Hello anglers!
As most of you know, long-time Fishing Report Editor Rory Aikens retired last week after 22 years with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Rory was a great ambassador for the department and to Arizona’s fishing community. Over his career he interacted with thousands of anglers and conveyed his wealth of knowledge about the fishing hot spots in the state, what types of fish are biting, what bait to use, and more. We wish him a happy retirement . . . he leaves “big waders” to fill.
Let me introduce myself. I am Public Information Officer Reuben Gonzales and will be temporarily producing the Weekly Fishing Report for the near term. I am a newcomer to AZGFD, handling public information regarding watercraft and off-highway vehicle recreation. Although I’m new to the department, I come with 29 years of law enforcement experience (including public information experience) with Phoenix Police Department, Avondale Police Department, and the U.S. Coast Guard (retired). I will do my best to get the Fishing Report out in the timely manner that you are used to and with as much enthusiasm as Rory added to it.
Being a native to Arizona, I have fished most of the lakes down in the southern part of the state, including Patagonia, Arivaca, Pena Blanca and even the pond that surrounded the Longhorn Grill in Amado, Ariz. I enjoy fishing and would like to solicit your help in providing information to anglers. I’d also like to start a “Fish Stories “section in this report to go along with the information about what’s biting where and what they are hitting on.
“Fish Stories” (or “That one that got away”) will offer a chance to have your stories posted in the Fishing Report. Please send your “Fish Stories” to BFishing@azgfd.gov and include a picture if you have one. Story ideas might include “Kid’s first fish,” “Did you see that,” or “You caught that on what?” We’ll pick a couple to run in each Fishing Report. So start getting me those stories and we will see who has the real fish tales to tell.
I’ll start off with the first Fish Story:
Frozen fish in the freezer
Who has a 22-year-old bluegill in their freezer? I do! I also have a 17-year-old one. That’s right, brings a whole new meaning to frozen fish, doesn’t it? Why would anyone have two frozen fish, much less two OLD frozen fish
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Now both sons are grown and out of the house and you would have thought they would have taken their frozen trophies with them. But no, they remain in frozen hibernation next to the same popsicles we now give to our grandkids who have also begun the tradition of “catch and freeze.”
Reuben Gonzales
Here is one from Derek, who submitted this tale:
The monster cat that got away
“Hello, my name is Derek and my daughter’s name is Brooklyn (age 9) and this is our story. I'm an AZ native and I have been fishing in this great state for many years. My daughter and I have an amazing experience to tell.
I've taken my daughter fishing several times and she got skunked every time until now. We went to Bartlett (I've always had good luck here) and we got there around 4 p.m. on Saturday. The lake was packed, we set up camp and started fishing. I rigged up the poles with the always faithful worms and before you know it, my daughter finally hooked her first fish—a nice 3-pound flathead. I was so proud of her, she reeled it in as if it was her hundredth (she’s a natural).
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Well as the night grew on, we had no action until my pole got a huge tug around midnight. We ran and set the hook and the fight began. It took about 25 minutes to reel this big boy in. We landed a monster of a channel cat—it had to be at least 30+ inches and 30-ish pounds. I'm not telling a fib here, this thing was HUGE!! My head could almost fit in its mouth. We brought it ashore and I had to pierce its lower jaw to put it on the stringer.
We were both so happy and went to bed an hour or so later. When I woke up and checked the stringer, it was gone. That darn fish broke the stringer. So now there's a monster cat with a lip ring piercing. If anyone happens to catch it, I would love to see how much it weighs and how long it is. That was one monster of a fish, but I guess it was meant to grow and get bigger for some other person to catch and tell the story of the monster cat with a lip ring.
Thanks for taking the time to read our story. I hope that this is not a sign of things to come (Fish with piercing and tattoos?!?) “
Derek and Brooklyn
Thanks Derek, and nice work Brooklyn!
Brown trout at Tonto Creek
Nicholas K sends us this nice photo of a whopper brown trout caught on Tonto Creek last weekend!
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Ok, on to the fishing report.
CENTRAL WATERS
Note: If you have a fishing report or good fishing pictures to share (JPEG), send them to our "Been Fishing" email address at BFishing@azgfd.gov.
URBAN LAKES - Catfish stockings in the Phoenix and Tucson urban lakes continue this week. Early mornings and evenings are still the best times for catching, the fish prefer to feed under dim or dark conditions. Fishing has been decent 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.
While most of the newly stocked fish are being caught in the first five days after stocking, anglers are still hooking cats 1-2 weeks later. The tops baits by anglers have been stink baits, shrimp and worms. Last week while I was out at some of the urban lakes, folks were using blood baits and hot dogs and were having success. Bluegill fishing is good from the shore in depths of 4-6 feet using worms and mealworms fished under a small bobber. Action for largemouth bass is fair, but with the cool night air dropping the tempratures in the lakes, you will start to have more action. Try using crankbaits, soft jerkbaits or spinnerbaits.
At Green Valley Lakes (Payson), trout stocking will begin October 15. Payson residents and visitors will welcome back the trout to beautiful Green Valley Lakes as stocking will deliver over 700 Colorado-grown rainbow trout top kick off the stocking season.
At Lakeside Lake (Tucson), the gradual increase in oxygen levels at this lake will allow for a partial stocking of catfish this week. The City of Tucson and lake consultants have been actively managing the water and aeration system. Progress has been slow, but the Arizona Game and Fish Department plans on stocking the lake with 900 pounds of 14- to 18-inch catfish.
TEMPE TOWN LAKE– Fishing has really picked up lately, especially for largemouth bass. The best bite is 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 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 - Lake level 1,651, 50 percent full with approximately 6,663 surface acres. Word is that the stripers are going crazy during the early mornings and late evenings now that the outside temperatures are slowly decreasing. Shad boils are being seen in the shallows and coves causing great fishing. Try using topwater lures, swim baits, Alabama rigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits or jerkbaits. Nighttime fishing for catfish, especially from shore, should be good using stink bait. This is prime catfish time. Try stink baits or blood baits, such as chicken liver. Corn can also work for both catfish and carp. Frozen anchovies fished on the bottom are another good choice -- you might even catch a striped bass.
ROOSEVELT LAKE - Lake elevation remains at 2,100 feet and the lake level is 47 percent. Try fishing in the shallows (1 to 4 feet) with surface lures in the backs of coves and over rock piles. Drop shot works pretty well on the outside points, flats and backs of coves in 30 to 10 feet of water, but altering the drop shot technique to a Texas nose hook and whacky style setup is productive, especially when the typical setup does not hit the mark. The technique of how you reel the drop shot in is real important. Some styles you can try are slow and steady or slow with little jerks, or jerk and let it fall over and over again. Rock piles are typically productive using plastics bouncing along the substrate. This is still a good time to try for channel catfish using sink bait. For flatheads, live bait such as bluegills or small carp work best. For channel catfish, try any stinkbait, chicken liver or blood baits. Although you can catch channels during the day, the prime bite has likely shifted to the nighttime hours.
APACHE LAKE - Lake elevation is 1,911 feet (95 percent full). No recent reports. Apache is typically a good fall producer.
CANYON LAKE - Lake elevation is still holding at around 1,658 feet, which is 96 percent full. No recent angler reports. 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. This is a fishing hot spot, especially for yellow bass. Mike McFarland, a guide with Hook Up Outfitters, said it's possible to catch up to 100 yellow bass in a day ranging up to 2 pounds using gold KastMasters or Lake Fork flutter-down spoons. He said you can also catch largemouth bass on the bottom using those same lures -- if you can get them past all the yellows. This is also a hot spot for good-sized largemouth bass -- Mike caught 10 bass over 4 pounds in a single day. He said the bite really takes off when Salt River Project is doing a pump back (releasing water and then pumping it back for hydroelectric power), which creates a current. At those times, there is a tremendous topwater bite. He also suggests working the edges of the grass in 10 feet of water using drop shots for bucketmouths.
BARTLETT LAKE – Lake elevation has been holding at 1,755 feet, 50 percent full. Should be good topwater action for bass off-and-on throughout the day night now. Try working the main lake points, islands and reefs, but don't ignore the deeper coves, especially in the morning. Sometimes you can find bass feeding on large schools of shad in the coves. I was out on the lake on Sunday and saw that most people were catching the cats off the shoreline using any sort of stinkbaits. A few of the other anglers were having good luck with bass in the coves using plastic worms or spinner baits. The lake was not that busy which made for a good time by all and easy pickings for those prime fishing spots. For bluegills, try the backs of rocky coves using night crawlers or meal worms on light tackle. Also look for large rafts of bluegill, especially up in the narrows. When you find them, small spinners, crappie jigs and worms can get you lots of fish to fry.
HORSESHOE LAKE - One-percent full. Salt River Project tends to use Horseshoe as a flood retention reservoir, but steadily releases the water downstream into Bartlett Lake.
LOWER SALT RIVER (below Saguaro Lake) – Releases were 936 cfs out of Stewart Mountain Dam from Saguaro. You might be able to catch some bass or sunfish in the deeper holes.
CREEKS BELOW THE MOGOLLON RIM - Weekly stockings into the trout streams have ended for most streams. 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
Note: If you have a fishing report or good fishing pictures to share (JPEG), send them to our "Been Fishing" site at BFishing@azgfd.gov.
LAKE POWELL - Report from Sept. 27 courtesy of Wayne Gustaveson, http://www.wayneswords.com. Lake elevation: 3,621 feet. Water temperature: 73-77 F. Surface water temperature is now in a slow downward spiral. Nights are enjoyably cool with warm temperatures during the day. A weather front and temperature drop disrupted fishing success for a couple of days last week but it was mostly a readjustment in timing. Some areas that had enjoyed a good morning bite now had better fishing in the evening. Fishing is still good but it may be necessary to readjust schedules. Best fishing will always be better early or late. Right now many good morning spots are performing better in the evening. If morning does not work for you one day ,get excited about going out again on the other end of the day. I remember well that last year during October the best fishing happened at dusk.
The new wrinkle right now is the random appearance of a roving shad school at mid day that causes a short-lived but highly productive fishing experience. The other day in Dove Canyon we struggled to find the normally reliable morning feeding stripers. We gave up and turned around to head out of the canyon when a small boil erupted 50 yards behind us in a spot we had just fished without success. Luckily, we had topwater and spoons hooked up on waiting rods. We quickly boated 10 stripers on top and then immediately went to spoons to get 10 more before they quit. A few more random casts to shore produced five nice smallmouth bass.
Fish remain active at the many spots that have been successful recently. We have good fish reports this week with stripers and bass being caught at Castle Rock Cut, Warm Creek haystacks, Navajo Canyon, Last Chance, Rock Creek, San Juan (Neskahi), Bullfrog and Halls, and Good Hope Bay at Blue Notch.
Spoons were the most reliable tool, but topwater lures are becoming much more dependable morning and evening and during the chance encounter with boiling fish mid day. Bait fishing is steady at depths of 30-60 feet where most of the larger stripers reside. Most boiling stripers are the juvenile variety that are able to live in warm surface water all the time. But it won’t be long now until the larger stripers will be released from the cool water where they have spent the summer. That presents a problem for them as the smaller stripers are quicker and stronger and able to out-compete larger stripers for the limited shad supply. All this points to a tremendous bait fishing season coming in spring of 2013.
Bass are really fun right now on topwater lures both morning and evening. Toss a big surface lure over the thin row of brush near shore and slowly work it back until the giant splash occurs. Even more bass can be caught on lightly weighted flukes and D-Shad fish slowly in the few remaining trees along the sandy shoreline.
Fishing remains excellent by worldly standards. I was disappointed yesterday to only catch 20 fish. That speaks volumes about the Lake Powell fishery.
LEES FERRY -- Report courtesy of Terry Gunn, Lees Ferry Anglers (www.leesferry.com).
Fly Fishing Up-River:
The current weather and fishing have much in common – both are good, really good. The current temperatures are as good as they get – cool mornings and warm days and a near total absence of any wind. The fishing has been as good as any fall season that I can remember. Fishing is usually good this time of year, but now it’s outstanding. This is a combination of the steady 8,000-cfs flows, nice warm weather, and epic midge hatches. We have never seen such prolific hatches this time of year and no one is sure what triggered the midge explosion; however, we sure are glad they are here! The fish are feeding on subsurface emergers and the adults as they are exiting their shuck on the surface. This means that if one has the patience, it is possible to take fish on tiny (#20 to #24 dry flies) in just inches of water. The sight casting is as good as it gets anywhere in the world, right here, right now. I’m not sure how long the great fishing is going to last – it might change as the weather cools – although, it has held up longer and better than I expected it to so far.
Walk-in Report:
The walk-in is still fishing very well. After the flows dropped, it was a bit of a mossy and slippery walk out to the water, but that has mostly dried up so access is a bit easier. With the lower temperatures and the sunny skies, the walk-in has been the perfect morning and afternoon fishing spot.
The usual equation is working well at the walk-in: think glo-bugs, nymphs, worms and scuds. A variation of these flies on a teeny rig will land you some great fish. If I were putting in a whole day at the walk-in, I would start early in the morning at the upper boulder field and work my way down to the Paria River fishing the whole way. That way I could hit both the pocket water in the boulder field and the seams below the big rock.
Spin Fishing Up River:
With the flows remaining the same, so has much of the spin fishing. Drifting glo bugs up river is always a guide recommendation. Dean Windham says, “Don’t be afraid to experiment and change things up regularly!”
It is also important for spin fisherman to understand that this river is very different than others they have probably fished. It moves very fast and is big water. This leads to more opportunity for trout but at the same time more technical challenges. Jigs always work well and are an easy way to go. If you are using lures, test it out a few times and pay attention to how they move in the water. If you have any questions, head on down to the shop and we can give you a quick refresher course on spin fishing the Colorado River.
Spin Fishing at the Walk-in:
The usual spots are fishing well at the walk-in. The upper boulder field and down by where the Paria River flows in are excellent places especially since it hasn’t flashed down there in a while. Another worthwhile spot is down on Paria Beach. It can be the perfect place for spin fishing all day or for taking the family and enjoying the day both playing and fishing. Gold flash is still our recommendation for lures. We have a selection of the most effective lures at the shop.
For details on Lake Powell conditions and snow-pack, go here: http://lakepowell.water-data.com/
For a real time graphic view of water releases and ramp rates go here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv?09380000
LAKE MEAD – The current elevation has dropped a little, to just over 1,115 feet above msl. The water level will normally continue to drop approximately one foot to six inches per week. Be careful boating because structure previously submerged may be at the surface. 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 Sept. 15. The next new moon will be Monday, Oct. 15. Dark nights work best when fishing under light. Fishing for stripers in 50 plus feet of water will normally find the larger fish. If they are not taking the anchovies, try swimming baits and see if you can get them to bite. Jigging in 50-60 feet deep has been doing well on Mead. If you can locate the shad, the stripers are not far behind. Trolling usually works best in areas were shad are found and best done in the early mornings and evenings. The bite for largemouth and smallmouth was reported good using plastic worms and crawdads with purple and browns in them. Several fishermen said that 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 level rises, 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 www.azgfd.gov or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.
LAKE MOHAVE – The lake level has dropped to 639 feet above msl from last week. The black bass are hitting soft baits when worked slowly, especially on grass beds in water 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. Reports of good bluegill action off the structures mentioned in the paragraph below. Submersible lights fished during the new moon are an effective way to catch stripers. Next new moon is Monday, Oct. 15. 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 gcummins@azgfd.gov so we 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 seem to be caught between river mile 49 and 53. A picture of a large striper was recently sent in, 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 gcummins@azgfd.gov so we 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 has sent several pictures of Amanda P’s giant redear she continues to catch on nightcrawlers. The latest was a beautiful 4.04-pounder that is going to take a large frying pan to accommodate its size. The old Bullhead area has produced some nice healthy stripers from shore using anchovies which Richard and Kenan shared with us. The Big Bend area produced a large striper that I would estimate at over 36 inches. Unfortunately, no information was provided except for the pictures.
TOPOCK GORGE - Most bass are being taken on minnows and night crawlers. Smallmouths are ranging from 2 to 5 pounds, and sunfish up to 1.5 pounds. A 5.5-pound beauty was the largest black bass so far this year. Stripers caught in May averaged between 2 and 5 pounds but have dropped to 1-2 pounds recently. Catfish have been harder to catch. A beautiful 7.42-pound channel was recently caught on anchovies by Rex while fishing for stripers. Sunfish are in the river and being taken on plastics like small worms, curly tails, and 4-inch Robo Worms. The largemouth and smallmouth bass action has been outstanding. Derek landed a nice 2.9-pound largemouth using a spinner a little ways upriver.
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 Web site 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 gcummins@azgfd.gov so we can share your successes with others.
TOPOCK MARSH – The action at Topock Marsh has been steady. Night crawlers and live minnows have been tempting catfish from North Dyke. Stripers appear abundant from the February AZGFD survey. Small crappies are being taken throughout the marsh. Remember the minimum of 13 inches for largemouth bass in 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. If you have a fishing report or good fishing pictures to share (JPEG), send them to our "Been Fishing" site at BFishing@azgfd.gov. For more information, visit the updated "Where to Fish" pages at http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/where_fish_southwest.shtml.
LAKE HAVASU - Report courtesy John Galbraith of BassTackleMaster.com, Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Striped bass action is good with boils of stripers chasing shad in the morning and late afternoon hours. Trolling Super Spooks, Sassy Shads and Rat-L-Traps in white or chrome/blue is working best. Black Rock Cove north to the entrance to the river has been the best place to search for the "boils." The channel catfish bite is excellent, with numerous cats being caught on cut markerel and squid off deeper points and coves in 15 to 35 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are biting good on Hula grubs in smoke sparkle or cinnamon w/purple glitter rigged on 3/8-oz. football jigs fished around rocky points and gravel shorelines in 6 to 15 feet of water. Topwater poppers, Sammys and buzzbaits are also working well for smallmouth and largemouth over gravel flats and submerged weedbeds in the morning and late afternoon hours.
ALAMO LAKE -- Report courtesy Mark Knapp, Alamo Lake State Park.
Well folks, let me start with we have a changing of the guards so to speak. I would like to welcome Reuben Gonzales as our new writer, chief editor, and what ever other title he has with the Game & fish Dept. He will be filling the shoes of Rory. Welcome aboard Reuben.
O.K. Here goes. In a nut shell your not missing allot out here. As I mentioned back on grounds hog day I came out, saw my shadow and declared an extra 8 weeks of summer. So far, so good. Were still hitting 100 plus and scheduled to do so until the middle of next week. Then we drop into the high 90's's. At that point I will banging this out from my cave I have picked out. A few anglers have reported bass fishing as decent. Monetary bass club held one of there tournaments out here this last weekend. I did not get the final results but some came in saying it was good and others just shook there heads saying, "Lot's of fish, but dinks." I know cat fishing is fair. Although the upper end of the lake is always good even the shore fishing guys are giving it a thumbs up. You really want to use some heavy test line. There's so many weeds in the lake that when you hook something your going to drag in about 5 pound worth of weeds with it.
Junior is very pleased with him self. We went out last night and hit all the points between the main ramp and Cholla. I was determined to throw my brush hog and was getting skunked. Junior had the common sense to change up to a 4 inch brown lizard and boated 3 before I had a bite. I looked through my bag of tricks and could only come with a 2 inch chartreuse and brown grub. I caught 2 fish and just missed boating my third before dark and had to call it. Another 15 minutes and I'm sure I could have killed that smile on his face. Anyway, mix it up a little and start in 20 foot of water before 3 in the afternoon and figure there on the shoreline right at dark. I had no luck throwing training wheels ( crank baits). Not even a bite. One thing that is working is find a weed mat and throw on top of it. Once you find a hole to drop the bait in get ready to set the hook. Your either going to pull out a fish or a giant mat of weeds. The grand kid pulled a boner and bs'ed me and his grand ma. Sense I cannot use him for bait he is kicked out of the boat for a week, maybe more, depending on his attitude. I will say he has spent the week taking out the trash, cleaning up after the pets, and all the other stuff he hates to do. Something about not getting to go out fishing, getting his candy bar, gator aid, and swimming has got his attention. I think he really misses getting to see all the wild life we point out to him. He has seen turtles, beavers, bald eagles, ospreys, and of course the rattle snake that wanted to get in the boat with us. Speaking of snakes. There out in force out here. We seeing at least 4 to 6 a day. So remember. Kick it before you pick it up and if rattles, run. Monds construction company has started there construction this week. So far there just doing survey work and bringing in equipment. At this point it looks like I will be able to keep Cholla ramp open for the tournaments on the weekends. If your going to pre fish during the week you might have to use the rental boat road. I will let you know as I know what is what during that time. I'm happy to say they lowered the releases to 15 cfs this week and in November it will go down to 10 cfs. Both ramps are still in operation at this time. Bigger boats and those with special needs are encouraged to use Cholla ramp because we have a dock there for loading and un loading. I have to give the dept allot of credit. The Game & fish staff does an excellent job of keeping up with the buoys and dock placement. As of now we will be putting in a new fish cleaning station at Cholla around mid October. The old one will go to Fools Hollow up in Show Low.
The lake level is at 1098ish with releases of 15 cfs. Although you read in the Republic the lake level is at 5ish percent the lake is over a mile long and about a 1/2 mile wide. We have about 80 something feet of water at the base of the dam. Now's the time to come on out before the weather cools down and everyone and there brother is out here as well. Our store hours are 8 a.m. till 4:40 p.m. We have minnows, ice, worms, and all the stuff you forget when you come out. Well, I don't want to hurt Reuben to bad on day one so that's it for now.
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 works 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 - The topwater bate should still be going here. 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.
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. Firerestrictions have been lifted on the Kaibab and Coconino national forests. Note: If you have a fishing report or good fishing pictures to share (JPEG), send them to our "Been Fishing" site at BFishing@azgfd.gov.
WILLIAMS LAKES:
KAIBAB LAKE — Campground is open. Fishing has been good, especially on rainbow Power Bait. Crappie and bass were being caught on small jigs. Please try to leave the larger bass in the lake to spawn.
CATARACT LAKE — Please try to leave the larger bass in the lake to spawn. Some large channel catfish are being caught on garlic hot dogs.
CITY RESERVOIR — No report.
DOGTOWN LAKE — Campground is open. Fish along the shore on the opposite side of the lake from the boat ramp.
JD DAM — No report. Remember the lake is managed as a catch-and-release fishery.
RUSSELL TANK — The lake is too shallow to stock.
SANTA FE — No report.
WHITEHORSE LAKE — Campground is open. Trout fishing will be best early in the morning or late in the evening.
FLAGSTAFF LAKES:
LOWER LAKE MARY — Almost dry.
UPPER LAKE MARY — Upper Lake Mary was stocked with catchable trout. Water quality problems at many of our trout lakes has led to us stocking Upper Lake Mary. Water levels are dropping and larger boats can only be launched at the second boat ramp. Boat anglers are doing well fishing for northern pike and walleye. Fishing is slow from the shore.
ASHURST LAKE — Fishing was good during the week on green Power Bait and worms. Stocked last week.
FRANCIS SHORT POND – No report.
KINNIKINICK LAKE — Road is open. No report. A lot of nice brown trout and channel catfish were caught during fish sampling.
LONG LAKE — We have had a few reports that the pike fishing has been good on Long Lake.
STONEMAN LAKE — NO FISH.
VERDE VALLEY
DEAD HORSE 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 night crawlers, 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 Power Bait 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 — Stocking resumed the week of Sept. 4. Last week small brown trout were stocked. Although these fish are small, fly fishermen can be very successful. Rainbow trout are scheduled for stocking this week (the week of Oct. 1). 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 — Stocking resumed the week of Sept. 10. Bill T. sent me a report of him having the best day at the lake he has had in a long time. If you fish Goldwater and are having luck, please e-mail gcummins@azgfd.gov so we can share your successes with others.
GRANITE BASIN LAKE – Robert and Michelle fished from the boat launch at around 10 o’clock and caught fish non-stop for 2 -2 ½ hours. They were using a bobber with worms and caught 23 bluegills and a black bass. Robert tried a popper and had a strike but was unsuccessful in landing the fish. Thanks for your report, Robert and Michelle! Rob takes his boys and little girl and has been generally successful catching multiple bluegills on worms/bobber and catching between 3-5 largemouth per hour using soft baits with a Texas rigging. Thanks, Rob, for the information. If you fish Granite Basin and are having luck, please e-mail gcummins@azgfd.gov so we can share your successes with others.
LYNX LAKE – Stocking resumed the week of Sept. 4. Rainbows were stocked two weeks ago and sub-catchable browns were stocked last week. Rainbow trout are scheduled for this week (the week of Oct. 1). Cut anchovies, night crawlers or hot dogs 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 – Stocking resumed the week of Sept. 4 for 500 rainbow trout. Rainbow trout are scheduled for stocking this week (the week of October 1). 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 – 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. 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 gcummins@azgfd.gov so we can share your successes with others.
WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR – The challenge with this lake is finding access to the shore and fighting the aquatic vegetation. If you fish Willow and are having luck, please e-mail gcummins@azgfd.gov so we can share your successes with others.
WHITE MOUNTAINS AND MOGOLLON RIM LAKES
Recommended Waters to Fish
Fishing is fair to good for rainbow trout at Big Lake, good for stocked rainbow trout at Show Low Creek, good for catfish at Fool Hollow Lake, and good for rainbow trout and walleyes by trolling deep at Show Low Lake. For fly anglers, the catch-and-release season began on Oct. 1 at Silver Creek, and the fishing at Becker Lake is improving with cooler water temperatures. Several Rim Lakes (Willow Springs, Woods Canyon, and Bear Canyon lakes) were stocked heavily last week to end the regular stocking season.
Trout Stocking Schedule - Week of Sept. 24-28
Bear Canyon Lake - 2,000 rainbow trout
Willow Springs Lake - 4,000 rainbow trout
Woods Canyon Lake – 4,875 rainbow trout
The trout stocking season in the White Mountains and Rim Lakes area has ended for the year and will resume in the spring of 2013.
MOGOLLON RIM LAKES
Note: Last week marked the end of the regular trout stocking season with the last scheduled stocking at several Rim Lakes.
BEAR CANYON LAKE – Fishing is fair to good for stocked trout. The lake was stocked last week with rainbow trout. The water temperature last week was 66 F.
BLACK CANYON LAKE – Fishing is poor to fair. Anglers have been catching a few trout, sunfish and bass on worms. The water level is very low, and launching a boat will be difficult. The water temperature last week was 64 F.
CHEVELON LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. Anglers are catching trout on spinners (Panther Martin and Rooster tails), Z-Rays and Kastmaster spoons. Trout usually are active in the evening, so fly fishermen should try dry flies such as Parachute Adams, Adams and caddis patterns in sizes 16-18.
WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE – Fishing is fair for shore anglers and fair to good for boat anglers. The lake was stocked last week with rainbow trout. Anglers are catching trout near the lake bottom on nightcrawlers. The water temperature last week was 66 F.
WOODS CANYON LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. The lake was stocked heavily last week with 4,875 rainbow trout. Anglers have been catching trout on orange and rainbow-colored PowerBait in deep water. Boat anglers should try trolling slowly with cowbells with an attached nightcrawler, fly or small lure. The water temperature last week was 64 F. The store is open, and boat rentals are available.
WHITE MOUNTAINS LAKES
Note: Regular trout stocking has ended for the season.
BECKER LAKE – Fishing is fair. Shorter days and colder night temperatures are bringing the water temperatures down, and thus improving the fishing. Becker Lake is catch-and-release only, with artificial lures and flies only with single, barbless hook.
BIG LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. Boat anglers are catching some trout by trolling cowbells with worms or drifting slowly with nightcrawlers, lures (Crickhoppers and Z-Rays) and flies. Shore anglers should try fishing in deep water off rocky points with worms or orange, rainbow or purple PowerBait. Rainbow trout are being caught at depths of 10-15 feet. The water temperature last week was 61 F. The store is open, and boat rentals are available.
CARNERO LAKE – Fishing is fair to good for stocked rainbow trout. Fish open water areas near the northeastern section of the lake. The lake is very weedy. Fly fishermen are catching trout on small nymphs and dry flies such as caddis patterns and Parachute Adams.
CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR – Fishing is poor for trout and fair for warmwater species. Some anglers are catching a few bass.
CONCHO LAKE – Fishing is poor. The lake is very low, muddy and weed-covered.
CRESCENT LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. Anglers have been catching some nice brook trout and a few large (16- to 17-inch) rainbow trout in the deeper parts of the lake. The lake is weedy with a strong algae bloom. The water temperature last week was 59 F. The store is closed.
FOOL HOLLOW LAKE – Fishing is poor for trout and fair to good for warmwater species. Sunfish are being caught off the fishing piers. Anglers are catching bass in the evening hours before sunset. Channel catfish are being caught on nightcrawlers, catfish-prepared baits, chicken livers and hot dogs at night. The water temperature last week was 68 F.
GREER LAKES – Fishing is fair at Bunch, River, and Tunnel reservoirs. All three reservoirs are very low. The water levels are down below the ramps at Bunch and River Reservoirs, and launching boats there will be very difficult. The water temperatures last week were in the low 60s.
HULSEY LAKE – The lake was drained immediately following the Wallow Fire to help reduce expected flooding on Escudilla Mountain and will not be stocked this year.
LEE VALLEY LAKE – Fishing is poor to fair. The lake level is low and there is a very strong algae bloom present. The water temperature last week was 62 F.
LUNA LAKE – Fishing is poor. There is a heavy algae bloom present in the lake, causing high pH levels (over 10.0). The water temperature last week was 61 F.
LYMAN LAKE – Lyman Lake State Park is closed for the season.
NELSON RESERVOIR – Fishing is fair to good. Try bright-colored PowerBaits or nightcrawlers. The water temperature last week was 64 F and strong algae bloom is present.
RAINBOW LAKE – Fishing is poor for trout, but fair for sunfish, small bass, and bullheads. Parts of the lake are very weedy, but the weeds in much of the main body of the lake are senescing and sinking to the bottom, resulting in quite a bit of open water for boating in the middle of the lake. Some shorelines and most of the south end of the lake remain extremely weedy. The lake is approximately 4 feet down and the water temperature last week was 68 F.
SCOTT RESERVOIR – Fishing is poor to fair for trout, and fair for channel catfish, bass and sunfish.
SHOW LOW LAKE – Fishing is fair for stocked trout and fair to good for bass and walleye. Boat anglers are catching a few trout, smallmouth bass, and walleye on cowbells with worms, flies and lures. Boat anglers should troll slowly. Shore anglers are catching a few walleye and trout on nightcrawlers off the fishing piers. The water temperature last week was 68 F. Boat rentals are available, and the campgrounds are open.
WOODLAND LAKE – Fishing is poor for trout and fair for largemouth bass and catfish. The lake is weedy and low. Anglers are catching a few catfish on the bottom with bait. Largemouth bass are being caught in the early morning and late evening hours. The trout bag and possession limit here is four trout.
WHITE MOUNTAINS STREAMS
Note: Regular trout stocking in the streams has ended for the year.
EAST FORK of the BLACK RIVER – Fishing for wild brown trout and hold-over stocked Apache trout is fair. Forest Road (FR) 276 and associated campgrounds on the East Fork Black River are open. Trout stockings in the East Fork have ended for the year.
WEST FORK of the BLACK RIVER – Fishing is fair in the lower reaches. Access is open at the FR 25 bridge, FR 68 crossing and FR 116. The West Fork campground will be closed through the year for safety reasons. Regular trout stocking at the FR 68 crossing has ended for the year. Fishing in the middle and upper reaches is fair to good for wild trout, where the fire had little impact. Fly fishermen have been catching small Apache trout on dry flies and small nymphs in the upper section. 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 this past summer.
LITTLE COLORADO RIVER IN GREER – Fishing is fair for wild brown trout and hold-over stocked rainbow trout. Trout stocking has ended for the year.
SHEEPS CROSSING – Fishing is fair for hold-over stocked Apache trout at the Sheeps Crossing bridge. Regular trout stocking has ended for the year. Fishing is fair to good for wild Apache trout in the wilderness portions of the West Fork Little Colorado River.
SHOW LOW CREEK – Fishing is good in the large pool immediately below the outlet of Show Low Lake dam. Anglers are catching trout on worms and spinners. Please do not park on the dam, which is a one-lane road with insufficient pullouts. Park at either end of the dam where there is dedicated parking.
SILVER CREEK – Fishing is good to excellent. Silver Creek is currently open to catch-and-release, artificial lure and fly with barbless hooks only fishing from Oct. 1 through March 31. The upper section is now open to angling. The stream was stocked heavily with large rainbow trout on Oct. 1 to kick off this catch-and-release season.
SOUTHERN ARIZONA
Please send in your fishing reports from Southern Arizona! Fishing reports can be sent to Don Mitchell, Regional Fish Program Manager, by email to dmitchell@azgfd.gov. These reports will then be complied and reported in our weekly fishing reports.
The temperatures are starting to cool in the evenings and early mornings. The winter trout stocking season is just around the corner. The 2012-13 winter trout stocking schedule is available at http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/h_f/fishing/stocking/TroutStockingSchedule.pdf.
Need ideas on where to go fishing? Try the Department's new interactive Fish and Boat Map at http://gis.azgfd.gov/fishandboat.
RIGGS FLAT — No recent reports. Anglers are being asked to immediately release unharmed all amurs they catch to aid in the removal of the aquatic vegetation and improved fishing conditions. Access is scheduled to be closed on Nov. 15.
CLUFF RANCH — No recent reports of success. The pond is full and there should be no problems with boat launching. Visitors are reminded that it is illegal to obstruct the use of the boat ramp by anglers trying to launch the boats. No parking, standing, sitting, swimming or fishing is allowed on the boat ramp. For lake information, call (928) 485-9430.
ROPER LAKE — No recent reports of success. For lake information (928) 428-6760.
DANKWORTH POND — Still closed for renovations. The lake is taking longer than expected to refill and it may be January before it is ready for fish.
FRYE MESA RESERVIOR – Anglers continue to report success in catching Gila trout. Remember that the daily bag and possession limit for this species is one (1) fish. Frye Creek above the reservoir remains closed to fishing.
ARIVACA — Open to anglers, water levels continue to be severely low and the lake continues to drop. It is extremely difficult to impossible 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 reports of channel catfish being caught. Sunfish continue to bite well on worms just off the shoreline where the water gets deeper. 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. See the 2012-13 winter trout stocking schedule at http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/h_f/fishing/stocking/TroutStockingSchedule.pdf.
PATAGONIA — The lake is nearly full. 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. See the 2012-13 winter trout stocking schedule at http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/h_f/fishing/stocking/TroutStockingSchedule.pdf.
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. See the 2012-13 winter trout stocking schedule at http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/h_f/fishing/stocking/TroutStockingSchedule.pdf.
ROSE CANYON LAKE — Anglers continue to report success in the early mornings and late evenings. The lake will close to vehicle access around Nov. 15.
Ted sends in this report from Rose Canyon: “Hi, I fished Rose Canyon on Sept. 26 with a friend and we had a steady bite all morning, from about 8 a.m. to noon. Powerbait was the most consistent, but fish were also caught and released on small spinners. The fish size varied from 6-12 inches.