (JPEG), send them to raikens@aszgfd.gov. Rory can also be reached at (623) 236-7214.

LAKE HAVASU -- Report courtesy John Galbraith of BassTackleMaster.com, Lake Havasu City, Az.

Lake Level 449.05. Striper bite good with morning shad boils (5-7:30 a.m.) from the north entrance to the bridge south to Black Rock/Calif Bay. LuckyCraft Pointer 100/128s or pencil poppers are good choices now. Trolling & Casting has been effective. Cut bait fishing anchovies or sardines producing smaller limits than using artificial lures.

Evening/night fishing for bigger channel and flathead catfish has been excellent. Best time is 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Use live sunfish or bluegills from 2.5 to 4 inches long on a Carolina rig with 3/4 to 1 ounce sinkers with 12- to 15-pound test with a 24 to 36 inch leader.

Redear fishing with nightcrawlers around submerged grass beds producing some quality redears over 2 pounds.

PARKER STRIP -- The smallmouth fishing had been good below the dam around Big Rock Island, but has tapered off a little. Try using curly-tailed grubs on a swimming jig head, cast in to the rocky shoreline, and slowly swim the jig back or bounce it along the bottom. Also try topwater stick baits worked across submerged gravel bars in the current, or submerged grass beds waving in the current. You might tie into a smallmouth, largemouth bass or possibly an occasional striper.

This is the time of year for catfish along the strip. One of the more productive areas is along Buckskin State Park. Try using chicken livers. Also, Patria Flats day-use area has a history of producing some fish. Hasn't been much in the way of flathead catfish fishing, but bluegills are the way to go; try any of the back waters below headgate dam. Just be sure to have the proper permits from CRIT.

ALAMO LAKE -- Report courtesy Mark Knapp, Alamo Lake State Park.

Well folks, picture this.  Your sitting on a porch, watching it rain ever day. The elevation is approx 8,000 feet. You're surrounded by pines and forest.  If you go to Alpine and head into New Mexico to a place called Reserve you found me. So your getting an out of state current fishing report for Alamo.

I talked with Junior yesterday to get an update for this report. He has been going out with Clyde and there doing o.k. at best with bass fishing.  God only knows what there throwing but there averaging about 4 fish an evening.

A few anglers have been catching 4 to 6 fish a morning throwing buzz baits. We had on person stay out all night and caught 3 cat fish and 1 crappie. So in a nut shell fishing sounds kinda lousy in my book.

The staff told me that the park lost electric last week on Sunday and did not have the power back on till Tuesday. This in turn caused all kinds of problems with freezers, computers, and phone lines. As I write this on Monday Salome Az got hit with a major storm causing all kinds of flooding in the Wenden/Salome area. Very little hit the park so once again we did not get any inflow into the park that I'm aware of.

Cholla Ramp is still open.  Junior said there still using the rental boat road to launch but it's kinda getting shallow.  I will know allot more when I get back to the park this week and get out fishing.  I know this is not that informative but it's hard reporting outta state.  From the high country, this Mark signing out.    By the way, tree's really are green.
 
Mark

COLORADO RIVER (PARKER STRIP AREA) -- Fishing for smallmouth bass over 2 pounds in size is expected to be good to excellent. In addition, redear sunfish should also be good in the pound-plus sizes.  

The Parker Strip is well known for its smallmouth bass fishing, especially in the area from the dam to several miles downstream. The Parker Strip is also home to some really impressive, dinner-plate-sized redear sunfish of 2 pounds or larger.

Channel and flathead catfish fishing is always fair in this section of the Colorado River. Below the dam, striper fishing should also be fair, using live shad or anchovies. Largemouth bass are abundant, especially in the downstream portions of the Parker Strip. Channel and flathead catfish fishing will be fair to good in this section of the Colorado River as the weather warms up.

Take precautions to make sure your boat and equipment are clean before leaving the water to make sure you don’t spread quagga mussels to other water by accident.  

COLORADO RIVER (Picacho State Park to Imperial Dam, including backwaters and Martinez Lake) 

This stretch of the river is best known for its trophy-sized flathead catfish, with some over 70 pounds, and largemouth bass, with some over 10 pounds. However, it can also be good for channel catfish, sunfish and carp, and to a lesser extent, striped bass, crappie and tilapia.

Largemouth bass fishing is generally best in the backwaters or near the mouth of the backwaters. There are many different techniques used for largemouth bass. As a general rule, most people will use topwater lures such as buzzbaits or spinnerbaits in the early morning and then switch to jigs, crankbaits, or swimbaits as the day progresses.

Using plastic baits that resemble worms, crawdads, frogs, or lizards often work well. It is generally best to fish around structure such as weedbeds, emergent vegetation, tree stumps, brush, or boat docks. Fishing picks up as the water temperatures warm up in the spring and summer, but largemouth can be taken any time of the year.

Flathead fishing is generally best in slack water areas, deep holes, or near overhanging vegetation along the main channel of the river. Flatheads prefer live bait such as bluegill or small carp, and fishing is best at night during the summer months. Channel catfish are widespread in the main river channel and backwaters and will bite on night crawlers, chicken liver, stinkbait, or about any other “smelly” bait. They can be caught year-round but probably bite best at night.

Bluegill are also widespread but are most likely to be found around structure in the backwaters or slackwater areas. Bluegill will bite on meal worms, night crawlers or small crappie jigs.

MITTRY LAKE -- There is currently a pretty good topwater frog bite on Mittry. This is also a good time for frog gigging as well.

Mittry Lake is located just above Laguna Dam and supports a good population of largemouth bass and channel catfish, and even some good-sized flathead catfish. There are shoreline fishing opportunities at this lake in the form of about a dozen rock jetties, but you’ll probably have the best success in a small boat. Mittry Lake can be frustrating, as the bite seems to be real variable, but the fish are there. It is just a question of getting them to respond to your presentation. The water tends to be very murky most of the year, except for the upper end of Teal Alley where the lake inflow comes in, so play to the fish’s sense of hearing and smell, rather than sight. There are also crappie and sunfish to be caught, although they tend to average relatively small in size. Mittry Lake is well-known locally for the quality largemouth bass it produces, and fishing during the spring spawn will increase your chances of success.

YUMA AREA PONDS -- The Department has stepped up efforts to encourage the recruitment of new anglers, and retention of existing ones. To this end, the Department has increased stocking efforts in a few ponds in the Yuma area that are easily accessed without a boat, within a short distance of the urban center. Those ponds are the Yuma West Wetlands pond, located in the City Park, and Redondo and Fortuna ponds, located about 10 miles northeast of Yuma. Access to Redondo Pond was recently improved with the addition of an ADA-compliant fishing pier, and thick cattail growth was removed at Fortuna Pond this summer, improving shoreline access by many orders of magnitude. All of these waters received multiple stockings of rainbow trout in the winter months; Redondo Pond will be stocked with channel catfish during the spring, and the Yuma West Wetlands pond will receive channel catfish and bluegills. Depending on available funding, we hope to continue regular stockings into all three of these shoreline-accessible waters, and perhaps add additional waters to our stocking schedule. These ponds provide an ideal place to take the family. All three waters now are provided with restroom and trash facilities. Special regulations on fish limits are in effect for these waters, so be sure to consult the regulations before you take fish.

REGIONAL HOT SPOTS -- Alamo Lake will continue to be a hot spot for plentiful largemouth bass and channel catfish, although trophy-sized fish will be uncommon. Lake Havasu is probably currently the premier lake in our region (and perhaps the state) for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and redear sunfish. Numbers caught will likely be lower, but the quality of the fish much higher. The Parker Strip should remain excellent for smallmouth bass and redear sunfish, and the Colorado River below Walter’s Camp down to Imperial Dam the best bet for large and plentiful flathead catfish. Our spring surveys indicated that there is a very impressive population of flathead catfish in the lower Imperial Division between Picacho State Park and Imperial Dam. Expect many in the 5- to 10-pound size class, but we know of at least one state record lurking in those waters. Backwaters in the Imperial Division above Imperial Dam will continue to yield impressive largemouth bass, up to and exceeding 10 pounds.

If you need any additional information or assistance, don't hesitate to contact the Yuma regional office at (928) 342-0091, and we will be happy to give you whatever information we have. A very good resource for local fishing information in the Yuma area is the website and forum at http://www.yumabassman.com/.

CENTRAL MOUNTAINS

Note: The summer trout stocking schedule can be accessed at http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/h_f/fishing/stocking/2012SumTroutStockSchedule.pdf

BLUE RIDGE -- There is currently a decent cicada bite here. This is a deep sided lake with very little viable shoreline access. This lake is best fished from a float tube, canoe or kayak.

CHEVELON LAKE – Fishing is fair to good.  Anglers are catching trout on spinners (Panther Martin and Rooster tails), Z-Rays, and KastMaster spoons.  Fly fishermen are catching trout in the evening on midge patterns. This is a hike-in lake with steep sides and very little shoreline access. It is best fished from a float tube, canoe or kayak. Keep in mind it's pack-it-in, pack-it-out.

KNOLL LAKE -- This remote lake is a dependable summer producer, but expect the fish to stay fairly deep except at first and last light, or when thumber storms are building and the barometer is dropping.

It sounds like Power Bait, spinners and 4-inch Power Worms are all working at times.

Angler report:

Hey Rory!

It’s been a while but I wanted to give you the scoop on Knoll Lake, we hit the lake early in the morning this past Friday the 20th with a truck cab full of kids and a couple of adults. Of course I didn’t catch nothing because I was tending to kids lines all morning, but we caught our limit within a couple of hours. Most of the guys that went threw the small trout back, they were using orange twist power bait.

My 10 year old son was worrying that he was going to get skunked, so I hooked a pink 4” inch power work to the hook and he caught a 18” , 2lb trout.  The biggest one out of the keepers that we kept for cooking. My son caught 4 more after that so his nerves were calm, HA!. I noticed that the bigger trout were hitting the 4” inch power worms, so those are working nice, and I ended up taking the brunt of the jokes on the ride back to camp. Hey as long as my boy catches the lunker of the day, I’m cool with that.

Thanks Rory, tight lines!

Remigio Cordero

WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE – Fishing is fair for shore anglers and fair to good for boat anglers.  Anglers are catching trout near the lake bottom on night crawlers.  The lake will be stocked this week with 3,281 rainbow trout. This lake also has largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and crappie -- there are no limits on these warmater fish.

WOODS CANYON LAKE – Fishing is fair.  Anglers have been catching trout on orange and rainbow-colored Power Bait in deep water near the lake bottom.  The lake was stocked last week with rainbow trout.  The store is open and boat rentals are available. 

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR – Fishing is fair.  Some anglers are catching a few bass.

CONCHO LAKE – Fishing is fair.  Anglers have been catching some trout off the dam on nightcrawlers and PowerBait.
 
CRESCENT LAKE – Fishing is fair to good.  Anglers have been catching some nice brook trout and a few large rainbow trout in the deeper parts of the lake.  The lake is weedy.  The store is closed. 

FOOL HOLLOW LAKE – Fishing is poor for trout. Some largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish and channel catfish are being caught off the fishing piers early in the morning and late in the evening.  The lake will be stocked this week with 3,000 rainbow trout.   

GREER LAKES – Fishing is fair. River, Bunch and Tunnel reservoirs are very low. The water level is down below the ramps at Bunch and River Reservoirs, and launching boats there will be very difficult. 

HULSEY LAKE – The lake was drained immediately following the Wallow Fire to help reduce expected flooding off Escudilla Mountain and will not be stocked this year.

Angler report: