Crappie Report

Strangely enough the night bite has been hit-or-miss at a couple of our desert lakes. Early morning and late afternoon trolling patterns are consistent but not for huge numbers. Still, a dozen or so nice Crappie for a few hours of fishing isn’t so bad. I would still give the night bite a chance because you never know when you’ll load the boat.

Fishing  News
Should the slot limit be removed from Roosevelt Lake?

Is it time to remove the slot limit on bass from Roosevelt Lake?

Fisheries biologists with the Arizona Game and Fish Department are convinced that now is the time to remove the slot limit, for biological reasons, but the timing of instituting the proposal has been accelerated because of social considerations.

There is a request from the Town of Payson to remove the slot limit for the upcoming FLW national bass tournament on Roosevelt in September. Therefore, the Game and Fish Commission is considering the department’s proposal on Roosevelt at its August meeting rather than with all the other fishing regulations proposals, which are slated for its October meeting.

Fisheries Chief Kirk Young said the department is taking a common sense approach.

“We are proposing to remove the slot for biological reasons. But since we would be bringing the commission the slot-removal proposal in October anyway, it seemed a little inefficient to go through a whole public process to consider temporarily removing the slot just for one tournament in September.

This might be unusual, but it’s certainly more customer friendly to do it this way while also avoiding setting a precedent many might be uncomfortable with.”

Young pointed out that the most confusing part of this split process might be the public input process.

“We are conducting public meetings this month and a statewide survey on all the proposed changes – including the Roosevelt slot. The commission will address the Roosevelt issue at its August 6-7 meeting in Phoenix at the department headquarters on Carefree Highway. The rest of the proposals will come before the commission at its Oct. 8-9 meeting in Phoenix. Hopefully, no one will get confused,” he said.

Young and other biologists said the time has come to give serious consideration to removing the Roosevelt 13-16-inch slot limit.

“In the past 20 years, the angling public has evolved. Now catch-and-release is the norm, not the exception,” said Chris Cantrell, the fisheries program manager for the central Arizona lakes. In addition, Roosevelt is experiencing phenomenal productivity in large part to the filling of the lake five years ago after the raising of the dam in the mid 1990s. “Biologically and socially, the timing is right for a change,” Cantrell said.

Currently, Game and Fish is seeking input from the angling public on this proposed regulation change, and others (see below), which are all slated to come before the Game and Fish Commission for possible consideration.

To view all the proposed changes, you can visit www.azgfd.gov/fishregscomments. You can also comment via e-mail at fishregscomments@azgfd.gov or attend any of the public meetings through the state.  The public input provided will be ultimately shared with the Game and Fish Commission as it deliberates the various regulation proposals (only the Roosevelt slot is heard in August, the others will be heard in October).

Game and Fish is also conducting a random, scientific survey of anglers about all the proposed regulations changes – so you might be contacted.

Public meetings are set for 7-9 p.m. at the following locations:
* July 20, Yuma, Game and Fish Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th Street;
* July 21, Mesa, Game and Fish Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive;
* July 27, Flagstaff, Game and Fish Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road;
* Aug. 3, Safford, Graham County General Services Building, 921 W. Thatcher Blvd.
* Aug. 4, Tucson, Game and Fish Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road;
* Aug. 9, Game and Fish Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.

For the Roosevelt Lake proposal, Cantrell explained that when the slot limit was first initiated in 1990, the catch rates were down to .12-bass per hour, which is normally considered poor fishing.  At that time, a significant percentage of anglers strived to catch their limit, not limit their catch; at that time, 51 percent of anglers caught and kept their fish. The objective of the slot limit was to increase the catch rates on bass and also increase the average size of bass.

It has worked well.

Now through intensive sampling, biologists have determined that the bass population is healthy, reproduction is good, size classes are well balanced, and bass grow outs are superb. In addition, creel surveys show that less than 7 percent of anglers are actually harvesting bass at Roosevelt. That means 95 percent of the anglers are practicing catch-and-release.

“Socially, the angling public has changed. The current day angler is more conservation and recreation oriented, not consumption oriented. Most limit their catch rather than catching their limit. It’s a healthy trend for our fishery resources,” says Cantrell.

Both Cantrell and Young said that when there are low harvest rates, protective slot limits do little to affect fish population structures and become irrelevant.

“What this really means is that at Roosevelt, the slot limit is no longer accomplishing its original intent,” says Cantrell. “It is time to remove the slot limit here. Then we will continue to evaluate the fishery plus the angling public to ascertain what happens. If consumption rates go up and the quality of the fishery changes, we can make future adjustments if necessary.”

Other proposed fishing regulation changes include:

* Changing Becker Lake near Springerville to catch-and-release year around with artificial fly and lure only with a single barbless hook.

* Modifying the slot limit at Lees Ferry from 12-inch maximum to a 14-inch maximum to allow greater harvest of the smaller trout and hopefully avoid or limit population crashes when food resources are limited, for whatever reason. The proposal would also allow the unlimited harvest of  sport-fish other than rainbow trout (such as brown trout).

* Reducing the daily bag and possession limit of catfish to four at Redondo Pond (aka Yuma Lakes) and reducing the trout limit to four as well.

* Changing the daily bag and possession limit on Pena Blanca Lake near Nogales to no harvest of largemouth bass until Dec. 31, 2012. The lake was completely drained this past year and is on the comeback trail.

* Closing all portions of Ash Creek along with Marijillda Creek and its tributaries (Mt. Graham) to fishing until a stable population of native Gila trout is established.

* Closing approximately 13 miles of Bonita Creek in Graham County to fishing as part of an effort to re-establish native fish populations in this remote creek that receives minimal angling pressure.

A full discussion of these proposed changes can be viewed at www.azgfd.gov/fishregscomments.

CENTRAL ARIZONA 

DON'T MOVE A MUSSEL:

DAY USERS: Any watercraft, boats, vehicles, conveyances, or other equipment that have been in or on waters where aquatic invasive species are present for 5 days or less.
Day use watercraft, boats, vehicles, equipment, or conveyances have the potential to carry live larval invasive species to other uninfected bodies of water. To clean/ decontaminate your watercraft, boat, vehicle, equipment, or conveyance, the following steps should be taken:

Day Use Decontamination Procedures:
 Before Leaving the Vicinity of the AIS Listed Water, remove any clinging material such as plants, animals and mud from anchor, boat, motor, and trailer.
 Before Leaving the Vicinity of the AIS Listed Water, remove the plug (if applicable) and drain the water from the bilge, live-well and any other compartments that could hold water. Drain water from engine and engine cooling system(s).
 Ensure watercraft, vehicle, equipment, or conveyance are allowed to dry completely.

IF USING BOAT AGAIN IN LESS THAN FIVE DAYS FROM PREVIOUS USE:
 Replace bilge drain plug and disinfect the bilge by pouring in not less than one gallon of vinegar; the vinegar can be drained from the bilge upon arrival at home (vinegar can be reused several times).


The following waters were stocked this week:  Desert Breeze Lake (Chandler), Riverview Lake (Mesa), Rio Vista Pond Peoria), Chaparral Lake (Scottsdale), Evelyn Hallman Pond (Tempe), Cortez Lake (Phoenix), Encanto Lake (Phoenix), Steele Indian School Pond (Phoenix) and Surprise Lake (Surprise). 

URBAN LAKES - Some of the urban lakes were not stocked last week as planned when the fish got overly stressed during their two-day transport. However, they were stocked on Wednesday of this week, so expect the fishing to be good for this weekend.

TEMPE TOWN LAKE -- No new reports but we helped the Town of Tempe by catching a bunch of fish that washed over the west dam into a scour pool at the base of the dam.  Fishing is not allowed due to liability reasons but we got in there with our electrofishing equipment and did what we could considering it was pretty deep.  In all we caught 20 largemouth bass – 8 were young of year and the rest ranged in size from about 16 inches down to 10 inches.  We also caught about 14 carp, and 13 bluegill, a readear sunfish and 2 green sunfish.  The sunfish averaged about 4 to 5 inches in length and were in spawning colors.  There were 50 fish in all.  We transferred all the fish back in the lake at Tempe Beach Park.

Don’t forget the current bag limit for largemouth bass at Town Lake is four fish per day with a 13-inch minimum length restriction. 

There are also no gas powered boats allowed on the lake and Tempe Town Lake permits are available at the City of Tempe Town Lake Operations Center, 620 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281. Phone: (480) 350-8625.

LAKE PLEASANT – Lake elevation 1,689 feet (85 percent full). An angler just caught a new state record 29-pound striper on July 13 trolling 20 feet deep using large lures and heavy line.

Lake elevation 1684 ft (81% full)

Before I mention his fishing results, I need to remind everybody quagga mussels are in Lake Pleasant (AIS listed water).  It is not in Bartlett, Saguaro, Apache, Canyon, or Roosevelt Lakes as of yet, and it would benefit all of us if these lakes do not get contaminated.  For you day users please follow the rules above making sure your boat is cleaned, drained and dried before relaunching your boat.  

Day fishing for strippers seems to be working right now using shad or anchovies. You might try chumming some of the areas ahead of time to ensure a better catch.

Clear Zara puppies worked well casting into boils, if you disturbed the boils by driving up to them they would vanish.  Once the boils were gone a 3 inch Berkley Powerbait Pogy worked real well. The bite died at 7 am but he caught over 25 whites and stripers.  All were below 3 pounds mostly in the 15 to 17 inch range. 

A couple night fishermen were out from 10:00 pm to 6:30 am and did pretty good using lights in mid-lake.  They chummed for a bit then landed a 2 pound striper within 5 minutes.  The stripers were about 15 to 20 feet off the bottom in 65 feet of water.  Not only did they catch a mix of smallish and decent sized stripers, but they nabbed over 20 whites.  Lots of threadfin shad were milling around under the lights providing the enticement for the predators.  Once it started getting light they headed over to the Aqua Fria and found a few small boils and caught about 12 more.  They decided to make it a double whammy and came back for the evening bite.  On the way to the Aqua Fria they ran into a few boils and boated about a half dozen stripers.  Back in the arm there were lots of short boils and were successful catching stripers with 4-5 inch flukes in a variety of colors, natural and bright colors worked best. 

Another angling duo caught most of their fish between 8 and 9 a.m. in the northern coves using Ricos and Spook topwaters.

This is a good time to target striped bass and largemouth bass at night using submersible lights. Use frozen anchovies for the stripers and live minnows (or shad) for the bucketmouths. Also, there should be a decent topwater bite at first and last light. At first light, try in the coves. At last light, try near major lake points, islands and reefs.

ROOSEVELT LAKE -- Lake Elevation is 2,148 ft (97-percent full).  Lake Elevation is 2147 ft (96% full).  Tonto Creek runoff is 0 cfs while inflow from the Salt River is at 181 cfs.

Before I mention his fishing results, I need to remind everybody golden algae are in Saguaro, Canyon and Apache Lakes (AIS listed water).  It is not in Roosevelt as of yet, and it would benefit all of us if Roosevelt does not get contaminated.  For you day users please follow the rules above, and if you must lake hop in the chain it is best to fish Roosevelt first then Apache, Canyon or Saguaro.  When we do our sampling Roosevelt is always first with a boat that has been previously cleaned, drained and dried.  

Fisherman seems to be having luck on topwater lures early in the morning. Try a clear Zara puppy. Once the wind picks up start fishing between 10-20 feet in depth using a Carolina rig or a Texas rigged a soft plastic fishing worm. The fishing seems to be best using this technique in the trees. See below.

Two anglers fished in the evening and after it became dark.  They caught 3 upper slot bass just as it was getting dark and the moon was coming up then the bite stopped.  Just like fishing early morning and evening the same can be said about the moon.  They like it just before and just after moon sets and rises. 

A fishing trio fished Saturday night.  They started at 6:30 p.m.  The best bite came on Texas-rigged worms along shore near the dam. Pumkinseed and black and blue flake worms, were the best colors this night.  Between the three of them they caught about 40 fish. Nine were over the slot. 

Another couple anglers fished the Tonto end in the trees over 12 feet of water and the bass liked the ¼ ounce spinnerbait.  Once the bite died they switched to using a Zara Spooks and that bite lasted till almost midnight.  They caught 45 fish. 

This is a good time to fish at night for catfish, both channel and flatheads. 

Angler report:

I fish a lot.  Mostly for big fish, especially flathead catfish, from my 25’ pontoon or my 16’ aluminum bass boat.  Anyway, just fished Roosevelt for flathead and managed 3 of them, all between 10 to 18 pounds.  Not what I was hoping for around the new moon… but not bad.  An angler we met at the dock showed us a picture of one they caught, I estimate to be around 40 pounds.

All caught on bluegill, salt river end of the lake.  The fish appear to be post spawn and feeding now, as I witnessed several red scrapes on  2 of their bodies (including some obvious ones on the 40 pounder in the picture) that seem consistent with fighting, but the scrapes were not fresh… they were healing.

Water temp was 82 on main lake, and 85 near the river… seems like they are settling into the summer pattern. 

I’ll try to report in after my trips to help fellow anglers out.  I just signed up on azgfd under the handle FishingMensan.  I’ll get some pictures up, including the 40 pounder that kid shared with me.  I’m also thinking about reviving my website that expired, www.azflathead.com. 

My mission is to catch the new state record flathead. I fish with live bait, and along the way I’ve caught trophy fish of all kinds. Largemouth over 10, Channel over 15, and some huge bluegill (got one in my freezer that is 2 pounds, 14” long that I intend to mount in front of the next 50 plus pound flathead I catch).  I’m refining some very interesting tactics tailored to finding, and catching trophy flathead. I hope one day to put together an instructional video and/or write a definitive book on flathead catfishing in Arizona, and bring to light the mysterious and rather secretive world of flathead catfishing. 

My best night I caught 6 trophy fish, all between 25 and 50 pounds.  I’m getting better, but they are a very challenging and frustrating species to fish for.  But after years of trout fishing in Utah, and years of fishing tournament clubs and circuits for bass here in AZ, I find it to be the most rewarding.

Cheers.

Christian Polak
ERP Systems Manager
Software Architecture
Direct Alliance Corporation
 

APACHE -- Lake elevation is 1,908 feet (94% full). 

No new reports.

An angler caught Anglers are catching walleye with cranks and jointed Rapalas.  He also caught 15 largemouth bass from 2 to 4 pounds. 

Another angler fished from 1 to 6 pm and caught 11 largemouth, 1 walleye and 4 channel catfish.  They were caught on white 3/8 oz spinner bait.  Some largemouth were caught with a dd22 bounced off the bottom about 15 feet deep on reefs and points. 

An angler caught 20 largemouth, 1 smallie and 5 walleye using chatterbait, power worms and topwater.

Two fishermen fished from 3 pm to 10 pm. Fishing was good till dark then it was tough.  They caught 35 bass and 4 walleye mostly using crankbaits.  Most of the bass were small.

This is a good time to target light sensitive walleye at night. Fish near the bottom using worm rigs, jigs tipped with worms, or drop-shot rigs with live night crawlers. 

CANYON -- Lake elevation is 1,657 feet, which is 95 percent full. This lake can be tough to fish at times for bass, and catch rates are often low, but it can also produce some lunkers -- maybe even a new state record.

A float tube fisherman had good luck using jigs and spooks. 

Two anglers fished 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the Tortilla Creek area and caught a channel cat on a chatterbait right away.  They switched to Texas-rigged craw and the small largemouth went after those.  One fish was caught on a grub.  They did catch some fish on the ledges dragging lures on the bottom.  

The bighorn sheep should be in the rut, so bring along your binoculars. You might hear or see rams butting heads. Also watch for nesting peregrine falcons.
 

SAGUARO -- Lake elevation 1,524 feet at 92 percent full. Best fishing is at night, which is also the best way to avoid the intense recreational boating traffic this time of year. Lake elevation 1525 feet at 93% full.

No new reports.

An angler caught 10 largemouth bass using cranks and shaky head jigs.
Another angler fished from 9:45 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. and caught 10 largemouth bass. Nine were slots and one was 4.24 pounds. He caught all the fish on drops hot.

One angler fished from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and caught 8 largemouth bass using spinners, cranks and Texas rigged Senkos. 

BARTLETT -- Lake elevation is 1,790 ft, which is 89% full.  Reservoir release is 900 cfs.

Catfishing is always great at Bartlett. Try fly fishing in the afternoon to catch some bluegill to use as catfish bait. Using your days catch of blugill rig up a catfish line with either a live blugill or freshly dead and cut up bluegill. My preference is to use a dead and bloody bluegill as I believe it attracts the catfish. Don’t forget your gaff as you may land a monster!

Two fishermen fished in the evening and caught a bass over 2 pounds using a shad crank bouncing over a point.  Another two pound bass fell for Texas rigged worm.  They caught a few other smaller bass as well.

Two anglers used smallie beavers on Carolina rigs and dropshot some red crawlers.  The bite was good till it got dark.  All the fish were in less than 10 feet of water.  They pulled an all nighter and ended up catching 20 to 30 fish.

HORSESHOE - Lake elevation is at 2010 feet, 65 percent full. They are releasing water at 600 cfs. No reports from anglers.

VERDE RIVER -- Verde River flow at Tangle is 95 cubic feet per second. Release from Bartlett Lake is 900 cfs.

SALT RIVER (upper) – Salt River into Roosevelt is 198 cfs, and Salt River Canyon is 151 cfs.  They are releasing 1,000 cfs out of Stewart Mountain dam from Saguaro.

LOWER SALT RIVER -- Stewart Mtn. Dam (below Saguaro Lake) release is 1,000 cfs. A fly fisherman caught a bunch of trout throwing midges and dry flies. Fish some of the deeper pools for trout and bass. At these flows, kayaks make a lot of sense for anglers. Look out for all the tubers -- go early.

Where: Lower Salt River
When: 06/24/10
Caught: Rainbow Trout
Technique: Fly Rod
Comments: The Water is beautiful, especially with the hot air temps. Still rainbows to be had in the river. Nice chunky fighting machines. Caught 19 today including an 18 inch and several in the 14 inch range. Great way to break in the new fly rod. Sunscreen and water HIGHLY recommended. Great day not to be at work. Oh yeah, this is work? See ya next week

CREEKS – All these creeks are scheduled to receive trout every week.  Fish with big terrestrials such as hoppers although the smaller terrestrials will work too.  To increase your odds throw a dry dropper nymph on it. The East Verde River also has increased flow levels this year, so it is also worth a try. It has been stocked.

COLORADO RIVER NORTHWEST

LAKE POWELL-Courtesy Wayneswords.com, July 14, 2010. Lake Elevation: 3,638. Water Temp:80-85 F   
This is what to expect on a typical summer morning. We launched at Wahweap Stateline Ramp at 5 a.m. After the boat inspection for mussel prevention we headed toward Castle Rock Cut. Single fish splashes were seen along the way but no striper slurps or boils. That is not surprising as sunlight on the water is needed for predators to see the tiny larval prey fish they are eating. As we headed to the back of Warm Creek we stopped to see if any of those single surfacing fish would hit a lure. All offerings were ignored and an occasional yellow flash was seen indicating most of these fish were carp.

Near the mouth of Crosby Canyon jumping fish were still scatted but some were in close proximity. The boat was eased in the middle of the loose congregation of fish as various surface lures, flies, spoons and rattle traps were deployed toward each splash. Small (8-12 inch) yearling stripers were quite cooperative. They hit flies, and small spoons, but their favorite was a blue rattletrap. In the next hour, 21 of the best eating fish in the lake were put on ice.
 
Then we headed across Warm Creek on the way to Padre Bay. It was slow going with a stop every 200 yards to cast at a 10 fish pod of slurping stripers. Some days a fish can be caught from each pod. Not this time. Not a single fish hit a lure until we headed up the main channel. Here the rattletrap again was preferred as one striper could be caught out of every 5 pods of fish encountered.

In Padre Bay, slurps were a bit larger and one fish was occasionally caught when the lure was placed perfectly in front of the lead fish. I can't explain the lack of respect for many of my casts that I thought perfect, yet were ignored for some undiscovered reason.

On the return trip we saw pods of fish continuing to work in the same vicinity seen an hour earlier on the trip uplake. The difference was more fish in each pod but perhaps less aggression as they were totally focused on larval shad and not on artificial lures. At the fish cleaning station we had 21 small stripers, eight 3-pounders and one walleye that ate a spoon that got too close to the bottom.

Bass and walleye fishing remain good for the "dog days" of mid summer. Deep diving crankbaits cast into the tree line consistently produces fish but a few lures are lost in the process. Walleye are still caught trolling over tree tops. Their numbers are at a record level not seen since the 1980s. Largemouth in the 4-6 pound range continue to provide great sport for those hoping to catch their personal best bass. Smallmouth fishing is good but larger fish are deeper on rock structure. Fish 25-35 feet deep for the best chance to catch a quality smallmouth bass. Catfishing in the evening and after dark is exceptional.

Now that the lake has quit rising good fishing spots will continue to produce fish each trip. Find a good spot and it will continue to pay off for the next month.


LEES FERRY -- Courtesy Lees Ferry Anglers. Fly Fishing: The cicadas are starting to get extremely thick upriver, yet still somehow the fish aren’t quite keying on them exclusively. There are certain spots though where the bite is definitely getting hot but it’s just not spread to the whole river.

Luke reports that the cicada bite is good, still spotty but definitely warming up.

Skip reports that he is fishing his areas exclusively with cicadas and even getting away with 3x tippet, but the bite should still improve even more.

Terry reports that there are more cicadas then he remembers seeing, but the bite still hasn’t peaked. He is still have amazing success on a deep nymph rig with a worm and a midge, there’s still GREAT midge hatches.

Jeff says the cicada bite was good, but he is still doing great with dry dropper with a midge.

Walk in: This area has been fishing very well.

Report by: Chris Smith
With the new flows that started the 1st much has changed with the conditions at the walkin. Low flows there are now as high as the previous high flows making the conditions very different. I would only suggest going to the boulder field early in the morning as you can very easily get stranded in the really high flows if they sneak up on you. The good pocket water only seems to be there in the morning now anyhow so it’s not like you are missing out on much. I have actually been trying some new spots though further down by the Paria Beach just below the confluence of the two rivers. There is a little rock fall that creates a big eddy just above the beach area, and there are tons of sippers stackin up right there, in fact you can practically sightfish to them. It is mostly smaller fish there (8”-12”) but definitely a blast if you bring a 2 or 3 wt rod

Tight Lines,
Chris

Spin Fishing: Was reported as great this weekend, the lure of choice is still the Panther Martin in gold and black.

Anglers are also using large glo bugs, and bouncing them off the bottom.
The jig has been a fun one too, seems the black ones are working best when the cast is toward the shore. T

LAKE MEAD – The current water level is around 1,088 feet above msl. Dropping lake levels have slowed this week.  Striper fishing has been mixed but anglers have been having success at night under lights. Several reports of larger striped bass over say the normal 2-pounds have been coming in.  This size is still the predominate size along with the half to one-pounders, but fish in the 5-7 pound range are showing up.  Cut anchovies are still the bait of choice.  Check the moon phases before you go.  Dark nights work best when fishing under light.  Fish in 50 plus feet of water to find the larger fish.   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. 

Launching conditions at South Cove will remain fair. The concrete ramp the National Park Service completed last year is two lanes with cones marking the edges. Use caution not to go off the sides of the metal extensions at either side. National Park Service is working to keep the ramp open.  Temple Bar Launch Ramp is two lanes.  Launching conditions in general are better at Temple Bar than South Cove.

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 is around 641 feet above msl.  No new reports from Mohave.  The bass bite has been fair.  One angler reported catching many bass including a 5lb largemouth and a 3 lb smallmouth. 

Trolling with anchovies in 30-50ft has been producing some stripers, while catfish are on the bottom.  While the number of stripers in Mohave has been decreasing, the quality of the fish caught has increased. The night time bite has begun to pick up.  Submersible lights fished during the new moon is an effective way to catch stripers.  Cut anchovies usually work the best.  The next new moon will be 7/11/10.

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 and Shoshone.  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 mchmiel@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 – Trout fishing has been good on Fridays.  Trout are stocked every Friday with 3,000 13” rainbow trout.  Most anglers are having success with power bait, salmon peach was the one most effective.  While access has been more difficult than normal during the ongoing construction, parking around the fishing pier has remained good.
Some indications that the large stripers are beginning to move into the Willow beach area.  The striper fishing usually is at its best when the air temp reaches 115 or better.  This week is forecast to be in that range, so get out with your big trout imitation lures and try for the big ones!

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 mchmiel@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/.

TOPOCK MARSH – No new reports:  Largemouth bass are still active.   Early morning and right at sunset can be best bass catching times.  PowerWorms fished finesse style near the north dyke inlet canal will usually produce some bass.  Catfish should be doing well also.  No new reports. 

Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Topock the first week in February.  Bass, crappie and catfish populations continue to do well.   

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.

Fish report from the Topock Gorge

Very few anglers are fishing the Topock Gorge but those that are, are doing fairly well. We all know the whisker fish are on the bite. Although not as rotund as the nine pound one taken in the marsh, average sizes are hitting the 3-pound mark. Even though limits of striped bass are not the norm these days with largemouth and smallmouth bass catches added to the mix, limits are more frequent than not. Sizes of the few stripers taken over the past couple of weeks have been between ½- and 4-pounds. Largemouth sizes been a pound and under, while the smallmouth are averaging 1- to 2-pounds. Night crawlers, anchovy and curly tails continue to be the bait de jour. A 10-pound carp was caught and released– unsurprisingly.

Thanks,
Georgia, Capt. Doyle's River Excursions

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/.

COLORADO RIVER BELOW DAVIS DAM – No new reports. With water temperature in the in the low 70’s, the Topock Gorge is producing plenty of striper and smallmouth bass action. Stripers remain moderately abundant with sizes ranging between 2- and 5-pounds. They’re in 10 to 12 feet of water and are taking their favorite food, the little anchovy. As predicted, the smallmouth bass have resumed biting and can be taken on curly-tails worm rigged on a 4/0 hook with a split shot about a foot above it and on the other ever present and worthwhile bait, the night crawler. Work the structures and change your retrieve.

Rainbow trout are stocked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service monthly during the winter.  The last scheduled stocking was March 16th. Stocking will resume in October.  The fish are stocked in two locations; Davis Camp and near The Riverside. Trout fishing at the stocking sites is great immediately following the stockings, then the fish move out and you need to find them.   Rainbow trout are located throughout the river below Davis dam, but anglers typically report catching trout on the Arizona side across from the Riverside, off the shore of Davis Camp and in the big bend area. This year we have received multiple reports of larger holdover trout being caught.  Remember to fish for trout, you need a trout stamp on Class A and Lifetime fishing licenses.

Water levels on the river fluctuate, so be careful. You can check the Bureau of Reclamation Web site for flow predictions http://www.usbr.gov/lc/riverops.html before you go. If you fish the river below Davis Dam and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

SOUTHWEST COLORADO RIVER

Recent Reports from Fishermen/Wildlife Managers:

AZGFD completed flathead catfish surveys on the Colorado River from the Palo Verde diversion dam, north of I-10, all the way down to Morelos Dam in May. The flathead catfish population is doing very well throughout the river. Fish larger than 40 pounds are a little far and few between, but there are lots in the 5-20 pound range.

An update on the Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) situation:  Last May and June we saw a huge carp die-off at Lake Havasu and the Parker Strip. This past fall the virus had made its way down to the Yuma area, and we saw some die-off in backwaters and canals, but not to the degree that we had seen earlier at Lake Havasu. We were fully expecting to see a more major outbreak this spring and early summer, but so far the only significant detection was at Mittry Lake. Even there, the die-off wasn’t particularly heavy. The minor outbreak last fall may have helped to thin out and immunize the carp population, with the result that we saw only minor effects this spring as the water temperature warmed to the range in which KHV is active. KHV is now in the system, and we expect to see minor effects into the future, but we are cautiously optimistic that future outbreaks may be relatively minor. Again, KHV only affects common carp and the ornamental Koi carp.

HAVASU – This is a good time to fish at night using submersible lights for striped bass using frozen anchovies.

There should be some early morning topwater action as well for stripers and bucketmouths. Also try for smallmouth bass around rocky points. Watch for seagull activity to point you to the surface action. There can be surface eruptions off-and-on throughout the day.

ALAMO LAKE –  Fishing report courtesy Mark Knapp, Alamo Lake State Park. Well folks, it's that time of year that there bouncing me all over the state like a ping-pong ball, so I'm trying to keep you updated the best I can. Bass fishing is pretty good. A couple of friends of mine went out last week in the early morning and did really well throwing chug bugs (top water). The bite lasted till around 7ish and was done. They caught 20 plus bass between the two of them. All I could get out of them was "upper end of the lake and in the brush."  Anglers are also doing good dropshotting with red worms. Cat fishing is excellent. One angler reported that his crew caught over 40 nice sized cats. The bite started around 4 a.m. and again, lasted till around 7ish in the morning. Minnows are the choice bait for them. I have not heard any good reports on crappie fishing. A few anglers have stated that they have caught 5 to 6 a day in the upper end of the lake trolling with minnows. I'm very happy to say that it finally hit 110 out here. I came out of my cave, stretched, felt my lower back pop back into place, saw my Shadow, and declared an extra 8 weeks of summer. With that in mind you want to bring lots of sun block with you.  Drink lots of water. The biting flies, and a few bugs that I'm not sure of, are out in force so bug spray is becoming a way of life out here for the next few months. Last week the lake level was at 1126ish with releases of 50cfs. Both ramps are in operation at this time.

SUMMER OUTLOOK:

Alamo Lake:

The lake elevation is pretty optimal, presently at about 1125 feet. Largemouth bass surveys conducted by AGFD in April indicate that bass are very abundant, although a large proportion of the population remains in the protected slot. Fish are still not in real good condition, but we expect forage fish (primarily shad) numbers to improve as a result of the good inflows to the lake this winter, which should have provided a lot of nutrients to the system. Fishing is expected to be good throughout the summer, especially in the early mornings and evenings. The channel catfish bite should be good to excellent throughout the summer. Alamo Lake is loaded with small channel catfish, especially at the upper end of the lake, but larger fish are present. During the spring surveys, AGFD encountered far more channel catfish than usual, the majority in the 2-6 lb range, and they were in very good condition. The channel catfish appear to really be capitalizing on crayfish, as we could feel, or even see, that many of their stomachs were stuffed with crayfish. A hoop-netting survey specifically targeting channel catfish was conducted in early June last year, with abundant catfish captured, up to 7 pounds. Based on the sampling, the most productive area appears to be on the western side of the lake, especially the middle third of the lake shoreline. There are other fish present such as bluegill, redear sunfish and carp that are a lot of fun to catch. Our April survey apparently coincided with the sunfish spawn, and we noted large numbers of nice-sized redears and bluegills on beds. Large tilapia in the 5-6 pound range are abundant, and are an unexploited resource. As the weather warms, shift from slowly working plastics in deeper water to crank baits, spinner baits, and top-water lures for bass. For channel catfish, any of the prepared catfish baits, as well as chicken livers and shrimp will work. Occasionally channel catfish are even caught on bass lures.

Both of the boat ramps are useable at this time. The store at the lake is now open, although fuel is not available. The certified scale that was previously located at the Park office is now located in the store. At the store you can get ice, snacks, fishing tackle and bait, as well as information on the fishing bring everything with you. If you run short of supplies, you might be able to pick it up at the Wayside Inn in Wayside, or in Wenden. 

Lake Havasu & Topock Gorge:

Fishing for largemouth bass, as well as smallmouth bass, is expected to remain good through the summer. The size will range from 13 inches and up (remember, there is a 13-inch minimum size limit on the lower Colorado River), with an occasional fish greater than 5 pounds. Striped bass fishing continues to be somewhat problematic, with catch rates far below what has been experienced two or three years ago. Shad numbers appear to have rebounded somewhat, which may help improve the fishery. Striped bass tend to concentrate mainly on shad. Remember, shad schools move around, and populations tend to fluctuate, so spots that have been “hot” in the past may no longer be so if the shad have moved elsewhere, or are in lower numbers. The majority of striped bass in Lake Havasu tend to be smaller fish of 1 to 2 pounds, but the occasional 20-30 pound fish is caught. Channel catfish as well as bluegill and redear sunfish will be good to excellent. Lake Havasu is well known for large (2-3 pound) redear sunfish, and with the proliferation of the quagga mussel in the lake, we may see larger numbers of large redears. In fact, a 4 pound 6 ounce redear was caught by a bass fisherman several months ago. Redear sunfish are also known as “shellcrackers,” due to their preference for eating clams and mussels, so they may actually benefit from the presence of the invasive quagga mussel. There have also been reports of crappie fishing picking up, a species that used to be sought after in the lake, but has declined in recent years. Flathead catfish fishing should be fair at the lower end of the lake (Bill Williams River Arm) through the spring, although recent surveys indicate that they are taking up residence farther north in the lake than in the past. Flathead catfish can reach as high as 40 pounds or better in Lake Havasu. When fishing for them, select the interior points in the coves and the areas where artificial structure has been placed.

Carp fishing should be excellent, if that is your thing. We expected to see a decrease in carp numbers as a result of the Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) outbreak Lake Havasu experienced early last summer. However, our surveys did not detect a significant decrease in carp numbers. Undoubtedly, there are fewer carp at the moment, but the remaining ones have apparently capitalized on reduced competition with other carp, and are in incredible shape. On average, they are the fattest carp we’ve ever encountered. So far, there does not seem to be a repeat of the virus outbreak this year (Lake Havasu City is probably breathing a huge sigh of relief), so the population may now have been somewhat immunized. KHV is certainly still present in the system, but may only effect limited numbers of carp in the future.

Take precautions to make sure your boat and equipment is clean before leaving the water to make sure you don’t spread quagga mussels to other waters by accident. This invasive species certainly has profound effects on water delivery and control structures, boat engines, and likely on fish populations. Quaggas are abundant and widely distributed in Lake Havasu, but are absent from many of our interior lakes. Help keep those lakes quagga-free. Make sure your boat and trailer are free of the mussels, drain all bilge and livewells before leaving the area, and most importantly, let your boat bake in the sun for 3-5 days in the sun before you launch it at another lake. Extra precautions should be taken for boats that have been moored on the lake for 5 days or more. For new regulations aimed to reduce the spread of the quagga mussel, and steps you need to take to ensure your boat and equipment are not responsible for spreading this noxious invader, go to http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/zebra_mussels.shtml for the latest information.

Colorado River (Parker Strip Area, between Parker Dam and Headgate Rock):

Fishing is expected to be good to excellent for smallmouth bass, with fish over two pounds in size common. The best smallmouth bass fishing can be found in the upper half of the Parker Strip, while largemouth bass are more numerous in the lower half, in very respectable numbers. In addition, redear sunfish should also be good to excellent in the pound-plus sizes. AZGFD’s most recent surveys turned up good numbers of redear sunfish in the two-pound range. That is dinner-plate sized, folks! Channel and flathead catfish are always fair to good in this section of the Colorado River.

Take precautions to make sure your boat and equipment is clean before leaving the water to make sure you don’t spread quagga mussels to other waters by accident. See more information on the quagga at http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/zebra_mussels.shtml. 

Colorado River (between Palo Verde Diversion Dam and Walter's Camp):

This area should be fair for both smallmouth bass (in the channel) up river from the I-10 Bridge and largemouth bass (in the backwaters) throughout the entire area. Channel and flathead catfish are always fair to good in this section of the Colorado River. Most of the flathead catfish will be smaller ones, in the 2 to 5 pound size range, with an occasional fish over 20 pounds. Annual fisheries surveys this spring turned up several fish in the 40 to 50 pound range, so trophy flatheads are always a possibility. Look for large deep pools formed at eddies for the larger fish. The best time for fishing for both species of catfish will be all summer and on into the fall months. Generally, the hotter the weather is, the better the cat-fishing. Nighttime is the best time to go after both species of catfish.

This section of the Colorado River, all the way down to Yuma, is where the invasive vegetative species known as Giant Salvinia is located. Quagga mussels are also found here. If using a boat, make sure that boats, live wells, engines, and trailers are clean before leaving the area. The last thing that we want to have happen is the movement of invasive species to other waters. Check out the following link for more information on new regulations and decontamination procedures for preventing the spread of this noxious invader. http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/zebra_mussels.shtml

Colorado River (between Walter's Camp and Picacho State Park):

This section of the Colorado River is relatively remote, and can only be accessed by boat from either end. Fishing is expected to be good to excellent for flathead catfish with sizes reaching over 40 pounds. The best time will be summer and on into the fall months. The hotter the temperature the better the fishing is. The various backwaters will be good for largemouth bass and other sunfish (bluegill and redear). Other species available in the main river are smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and striped bass.

This section of the Colorado River, all the way down to Yuma, is where the invasive vegetative species known as Giant Salvinia is located. Quagga mussels are also found here. If using a boat, make sure that boats, live wells, engines, and trailers are clean before leaving the area. The last thing that we want to have happen is the movement of invasive species to other waters.

Colorado River (between Picacho State Park and Imperial Dam):

This area is expected to be good to excellent for largemouth bass, channel catfish, and flathead catfish. Bass will be found primarily in the backwaters and at the mouths of backwaters. There are channels on both sides of the river connecting numerous backwaters, and an aerial map of the area is not a bad idea if you are unfamiliar with the network of backwaters. Bass and channel catfish in excess of 5 pounds are relatively numerous, along with flathead catfish as large as 50-60 pounds. There are undoubtedly state record flatheads inhabiting this stretch of the river (a couple of years ago AZGFD contacted an 89-pounder during a survey). Bluegill are also present in the various backwaters. Occasional striped bass will be caught in the main river channel, especially near Imperial Dam.

Colorado River (between Laguna and Morelos dams):

This area will be decent for largemouth bass and flathead catfish. Accessing the water can be a problem, as river flows are much lower than historically, and launching a boat can be a challenge. Accessibility to the river is dependent on the amount of water being released upstream, which has diminished in recent years. A small shallow-draft boat or float tube should get you into some good fishing. Be especially careful in the two or three miles below Laguna Dam, as there are numerous hazards in the shallow water that can seriously compromise your boat. Bass in excess of 5 pounds occur, but really good habitat for bass is not plentiful. Flathead catfish over 20 pounds are also a good bet in the deeper pools, especially in the area from Morelos Dam to the rock weir, and just above the rock weir. The lower end has had some dredging work done, and larger boats should be able to get on the river at the dredge launch (at the Mode extension near the USBR office) above the rock weir.

Because of the increase in border issues and illegal activity on the lower end of this stretch of the river, we recommend using extreme caution while fishing the area from Pilot Knob to Morelos Dam.

Mittry Lake: - No new reports

Regional Hot Spots:

Alamo Lake will continue to be the hot spot for largemouth bass and channel catfish. Next choice would be Lake Havasu for large and smallmouth bass and redears; the bass there are in the best condition of any in our Region, and because of the clear water of Lake Havasu are quite strikingly colored. The Parker Strip should continue to be very good for smallmouth bass and redear sunfish, and the Colorado River below Walter’s Camp is the place to go for larger bass, and for flathead catfish. Our surveys in May revealed 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 5-10 pounds size class, but we know of at least one state record lurking in those waters.

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. For a very good source of local fishing information in the Yuma area check out: www.yumabassman.com/bulletinboard. Information in this web-based forum is not limited to bass, but includes catfish, sunfish and a variety of other species and WILLIAMS LAKES:  
KAIBAB LAKE —  Fish on the bottom with corn and worms. Some nice largemouth bass were caught during our electrofishing surveys last week along with quite a few trout.  The majority of the bass were in the 1 lb range with a few up to about 4 lbs. Quite a few bluegill were also caught.  Crappie and bluegill fishing was good on flies, especially crayfish patterns.

CENTRAL MOUNTAINS

WILLIAMS AREA LAKES

KAIBAB LAKE —  Fish on the bottom with corn and worms. Some nice largemouth bass were caught during our electrofishing surveys last week along with quite a few trout. The majority of the bass were in the 1-pound range with a few up to about 4 pounds. Quite a few bluegill were also caught. Crappie and bluegill fishing was good on flies, especially crayfish patterns. Stocked Last Week

CATARACT LAKE —  Stocked with catfish. Lots of nice size channel catfish and largemouth bass were caught during our electrofishing surveys last week. The biggest bass were in the 4-5 lb range and there were lots of catfish in the 3- to 5-pound range. 

CITY RESERVOIR —  Stocked with catfish 

DOGTOWN LAKE — Fishing was fair to good on marshmallows.  A few large brown trout have been reported by lure anglers.  We caught a lot of small crappies along with some nice size brown trout during our electrofishing survey last week. This weeks planned stocking was canceled because of water quality problems (pH to high). 

JD DAM — Road is open. 

RUSSELL TANK - Road is open but the lake is to shallow to stock.

SANTA FE — Lake is full. Stocked with catfish.
 
WHITEHORSE LAKE — No report. Was stocked last week.

FLAGSTAFF LAKES:

LOWER LAKE MARY — Fishing was fair to good during the week using worms fished about 3½ to 4 feet below a bobber. Some fish were also being caught on pink Power Bait. Fishing is better early in the morning or late in the evening, but fish were being caught in the middle of the day, especially when the sun went behind a cloud. Fishing was better a couple of hundred yards uplake from the dam compared to fishing right off of the dam. Fish seem to be growing quickly with some larger fish (12-14 inch) being caught.

UPPER LAKE MARY —  Perch were being caught on the upper part of the lake near the weeds and in the narrows area on worms. Pike were being caught in the same areas on anchovies. Catfish are starting to be caught on the upper end of the lake with our creel clerks checking a 12-pound cat caught on anchovies and a 17-pound cat caught trolling. 

ASHURST LAKE —  We sampled the lake in mid April and caught mostly large (10+ Lbs) pike in our nets, only 1 trout was caught. Some large pike and a few trout were bring caught. The folks were fishing the south end of the lake from shore.  Has been stocked 

FRANCIS SHORT POND –  Trout and bluegill were being caught on corn near the inflow area and on the dam.

KINNIKINICK LAKE — Road is open. Stocked last week

MARSHALL LAKE — No report

OAK CREEK — Fishing was good for brown trout and rainbow trout. Use flies for browns and bait for rainbows. Scheduled to be stocked 

LONG LAKE — Road is open. 

SOLDIERS & SOLDIERS ANNEX — Road is open.

BEAVER CREEK/WEST CLEAR CREEK — No report.

STONEMAN LAKE — NO FISH.

Verde Valley
BEAVER CREEK/WEST CLEAR CREEK — Fishing for trout is fair and fair to poor for smallmouth bass. Try night crawlers for the trout and small crayfish-like lures on ultra lights for the smallmouth.

DEAD HORSE STATE PARK – Catfish were stocked the week of April 19 and June 12. Frozen anchovies or night crawlers should work best for them.  Bass and bluegill are also active. If you would like your child to catch their first fish, Bluegill can be easily caught with a number 10 hook with a small pieces of worm under a bobber. These will not be large bluegill, but they can be a lot of fun for little ones to catch.

Trout stocking will resume in the fall. 

OAK CREEK — Stocked weekly through the end of summer. Fishing was good for brown trout and rainbow trout.  Use flies for browns and bait for rainbows. 

VERDE RIVER (throughout Verde Valley) – Bass fishing has been good using small spinners and curly tailed grubs. Both largemouth bass and smallmouth bass abound in the river between Clarkdale and Camp Verde. Look for some depth in pools with shady overhangs. Always check your regulations before fishing this area with live bait. Game and Fish Commission Rule requires anglers to only use live bait that has been caught in the river. No transporting of live baitfish or crayfish is allowed. 

Prescott Area
FAIN LAKE —Incentive Trout were stocked just before the Fourth. That was the last trout stocking until the fall. Fishing is best immediate following the stocking. Bright colored Power Bait, worms lures and flies all seem to work well. Catfish and Bluegill were stocked last the week of June 12th. Anchovies are your best bet for the catfish.

GOLDWATER LAKE — Trout stockings are scheduled for next week. Fishing success should improve following the stocking, but in general, fishing has not been as good this year as it was the last few years. 

The lake has been near full all year so trout may be using areas of the lake that require anglers to experiment more. Typically in the summer months, water temperatures force trout into deeper areas.  Anglers should try fishing in 15 to 20 feet of water with bait floating just off the bottom. 

The sunfish and bass should be actively biting.  One angler reported catching two bass after fishing hard all day, but they were 2 – 6 lbs. 

Game and Fish has been trying to boost the some of the warm water species in Goldwater. Bass and catfish have been stocked three times over the last three years. The bass are being stocked to give a boost to a dwindling population in the lake and to reduce the excessive number of crayfish. Please practice catch and release with the bass, while the population gets re-established.

Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Goldwater on Sept. 15, 2009 and found bass and catfish populations to be much improved over last year. The number of green sunfish was greatly reduced.  The bass had a successful spawn last year.   If you fish Goldwater and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

Granite Basin –The bass and bluegill are starting to bite, but it is still slow.   If you fish Granite Basin and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

LYNX LAKE — Brook trout were stocke the week of June 21st. Rainbow Trout were last stocked, the week of June 14th.   This is the last scheduled trout stocking until the fall due to high water temperatures.  Catfish and Bluegill were stocked on June 12th. Fishing should really pick up following the stocking.

Trout can be caught on Power Bait, corn, or spinners. The brookies tend to feed near the bottom. Cut anchovies, night crawlers or hot dog are your best bet for catfish.

Lynx can be difficult to fish, if you are not catching anything try moving to a new spot. There are some good spots on the north end of the lake that don’t get fished as heavily as the south end does. Again, at Lynx, there is not oxygen for fish below 20-feet at Lynx.  So fish in 15-18 feet using a floating bait such as PowerBait or marshmallow. 

Fingerling brook trout were stocked Sept. 17 ,2009.
 
MINGUS LAKE – Trout were stocked last the week of June 14. That was the last scheduled stocking until September. The gate is open. The best bait is usually orange, pink, or white Power Bait, fished on the bottom with a treble hook and an egg sinker. Fishing can be really good at times, because angler use is lower than other lakes in the area. This lake is more remote than the other Prescott area lakes and not very big.

Someone illegally stocked yellow bullhead into Mingus several years ago. These fish compete directly with the trout and keep growth rates very low.  If you witness anyone, anywhere, moving fish like bass, bluegill, catfish and stocking them, please report it to our Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-352-0700.  Illegal stockings cost YOU money!

WATSON – No new reports- The fishing should be picking up by now, but I have not heard of many anglers fishing Watson.  Both Bass and catfish should be active by now.  Large numbers of small crappie are in Watson, but I have not heard about people catching them.

Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Watson last fall and found the bass,  sunfish, and bullhead to be plentiful.  Crappies were also doing well.  Look for the crappie fishing to pick up in a year or two. If you fish Watson and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR – The fishing has picked up.  Anglers continue to have success catching bass.   Plastics seem to be working the best for now.

If you fish Willow and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

Mogollon Rim and White Mountains

Recommended Waters to Fish:
Woods Canyon and Willow Springs Lakes on the Rim have been heavily stocked and the fishing is very good. Large sized (1-8 pound) incentive trout were stocked last week in Woods Canyon Lake.

Show Low Lake in the Pinetop-Lakeside/Show Low area has been heavily stocked in the last couple weeks and anglers have been catching trout, walleye, and bluegill from the fishing piers and boats.

In the higher elevations, Big Lake is doing well for large, carry-over rainbow and cutthroat trout, and Crescent Lake has been doing well for recently-stocked trout.

TROUT STOCKINGS:

Stocked for July 6-9
Bear Canyon Lake – 1,125 rainbow trout
Willow Springs Lake – 3,038 rainbow trout
Woods Canyon Lake – 1665 rainbow trout
East Fork Black River – 1,400 Apache trout
LCR – Greer- 400 rainbow and 400 Apache trout
Sheeps Crossing – 500 Apache trout
Silver Creek – 500 rainbow trout
West Fork Black River – 600 Apache trout

Scheduled for July 12-16
Bear Canyon Lake – 1,100 rainbow trout
Crescent Lake – 1,740 brook trout
Willow Springs Lake – 3,038 rainbow trout
Woods Canyon Lake –  2,000 rainbow trout
East Fork Black River – 1,400 Apache trout
LCR – Greer- 400 rainbow and 400 Apache trout
Sheeps Crossing – 500 Apache trout
Silver Creek – 500 rainbow trout
West Fork Black River – 600 Apache trout

MOGOLLON RIM

All lakes are accessible and full. Boat ramps are all accessible, except at Bear Canyon and Chevelon Canyon lakes where there are no traditional boat ramps. For more information, call the Pinetop Office of  Arizona Game and Fish at (928) 367-4281.

BEAR CANYON LAKE — Fishing is fair to good for stocked trout. Catchable-size rainbow trout will be stocked this week. Anglers are catching fish on Power Bait and night crawlers.  This is a hike-in lake. There is plenty of shoreline access, but it is best fished from a float tube or kayak.

BLACK CANYON LAKE — Fishing is fair for stocked trout. Anglers are catching trout on Power Bait and night crawlers.  This lake also contains largemouth bass and green sunfish – please catch and keep all you can of these illegally-stocked warm-water species, there is no limit on them.

BLUE RIDGE RESERVOIR -- Has slowed down considerably. Fishing is best from a boat, canoe, kayak or flat tube. There is deep canyon lake has very little accessible shoreline for an angler on foot.

CHEVELON LAKE -- Fishing is fair at this hike-in lake. The lake is open to artificial lures and flies only and trout between 10 and 14 inches may not be possessed. The daily bag and possession limit is 6 trout. It is illegal to use bait here. Two anglers reported great success fishing from float tubes using both fly and spinning gear -- in three days they caught-and-relelased more than 100 trout, including some nice sized browns.

WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. The lake will be stocked this week and nearly every week throughout the summer with catchable-size rainbow. Anglers have been catching these trout on Power Bait, night crawlers, and small lures. This lake also has largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and crappie -- please catch and keep all you can of these illegally-stocked warm-water species, there is no limit on them.

Angler Report:

Hi Rory;
    If you like catching LOTS of small trout, get to Willow Springs! The Monsoon is here, don't plan on much afternoon fishing.  Monday, 7/12 was so-so. Two of us caught 8 trout in 5 hours, keeping 5.
  Wed. they stocked right after we launched our boat. We started using yellow Power Bait, trolled slow and deep.  Wed. & Thurs. we caught at least 15-20 trout, in 4 hours, keeping only half or so. Almost any part of the lake produces fish!
    Had a great time!  The stocker trout are pretty small, 5-9", but some of them were real fighters. The osprey are pretty busy snapping up any fish thrown back, so not much guilt there! 
Leanne & Shane

WOODS CANYON LAKE — Fishing is fair to good for stocked trout. The lake was stocked last week and will be stocked again this week. Large sized (1to 8-pound) incentive rainbow trout were stocked two weeks ago in addition to the normal catchable-size trout.  A recent report indicated that trout were biting well on slowly trolled small Rebel crankbaits, Crickhoppers, spinners, and cowbells with an attached worm or fly.  Trolling Super Dupers or cowbells is popular here. The store is open and boat rentals are available. Be aware of a bald eagle nesting closure on the southwest side of the lake.

KNOLL LAKE -- Fishing picked up during last weekend's storms. Anglers were catching stockers and some nice holdovers as well. Fish were mostly deep but feed near the surface as the clouds were building up.

If you are heading to Knoll Lake, keep in mind there is a "managed" lightning caused fire just 4 miles away. According to the Forest Service, it is neither threatening the lake, causing smoke at the lake, or impeding access to the lake. However, you can only camp at the campground at the lake -- they have restricted dispersed camping in the area.

Stream fishing below the Rim has slowed significantly, but can still be viable at first and last light or on those cooler days when there is cloud cover. Try night crawlers, small spinners, Power Bait, Crickhoppers and 1/8-ounce KastMasters.

WHITE MOUNTAINS

Note: All lakes are accessible and most are full. Hwy 273 (Big Lake road) is paved and open. However, paving on a short section between Sunrise and Sheeps Crossing is in progress and traffic through this area may be slow. Flagmen and pilot cars are being used to maintain vehicle access while construction is occurring. Expect some delays. To avoid this construction, use Hwy 261. For more information, call the Pinetop office of the Arizona Game and Fish Department at (928) 367-4281.
 
 
BECKER LAKE — Fishing is fair for large rainbow trout. Anglers have been catching rainbows on nymphs and small midges. The lake is open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and a two-trout bag and possession limit.

BIG LAKE — Fishing is fair to good. The lake is full. Anglers are catching trout, some up to 4 pounds, on just about anything. Rooster Tail spinners and wooly bugger flies are working well, and the usual night crawlers, Power Bait, and salmon eggs are working particularly well. Trout are being caught in deep water areas of the lake. Boat anglers trolling cowbells and lures tipped with a night crawler has also been working well. Bank anglers should fish off rocky points where there is deep water.   The store is open and boat rentals are available.

CARNERO LAKE — Fishing is fair for stocked rainbow trout. Fly fishermen are catching stocked rainbow trout on small nymphs. The lake winter-killed but has been restocked with 2,350 large catchable (11-inch) and 6,935 sub-catchable (6-inch) rainbow trout earlier in the spring. This lake is best fished from a float tube, canoe or kayak. The weeds along the shoreline are very thick, but there is some open water in the middle. Trout have been feeding along the weed line near deeper water.

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR —Fishing is fair for trout and good for warm-water species. Try night crawlers and spinners for trout, and night crawlers on the bottom for bullheads, sunfish, and bass.

CONCHO LAKE — Fishing is poor. The lake level is very low and launching a boat is difficult. 

CRESCENT LAKE — Fishing is good. The lake winter-killed but has been heavily restocked with 5,000 catchable size brook trout, and 4,949 catchable and 7,457 sub-catchable rainbow trout since mid-May.   1,740 catchable size brook trout will be stocked this week. Anglers are catching stocked trout on night crawlers and Power Bait. The store is currently closed.

FOOL HOLLOW LAKE — Fishing is fair. A few trout in the 15-inch range are being caught on night crawlers and Power Bait. There were 1-7-pound channel catfish stocked on May 19. Anglers are catching catfish at night on chicken liver and night crawlers. Bluegills and black crappies are being caught on night crawlers and small jigs off the west and east side fishing piers. Some bass and walleyes are being caught on lures. One fishing pier on the east side is closed for repairs. This lake is managed as a State Recreation Area.

GREER LAKES — Fishing is fair at all Greer lakes (Bunch, Tunnel and River). Water levels are dropping at all three reservoirs, so use caution when launching a boat. Boats cannot be launched at the boat ramp at River Reservoir due to very low water levels. Also be careful about launching a boat at Bunch Reservoir due to the concrete lip at the end of the ramp. Anglers should use Power Bait and night crawlers on the bottom and in early morning, or small lures or cowbells trolled from a boat.  River Reservoir also contains illegally-stocked yellow perch, which can be caught easily by kids fishing a small piece of night crawler under a bobber.

HULSEY LAKE — Fishing is fair to good. Trout are being caught on Power Bait and night crawlers. Stocked trout are rising to early morning and late evening hatches and can be caught on small dry flies. There is a short hike down to this small lake.

LEE VALLEY RESERVOIR — Fishing is fair to good. The lake winter-killed, but has been restocked with 4,000 catchable-size Apache trout and 3,700 arctic grayling (7”) since mid-May. Apache trout and grayling are biting well on beadhead nymphs, Prince nymphs, Hares ear, zug bugs, and small peacock ladies. Try small nymphs in black, brown or green colors. Lee Valley Lake is open to lures and flies only with a 2-trout bag and possession limit, and a minimum size of 12-inches.  It is illegal to use bait here. 

LUNA LAKE — Fishing is poor to fair. It is a little slow, but some large trout are being caught on night crawlers, Power Bait, and salmon eggs fished off the bottom and in early morning. The concession store is under new management and is now open.  They have fishing tackle and boat rentals available. There is an algae bloom on the lake.

LYMAN LAKE — Lyman Lake State Park is open for the summer. Anglers should try night crawlers and chicken liver for catfish. Largemouth bass, sunfish and walleye are also present in the lake. Try night crawlers and lures for these fish. The Park has many campsites and other amenities.

NELSON RESERVOIR — Fishing is fair to good. The lake was stocked heavily with 10,800 catchable rainbow trout in May, but water conditions are becoming poor.  A strong algae bloom has developed and trout should be staying deep.  Try worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs on the bottom and early morning for best results.  Anglers using nightcrawlers and salmon eggs in the central portion of the lake have been catching the most fish.  The upper end is too shallow and weedy, while the lower end near the dam has a thicker algae bloom.

RAINBOW LAKE — Fishing is poor to fair. An algae bloom and lots of weeds are starting to develop, driving the pH levels up, and the fishing has slowed down. A few trout, bluegills, catfish, and bullheads are being caught off the fishing pier and dam area. 

SCOTT RESERVOIR — Fishing is fair. The lake waslast stocked with catchable-size rainbow trout in May, and 1 to 7-pound channel catfish were also stocked on May 19. Anglers are catching trout and catfish on night crawlers and Power Bait on the bottom, early in the morning.

SHOW LOW LAKE — Fishing is fair to good. The lake has been stocked well during the past two months. Anglers are catching trout and bluegill on night crawlers from the fishing piers, and on lures and cowbells with worms fished from boats.  Fish near the bottom early in the morning and late evening for best results.  A recent report said boat anglers drifting nightcrawlers and flies and trolling small spinners along the bottom were successful on trout and walleye. A few channel catfish and smallmouth bass are being caught by boat and shore fishermen.

WOODLAND LAKE — Fishing has been poor to fair for trout, bass, and catfish. Anglers should try night crawlers or Power Bait on the bottom and early in the morning for trout. Nightcrawlers will also work for bass and catfish.  A 4.5-pound bass was recently caught by a young angler fishing with a worm for catfish. The daily bag and possession limit at Woodland Lake is 4 trout.

WHITE MOUNTAIN STREAMS
Note:  Access roads to all streams are open. All regular stocking sites will be stocked weekly through the summer.

EAST FORK BLACK RIVER – Fishing is fair to good. Apache trout were stocked last week and will be stocked again this week. Try drifting worms through pools. Also try spinners, Rapalas or streamers for the resident brown trout.

LITTLE COLORADO RIVER-GREER – Fishing is good.  Stream flows are normal.  Catchable-size Apache and rainbow trout were stocked last week and will be stocked again this week.  Wild brown trout are also present.

SHEEPS CROSSING - Highway 273 is open and fishing is fair to good. However, road paving on Hwy 273 is occurring from Sunrise to Forest Road 87 (road from Greer) and delays should be expected. Traffic along Hwy 273 is being maintained with flagmen and pilot cars.  Apache trout were stocked last week and will be stocked again this week.  Anglers are catching trout on night crawlers.

SILVER CREEK - Fishing is good. Silver Creek is currently open to lures, flies and bait; with a daily bag and possession limit of 6 trout from April 1 through Sept. 30. The upper section is closed to fishing at this time. Rainbow trout were stocked last week and will be stocked again this week.  Try nightcrawlers or Power Bait, or small spinners or spoons in the deeper pools.

WEST FORK BLACK RIVER campground – Fishing is fair to good. Apache trout were stocked last week in the campground and will be stocked again this week.  Try drifting worms through pools for stocked trout or worms, spinners, or streamers for resident brown trout. The lower river near the campground is open to statewide regulations, but the upper reaches, from Hayground creek to the Apache Indian reservation boundary, are open to catch-and-release fishing only, with artificial lure and fly.Please send me your fishing reports from Southern Arizona!

SOUTHERN ARIZONA

Please send me your fishing reports from Southern Arizona!  Fishing reports can be sent to Don Mitchell, Regional Fish Program Manager by email at dmitchell@azgfd.gov.  These reports will then be complied and reported in our weekly fishing reports.

With hot summer temperatures anglers should plan on being out early and staying late.  Fish the coolest parts of the day and avoid the high mid day temperatures if you want to have success.  Night crawlers and meal worms are good choices for sunfish during this time of year.  Largemouth bass should be done spawning and anglers should find their feeding activity picking up.  For summer trout fishing opportunities anglers can travel to Rose Canyon Lake or Riggs Flat lake.  Check the Departments website for the stocking schedule at the following link:  2010 Spring and Summer Stocking Schedule. 

RIGGS FLAT — Fly anglers are reporting that lots of fish are being caught on dry flies.  Bait anglers are reporting poor success.  Check the Departments website for the stocking schedule at the following link:  2010 Spring and Summer Stocking Schedule. 

CLUFF RANCH —  No recent reports of success.  The pond is full and there are no issues with boat launching.  For lake information call (928) 485-9430.

ROPER LAKE —  For lake information and status of the park call (928) 428-6760.

DANKWORTH POND — Aquatic vegetation continues to be a problem for anglers and because of this the lake is not being stocked.  For lake information call (928) 428-6760.

FRYE MESA RESERVIOR –With high daytime temperatures anglers should fish in the early morning or late evening.  Fish are going to be deeper this time of year.  Try a small fly in the early mornings and late evenings.  Bait anglers should try Power Bait and worms. Although this small lake is not stocked on a regular basis it does provide some pretty good trout fishing. 

KEARNY LAKES — This small lake remains fishless due to impacts of golden algae.
 
ARIVACA —Anglers should have no problems launching boats.  The lake continues to experience a blue/green algal bloom but that is typical this time of year.  No recent reports.  Remember that all bass must be immediately released back to the water. Anglers are asked to please be aware of your wake so as not to disrupt other anglers fishing from other boats and the shore. 

PENA BLANCA – Construction of the new boat ramp and facilities continues and is expected to be completed by August.  Please respect all closures of the area associated with this construction.  Knowledgeable anglers are still catching trout using very light line and powerbait.  Because trout is the only species of fish currently in the lake anglers must have a trout stamp to fish.  Currently there are no boat launching facilities available for launching boats.  Small boats that can be carried to the lake shore and float tubes are possible and those wanting to use such watercraft should use caution as there is a lot of debris floating in the lake.  Shoreline anglers should have no trouble finding a place to fish. 
 
PATAGONIA —  This lake level is very low.  Boaters should use caution.  Due to water levels the launch ramp in the marina cove is difficult for larger boats.  Anglers are reporting success with spinner baits and flipping the cattails for bass and increased activity around shad boils.  Sunfish remain active in the shallows in areas with deep shade.

PARKER CANYON — Aquatic vegetation is bad along the shoreline but the Department is in the process of cutting it.  Fishing for sunfish remains good.  Largemouth bass fishing continues to be slow.  The store at the lake is open and information on the store and current conditions can be found at www.parkercanyonlake.com.

Shane reports fly fishing picking up for top and subsurface fies!  Me and my dad caught around 24 to 30 bluegill some bass and green sunfish mostly caught on bee pattern and amber reddish flies and green woolly buggers.  We fished around the boat ramp and the docks(from 3 to 6).  Recommended for anybody looking for an extreme fight!!!!

Donna reported that they caught 25 to 30 good sized sunfish as well in open water outside of the weedline.

 
ROSE CANYON LAKE —Fishing remains good with lots of anglers reporting limits.  Early mornings and late afternoons are reportedly the best times.  Check the Departments website for the stocking schedule at the following link:  2010 Spring and Summer Stocking Schedule.
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