Rory’s tips:

This is a good time to look for bass and other warmwater fish in the high country lakes.

Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff has a decent population of largemouth bass, plenty of northern pike, and even the opportunity to catch some perch or walleye. It’s a summer smorgasbord of fishing opportunities.

Keep in mind that Upper Lake Mary does not have any boat motor restrictions.

Another one of my high country, warmwater favorites is Fool Hollow Lake in Show Low. It has largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and trout. Plus, the Fool Hollow State Park has some really nice amenities – like showers.

Show Low Lake just up the road from Fool Hollow is also worth a try, especially for walleye. It holds the state record. There are even some boat rentals available there (at the campground).

One of my all-time favorites is Willow Springs Lake on the Mogollon Rim. Besides providing some of the best trout fishing, especially as the weather warms, it also has largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and even crappie. There are no limits on the warmwater fish, so catch and keep as many as you can.

If you are looking for a little fishing adventure and don’t mind dusty washboard roads, try Long Lake. There have been a number of 10- to 18-pound northern pike caught there recently. But don’t expect a lot of amenities, it only has a boat ramp. You need to be self-sufficient at this fishery.

For trout, Big Lake, Ashurst Lake, Woods Canyon, Blue Ridge, Knoll and Bear Canyon are the current standouts.

In the lower elevation lakes, night fishing makes a lot of sense. With a waxing quarter moon this week, submersible crappie lights will still be somewhat effective, especially when the moon is not high in the night sky. Those looking to fish at night might want to shift their attention to the bottom dwellers, such as carp and catfish.

Fishing News

Citations issued for quagga contaminated boats
Invasive mussels discovered at Lake Powell decontamination station

Note: We ran this item in last week's Fishing Report, but because it's so important for boaters to help prevent the spread of invasive quagga mussels, we thought we'd repeat it. Please clean, drain and dry your boats.

Arizona Game and Fish officers recently issued citations to two individuals who brought quagga mussel contaminated boats to Lake Powell, and citations are pending in a third case.

“Fortunately, in these instances the quagga mussels on the boats were discovered at Lake Powell’s decontamination station prior to launching,” said Tom McMahon, the invasive species coordinator for the Game and Fish Department.

One of the vessels had mussels on its anchor, which many people forget to clean, and the boat owner neglected to remove the plug before leaving Lake Pleasant, which is another violation.

“About a quarter of the boats showing up at Lake Powell with quagga mussels have been in violation due to mussels being attached to the anchor,” McMahon said.

 

 

 

McMahon added that these two incidents demonstrate why boaters coming from lakes such as Pleasant, Mead, Mohave, and Havasu that are infested with quagga mussels need to be conscientious about taking legally required proper precautions so they don’t move these invasive mollusks to an unaffected water, such as Powell or Bartlett Lake.

“It’s essential that boaters clean, drain and dry their boats each and every time they go boating anywhere, any time. Unfortunately, there are lots of aquatic invasive species that might hitchhike to another water on your boat or trailer,” McMahon said.

However, he added, those boating in waters listed as having aquatic invasive species, such as quagga and zebra mussels, by law must follow the prescribed decontamination procedures.

“Quite simply it is against the law in Arizona to transport quagga or zebra mussels and those found doing so can and probably will be cited,” McMahon pointed out.

For the most part, those legally required procedures are simple and straightforward.

Before leaving the vicinity of an aquatic invasive species listed water, such as Pleasant, Mead, Mohave or Havasu, the law requires that you:

Step 1: Clean and remove any clinging material such as plants, animals and mud from anchor, boat, motor and trailer.

Step 2: Pull your plug and drain the water from the bilge, livewell and any other compartments that could hold water. Also be sure to drain the water from the engine and engine cooling system.

Step 3: Ensure your watercraft and equipment are allowed to dry completely and out of the water for a minimum of seven days.

For more detailed information, check out www.azgfd.gov/ais.

“We’ve been asking boaters to clean, drain, and dry their boats for years.  It’s just a good practice to not only protect our precious water resources, but to protect your own boating investment. Most boaters have been pretty understanding and cooperative,” McMahon said.

Now when they boat at waters listed as having aquatic invasive species, such as Mead, Mohave, Havasu, and Pleasant, it is required by law. As McMahon tells everyone he contacts to remember, “Don’t Move a Mussel – Now it’s the Law”.

CENTRAL WATERS

Note: 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.

URBAN LAKES -- The final spring stocking of catfish took place the week of June 11-16. The Urban Fishing Program does not stock fish from June 25 through mid September. Catfish stockings in the Phoenix and Tucson urban lakes will resume the week of Sept. 17-22.

Fishing has been good to excellent for anglers using worms, stink baits, or shrimp fished on the bottom. If you want to use bobbers, rig up a slip bobber and fish 8-12 feet deep.

Catfish are biting irregularly throughout the day, but are more active when the sun goes down. Most catfish are from 13-16 inches, but some lunkers over 3 pounds are being hauled out of the lakes.

Bluegill fishing is good for anglers using worms and mealworms fished under a small bobber in 3- to 6-foot depths. Action for largemouth bass is fair, with the best baits being finesse plastics fished in the early morning hours.

At Green Valley Lakes (Payson), fishing for trout is slowing down since stockings wrapped up on May 11. However, fishing for bass, bluegill and crappie is good. Anglers using worms and meal worms under a small bobber are enjoying plenty of action. Also try small plastic or marabou jigs, plastic worms, and dark-colored nymphs or streamers. Trout stockings will resume in October.

TEMPE TOWN LAKE – Fishing is fair to good, with the best bite at first and last light for bass and sunfish. This is a good time to try for channel catfish and carp using corn or dough baits after dark. Keep in mind that although this fishery in in the city, it is not part of the Urban Fishing Program, so you will need the regular state fishing license to fish here.

LAKE PLEASANT - The protracted largemouth bass spawn has finally tailed off, leaving lots of bass fry throughout the lake, but especially over points and underwater humps. According to Mike McFarland, a guide at Pleasant, the stripers have finally gone deep but small stripers can often be caught on topwater at first light in coves, especially the northern ones. During the day, try going deep for stripers using frozen anchovies as bait. Chumming can be productive, especially to hold a school of stripers once you have caught that first one. Mike said there are some larger stripers in the 15-pound range being caught at night on live bluegills fished in a similar manner as one would fish for flathead catfish; just use lighter slip sinkers so the gills can be more far ranging. By the way, this technique might also get you a lunker largemouth bass or two as well.

Keep in mind that there is no limit on stripers at Lake Pleasant and you are encouraged to catch and keep all you can to help the aquatic environment. The traditional method for fishing at night for stripers is using submersible lights and dangling pieces of frozen anchovies, while chumming to attract or hold schools of stripers. Fishing is also very good for bluegill and good for channel catfish. Carp fishing is usually pretty good, especially at night using dought bait or corn. Try chumming with corn to attract carp and other fish.

ROOSEVELT LAKE - Lake elevation is 2,113 feet and the lake level is 58 percent. Summer patterns are in effect. Expect a decent topwater bite at first light, but then expect the fish to do into their deeper holding patterns. With a waxing quarter moon this week, fishing at night using submersible lights is still viable, but will diminish as the moon grows in intensity. Check the moon rise and moon set times. 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.

APACHE LAKE - Lake elevation is 1,907 feet (93 percent full). Bass fishing is 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 1,657 feet, which is 95 percent full. 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 92 percent full. Largemouth bass fishing is good. The bite is a little more sporadic right now. Keep an eye out for surface boils -- it's topwater time. Recreational boating congestion is also increasing significantly -- get on the water at first light, or fishing at night. As you will see in the angler report below, this is a good time to load up on spawning bluegill. Saguaro is also a quality channel catfish lake. Try stink baits, hot dogs, chicken livers and the like. Also try chumming with corn.

Angler report:

Hello Rory,

Just wanted to give you my fishing report from Saguaro Lake on 6/9/12. I caught 5 on topwater at first light all in a 15-minute span. Then I started jigging with a single tail grub worm in some heavy cover about 15 to 25 feet deep when I hooked into the 7.8-pound bass shown in the picture (on the right).  Ended up with 8 bass total from 5 to 9 a.m.

Thanks,

Grant Hottmann

BARTLETT LAKE – Lake elevation 1,754 feet, 46 percent full. Fishing is decent for 1- to 2-pound largemouth bass and is also doing well for crappie at times. Square-billed crankbaits are working well, or anything that resembles a crayfish from soft plastics to small crankbaits. The night fishing for crappie is decent at times. Although most crappie are small, there are just enough slabbers to keep it interesting. Try live minnows fished under submersible lights. It's also possible to catch crappie during the day, especially at first light. 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.

HORSESHOE LAKE - Lake is empty.

LOWER SALT RIVER (below Saguaro Lake) – They are releasing from 1,030 cfs out of Stewart Mountain Dam from Saguaro. Has not been stocked recently. You might still catch some trout, especially in the swifter runs or deepr holes. It's also possible to catch bass and other warmwater fish in the deeper holes.

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

LAKE POWELL -- By: Wayne Gustaveson, http://www.wayneswords.com/, June 19, 2012. Lake Elevation: 3,635. Water Temperature 72-80 F.

Lake level is now falling after remaining stable all spring. This will have an impact on fishing later in the summer but for right now the same old patterns are still in force. The brush forest at lake edge has been responsible for the good fishing results for all species seen this year and for some unexpected quirks as well. Adult stripers have been hard to catch in the main lake this year as these big fish remain associated with brush that they have occupied for most of their 3-4 year life span. As water pulls out of the trees, stripers and forage will have to move to open water creating a different fishing pattern.

But for this week stripers are still associated with brush. In the southern lake yearling stripers are holding near brushy coves. The best pattern is to troll in 15-25 feet of water, near brush, on flat shorelines. Bays like Warm Creek, Padre, and West Canyon have the flat brushy shoreline small stripers favor. While trolling, watch the graph for schools of fish under the boat and constantly scan the surface for slurping boils. Boils are most likely to be seen at morning and evening twilight. Good numbers of stripers can be caught trolling and then under the boat as the school follows the hooked fish to casting and spooning range.

From Hite to Good Hope the same technique of trolling while watching for surface activity works well. Troll right up to boiling fish, change rods, and catch surface feeding fish. When they go down, keep trolling for more fish. Trachyte and Tapestry Wall have been consistent for boils this week.

At Bullfrog lots of slurpers are seen morning and evening from Hansen Creek to Lake Canyon and all spots in between. The fish are spooky but a few fish can be caught from each boil. The big advantage at Bullfrog is boiling stripers weigh 3 pounds instead of the half-pound fish found at Wahweap. Striper fishing is best described as steady. Fish are regularly caught but not in numbers in which we have become accustomed.

The surprise species continues to be walleye. They can be caught trolling in the treetops in 15-20 feet of water early and late in the day. (That is essentially the same pattern and location described for stripers.) Use a Bomber Flat A crankbait or a Lucky Craft Flat Mini to troll at just the right depth over trees. On windy afternoons, walleye bite trolled baits work very well while on calm days they are missing in action. Walleye fishing near Hite is great while best described as good in the main lake downstream all the way to Padre Bay.  

Saving the best for last, it is now time to describe smallmouth bass fishing as wide open. It is essential to use the right technique to achieve the best results. Drop-shot is the key and Yamamoto shad shaped worms are the best bait. Fish the edge of the tree line for smallmouth and the brush thickets for largemouth. Place the bait on the bottom in 15-25 feet of water near brush and then fish it very slowly. Let the fish tell you when it has been in one place long enough. Once in the zone, 100-bass days are very possible. If drop-shot rigs are still a mystery to you, then it’s time to study up and learn how to use this effective summer fishing technique.

LEES FERRY -- Report courtesy of Terry Gunn at Lees Ferry Anglers.

Currently the fishing is good on the weekdays and great on the weekends due to the lower water flows on Saturdays and Sundays. The higher flow that began June 1 is moving more food around and we are beginning to transition our flies from midges to more scuds and worms. Midges are still working well, but as the weather warms and the flows increase, it will be more and more about the scuds, worms, and big dry flies.

I’m already hearing cicadas singing along the river. This is the earliest that I can ever remember hearing them; usually they don’t show until closer to the end of June. I’m sure that this means that the hatch and bite will happen much earlier than normal and if we are lucky it might just signal a mega hatch. I have seen years that you can throw a cicada pattern into the middle of the river and a fish will come 20 feet off the bottom to eat it! Every year the hatch is different and I know of no way to predict the intensity or number of bugs; last year was a poor hatch.

The tamarisk beetle has arrived in force at Lees Ferry and all of the tamarisk trees that line the river are either dying or dead. I can’t see how this is going to help our cicada hatch and it is possible that it could have a very negative affect on the cicada populations going forward. It is going to be very interesting to see what the future holds for this hatch. If the cicada hatch declines, it will cause no harm to the trout; however, I would certainly miss seeing the trout crash giant dries.

In July the water flows will be increasing and this is the time of year that the fish really begin feeding. This is a result of the higher velocity water moving the larger food items (scuds and worms) around. The flows are not really conducive to wading, so most of our fishing is from the boat, drifting cicada patterns or heavy nymph rigs with scuds and worms.

The water flows increased in June as expected. Current weekday releases are from 9,000 cfs to 15,000 cfs. These flows are OK for wading some areas while a little high for wading everywhere on the river. The weekend flows have been low with hardly any rise, and if you are in the right spot fishing the right way on the weekends, fishing can be incredibly good.

Here is a chart that shows how the flows changed from May to June. This chart is from the real time river recording station at Lees Ferry and can be found here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=09380000

It is important to note that this station is 16 miles below Glen Canyon Dam and there will be a time difference between what happens at the dam and at Lees Ferry, but learning to read these charts can give one a very good idea of when the water is rising and falling. Also note that there is only one rise and fall every day as opposed to the 2 peaks we often see in the spring. Each vertical line represents a 24-hr period, from midnight to midnight.

We have been mixing up wading and also drifting midge rigs from the boat, which is a great way to get to the feeding fish in the deeper water. This is also a terrific way to cover lots of water and show fish that get very little fishing pressure a fly. The trick is to know where the fish are and then set up your drift so that the boat drifts through the area that contains the most fish. You always want to cast away from the boat towards either shore. The trick is to get a perfect dead drift the same as when you are wading. The best way to do this is to fish slack line on the water. You will need a long leader and the right amount of split shot, and as a general rule, if you cannot see the bottom, you are fishing water that is too deep.

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.

The streamer fishing has been picking up and will likely get hot when the water flows increase this summer. The reason for this is that the higher flows move larger food items around (scuds, worms, etc.).

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 1,117 ft msl. The water level will continue to drop approximately one foot 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 June 19. The next new moon will be July 19. Dark nights work best when fishing under light. Fishing for stripers in 50 plus feet of water will normally find the larger fish. 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 topwater 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/.
   

 

Angler report:

Rory:

This past week the striper fishing at night really turned on!

Here are some photos from the latest trips. One lady (Phyllis) from Yuma hadn't caught a fish in over 60 years, while Carol Stines from Phoenix said she hadn't caught a fish on over 50 years!

Both caught a lot of fish this week.

Capt. Don Martin
Stripers Hunters

LAKE MOHAVE – The lake level has maintained about 642 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. 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 July 19. 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 - it 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 spoken of very large trout being caught in the Laughlin area. Rusty from Riviera Marina sent a picture of a nice 8.12-pound striper caught by Randy on the Nevada shore in the Big Bend area using anchovies. Overall, the fishing is great on the river, with large rainbow trout still being caught.

TOPOCK GORGE - Most bass are being taken on minnows and night crawlers. Smallmouths are ranging from 2–5 pounds, and sunfish up to 1.5 pounds. A 5.5 beauty was the largest 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 6-pound catfish was caught on a Browning Super-lite on 6-pound test. 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. Anchovies are still the bait of choice for the stripers. John and 11-year-old son Jack limited out on bass, with Jack besting his dad with a 4.5-pound largemouth. Thanks, Georgia, for the fishing report.

Rainbow trout are stocked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service monthly during the winter. The fish are normally stocked in two locations; Davis Camp and near The Riverside. Stocking at Rotary Park has made another access point to the river for fishing and has made many people happy. 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 website for flow predictions at 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 gcummins@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

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 448.91. Stripers hitting cast and trolled topwaterlures like Chug Bugs, pencil poppers and Sammys in Bone, White and chrome colors in the morning hours from 5:30 to 8. Fishing cut bait (anchovies/sardines) has been productive at the entrance to the river north to Blankenship Bend.

Largemouth bass hitting buzzbaits, poppers and frogs during the first two hours in the morning and then again during the last two hours of light in the evening. Mid-day bite is good around shady pockets in cattails and tulles using slow-fall plastics like Senkos, Gitzits and brush hogs. Green pumpkin, watermelon red and cinnamon purple have been productive colors.

Redear panfish are hitting good on crappie tubes and night crawlers on shallow reefs and flats where they spawn.

The nightime catfish bite has been excellent on cut mackerel and 3- to 6-inch live bluegillls, with 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. the best time to target "BIG" cats.

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 occassional 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 -- Fishing Report courtesy Mark Knapp at Alamo Lake State Park.

Well folks, picture this. It's about 100 something degrees out, you're on the lake with a light breeze, you look around and you're the only boat on the lake. The shorelines are loaded with burros, deer and cows all around. You see a bald eagle sitting in a tree, and a beaver swims by. You find a nice rocky point and decide to throw training wheels (crank bait) right up on the shore line. Your second cast you think you just got stuck on an underwater rock or tree branch. You pull hard trying to get your lure back and suddenly it pulls back. The fight is on. Your drag is pulling line off and you're thinking to yourself, "Thank God I retied a good knot and have fresh line on my pole." Now you're wondering to yourself, "Is it a bass or a giant catfish?" You keep your rod tip a couple of inches above the water in case the fish jumps out of the water. Sure enough, she does and your jaw drops when you see the size of it. And it's a bass. You take your time and soon enough you're holding a 6-pound bass. You take a picture and put her back in the lake. Well, that's the way our day started around 3 in the afternoon the other day.

Junior and I went out and fished till dark. He ran the front of the boat the whole time. By the end of the night I boated six nice-sized bass and missed a lot more. The toad came with the crankbait, and the rest were with plastics. Junior threw a brush hog and robo worms and I stuck with my lizards. Lizards were the hot ticket.

I just talked with a guy, forgot his name already, who spent the night on the lake. They caught over 20 catfish using minnows and night crawlers. They were in the upper end of the lake in about 20 feet of water. Another angler reported the same (20 cats) but was in about 6 feet of water. If your into catfishing, it's hard to go wrong out here. One thing to remember is that these people were in boats. Shoreline fishing is OK at best.

No reports on crappie this week.

The lake level is 1102ish with releases of 50 cfs. Once you get around the first bouy line, you really want to pay attention. Trees and sand bars are starting to surface. Cholla Ramp is still in operation and should be for awhile. Were launching off the old rental boat road and have no problems so far. Remember sun block and bug spray. That's it for this week.   ...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 -- 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

WILLIAMS LAKES:   

KAIBAB LAKE — Campground is open. According to our creel clerk bass, crappie, bluegill and trout were being caught over the weekend. With the warm water temperatures, trout fishing will be best early in the morning or late in the evening. Fish for other species later in the day. Scheduled to be stocked this week.

CATARACT LAKE — Campground is open. Fishing was slow last week. A few bass and crappie were caught. Please try to leave the larger bass in the lake to spawn.

CITY RESERVOIR — Closed due to fire danger.

DOGTOWN LAKE — Campground is open. Crappie fishing was excellent over the weekend when the wind wasn’t blowing.

JD DAM — Fishing was good in the evening. Remember, the lake is managed as a catch-and-release fishery.

RUSSELL TANK - The lake is too shallow to stock.

SANTA FE — Closed due to fire danger.

WHITEHORSE LAKE — Campground is open. Fly fishermen were catching a lot of small crappie over the weekend on bead head prince nymphs. In addition, folks were catching trout. With the warm water temperatures, trout fishing will be best early in the morning or late in the evening. 

FLAGSTAFF LAKES:

LOWER LAKE MARY — Very low water No report.

UPPER LAKE MARY — Had a report to the office of a large black crappie, a 20-pound channel catfish, and a 15-pound northern being caught in the last couple of weeks.

ASHURST LAKE — No report, but the road is open. The lake was sampled a couple of weeks ago and lots of holdover rainbow trout were caught. Smaller pike were also common in our nets; please remove all of the pike you catch. Has been heavily stocked. With the warm water temperatures, trout fishing will be best early in the morning or late in the evening. 

FRANCIS SHORT POND – Fishing was good last week. Incentive fish were stocked along with catfish.  Catfish were being caught on hotdogs. Trout were being caught on green powerbait. Stocked last week.

KINNIKINICK LAKE — Road is open. No report. A lot of nice brown trout and channel catfish were caught during fish sampling. With the warm water temperatures, trout fishing will be best early in the morning or late in the evening.

MARSHALL LAKE — No report, low water.

OAK CREEK — No report. Stocked last week.

LONG LAKE — No report.

SOLDIERS & SOLDIERS ANNEX — No report.

BEAVER CREEK – Has been stocked.

WEST CLEAR CREEK - Has been stocked.

STONEMAN LAKE — NO FISH.

BLUE RIDGE — Fishing has been good. Fishing was excellent over the weekend, with fish being caught on Cicadas.

KNOLL LAKE — Fishing has been good. 

Angler reports:

Rory,

Just wanted to share a picture of the 37-inch pike my wife landed last night (Friday). Windy conditions, but we have seen a few hauled in by anglers on boats. Went to Soldiers Annex around noon and caught a few catfish. Thanks for the reports.

Mike Street


VERDE VALLEY

DEAD HORSE RANCH STATE PARK – Catfish were last stocked for the Free Fishing event. Trout were last stocked the week of March 19. The catfish and largemouth bite has been fair. Catfish are still being caught on nightcrawlers, chicken liver, and stinkbait. The bass are being caught on small plastic worms and Gitzit-type plastic grubs, bounced slowly along the bottom. Sunfish have been doing well on worms, salmon eggs, or small piece of Powerbait under a bobber. They bite best in the early morning hours and the evening.

VERDE RIVER (throughout Verde Valley) – Trout were last stocked the week of March 26. Carp fishing has been good using corn or dough baits. 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 — The last stocking was the week of June 11. The reports from regulars at the lake say the trout are biting, but the morning bite is the best. Anglers are having luck throughout the day using Power Bait and Berkley Gulp. Rainbow and yellow seem to be the popular colors. Fishermen using their fly rod gear are having the best luck. Flies are less likely to get swallowed, so releasing the fish is much easier.  

GOLDWATER LAKE — The lake is open again, and if you have fished Goldwater, send me a report of how you did. Trout were stocked for the Free Fishing Event on June 9, and most of the kids at the event caught trout and had a great time. Game and Fish has been trying to boost some of the warmwater species in Goldwater. Bass and catfish have been stocked three times over the last four 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. If you fish Goldwater and are having luck, please e-mail me at gcummins@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

GRANITE BASIN LAKE – The bass are biting now. Michael sent in a report of catching four largemouth in two hours, with the biggest being 3.5 pounds. He was using a rubber trout with a spinner tip and a rainbow trout spinner. Thanks for the report, Michael! If you fish Granite Basin and are having luck, please e-mail me at gcummins@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others. Ed had four good strikes but could not bring in a fish.

LYNX LAKE – Rainbow trout were last stocked the week of June 11. Cut anchovies, night crawlers or hot dog are your best bet for catfish. Lynx also can be an exciting place to fish for carp. Common carp are very strong fighters and will provide an excellent table fair. A quick search on the internet will produce tasty recipes for these robust fish. Corn and an assortment of other baits will attract these fish. 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.

MINGUS LAKE – The last stocking was scheduled for the week of June 11. For trout, 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. Yellow bullhead catfish are active and easy to catch with nightcrawlers on the bottom. This lake is more remote than the other Prescott area lakes and not very big. The lake is open as weather permits. Forest Road 104 is relatively impassable when wet. The lake is still open to foot traffic. 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 LAKE – The last trout stocking was the week of Feb. 13. Folks have caught 16- to 17-inch holdover trout from the shore near the new boat launch. Peter, fishing from a kayak, caught a 17-inch bass weighing approximately 3 pounds using a live worm. He saw several other large bass but could not get any others to take his bait. The Wildlife Manager for the Watson area sent me a picture of some nice trout an angler caught from shore. Both of these fish looked like they had been in the lake for a period of time because of the size and condition of the fish. If you have fished Watson Lake, please send me a report of your trip to share with folks. Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Watson recently 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 gcummins@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR – The fishing should be slow until the water warms up in the spring. If you fish Willow and are having luck, please e-mail me at gcummins@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

WHITE MOUNTAINS AND RIM LAKES

Recommended Waters to Fish

Fishing for holdover trout is fair to good at Big Lake. Fishing for stocked rainbow trout is good at Show Low Creek (below Show Low Lake dam), Show Low and Fool Hollow lakes (especially for boat anglers), Nelson Reservoir, Willow Springs Lake, Woods Canyon Lake, Tunnel Reservoir and River Reservoir. Fishing is good for stocked Apache trout at Silver Creek, LCR-Greer, and Sheep’s Crossing and the East Fork Black River.

Stocking Schedule

Week of June 11-15
East Fork Black River – 980 Apache trout
Little Colorado River-Greer – 875 Apache trout
Sheep’s Crossing/West Fork LCR – 350 Apache trout
Show Low Creek – 1,080 rainbow trout
Silver Creek – 525 Apache trout
River Reservoir – 2,025 rainbow trout
Tunnel Reservoir – 1,250 rainbow trout
West Fork Black River – 350 Apache trout
Willow Springs Lake – 3,038 rainbow trout
Woods Canyon Lake – 2,952 rainbow trout

Week of June 18-22
East Fork Black River – 980 Apache trout
Fool Hollow Lake – 1,500 rainbow trout
Little Colorado River-Greer – Apache trout
River Reservoir – 2,025 rainbow trout
Scott Reservoir – 1,250 rainbow trout
Sheeps Crossing/West Fork LCR – 350 Apache trout
Show Low Lake – 2,500 rainbow trout
Silver Creek – 525 Apache trout
Tunnel Reservoir – 1,250 rainbow trout
Willow Springs Lake – 3,038 rainbow trout

Week of June 25-29
Bear Canyon Lake-1,823 rainbow trout
Willow Springs Lake-3,038 rainbow trout
Woods Canyon Lake-3,000 rainbow trout
Sheeps Crossing/West Fork LCR-650 Apache trout
LCR/Greer (Roundevous)-400 Apache trout
Show Low Creek- 1,000 rainbow trout
Silver Creek-525 Apache trout
 

MOGOLLON RIM LAKES
Note:  All Forest Roads (FR) are open, including the Rim Road.

BEAR CANYON LAKE – Fishing is fair to good for stocked trout. The lake will be stocked this week with 1,823 rainbow trout.

BLACK CANYON LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. Anglers are catching trout on worms. The water level is very low. Launching a boat will be difficult.

CHEVELON LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. 

WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE – Fishing is good. The lake will be stocked this week with 3,038 rainbow trout. Anglers are catching trout on worms and Power Bait.

WOODS CANYON LAKE – Fishing is good to excellent. The lake will be stocked last this week with about 3,000 rainbow trout. The lake is full, the store is open, and boat rentals are available. Anglers are catching trout on worms and Power Bait.


WHITE MOUNTAINS LAKES

Note:  A partial area closure took effect on the west side of Greer on June 20 due to dry conditions and fire danger. FR 87 (from Greer to Hwy 273), 112 and 575 will be closed until further notice, including the Government Springs fishing area immediately upstream of Greer. The Greer lakes and the stream within the Greer meadow are still open. Portions of the forest on the Lakeside Ranger District are closed, except around the in town lakes of Woodland, Rainbow, Scotts, Show Low, and Fool Hollow Lakes.
 
BECKER LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. Days are hot, so fish early in the morning and late in the day. Some fly fishermen are catching trout on nymphs, including zebra midges (black and red) and red chironomids, and wooly buggers. Anglers have been consistently catching rainbows over 20 inches, with reports of trout up to 24 inches. Becker Lake is catch-and-release only, with artificial lures and flies only with single barbless hook.

BIG LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. Days are hot, so fish early in the morning and late in the day. Anglers are catching fish in the deeper parts of the lake. The store is open, and boat rentals are available. Boat anglers are catching trout by trolling cowbells with worms, lures (Crickhoppers and Z-Rays) and flies. Shore anglers should try fishing in deep water off rocky points.  
 
CARNERO LAKE – Fishing is fair to good for stocked rainbow trout. The lake level is about 1.5 feet down.

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

CONCHO LAKE – Fishing is fair.

CRESCENT LAKE – Fishing is fair. Anglers have been catching some brook trout and a few large rainbow trout. The store is not open.

FOOL HOLLOW LAKE – Days are hot, so fish early in the morning and late in the day. Fishing is fair for trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish, and channel catfish. The lake was stocked last week with 1,500 rainbow trout. Anglers are catching some large, stocked trout with nightcrawlers and Power Bait in 10 to 15 feet of deep water near off the fishing piers on the southwest side of the lake. Bluegills are starting to congregate around the fishing piers. Channel catfish are being caught at night on nightcrawlers and various catfish-prepared baits.

GREER LAKES – Fishing is fair to good. 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.  Tunnel Reservoir was stocked last week with 1,250 rainbow trout and River Reservoir was stocked with 2,025 rainbow trout. Fly fishermen are catching trout at Bunch and River on woolly buggers and peacock ladies.

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.

LEE VALLEY LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. Anglers are catching stocked Apache trout on lures and flies. The lake level is low.

LUNA LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. Luna Lake was stocked heavily in May with rainbow trout. The lake is full.

LYMAN LAKE – Lyman Lake State Park is now open through Sept. 17. Fishing is good for channel catfish.

NELSON RESERVOIR – Fishing is good to excellent. The lake is full and was heavily stocked with rainbow trout in May.
 
RAINBOW LAKE – Fishing is fair to good for bullheads. Days are hot, so fish early in the morning and late in the day. The  lake is weedy. Weeds are starting to show up in the shallow areas, but the middle channel of the lake is still clear.

SCOTT RESERVOIR – Fishing is fair for channel catfish and stocked trout. Days are hot, so fish early in the morning and late in the day. The lake was stocked last week with 1,250 rainbow trout. The lake is nearly full. 

SHOW LOW LAKE – Fishing is fair for stocked trout. Days are hot, so fish early in the morning and late in the day. The lake was stocked last week with 2,500 rainbow trout. Boat anglers are catching trout on cowbells, flies, and lures. Fishing is good to excellent in the large pool immediately below the outlet. Show Low Creek will be stocked this week with 1,000 rainbow trout. The lake is about six feet low, but the boat ramp is still usable. The fishing pier located across the dam is accessible. Boat rentals are available, and the campgrounds are open.

WOODLAND LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. Days are hot, so fish early in the morning and late in the day. The lake is weedy and low. The lake was stocked two weeks ago with rainbow trout. Anglers are catching trout on the bottom with bait and with small spinners/lures. The trout bag and possession limit is four trout.

Angler report:

Rory,

We live up in Pinetop during the summer months. Based on the most recent fishing report/stocking, I went to Bunch Reservoir yesterday. It is nothing more than a mud hole right now given the draw down of water. Launching my float tube into the reservoir was like launching into chocolate mile. Tunnel and River Reservoirs are similar. I also tried the Little Colorado in Greer and it is running at a trickle due to no rain. Not very good fishing spots right now.

On another note it seems like most of the recommended baits, etc. to use very seldom include recommendations on flies for us fly fisherman. Any chance of getting some more fly information out to us?

Thanks for your great work. I read the weekly report year around as we live in Anthem during the colder months up here and I go to the Lower Salt River and Cottonwood areas during the winter months.

Brady

WHITE MOUNTAINS STREAMS

Note: Trout stocking in the streams began in May and will continue every week through early September, as long as water conditions are suitable. A partial area closure took effect on the west side of Greer on June 20 due to dry conditions and fire danger. FR 87 (from Greer to Hwy 273), 112 and 575 will be closed until further notice, including the Government Springs fishing area immediately upstream of Greer. The stream within the Greer meadow and Sheeps Crossing are still open near Greer.

EAST FORK of the BLACK RIVER – Fishing is fair to good for wild brown trout and good for stocked Apache trout. The East Fork survived the Wallow Fire of 2011 much better than expected and is currently holding many wild brown trout throughout the river. Apache trout stockings have been delayed due to warm water temperatures. The road and campgrounds along the East Fork are open.

WEST FORK of the BLACK RIVER – Fishing is fair in the lower reaches. The Wallow Fire caused a partial fish kill on wild brown trout in the lower reaches, but hatchery Apache trout have been stocked weekly at the crossing on FR 68. Apache trout stockings have been delayed due to warm water temperatures. Fishing in the middle and upper reaches is fair to good for wild trout, where the fire had little impact. Access is open at the FR 25 bridge, FR 68 crossing and FR 116. The West Fork campground will be closed through the year due to safety reasons. The middle and upper reaches of the West Fork Black are open to catch-and-release artificial lure and fly only, while the lower end is open to bait fishing with a six-trout bag limit.

BLACK RIVER – Fishing is poor. The mainstem of the Black River was heavily impacted by the Wallow Fire last year. Very few fish were found during intensive surveys last fall.

LITTLE COLORADO RIVER IN GREER – Fishing is fair for wild brown trout and good for stocked Apache trout within the middle of Greer. A partial area closure took effect on the west side of Greer on June 20 due to dry conditions and fire danger. FR 575 to the Government Springs fishing area immediately upstream of Greer will be closed. The stream within the Greer meadow is still open, and Apache trout will be stocked this week in front of the Rendezvous Cafe.

SHEEPS CROSSING – Fishing is good. Apache trout will be stocked weekly at Sheeps Crossing, which was not affected by the Wallow Fire last year. Fishing is fair to good for wild Apache trout in the wilderness portions of the West Fork Little Colorado River.

SILVER CREEK – Fishing is fair to good. Apache trout are being stocked weekly. Silver Creek is currently open to bait and a bag/possession limit of six trout (April 1 through September 30). The upper section is now closed to angling, which is well signed.


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 compiled and reported in our weekly fishing reports.

Warm temperatures are getting hot and so is the fishing action! Anglers will need to concentrate their efforts to the cooler times of day as the temperatures continue to rise. Summer trout stocking will begin soon at Rose Canyon Lake and Riggs Flat provided water quality parameters are favorable. The summer stocking schedule for the entire state can be found here: 2012 Summer Stocking Schedule. This schedule is updated as changes occur, so check back often! 

Need ideas on where to go fishing?  Try the Department's new interactive Fish and Boat Map: Fish and Boat Arizona

RIGGS FLAT — The lake is open for the summer. Stocking has been suspended at this time due to high Ph levels and stocking will not resume until summer rains have added sufficient water to the lake to reduce the pH. Fishing has been good for both rainbow and browns. The department will be stocking white amur in this lake this week in an effort to reduce aquatic vegetation and control water quality problems that have prevented stocking in the past. Anglers are being asked to immediately release unharmed all amurs they catch. Check the stocking schedule here: 2012 Summer Stocking Schedule for summer stocking dates.
 
CLUFF RANCH — No recent reports of success. The pond is full and there should be no problems with boat launching. For lake information, call (928) 485-9430.

ROPER LAKE —  No recent reports of success. For lake information, call (928) 428-6760.
  
DANKWORTH POND — Remains closed to access during renovation. All renovation work has been completed and the pond continues to refill. At this time the reopening of the lake is still unknown. 

FRYE MESA RESERVIOR – Anglers continue to report success in catching Gila trout. Remember that the daily bag and possession limit for this species is 1 fish. Frye Creek above the reservoir remains closed to fishing.

ARIVACA — Open to anglers, water levels are severely low and the lake continues to drop. It is extremely difficult to launch boats at this time. All boat launching is at the risk of the owner. Boaters using gas motors are asked to be courteous and not create wake problems for others boaters. Sporadic success is being reported, with fish being caught in the early mornings and late evenings.

PENA BLANCA – Some anglers are still reporting trout being caught. Sunfish are biting well on worms just off the shoreline where the water gets deeper. The Department stocked more bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish this week. Anglers are reminded that all largemouth bass caught must be immediately released alive. Additionally, all mercury advisories against the eating of warmwater fish caught at Pena Blanca Lake remain in effect. Future testing will determine if and when these advisories will be lifted. Boaters using gas motors are asked to be courteous and not create wake problems for others boaters. 

PATAGONIA — Fishing continues to be good, with bass anglers having success working the shorelines in shallower water. Recent surveys at the lake show outstanding numbers of large healthy largemouth bass and redear sunfish. Don’t forget that the lake supports a very healthy flathead catfish population as well that can provide some exciting opportunities for anglers.

PARKER CANYON — Fishing remains fair for all species. The Department is currently working to establish a breeding population of channel catfish at the lake and is asking anglers to please limit the harvest of catfish at this time to allow larger members of the population the opportunity to spawn. Contact the Parker Canyon Lake Store for up-to-date information on lake levels and fishing activity at www.parkercanyonlake.com or by phone at (520) 455-5847.

ROSE CANYON LAKE — The lake is open to vehicle traffic and it has been stocked. Anglers are reporting success in the early mornings and late evenings. The summer trout stocking schedule can be found here: 2012 Summer Stocking Schedule. The stocking of trout will be suspended following the stocking this week due to increasing water temperatures. Look for stocking to resume in August.