Well, it’s about time! If the weather gurus are right, it looks like we’ll have a weekend without wind blasting most of the state – maybe just normal afternoon breezes.

So whether you want high county trout or bass in the desert lakes, this looks like the best window in weeks.

Top picks: Roosevelt, Bartlett, Alamo, Havasu and Pleasant for largemouth bass. Hit Pleasant, Havasu, Mead and Powell for striped bass.

Crappie anglers should fish at night under lights at Roosevelt, Bartlett or Alamo (Pleasant is a crappie dark horse).

The catfish parade is already underway. Try Saguaro, Canyon, Pleasant, Bartlett, Apache, Roosevelt, Alamo – you name it. Day or night will work right now at any desert lake.

For shore anglers, it’s tough to beat cat fishing. Going after catfish and carp at our desert lakes can net you some amazing action. As a matter of fact, if you don’t know how to fish for these lumbering underwater giants, come join us at CAMP CARP XVIII, a time-honored Game and Fish tradition.

Master carpologist himself, Jim Warnecke, who retired from the department last year, will once again be teaching folks how to catch all those “bottom feeders.” As Jim says, there is no limit on carp, plus no limit to the fun while catching these brutes.

Here are the particulars: May 30-31, noon to 7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Lake Roosevelt (Frazier Group site). Look for the signs. For more information, call Jim’s able replacement in our Mesa Region, Natalie Robb, at (480) 324-3541. These aren’t those wimpy bass or trout – you’ll need stout poles and heavy test line to land these brutes -- hurrah.

In the high country, I received pictures of some huge pike out of Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff courtesy a Danny Iberra-Shea, who routinely provides some nice reports to us. These pictures will either give you nightmares, or send you rushing to the store to buy steel leaders and frozen anchovies -- maybe both.

Ashurst is another big pike bastion – it might even be harboring a new state record in its murky depths.

Lower Lake Mary is still a good bet for lots of stocker rainbows – it was stocked with 28,000 of the beauties in late winter. They should be good looking fish now.

The streams in the White Mountains have now been stocked with our golden-colored natives, Apache trout. Try the Little Colorado River in Greer, the East Fork of the Black River, the West Fork of Black River or Silver Creek. Think gold for Apaches – they like gold or yellow lures, such as Mepps spinners, KastMaster and the like. Hook up your kids with cane poles and worms to fish the streams – it’s more fun than any computer game.

For bass in the desert lakes, this is a transition time from a predominant spawn bite to a post-spawn one.

There are still bass on beds (the spawn can spread out into the summer months), but the majority of bass have probably spawned out. A significant portion of the bass population could be in the post-spawn doldrums right now – they need baits put on their noses, or might just respond to reaction baits.

But there should also be a population segment of post-spawners that are feeding more aggressively at times. Look for these bad boys and girls voraciously chasing shad in the coves at first and last light, or along main male points, islands, reefs and submerged humps (ambush spots) during the day.

At night, look for prime fish movement corridors such as submerged creek and river channels, arroyos and the like. Where you can find fish highway intersections, such as a submerged creek channel connecting to a submerged river channel, you might just hit a nighttime fishing bonanza. Put that expensive fish finder to work for you – you’ve paid it enough.

By the way, the first quarter of the moon is May 11, so this is a great time for your submerged or floating lights to work best for attracting plankton, shad and accompanying predators. You might even see some cool shooting stars, courtesy the tail of Halley’s Comet; it’s the Aquarid meteor shower time. http://spaceweather.com/

Get out and wet a line. Maybe I’ll see you out there.

Just in -- stocking reports. Rainbow trout stocked May 5-9 were:

• Canyon Creek, 180;
• Woods Canyon, 3,281;
• Woodland, 1,800;
• River Reservoir, 3,669;
• Hulsey Lake, 1,823;
• Willow springs, 2,734.

CENTRAL ARIZONA
URBAN LAKES – Fishing for catfish is good with a variety of baits working well on the bottom. Cats are biting variously throughout the day and anglers willing to spend a couple hours or fish different times of the day are being rewarded with some 2- to 3-pound fish. Top catfish baits include stink baits, shrimp or worms fished with a sliding sinker, or no sinker.  Catfishing is poor at Chaparral (Scottsdale) and Red Mountain (Mesa) lakes due to cancelled catfish stockings the week of April 29-May 3.  Bluegill and other sunfish are biting readily at all lakes on meal worms, worms or small dough balls under a small bobber.

The bite for largemouth bass has slowed somewhat during this post-spawn period, but early morning anglers are still getting action on some nice fish in the 2- to 3-pound range using drop shot and split shot rigs.

At Green Valley lakes (Payson) fishing is good for trout, particularly in the two smaller ponds which received some bonus trout stockings recently for local children’s fishing clinics.  The final trout stocking of the spring season will take place the week of May 4-10 and will be a double stocking.  Try Power Bait, worms or salmon eggs for the trout.

Where:Water Ranch Lake
When:05/03/08
Caught:3 channel catfish
Technique:Me and my friends went there around 5:30 pm and was non stop catfish for till around 8 pm. One was 6 pounds it was a monster the others were nice 2 pounders. We were using hot dogs with a size 4 hook under a bobber.
Comments:Everyone was catching catfish. I went there early in the day around noon and caught a tiny bluegill bad fishing during the day. The lake seems to be getting in a better condition, the water is a lot more clear.
Name:Alec Richardson

Where:Red Mountain
When:04/28/08
Caught:two huge sunfish
Technique:I was using a f-3size floating rapala
Comments:One was about 9", 12oz, the other one was about 10", 1lb. These fish were probably the ones that were stacked last month, and I released both for someone else to catch.
Name:Garrett

Where:Rio Vista Pond - City of Peoria
When:04/22/08
Caught:8 lb. and (2) 1.5 lb. channel catfish
Technique:Fishing after 8:30 pm off the bottom with worms using a sliding egg sinker and a number 6 hook.
Comments:We went with the whole family and my wife Kim and my youngest daughter Abigail each caught their first fish about 1.5 lbs. each but I got to catch the big one. It took about 10 to 15 minutes to bring in.

Where:Rio Vista Pond - City of Peoria
When:04/19/08
Caught:(1) 3 lb. & (2) 2 lb. channel catfish
Technique:Fishing the early am to noon off the bottom with worms using a sliding egg sinker and a number 6 hook.
Comments:The 3 lb. was my 8-year-old son Mark's biggest catch and on my 6-year-old son Joseph's birthday caught his biggest a 2 lb.
Name:Joe Mitcham

TEMPE TOWN LAKE – Don’t forget when fishing Tempe Town Lake the east end of the lake is more productive and fish near structure.  In that lake that means the bridge abutments or piers. I’m not saying that where all the fish are but your chances are a little better there. A couple fishermen reported catching bass on drop shots and spinners.  Watch for the shad boils.

Worms are enticing the catfish to bite. Another fisherman stopped by in the evening for a half hour and caught two bass fishing from shore using a green spinner bait.

Angler report:

Where:Tempe Town Lake
When:04/24/08
Caught:2 trout ,3 bass, and a catfish
Technique:Rooster Tails, the Banjo mino, and some worms under a bobber about 8 ft from bait
Name:austin kahn

Where:Tempe Town Lake
When:04/17/08
Caught:Largemouth Bass
Technique:3/8 oz. spinnerbait white/white trailer
Comments:Fished the lake three times this week with the same bait and caught two one day and one the very next day. Good in town lake
Name:Wayne Radtke
Name:BC

LAKE PLEASANT – Water elevation is 1,691 ft, which is 88-percent full.
Anglers are having success with the stripers at night.  One report mentioned Castle Creek area was a good spot. The water is still cool enough that fish will be active in the Agua Fria arm in the mornings and afternoon as well. The Table Mesa road is manned by wildlife managers Friday, Saturdays and Sundays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.  Good striper fishing reports coming from those folks.  Largemouth bass and pan fish are hitting as well.

The largemouth bass spawn has moved to deeper water in the middle of the coves and it is tough to fish for them. There is a large contingent of post-spawn bass that are still lethargic. But for the active post-spawn fish, try the main lake points, islands and reefs, or submerged humps using topwater lures, soft plastic jerkbaits, crankbaits or casting spoons – these same techniques might also get you stripers at first and last light.

Fly fishermen are catching stripers on Clauser minnow streamers.

Important notice: DON’T MOVE A MUSSEL. With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Lake Pleasant, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders (helps protect your boat as well). 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.

Angler reports:
Where:Lake Pleasant - Aqua Fria
When:05/04/08
Caught:One 1.5# Largemouth Bass - released fish.
Technique:Drop Shot - Chanteuse/Shad Robo Worm.
Comments:Was on the water kind-of late but managed to snag one Largemouth Bass around 8:30 pm. Fished in the timber little over a mile from the area where you can launch a boat on the Aqua Fria. Seems to be a lot of good success for Stripers out there; lots of guys heading back mid morning with a good string of them. Also noticed that the carp seem to be spawning; they were breaking all over the place especially shadier areas and near submerged timber. I wonder if this ruins the bass fishing?
Name:D. N.

Where:Lake Pleasant, Agua Fria Arm
When:04/26/08
Caught:7 - Striped Bass, 5 - White Bass, 1 - Largemouth Bass
Technique:Shad from a cast net.
Comments:It took us a while to net enough Shad, but then the two of us caught these 13 fish over about 5 hours. Tyler was using a light rod with 6-pound test that made the stripers a challenge. Good Fun!
Name:Jack Moody

Where:lake pleasant
When:04/23/08
Caught:26 largemouth
Technique:dropshot with Roboworm
Comments:all fish were between 1 1/2 to 3 pounds, released all fish in good condition, c.p.r. catch, photo, release
Name:john bakos

Where:Lake Pleasant
When:04/23/08
Caught:2 Striped Bass
Technique:White Storm Swimming Shad
Comments:Bite started to pick up after 6pm.
Name:Alex

Where:Lake Pleasant near 10 lane
When:04/22/08
Caught:16 largemouth bass
Technique:Drop shot
Comments:Was like taking candy from a baby! fished the coves near the 10 lane in all caught within 15ft from shore in about 5ft of water
Name:warren

Where:lake pleasant, castle creek
When:04/26/08
Caught:5 stripers, 2 cat fish
Technique:Minnows on a small hook with very little weight. Anchovy 2/0 hook with small split shot.
Comments:Fished from a kayak. I fished from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. That’s when the wind got bad and I had to get off the lake.
Name:John W.

Where:Pleasant
When:04/26/08
Caught:4lb largmouth- 2 1lb crappies - 2 3lb strippers 2 1.5lb white bass
Technique: white Shad Raps trolling in the Agua Fria . also white Rooster Tails in the sticks
Comments:The Crappie were huge one was white and one was black
Name:Kim Barnett

Where:lake pleasant
When:
04/26/08
Caught:
5 small mouth, 1 white bass
Technique:
minnows, on light line, with 1 split shot about 3 feet from hook, drag on bottom with slight pause
Comments:got to the lake at 5:30 am, at 10 lane ramp, could not launch boat safely due to high winds, white caps going over top of boat dock. parked truck and boat at top of ramp fished off right dock. Fish very aggressive; bite lasted for about 1 1/2 hours. people where still launching in very difficult conditions, wish there were wind information ahead of time that boaters could get before hauling boat all the way to lake. Even though could not use boat, very happy to catch smallmouth bass at pleasant, biggest was just under 2#. p.s have pic's of fish
Name:kevin wilson

ROOSEVELT LAKE – Lake Elevation is 2,149 ft (98-percent full).  Tonto Creek runoff is at 59 cfs while inflow from the Salt River is at 820 cfs.

Off-and-on wind (mostly on) has made fishing a little challenging, but some anglers who dial in the bite pattern are doing well – make no mistakes, it can test your mettle.

The weekend forecast looks better – let’s hope. There could be lots of post-spawn fish still acting a little lethargically, but there should be some post-spawners feeding aggressively as well. For spawning bass, good luck – they are probably in much deeper water right now, depending on light penetration. Shallow brushy flats might be the key, or fish the edge-effect between thick brush and even thicker submerged trees and such.

One fisherman reported slow fishing during the day but night time crappie fishing was good.  He caught 7 crappies and one good sized bluegill.  Nighttime fishing using lights is a good bet. The lights attract the zooplankton, which in turn attract the baitfish and the crappie will soon follow.  You might want to be cautious of rattle snakes hitching a ride on your boat. 

One angler reported catching 10 largemouth bass and most hit on blades in from early morning till noon.  His best fishing was in coves

Angler reports:

Gary Wheeler: Fished at night with lights, caught about 60 crappies, all good size. Minnows and white jigs .Caught a few over the slot bass too. We caught a lot more, but we released everyone that wasn't at least longer than your hand. We fished right across from School House at the mouth of a cove in about 25feet of water. Only a couple of other boats close by, we could hear a lady yelling every time she'd catch fish , she yells a lot.

Where:Roosevelt lake School house
When:05/03/08
Caught:20 big crappies 1 stripe bas16" and 2 bass 16/18"
Technique:spinners worms and minnows
Comments:in water that temp was about 65 to 70
Name: Kritter spitler

Where:Roosevelt
When:05/03/08
Caught:one Crappie
Technique:trolled crankbaits and shallow lures
Comments:There is so much more water it is hard to figure out where to start fishing.
Name:Grant Armendariz

Where:Roosevelt Lake
When:04/26/08
Caught:15 + Crappie, 1 Lg Mouth, 5 Catfish, 1 Carp and 1 Bluegill
Technique:Minnows just of the bottom using a crappie light.
Comments:Most fish were caught at night/early morning.
Name:Michael Brozek

Where:Roosevelt Lake
When:04/11/08
Caught:Largemouth Bass
Technique:Surface lure
Comments:Bass weighed in on our digital scales at 6 pounds 4ounces, this is the largest bass my grandson Matthew Bowan, (age 18) has ever caught. We have photos to email to you.
Name:hank martin

Where:Roosevelt windy hill
When:04/25/08
Caught:crappie
Technique:minnows/shad
Comments:2 the first night. Left about 12:30 am. Went back next night, and the bite started about 2 AM. We stayed 'till sunrise, caught 60-70. The next night the bite never really started, only caught 20-25 from 8:30pm until sunrise. Was VERY windy on Sat and Sunday night.
Name:Wolfman

Where:Roosevelt
When:04/23/08
Caught:A few slot bass, one crappie
Technique:Crank baits; Rat 'L Trap, Wee R's, silver color
Comments:Grape Vine area. Water depth around 14-16 feet with lures down about 6 feet. Fished for crappie at night with lights and minnows and didn't catch anything. :0(
Name:TeddyJackEddy

APACHE – Lake elevation is 1911 ft (97-percent full). 

Game and Fish conducted fish surveys last week.  We set a total of 30 nets and 30 sites were sampled via electro-fishing. 

Walleye:  The best site for walleye was around Three-Mile Island.  All were very robust and over 20 inches long. They like to hang out around points where the substrate drops off. 

Largemouth:  The best site for largemouth bass was in the Crabtree Wash area.  One fish was over 5 pounds and many were over 2 pounds.  We caught largemouth bass in most sites that were near good habitat.  So wherever you have overhanging vegetation you might want to flip your worms in there.  We also caught some young-of-the-year and some of our tagged stocked largemouth.  The tagged ones were between 7 – 8 inches. 

Smallmouth:  In October of 2007 we stocked smallmouth and they have distributed themselves all over the lake.  We caught them at every site that had good smallie habitat.  Look for nice rocky substrate that goes into the lake and they will be there.  They have grown a couple inches since we stocked them, so they are now around 8 inches or so.  All were healthy and lively.   Please practice catch-and-release – we need these bronzebacks to spawn and repopulate this fishery.

Carp and Buffalo Fish:  The shallow coves had lots of huge carp and some buffalo fish.  One buffalo fish had to be over 50 pounds, I say that because he got away before we got him into the boat, but he was a monster. 

Catfish:  Many coves had some large catfish.  Burt Corral area is a good place to fish for them. 

Yellow Bass:  We caught a lot of yellow bass.  Most are off the points where the substrate drops off.  Some were very close to 2 pounds.  Many were over a pound.  Apache Lake is a blue ribbon yellow bass fishery that many people just aren’t aware of.  They are fun to catch and even better to eat – can you say scrumptious!

Crappie continues to be caught around the marina area as reported by fishermen.  Trout are still in the system, we caught many in our nets and anglers are reporting catching them all up and down the lake.  

Where:Apache Lake
When:03/31/08
Caught:flathead catfish
Technique:liver huge treble hook
Comments:this fish was a monster
Name:Josh

CANYON -- Lake elevation is 1,657 ft, which is 95 percent full.
Canyon bass fishing is coming along.  One angler reported catching 4 largemouth, all between 3-5 pounds.  He used power worms and crayfish imitations. 

Angler reports:
Where:Canyon Lake
When:05/04/08
Caught:Two 4 lb catfish
Technique:Jiggin with Westys and football Garlin jigs
Comments:Slow fishing only few bites in 6 hours fishing
Name:Kevin Hunter

Where:Canyon Lake
When:04/20/08
Caught:Catfish
Technique:Bottom with a 2 foot leader. used Dead Minnows.
Comments:Takes a little time but well worth it. Anthony Delgado caught two 5lb Cats.
Name:Bobby Pruszynski

Where:Canyon Lake - Boulder Creek - deep in the canyon channel
When:04/26/08
Caught:1 Channel Catfish - approx. 20 inches in length
Technique:
Drop line - hot dogs
Comments:There was only one bite all day long and that was just as the sunlight touched the water. Fishing was extremely slow.
Name:Adam Hammond

Where:canyon lake
When:04/19/08
Caught:2 catfish 5lbs a piece
Technique:silver rattle trap cast toward the shore
Name:jay mott

Where:Canyon Lake
When:
04/03/08
Caught:
2 Largemouth bass and 1 catfish
Technique:
Westy worm dead-sticking in shallows
Comments:
We caught 2 emerald "Canyon Lake Footballs" between 3 -6 pm. Jigging the shoreline in 2 to 10 feet of water. We released the 4.3 lbs and 3.5 lbs spawning bass to be caught again. The catfish was caught on a Westy Worm early evening. Hunter bros
Name:
KEVIN HUNTER

Where:Canyon
When:
04/20/08
Caught:
2 Channel, 2 Bass and 1 yellow bass
Technique:
night crawler with no weight and night crawler under bobber at 4 ft.
Comments:
Fished in the afternoon in Laguna Cove with wife and daughter. No one got skunked. The bass were very small so we released them. The catfish were pan sized. Have yet to see any sign of the bluegill my daughter loves to catch.

Where:Canyon Lake
When:
03/29/08
Caught:
Catfish, Yellow Bass, Bluegill
Technique:
Worms and minnows
Comments:
Fished all night, three anglers caught 3 catfish, 2 yellow bass and 1 bluegill. One catfish was 12 pounds. Slow fishing, catfish bite not on yet, in a couple of weeks when the water warms up, and then it should be good fishing.
Name:
Bob

Where:Canyon Lake
When:
03/18/08
Caught:
4 lb Largemouth, One Big Yellow Bass!
Technique:
The Bass was caught on a 6-inch worm. The Big yellow bass was caught on a 3-inch grub with a 1/8 oz jig head.
Comments:
What a blast! This lake is starting to come back.
Name:
Mark Greggersen

SAGUARO -- Lake elevation 1525 feet at 93% full.
A 10-inch bass was caught near the dam using the drop shot method with a plastic worm.
Another fisherman had good luck using Robo Worms on a drop shot.  He caught an 8 inch, 10-inch and an 11-inch bass along with six others.  They all hit real hard and put up a good fight.

Where:Saguaro
When:
04/27/08
Caught:
Largemouth
Technique:
Drop shot and crankbait
Comments:
All fish were caught in 6-10' of water. Crankbait was very effective in the windy conditions. We caught about 40 fish in 7 hours. Biggest fish was 1 lb 2 oz. All were released
Name:
Michael Rathgeber

Angler reports
Where:Saguaro
When:
04/27/08
Caught:
Largemouth and Bluegill
Technique:
Fished with worms, spinners and crankbaits.
Comments:
My buddy Jason and I took our first fishing trip of the season to Saguaro. A little windy but we caught 22 fish total in 2 1/2 hours (2 bass and 20 bluegill). Fished with worms and spinner baits mostly. Bass weighed about 2 pounds each and the bluegill were the size of a nerf football (fought like a crappie or small bass). Great time and a start to a great season!

Where:Saguaro Lake
When:
04/16/08
Caught:
Trout, Yellow bass, Largemouth bass, Bluegill
Technique:
we used cut bait
Comments:
All yellow bass caught are still males. Stocker LMbass. The trout bite is slowing way down
Name:
DL Alvis

Where:Saguaro
When:
04/15/08
Caught:
3 black bass
Technique:
rocket shad white, live minnows
Comments:
Caught 3 black bass, had 4 follow .. released all bass that were caught.. Caught blue gill in large numbers.. used night crawlers and minnows.. Kept 70
Name:
Robert Sr. & Robert Jr. Konradt

Where:Saguaro
When:
04/11/08
Caught:
Largemouth, Catfish
Technique:
Jigs, spinners
Comments:
caught about 6 largemouths myself all about a pound. My friend showed me up with 12 largemouths the biggest about a pound and a half, and a 5 pound flathead.
Name:
John L Dowden

BARTLETT – Lake elevation is 1795 ft, which is 95-percent full.
Largemouth are taking jerk bait, cranks and worms.  Drop shot method is working for many anglers after trying everything else in their tackle box. 
As of Saturday May 3. Water temps were 63 on the main lake and warmed to 67 during the day.  Upper river temp was 73 at 4 p.m.  Water clarity was 5-6 feet on the main lake and less than a foot way up river.
Some anglers are doing well on crappie at night, but didn’t provide a location.

Where:Bartlett Lake
When:
04/26/08
Caught:
largemouth bass
Technique:
crankbait. DT6 Shad Rap
Comments:
Arrived at the lake around noon. Started fishing with drop shot set up. No luck switched to Rapala DT6 Shad Rap and caught 5 nice 2-4 lb largemouth bass around sun set.
Name:
joe cortright

Where:Bartlett Lake
When:
04/20/08
Caught:
1 Crappie
Technique:
Tried everything from crankbaits to minnows and jigs. Fished from 4pm to midnight and only caught 1 at dusk on the minnow. Lights brought in the shad but no luck with the crappie. Not wroth the gas or the time> only 2 other boats on the yellow cliffs with us. Not sure why it’s listed as a hot spot, its everything but that.

Where:Bartlett
When:
04/21/08
Caught:
Largemouth
Technique:
Jigs Carolina rigs across the bottom.
Comments:
went three times in the last week or so, first time I caught 9, my first friend 4 and my second friend 20, all LM from 1-4lb. 2nd trip, only myself and 3rd friend, I caught 1 he caught 13. 3rd trip I caught 6 2nd friend caught 4, 3rd caught 15
Name:
John L Dowden

HORSESHOE – Lake elevation is at 2024 feet, which is 97-percent full.  They are releasing water at 125 cfs.

VERDE RIVER – Verde River flow at Tangle is 133 cubic feet per second.  Release from Bartlett Lake is 500 cfs.

SALT RIVER -- Salt River into Roosevelt is 820 cfs, and Salt River Canyon is 815 cfs.  They are releasing 750 cfs out of Stewart Mountain dam from Saguaro. Trout have recently been stocked. Some anglers are doing very well, others aren’t. For spin anglers, try using night crawlers with only a small split shot – cast slightly upstream and let the current carry the crawler downstream while mending your line. 

Where:Black River
When:
06/13/07
Caught:
About 40 smallmouth bass
Technique:
varied selections throughout the 12 hours we caught them
Comments:
Black river is the place to go for large amounts of bass
Name:
Mitchel English

Where:Tick Flats, Black River
When:
04/17/08
Caught:
Small Mouth Bass
Technique:
Split tail grubs, smoke and yellow color
Comments:
the flesh had small white worm-like spots all thru-out. What would that be and was it dangerous for consumption?
Name:
Gene Marshall

LOWER SALT RIVER (below Saguaro Lake) – The water flows from Stewart Mountain Dam are still a little high – 1,175 cfs and the water temperature is still in the mid fifties for the upper reaches. Trout have now been stocked two times in the upper reach at the Water Users (where tubers put in) and the Blue Point Bridge along Bush Highway. This is a unique river trout fishing in the desert, give it a try.
A good technique for spin anglers (ultra-light or lightweight rods) is to use night crawlers with little or no weight cast slightly upstream into the riffles. Let the current carry the bait downstream to any deep pool or back eddy.
For small spinners (or casting spoons like small KastMasters), cast perpendicular to the flowing current and maintain tension on the spinner by slowly reeling in as the current sweeps the lure downstream. Typically, once the spinner gets at least to a 45- to 60-degree angler downstream from you, it will spin with increased action, which can often cause a trout to hit.

Angler reports:
Where:Lower Salt River
When:
04/18/08
Caught:
Nothing
Technique:
Fly fishing- gold ribbed hairs ear, beaded nymphs, parachute Adams, caddis fly, among others.
Comments:
started at the bridge around 8:30am. Fish were rising till about 9:30am. Fished the whole way up to the upper parking. Had one bite. Went back down to the bridge around 5:30pm where fish were rising. Here we noticed that it was not trout coming to the surface but suckers. Saw one person catch a fish around this time (not sure what it was) just up steam from the bridge.

Where:Lower Salt River below saguaro lake
When:
04/08/08
Caught:
small large mouth bass
Technique:
live worms
Comments:
Lost another small 10 to 12 inch bass on a plastic crayfish the hook didn't penetrate the plastic properly. The water was still very cold and running very swiftly.
Name:
Cosme Velazquez

Where:Lower Salt River
When:
04/04/08
Caught:
Rainbow Trout
Technique:
Spinners & Power Bait
Comments:
Thanks so much for the heads up on the stocking at Blue Point, Rory. My buddy and I were able to take his kids down so they could pull a few in. The boys had a good time, and so did we since they actually caught a few and weren't bored.
Name:
Matt Waite

CREEKS
Note: All the creeks were scheduled for stocking last week. This is a great time to fish them.
 
Canyon Creek – Recently stocked with rainbows.  Rainbows and browns are going after a variety of nymphs.  The pools are deep and the intermediate water between the pools is about 3 feet deep in some areas so it’s deep enough to fish between the pools.  Some of the silt has been scoured out, so that means nice interstitial space for all kinds of bugs and small fish. 

Christopher Creek – Has been stocked. Fishing should be good.

Where:
Christopher Creek
When:
04/26/08
Caught:
2 largemouth bass (15" each)
Technique:
Yellow spinners
Comments:
Not sure what largemouth bass are doing in Christopher Creek, or who put them there, but there they were--probably a dozen of them lurking in a small pool.
Name:
Jake Poinier

East Verde -- The water is clear. Silt and other debris were scoured out leaving behind some real nice looking habitat.  

East Verde River – Was scheduled for stocking last week.

HORSETHIEF BASIN LAKE – Lake level is up, fishing is okay.

Where:
Horsethief Lake
When:
04/13/08
Caught:
Largemouth Bass & Bluegills
Technique:
Worms under a bobber
Comments:
The lake has risen about 5 vertical feet, to just below the spillway line on the east end of the dam. Large bluegills and small largemouth bass can be seen along the entire shoreline. The bluegills are very shallow and appear to be on the beds, protecting / spawning offspring. The bass are keeping a short distance from the bluegills. Close enough to be looking for an easy meal, but staying out of an aggressive bluegill's imaginary "don't get too close" line. This place has made a dramatic improvement from the same conditions last year at this time. Let’s hope it stays that way. The road past Crown King seems much rougher than last time I came up here (and I was in a 4WD). Crown King had an impressive amount of snow (for them) this winter and I wonder if this may be the reason. Take it slow and very easy to avoid tearing up your truck. I wouldn't recommend a low clearance vehicle. Watch out for idiots, there were many of them all over the area, driving way to fast for the conditions.
Name:
Mike Parks
.

COLORADO RIVER NORTHWEST

LAKE POWELL – The weather in warming and Lake Powell is filling a foot every fourth day. Bass are guarding deep nests but the fast-rising water makes sight fishing difficult. Not to worry! Bass fishing is great with feisty smallmouth bass waking up and getting with the program.

Work the rocky structure to find willing smallmouth. Earlier in the spring all the bass action was in the backs of sandy coves with brush. Now bass are staged near the primary rocky points leading into those coves. It is not time yet to fish the main channel drop-offs. Start at the back of the canyon where muddy water meets the rich green color. That is the bass hotspot and many other species of fish like the green productive zone.

Technique varies with personal preference. The most common approach is to use a plastic grub, tube, Senko or other bait of your choosing. That works great as does retrieving a spinnerbait or crankbait across rocky structure. I like to have the option of using both techniques. Just have a tube rigged on one rod and a crank or jerk bait on the other. Use a tube for a while and then switch to the crank. Let the fish tell you which they like best.

Do not be afraid to fish deeper water. The shoreline at the current lake level is devoid of brush. Old brush is buried 10-15 feet deep while the new shoreline brush won't go under water for a couple more weeks. The lake has to exceed last year's high water mark of 3611 before new brush is flooded.

Walleye are perking up with warming conditions. They should be caught more often now particularly in murky water after an afternoon wind muddies a cove or floats a mud line into a clear water bay.

Crappies are still being caught in the brush at the ends of the canyons. Use a bobber to suspend a tiny curly tail grub just above the brush zone.
 
Stripers are schooled in 25-45 of water waiting to spawn. Trolling and graphing across deep points and drops in bays is the best way to located them. They will come up from 25 feet to hit a bevy shad, Rat-L-Trap or Wally diver running at 10-12 feet. I keep a floating fish marker handy and toss it out each time a good school is graphed. When tired of trolling, go back to the various makers, chum and fish bait over the stationary marked schools to catch a cooler full of stripers.

Chum brings striper off the bottom. While they are easy to catch on bait, they are searching for food and will also take a spoon, crank, or swim bait while swimming in the chum field.

Fishing is great right now whichever species or technique is your personal favorite.

LEES FERRY – From Lees Ferry Anglers, Today’s Fly Fishing: I wish I could report that the fishing is off the charts but, it is not. Fishing is OK we are not catching a whole bunch of fish but the fish we are catching are good size fish. The numbers are down the sizes are up. Pick your poison! We are still mostly drifting in the boats fishing the long deep runs and it’s paying off.
We are using the same flies. The san juan worm, scuds, and tiny little midges. These fish just look tremendously healthy with a good size and girth to them. I don’t know how you feel it but I would rather catch 5 fish all day that are good size, than a bunch of dinks.

The weather has been great the past few days, pleasant. Having said that I am sure it will take a turn.

Walk in: I have spoke to a few anglers that fished this area in the past few days. It is a little slow mid- day then tends to pick up in the evening.
There are certain areas that are producing more fish than others. If you are planning to fish this area stop by the shop and I will tell you where to go and how to rig, and what flies are working best. Tight lines    T
Spin Fishing: Spin fishing is still great! Stop in and pick up some egg patterns and ask us about the recommended rig and best areas to fish. We do have maps available in the fly shop as well. 

Upper Colorado River Basin Hydrology
Hydrologic conditions above Lake Powell have dried out somewhat during March. Precipitation in the Upper Colorado River Basin was 65% of average in March 2008 and is now 112% of average for the water year as of April 7, 2008. As of April 7, 2008 the snowpack conditions above Lake Powell are 116% of average. The climate outlook for the Upper Colorado River Basin indicates that the next 3 months will likely have below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures. Inflow to Lake Powell is currently 14,500 cfs (April 6, 2008). Total unregulated inflow to Lake Powell so far in water year 2008 (October through March) is 86% of average with March measured at 88 % of average. Forecasted April through July unregulated inflow to Lake Powell in 2008 is 9.7 million acre-feet, 122 % of average (April final forecast). Typically by April 1 , the snow accumulation season is nearly complete in the Upper Colorado River Basin.  Snowpack levels, on average, peak by about April 10.

The current elevation of Lake Powell (March 2, 2008) is 3,590.5 feet, 109.5 feet from full pool elevation of 3,700 feet. Reservoir storage is currently 10.86 million acre-feet, or 44 percent of capacity. The water surface elevation of Lake Powell is now near its seasonal low. In April, anticipated snowmelt runoff will cause the water surface elevation to begin to increase. Under the current inflow forecast, Lake Powell would reach a peak elevation of about 3639 feet in July 2008. The peak elevation for Lake Powell in 2007 was 3,611.7 feet.
Check out:
 
 
 
Fishing Synopsis and Forecast by Terry Gunn 4/19/08
The high flow experiment was basically a non event as far as the fishery is concerned. It came and went with few visible changes to the river or the fishery. For more details and to see my complete comments go here: http://coloradoriverconservancy.org/

Lots of stuff happening at the Ferry and it is all good!

Due to the higher than normal runoff conditions and the desire to equalize Lake Powell and Lake Meade, water releases were increased on April 14. The projected increase amounts to more than 600,000 acre feet of water to be released between now and the end of the water year in October. This means that water flows will be higher than normal for the months of April, May, June, and July. Steady flows are planned for September and October. Read below how I predict this increased flows will affect fishing.

It has been a very different spring than most years. The air (and water) temperatures have been much cooler than normal and as a result, the midge hatches occurred much later than in past years. The swallows did not arrive until the first week of April, the exact same time as the midges started to hatch (how do they know?!). The swallows normally arrive Feb. 28 and this is the latest arrival that I have seen in my 25 years on the river.

Most of the ducks are still here and they should have migrated several weeks ago which tells me that it is going to be a cool spring going forward and winter is going to be hanging on later than normal

The trout spawn began in early December which we have not seen in several years. It was a good strong spawn until the start of the experimental flow. Immediately following the high flow experiment the trout spawn began in earnest. It looked like every fish in the river was spawning at once and was the strongest spawn that I have ever witnessed. It was an inspiring sight, fish spawning everywhere and in areas that I have not seen them use in years.

The spawn occurred in mostly deep water (up to 40-ft. deep!) with very little shallow water spawning taking place. The deep water spawn should translate into a “bumper crop” of fry and the survival rate will likely be off the charts.
 
This is going to be a year to remember at Lees Ferry…there are so many good things happening at once which will make this THE YEAR that will set the stage for great fishing for years to come.

First and foremost: the current snowpack in the Colorado River drainage is 121% of normal, (Lake Powell is predicted to rise 50-ft!) and if the ducks are an indicator as to whether winter is lingering, the snowpack is likely to continue to increase. When the snow melt begins in earnest, the streams that flow into Lake Powell will be raging and stir-up all the accumulated sediment at the stream entrance. This sediment is nutrient laden and the suspended nutrients will be distributed throughout Lake Powell. All these nutrients will be transported and arrive in the river below the dam in a few months and the river will explode with algal growth and there will be lots of food for the fish.
Here is a quick overview and prediction.

The high runoff will provide the river with a huge nutrient load that will result in tremendous growth of aquatic organisms and plants (trout food).
The current trout population is healthy and the fish are larger than we have seen in years. These fish will grow rapidly to a larger size with the arrival of the nutrients and food. The current average 17-in fish should grow at least a couple inches and we have a bunch of fish that are bigger than that. We will see lots of 20+-in fish in the river next year.

The spawn from 2007 survival rate was substantial; the river is currently full of 7 to 8-in fish and the increased productivity of the nutrients should arrive just in time to stimulate growth of these juvenile fish. These fish will be 12-in and larger by this next fall and be catchable. The nutrient load should last at least a couple years even if next year’s snow pack is below normal. One strange phenomenon regarding juvenile fish at Lees Ferry is that once the fry reach 3-in long, they “disappear” until they reach 12-in and then suddenly they reappear and populate normal fishing lies. We’ll be seeing these fish this next fall.

I have already told you about the trout spawn from this year. The number of trout fry will likely be off the chart and the survival should be good. The river conditions should be perfect for survival and growth of these young of the year fish and they will show up as 12-in or larger fish in the fall of 2009.
Higher water flows always provide better health and growth rates for trout at Lees Ferry. Due to the projected run-off and the desire to equalize Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the planned release volume from April to October is being increased from 8.23 million acre feet of water to 8.88 million acre feet which is an increase of more than 600,000 acre feet of water. To help put this into perspective this increase is more than all the water that will be released in the month of April. This is the first time since 1997 that there has been a release larger than the minimum of 8.23 million acre feet. For those of you that remember what the fishing was like in 1999 and 2000…you should be as excited as I am about what this higher water and increased nutrient load should do to the fishing at Lees Ferry.

In the short term the higher water will make fishing conditions tougher. The trout normally stop feeding on sub-surface midges when the water flows exceed 12,000-cfs and the flows will exceed this value for the remainder of this season. The fish will shift their diet to worms and scuds in the higher flows which means we will be using heavy nymph rigs and be doing more drifting than wading. 

Overall the trout are in great shape and the average size is larger than we have seen in several years. I predict that the size and condition of the fish will continue to improve this spring and summer and we should continue to see great fishing for the remainder of 2008 and into the future

LAKE MEAD – Lake Mead water levels continue to drop as the elevation is projected to dip below 1,109 feet above msl later this week. Water temperatures are running between 65 and 70 depending where you are on the lake.  Backs of coves are warming up nicely and largemouth bass are starting to move in for the spawn.

Striper fishing was good over the weekend. Anglers using artificial lights were catching as many 13 to 18-inch stripers as they wanted to clean.

Catfishing under lights was also very productive using anchovies.  May 5 was the dark moon so all this week, the fishing under lights with anchovies should be good. 

Launching conditions at South Cove have continued to deteriorate with the dropping water.  Both the dirt ramp and the new concrete the National Park Service just completed are one lane ramps with buoys marking the edges. Use caution not to go off the sides of the metal extensions at either side.

According to the Bureau of Reclamation, water levels are projected to dip as low as 1,105 feet above msl later this summer before rebounding slightly by October. 

Important notice: With the recent 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:
Where:Lake Mead
When:
04/26/08
Caught:
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass
Technique:
Drop Shot & Jigs
Comments:
Fishing was excellent, found fish both still spawning and some post spawn. Caught 14 in the 2-3lb range with the big fish of the day a 3lb smallmouth.
Name:
Steve Stierstorfer

Where:South Cove, Lake Mead
When:
04/19/08
Caught:
Striped bass, largemouth bass, catfish
Technique:
Striped bass caught on lures and cut anchovies. Catfish caught on anchovies, largemouth caught on a variety of lures
Comments:
The annual United Professional Fire Fighters tournament was held last Friday/Saturday at South Cove on Lake Mead. 25 teams participated. Top striper team checked in 40 fish that weighed 64 lbs. Big fish weighed 4.15 lbs. Top catfish team had 20 channel cats that weighed just over 20 lbs. Top largemouth bass team had 15 fish over two days that weighed just over 21 lbs. Big fish of the tourney weighed 4.55 lbs. Largemouth were caught on a variety of lures including spinnerbaits, grubs and tube baits. Stripers were active and were caught on spinnerbaits, top water lures and reaction lures. Lots of fish caught during the day on anchovies fished at 40-50 feet.
Name:
Don Martin

LAKE MOHAVE – The fishing is picking up a little on the upper end of the lake.  The stripers seen in the fall were fat and full of shad, with schools of shad being chased by striped bass.  If the shad are making a comeback, we may see more mid-size stripers in the basin.  If you can find schools of shad, throw a small crankbait.  Most of the largemouth are in 20-25 ft of water, but some are in shallow water. 

Biologists from both Arizona Game and Fish Department and Nevada Division of Wildlife installed fish habitat in Carp cove on Dec. 12-13.  A total of 84 wood pallets and 16 4X4-foot PVC structures were put into Lake Mohave in an attempt to increase angler success. On Jan. 29-30 an additional 54 wood pallets and 16 4X4-foot PVC structures were put into Lake Mohave at Box cove.  On March 28-29 brush bundles pallets and PVC structures were installed in carp cove.  Additional habitat will be added at several locations over the next two years.  These structures are fish magnets.

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

Important notice: With the recent 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/.

Where:Lake Mohave
When:
04/24/08
Caught:
Large Mouth Bass, Small Mouth Bass, Stipers and Catfish
Technique:
top water baits, anchovies and worms
Comments:
The lake has finally come alive with fish ready to eat. On Thursday we pulled in nearly thirty stripers, eight nice size large mouth and seven or eight small mouth, limited out on catfish in the back of coves in about two hours.
Name:
Skip

WILLOW BEACH - Trout are stocked every Friday. The fishing for trout has been good from shore immediately following the stocking.  Try using a Jake, Panther Martin, or other spinner’s or spoons.  If that doesn’t work you can always use Power Bait.  I’m starting to get reports of the striper bite picking up around the monkey hole area.

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

TOPOCK MARSH –Water level is up, but still be careful while launching.  The catfish are biting on night crawlers and anchovies.  Bass bite is still not bad.  Crappies have shut down.  Try night crawlers or anchovies for catfish.

Game and Fish biologists surveyed the Marsh starting on the week of Jan. 15.  The largemouth bass population was observed to be very healthy, as well as channel catfish.  Crappie were also present, but in smaller numbers.

You can access the marsh by boat at 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 recent 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/.

COLORADO RIVER BELOW DAVIS DAM –The striper bite is picking up.  Trout were last stocked on March 24-25.  This was the last trout stocking until next winter.  Fish and Wildlife Service stocks once a month in this area.  A few days following the stocking look for trout to be across the river from the Riverside.  The fish are stocked in two locations; Davis Camp and near The Riverside.  I am getting some reports of the largemouth bite picking up. 

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

Important notice: With the recent 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/.

SOUTHWESTERN ARIZONA
LAKE HAVASU – The striper action and bite is good right now as they continue to progress through their spawning cycle.  They can be caught from early pre-dawn hours with top water baits throughout the daytime hours with cut baits such as mackerel and anchovies.  While fishing through the day use live baits with a deepwater presentation such as a Carolina rig with a one-ounce slip sinker. Chum the area with anchovies to increase the attraction of stripers to your spot.  Remember that the "SNAGGING " of live shad is illegal at this time and the " SNAGGING " season will re-open Oct. 1, 2008.

The crappie bite is on right now as they have moved up into the shallow mud sand or gavel bottoms that have structure or submerged brush on them.  Target areas that have natural habitat such as the Christmas trees or submerged natural brush piles and fallen trees.  Many of these fish have been caught from the shoreline at depths in the 4-5 foot range.  The preferred bait of choice right now is the night crawler worm, or the Gulp Earth Worms.  These crappies can also be caught on small artificial lures such as small crappie tube jigs, buck tail crappie spinners with gold or silver blades (that add vibration).  Threadfin shad are their main diet so when selecting your baits keep that in mind in your selections of colors.  Remember to add a scent attractant to your baits for short striking fish...Crappie like cod liver oil, if you have any on-hand consider the application of this scent to your artificial lure.
 
The largemouth and smallmouth bass bite is very good right now, with the best time being in the early morning.  There have been some trophy-sized largemouth being caught on swim baits currently. The presentation of this bait works best when thrown a long distance and retrieved slowly over the tops of large submerged habitats in the backs of shallow sheltered coves. Some of the popular BIG BASS baits being used currently are soft plastic Bluegill MATTLURE swim bait, and the TRU-LIFE Tungsten swim bait. These extremely life-like bluegill baits are working so well now because the redear sunfish and bluegill are currently spawning and the bass are gorging on them.

Carolina rigged tube bait or worm is another good presentation that is currently working on these bass.  Cast around and through the habitats.  Use the R2S Tungsten skinny slip sinker as this type of weight slides easily through and around the man made submerged structure.

The following reports were provided by Karen Coats, Sandpoint Marina:

4-8 -Joe Egan of San Diego CA got 5 stripers1-1.12 pounds using anchovies trolling coves.
4-9 -Rick Nelson of Prescott AZ got 2 cats 9.12 pounds using anchovies at Bluegill Island. Joe Egan of San Diego CA kept 5 of the 9 stripers he caught ranging from 1-2 pounds using anchovies trolling north.
4-10 -windy day-Joe Egan of San Diego caught 7 stripers 1-2 pounds using anchovies trolling coves north. Hunter Loggins of Glendora CA got a 7.1 cat using anchovies at B Dock. Danny Leathers of Glendora CA got a 6.8 pound cat using anchovies at B Dock.
4-11 -windy day-Joe Egan of San Diego CA released 6 of the 7 stripers he caught they were in the 1 to 1.8 pound range he was using anchovies and trolling north in the coves.
4-12 -Joe Egan of San Diego CA kept 2 of 8 stripers caught they were in the 1 to 2.8 pound range he was using anchovies trolling South in the coves.
4-13 -Jeff Esser of Lake Havasu City AZ got a 5.12 pound Cat using anchovies on the Jetty.
4-14 -Gary Coy of Hunnington Beach CA got 10 stripers and kept 1 that weighed 3.12 pounds he was at Blue Gill Island in the AM, in the PM he got 5 stripers total weight of 12.7 pounds he is using anchovies at Blue Gill Island. Joe and Shana Egan of San Diego CA got 2 stripers each they were 1 pounders, trolling anchovies north of Sandpoint

Angler report
Where:
Lake Havasu Site Six
When:
03/14/08
Caught:
Striper
Technique:
Live shad and anchovies
Comments:
Wife and I caught six and the guy next to us snagging shad caught a stringer full of 2 pounders
Name:
Dave Torres

Where:
Lake Havasu
When:
03/12/08
Caught:
Striper
Technique:
Live shad with ¼-ounce split shot or with out weight. Also, white Rat-L-Traps worked real well.
Comments:
Site Six was hot. Fished all night with consistent good size fish. Early morning, big boys came out. Everyone on dock was catching 3- to 5-pound fish with an occasional 8 or 10 pounder. Exciting!!
Name:
Eddie Salazar

PARKER STRIP – COLORADO RIVER (PARKER STRIP AREA) – Courtesy June’s Bait Shop in Parker: Water temps along the strip have been averaging in the upper fifties to low sixties, and it's only getting hotter!

Stripers are biting near the Parker Dam. A customer brought into June's Bait Shop an 18-pound striper caught off of a Rapala crankbait on the 7th of April, and more are being caught using anchovies and cut bait.

Smallmouth, and largemouth bass activity has also picked up. It's important to keep in mind that many of the bass being caught this year are females full off eggs. PLEASE release these fish. The future of our fishing depends on it.

Four-inch purple Berkley Power Worms are working well for both large, and smallmouth bass. Also watermelon Senko's used with a 4/0 wide gap worm hook work well. Remember to fish slow. Largemouth can be found close to the tulles.

Catfish are biting! Live bait works best for the big flatheads. Goldfish or bluegill can produce fish in the 50-pound range! So be ready for a night time fight.

Bluegill, and redear are being caught in coves, and along rocky areas using meal worms, or night crawlers.

C.R.I.T. Waters. Lower Colorado River:
Smallmouth, largemouth, catfish, you name it... and it's biting on the lower Colorado river. Crankbaits will catch smallmouth at all hours, along with Power Worms.
Catfish will eat live bait before anything else... stop by June's Bait Shop for goldfish, and hook into a monster.

Lower Lake Havasu: Havasu Springs fishing dock still producing small, to medium sized striper. Shad activity has been slowing down, but cut bait will still catch fish. Smallmouth, and largemouth bass activity starting to increase. Brown and purple plastics work well; target coves with the warmest water.   

Important notice:  Quagga mussels have been found in Lake Havasu so proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please move to the parking lot, DRAIN your live-wells and bilge where the water does not return to the lake. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, INSPECT your watercraft 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.

ALAMO LAKE –Well folks, your not missing a lot out here right now.  It's been windy all week long and as I write this, it's windy, with a front moving through. We had a couple of tournaments out here this weeks end. I overheard that the winning weight in the Lyon homes tourney was 15.13 pounds with big fish going 6.1 pounds.

Arizona Bass Federation also had a day and 1/2 tourney. Congratulation Nick Phelps for the over-all win with a weight 21.02 pounds.  Congratulation to Allen Wacker with big fish going 6.48 pounds. 

I got to spend some time with these guys and I tell you they sure take a lot of pride in fish conservation. Nice job guys. I did hear a couple of the winning anglers say something about flipping, white spinnerbaits, and the upper end of the lake.

No reports on crappie fishing.
Cat fishing is o.k. Carl and Cindy Rogers reported catching 20-plus cat fish in the river channel in the upper in of the lake. I did not hear there bait of choice but stink baits, worms, hot dogs, shrimp, or liver should all do the trick.

The lave level is at  1,124 ish with releases of 35 cfs.  Both ramps work great.   Remember to bring sun block, fluids, and bug spray. 

Angler report:
Where: Alamo Lake
When: 04/12/08
Caught:
Largemouth Bass 8.9lbs
Technique: Senko
Comments: The bass are all over the lake and this monster was located at the under heavy brush at the Cholla entrance of the lake on boat dock ramp. Several fisherman told me that had no luck the whole day but where I was fishing on shore I caught over 8 fish in less than two hours. The shad schools of fish are really thick and follow the shad, you will find the bass.
Name: Danneal Castillo

Where: Alamo
When: 04/19/08
Caught: Largemouth bass
Technique: Started out dark in the morning on Saturday with a Rico.. caught about 10 total on that then once the sun crested I started pitching a jerk bait SP in the brush.. managed to get about 15 on that, including a 5 pounder. after around 11AM I started flipping a Brush Hog but I couldn’t find the pigs; we went in at 3 p.m., I had caught around 30 fish total ... 1 over, about 15 slot, and the rest were unders
Name: jake

SPRING OUTLOOK:

ALAMO LAKE – The lake elevation continues to be good.  Largemouth bass are present in all sizes and fishing is expected to be good to excellent throughout the spring.  It looks like most of the bass are in the protected slot with a fair number over the slot.  Exactly what is going on with the crappie is unknown.  The bite has not developed as usual but we anticipate fishing to be fair to good throughout the spring.  Channel catfish will be good to excellent this spring and throughout the summer. There are other fish present such as bluegill, redear sunfish and carp that are a lot of fun to catch.  All types of bait should work.  As the weather warms a shift from slowly working plastics in deeper water to crank baits, spinner baits, and top-water lures for bass.  For channel catfish any of the prepared catfish baits as well as chicken livers, shrimp, and anything else you can think of should work. 

Both of the boat ramps are useable at this time and the store at the lake is still closed so you need to bring everything with you. If you run short of anything you might be able to pick it up at the Wayside Inn or in Wenden. The certified scale that was located at the store is now located at the Alamo State Park Office and the park office also has live bait for the crappie fishermen.

LAKE HAVASU & TOPOCK GORGE -- Largemouth bass, as well as smallmouth bass are expected to be good to excellent this spring. The size will range from 13 inches and up with an occasional fish greater than 5 pounds.  Striped bass will continue to be excellent for small fish (12-18 inches) with occasional fish over 3 pounds.  The lake is also full of smaller striper that will make it challenging to catch the larger fish.  Channel catfish as well as bluegill and redear sunfish will be good to excellent.  Flathead catfish fishing should be fair at the lower end of the lake (Bill Williams River Arm) through the spring. Sizes of flathead catfish can reach as high as 40 pounds. When fishing for them select the interior points in the coves and the areas where artificial structure has been placed.

The warmer weather causes the bite to increase making crankbaits and topwater lures a good choice.  Also, spinner baits, jigs, cut fish, live shad, etc. should work depending on the species you are looking for.

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

COLORADO RIVER (BETWEEN PALO VERDE DIVERSION DAM AND WALTER'S CAMP) -- This area should be fair for both smallmouth bass (in the channel) up river from the I-10 Bridge and largemouth bass (in the backwaters) throughout the entire area.  Channel and flathead catfish are always fair to good in this section of the Colorado River.  Most of the flathead catfish will be in the 2 to 5 pound size range with an occasional fish over 40 pounds.  The time for fishing for both species of catfish will be late spring and throughout the summer.  Generally speaking, when fishing for catfish the hotter the weather the better the fishing.

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

COLORADO RIVER (BETWEEN WALTER'S CAMP AND PICACHO STATE PARK) -- This section of the Colorado River is relatively remote and can only be accessed by boat from either end.  Fishing is expected to be good to excellent for flathead catfish with sizes over 40 pounds.  The best time will be late spring and on into the summer (the hotter the better).  The various backwaters will be good for largemouth bass and other sunfish (bluegill & redear).  Other species available in the main river are smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and striped bass.

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

COLORADO RIVER (BETWEEN PICACHO STATE PARK AND IMPERIAL DAM) --
This area is expected to be good to excellent for largemouth bass, channel catfish, and flathead catfish.  Bass and channel catfish in excess of 5 pounds are present along with flathead catfish as large as 40 pounds.  Other sunfish such as bluegill and redear are also present in the various backwaters as well as an occasional striped bass will be caught in the backwaters and main river channel.

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

COLORADO RIVER (BETWEEN LAGUNA AND MORELOS DAMS) -- This area will be good for largemouth bass and flathead catfish.  Bass in excess of 5 pounds is common and flathead catfish over 20 pounds is a good bet.  In this area accessibility to the river is dependent on the amount of water being released.  Usually shallow draft boats are a must.  The lower end has had some dredging work done and the larger boat will be able to get on the river in that area.

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

With the increase in border issues and illegal activity on the lower end of this area I would away from that area (Pilot Knob to Morelos Dam).

REGIONAL HOT SPOTS:

Alamo Lake will be the hot spot for Largemouth bass and channel catfish.  Since there appears to be more fish in the lake at the present time I recommend keeping as many of the smaller bass as you can legally possess in order to try and reduce the population a little.  Next choice would be Lake Havasu for striped bass, Parker Strip for smallmouth bass and redear sunfish, and the Colorado River below Walter’s Camp for flathead catfish.  

If you need any additional information or additional don't hesitate to contact the Yuma Regional office at (928) 341-4051 and I will be happy to accommodate you.

NORTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
Note:  Northern Pike have been illegally stocked in Francis Short.  If you catch a Northern Pike at Francis Short Pond please REMOVE IT FROM THE POND.  
.
WILLIAMS LAKES:  
KAIBAB LAKE Campground area is open.  Main parking lot and boat launch open for day use only. Some trout are being caught. Recently stocked.
Where:
Kaibab Lake
When:
05/03/08
Caught:
Rainbow Trout
Technique:
Multi Colored Power Bait with glitter 24 inches up from the bottom.
Comments:
My wife and I caught the 7 trout in four and a half hours. My wife had not been fishing since she was a child.
Name:
Wesley Peacock

Where:Kaibab Lake
When: 04/17/08
Caught:9 Trout
Technique:Spinners and Power Bait
Comments:Two anglers fished 7:30 to 12 noon. Water stained and very windy. Willie had not fished in 25 years, we had a great time.
Name:Ted

Where:Kaibab Lake Williams
When:04/12/08
Caught:Rainbow Trout... Too small threw it back
Technique: Corn & live worms
Comments: Spent 8 hours admiring the beauty, but catching only one little fish. Nobody else was having luck either.
Name: Pat Michaels

Where: Kaibab
When: 04/14/08
Caught: trout
Technique: Power Bait and lots of lures
Comments: the bite was slow could get them to hit a lure the fish we caught were on power bait the fishing is real slow and when they do bite its very light
Name: jared pensinger

CATARACT LAKE — — Campground is open.  Lake is open for walk in fishing.  Some fish being caught on flys and worms. Recently stocked.

CITY RESERVOIR —Road is open.  Lake is full.  Has been stocked.

DOGTOWN LAKE — Campground area is open. No Report   Some browns are being caught on lures.

JD DAM — Road is open.   Has been stocked.

RUSSEL TANK - Has been stocked.

SANTA FE — Lake is full. Has been stocked.  Anglers are catching trout and yellow perch.

WHITEHORSE LAKE — Stocked with 2,700 rainbow trout on April 25. No report from anglers.  Campground is now open. Lake is open for walk-in fishing. Lake is full.

FLAGSTAFF LAKES:

LOWER LAKE MARY — This is still a trout-catching hot spot. A total of 28,000 trout have been stocked into the lake fishing is fair to good depending on the wind.

Angler report

Where:Lower Lake Mary
When:
05/03/08
Caught:
Trout -- 8" - 1'-2"
Technique:
1/8-1/4 oz spoons as well as powerbait
Comments:
The bite was on for a good hour or so, died for 30 mintues and was on again (Like this throughout the day)
Name:
Josh

Where:Lower Lake Mary
When:04/22/08
Caught:Trout
Technique: Green Power bait 8 - 12 inches off the bottom
Comments: I caught my limit of 6 in only 2 hours. The wind was down so it made the conditions perfect.
Name:John Hull

Where:Lower lake Marry
When:04/13/08
Caught:Trout
Technique:Silver and gold Spinners
Comments:Had a great day of catching-and-releasing stocker trout fishing was good and no wind was a plus. I was using small spinners changing the speed of the retrieve. Fish were hitting the spinner close to bank. Also make sure to pinch the barb of your hooks if planning to release the fish. I noticed people using Power Bait were not having the same success as people throwing spinners. It was also great see the number of kids out with parents.

Where:Lower Lake Mary
When:03/30/08
Caught:35 rainbow trout
Technique:gold and silver spoons
Comments:My son and I had a blast. We caught and released all 35 in about 2 1/2 hours. We would've caught more but decided 35 was good number to stop at. I should add that these trout are still small and need a couple of weeks to get bigger and that’s another reason we stopped fishing. As fertile as this lake is it should only take a couple of weeks!

Where:Lower Lake Mary
When:03/31/08
Caught:Rainbow Trout
Technique:Fished a small black fly with red tail an hour before sunset. Caught one on the first cast, 12 inches. Also fished a black and yellow Panther Martin, caught a 10-inch one on that.
CommentsSouth side of the lake has lots of weeds to snag on. Try areas with steeper banks.
Name:Bob Harris

UPPER LAKE MARY — This is a northern pike hot spot. The lake is full. Some anglers have reported catching huge northern pike on frozen anchovies fished with little or no weight on steel leaders.

Angler reports:
Where:Upper Lake MaryWhen:
APRIL 27
Caught:2 cats 6.5 lbs and 3lbs + 4 pike 18 to 20 inches
Technique:Anchovies fly lined with steel leaders and large kahle hooks
Comments:Cats were early morning then pike started about 8am to 11am
Name:Mark Denton

Where:Upper Lake MaryWhen:
When: 04/18/08
Caught:northern pike 21 1/2 lbs!!!
Technique:anchovies (fly-lined) on a steel leader w/ large catfish hooks.
Comments:My friend, Bob Bax, and I, caught 5 pike in 2 1/2 hours. The smallest pike was 10 lbs and the largest was 21 1/4 lbs (caught on 10 lb line and a trout rod)! The entire state is erupting right now! Fish ANYWHERE in the state with 4 lb test and a #6 hook (w/no weight) with a fat night crawler. Leave your bail open and wait for your line to go pealing out!!! This is the year! Good luck! I have fished many of the high country lakes this Spring, and Mary is where it is at! Go large with your bait and bring a friend to net the monsters! See you out there! :)
Name:danny iberri-shea

Where:Upper Lake MaryWhen:
04/09/08
Caught: 25 " (4lb) northern pike
Technique: Good old "comfort food" (frozen anchovy on a steel leader w/no weight).
Comments: Get zen with it! Keep your rods low to the water in rod holders to reduce the wicked winds that many fishermen are complaining about.
Name:danny iberri-shea

Where:Upper Lake MaryWhen:
When: 04/05/08
Caught:5 northern pike 1@ 30 inches , 3 @ 24 inches 1@ 20 inches
Technique:anchovies , no weights,
Name:Tom Garbade

ASHURST LAKE — The lake is full. Some larger hold-over trout are being caught. Stocked last week. The road is open. Some trout anglers are catching northern pike.

Where:Ashurst Lake
When:04/05/08
Caught:
trout
Technique:
rainbow KastMaster, trolling
Comments:
The fishing is slow but patience will be rewarded. There are some huge hold-overs
Name:
Corey Myers

FRANCIS SHORT POND – Has been recently stocked. Fishing was fair to good for trout on flies or Power Bait.  Catfish are being caught on night crawlers.  Please remove all pike caught to save stocked trout for the anglers!!!

KINNIKINICK LAKE — Road Open. Stocked last week.

Where:Kinnickinick
When:
05/04/08
Caught:
Rainbows
Technique:
Night crawlers, grubs, small brown Power Bait worms with chartreuse eggs in front of the worms, eagle claw double hook assembly.
Comments:
Caught 9 pan fries and put them back to grow. Hooked a 8 + lb.
Name:
Thom Rogers

MARSHALL LAKE — Stocked with 900 rainbow trout on April 25. Scheduled to be stocked this week.  Open, accessible.

Angler report:
Where:marshall lake
When:04/09/08
Caught:
rainbow trout
Technique:
spinner/spoon slow retrieve with an occasional jerk of the rod. fish are about 6-10 in in length
Comments:
caught all at the boat launch.
Name:
Brian Atkins

OAK CREEK — Stocked weekly. Fishing is slow for browns, but okay for rainbows.

Where:Oak Creek
When:05/04/08
Caught:
1 tiny stocker
Technique:
Flies, nymphs
Comments:
Walked nearly all of the hot pools up the creek (above Slide Rock) didn't see any of the stocked trout. Most likely b/c it was the weekend.
Name:
Nathan

Where:Oak Creek, Don Hoel's cabins
When:04/26/08
Caught:
1 Rainbow trout, and wife caught 1 bow
Technique:
Flyfishing, tried Bead headed Copper John, Simi Seal Leach and Hopper.
Comments:
Water was crystal clear but kinda low. Large slow pools with lots of fish, but didn't catch any in the pools. Caught 10-inch rainbow in riffle using Simi Seal.
Name:
Lonnie Nordby

Where:Oak Creek
When:04/16/08
Caught:
Rainbow trout, brown trout
Technique:
Different colored Power Baits and salmon eggs.
Comments:
The rainbows were plentiful in places where they were stocked (when you could find them). We caught a few brown trout and caught our limits of rainbows.
Name:
Mike McBeath

Where:Oak Creek Canyon
When:
04/19/08
Caught:
Rainbow Trout
Technique:
Spin casting rooster tails
Comments:
Fished below slide rock up to the bridge and into the park. Fishing was slow, water is still a bit high. Caught one rainbow just above the bridge in the park. Maybe the fish have not made it to below the bridge as of yet.
Name:
Bradley Mihalik

LONG LAKE — Lake is open.  Water level is good.  Lake has been stocked with 4,300 trout. Some nice fish are being caught near the ditch.  Two anglers report catching limits of trout from their boat but were challenged by windy conditions at times.

SOLDIERS & SOLDIERS ANNEX — Lakes are open. No report.

BEAVER CREEK — Has been stocked with 900 rainbow trout and the water temperature was 53 degrees. No reports. 

Where:
Beaver Creek
When:
04/10/08
Caught:
Rainbow Trout & Bass
Technique:
Night Crawlers no weight
Comments:
Fished from the Bridge at the Camp Ground all the way up north to the Southwest Academy and only found a pocket of 8 Stocker Trout & 4 dead Trout and very few Bass. Water is clear. I would recommend that you try your luck south of the Bridge/Red Rock Ranger Station. Because we were unable to locate the 900+ Recently stocked Trout, north of the bridge!
Name:
Jesse F.

WEST CLEAR CREEK — Has been stocked with 450 rainbow trout and the water temperature was 55 F. No report.

STONEMAN LAKE — NO FISH.

MINGUS LAKE – The gate is closed until the spring, but you can walk in and fish.  The gate is scheduled to be unlocked the first week in May.  Trout were stocked last on the week of Oct 15.  Stocking should resume early in May. Try bright-colored Power Bait like chartreuse, salmon eggs, or various spinners. 

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.  Illegal stockings cost YOU money!

Where:
Mingus lake
When:
04/23/08
Caught:
Rainbow trout
Technique:
Worms/rooster tails
Comments:
Caught 15 in 3 hrs. Most fish were less than 15 feet from shore. fished bait 4 foot deep. Great place to take a kid, my boy had a blast.
Name:
ac guy

MINGUS LAKE – The gate should be getting unlocked either this week or next week.  Trout are scheduled to be stocked this week (April 28) and are scheduled to be stocked again the week of May 12. Try bright-colored Power Bait like chartreuse, salmon eggs, or various spinners. 

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.  Illegal stockings cost YOU money!

DEAD HORSE STATE PARK –Fishing has been hit-and-miss.  While some angler’s are doing well, others are not as successful.  One angler was having success on artificial flies.  You might also try using KastMaster, worms, or Power Bait.  Trout were last stocked the week of April 1; this was the last scheduled stocking for the year.  Trout are still very numerous in both the middle and lower lagoons.  The largemouth bite has picked up, so you may want to try throwing some plastics.  Bluegills are very abundant, but most are small.  This is a great opportunity to teach kids how to fish.  Try using a #8 hook with a small piece of worm under a bobber and you should have success.  While the crappie numbers are up a little, most are small.  Look for the crappie fishing to be good late this year or next year.

Catfish were stocked the week of Sept. 24, for Verde River Days festivities.  Several largemouth bass, including a 10-plus pounder were caught last summer in the middle lagoon.  In-line spinners, plastic grubs, and small crankbaits have been the ticket. The bluegill fishing has been good using a salmon egg or small worm on a small bait hook below a bobber. The bluegills are plentiful in both the middle and lower lagoons, so between trout and catfish stockings try your luck with the bluegill. 

VERDE RIVER (throughout Verde Valley) – Trout were last stocked the week of March 17. This was the final stocking for the year.  Look for the catfish bite to pick up in May.  On Saturday March 8 Camp Verde Parks and Recreation and Arizona Game and Fish provided a fishing clinic at the White Bridge.  While success was limited, all participants seemed to enjoy themselves. 

Where:Verde River
When:
04/24/08
Caught:
2 Rainbow Trout and 1Large Mouth Bass
Technique:
Fly-fishing, using pheasant tail bead headed nymph and flashback bead headed nymph.
Comments:
Water was low, slow and murky. Fished just above the bridge going into Dead Horse Park. Caught and released 2 trout and 1 bass in same hole. Trout were 10 inches, Bass was 6 inches. Also tried down stream from the bridge, but nothing.
Name:
Lonnie Nordby

MINGUS LAKE – The seasonal gate across the access road is open. Rainbow trout are being stocked every two weeks. The best bait this week is white Power Bait, fished on the bottom with a treble hook and an egg sinker. Several 6-fish limits of trout were caught this way. Fishermen using night crawlers under a bobber are also having some success.

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.  Illegal stockings cost YOU money!

DEAD HORSE STATE PARK – Trout fishing success has slowed since the last seasonal fish stockings April 1st. The best bait has been kernels of canned corn with a split-shot sinker, fished about 3 feet under a bobber. Power Bait fished on the bottom with an egg sinker is also catching a few trout. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Try using small plastic jigs, plastic worms, or small spinnerbaits near deeper cover.
The largemouth bite has picked up, so try throwing plastic worms or lizards.  Bluegills are very abundant, but most are small.  This is a great opportunity to teach kids how to fish.  Try using a #8 hook with a small piece of worm under a bobber and you should have success.  While the crappie numbers are up a little, most are small.  Look for the crappie fishing to be good late this year or next year.  Catfish are scheduled to be stocked the week of June 9th.

VERDE RIVER (throughout Verde Valley) – Trout fishing success is waning since the last seasonal fish stockings occurred March 17th. A few rainbows are still being taken near Riverfront Park in Cottonwood on night crawlers and dry flies. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Best bet is throughout the Camp Verde reach using small plastic jigs and in-line spinners. Channel catfish action is starting to pick up in the Verde Valley. Most success on catfish is by using night crawlers and chicken liver after dusk.

LYNX LAKE — Rainbow trout were last stocked April 14 and are scheduled to be stocked again the week of May 12.The fishing should improve following this stocking.  Some 7-inch brook trout were stocked the week of Feb 25.  Game and Fish Biologists installed PVC fish structures on Jan. 3.  These structures should protect small fishes from predation. 

Brook trout were stocked in September.  The brooks were in the 5-inch range, but hopefully they will be catchable size for the fishing in the spring.  Game and Fish stocked catfish the week of June 4. There were 200 pounds of bluegill stocked on March 29. Game and Fish biologists surveyed Lynx in May and found that the brook trout stocked in September 2006 were still present.

FAIN LAKE —Fain lake was stocked rainbow trout the week of April 14 and is scheduled to be stocked again this week (April 28).  While some were doing very well others were not.  Try to fish were the water is clearer.  Use spinners or bright colored power bait.  Fain lake was stocked with brook trout on Feb. 25. 

Prescott Valley Parks and Recreation held the annual Gold Fever Days at Fain Lake in mid October, were nearly all of the kids that participated in the fishing clinic caught fish.  Five-inch brook trout were stocked in Sept. 24 and rainbows were stocked Oct. 12 & 15. 

GOLDWATER LAKE — Trout were stocked April 21 and are scheduled to be stocked again the week of May 5.  One angler reported catching a 13- and 14-inch trout in two hours of fishing.  While there is no shortage of fish, most people report catching only one or two fish.  Fishing should really pick up following the stocking this week.  Try using KastMasters. If that does not work you may try worms or Power Bait.  Early in the morning and in the evening the bite may be a little better. Some days the fishing seems to be better than other days as well. Bluegills were stocked Feb 25.  Game and Fish biologists weighed a 22-pound channel catfish that was caught at Goldwater in March.

Where:
Goldwater lake
When:
04/23/08
Caught:
trout- limit
Technique:
Panther Martin lures worked great. Power bait was also working.
Comments:
The weather was beautiful, and the fishing was great.
Name:
Andrew Samsill

Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Goldwater during the middle of May last year and found the trout and sunfish plentiful. While the number of catfish and bass was low, the quality was exceptional. One 16-pound catfish was sampled and released. The bass averaged about 3.5 pounds. On March 29, 2007, there were 400 pounds of bluegill stocked. These fish were hand-sized and should be easily caught.  Try using worms or mealworms on a bobber.  Small spinners may work as well. If you fish Goldwater and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

MOGOLLON RIM
Note:  All lakes are now accessible and most have been stocked. Some smaller secondary roads may still be muddy or contain snowdrifts.  Fishing is generally very good, with lots of anglers catching larger hold-over trout, as well as the stockers. With the wind the past several weeks, the forest has been drying out fast.

CHEVELON LAKE - Fishing is fair to good. Anglers have been catching good numbers of moderate size trout near the dam. The lake is ice free, full, and spilling. Anglers are catching trout in the creek downstream of the dam, which is open to statewide fishing regulations.

The lake is open to artificial lure and fly only, trout between 10 and 14 inches may not be possessed, and the bag limit is 6 trout.  Try lures such as Z-rays, Super Dupers, spinners, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and other small nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors.   Access to Chevelon Lake is open on Forest Road 169 from the north, via Hwy 99 from Winslow or via Forest Road 504 from Heber.

BEAR CANYON LAKE - Main access roads are open to the lake.  The lake is full and spilling and fishing is fair to good.  The lake was stocked with catchable size rainbow trout on the week of April 21-25. This is a hike-in lack down short but steep and winding paths. There is pretty good shore access. This deep canyon lake is great for those with float tubes.

Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and Rapalas and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, Yeager buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, hares ear and pheasant tail nymphs.  The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.

 
Where:Bear Canyon
When:
04/23/08
Caught:
Limit of trout
Technique:
Hit on yellow Rooster Tail, Berkley Gulp, and silver spoons. Took about 4 hours
Comments:
Still some snow on the trail and banks. Road in being graded
Name:
Jeff

BLACK CANYON LAKE –- Main access roads are open and fishing is fair. The lake is full and spilling. Recent netting revealed lots of illegally stocked largemouth bass and some nice sized rainbow trout (up to 2 pounds). The lake was stocked last week with catchable size rainbow trout.

Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Super Dupers, Z-rays, spoons, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms and wooly buggers, and Yeager buggers. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only. The water temperature last week was 59 degrees.

Where:Black Canyon Lake
When:
04/19/08
Caught:
trout planters and hold over 12" to 19" 32 trout caught in 3 hours
Technique:
slow deep trolling copper KastMaster copper super duper yellow Crickhopper
Comments:
really windy but awesome fishing a lot of action caught a couple of 2.5 to 3 pound fat hold over trout
Name:
Neil Pitcher

Where:Black Canyon Lake
When:
05/03/08
Caught:
None
Technique:
Power Bait, worms, flies. Tried everything.
Comments:
No one catching anything. Boats brought in a few. Very windy. Lake level very high, over the boat launch area. Water very cloudy. Wind a big factor.
Name:
R Wilding

BLUE RIDGE – Open and accessible. The lake is spilling. Expect larger hold-over trout. This is a deep canyon lake that is tough for shore angling, but great for small boats and canoes, or float tubes.

Where:Blue Ridge
When:
04/27/08
Caught:
Nothing
Technique:
trolling with spinners, off shore with corn, worms, rainbow Power Bait
Comments:
Not sure what the fish were doing that day- but they were NOT biting. Spent the entire day from 8 a.m.- 5p.m.-- and never once got a bite. :(
Name:
Jennifer

KNOLL LAKE – The Forest Service 300 (Rim Road) is open, but muddy in places with some snow drifts still along the shady edges. If the water is not too cold (no reports yet), it should be decent for larger hold-over trout.
  
WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE - Fishing is fair to good. The road is open to the lake and the adjacent campgrounds are open. The lake is ice-free and full. The boat ramp is accessible.  The lake has been stocked with catchable size rainbow trout. This is one of the larger and deeper mountain lakes, with lots of shoreline access. In fact, you can walk and fish completely around the lake, but plan on taking most of the day to do so. There are plenty of larger hold-over trout. Plus, this lake also has largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and even crappie. Keep that in mind once it warms up some and they get more active. Right now, it’s trout time.

Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as Z-rays, spinners, and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, and nymphs in black, brown, or green colors. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors. Recent netting revealed some small rainbow trout and a few largemouth bass. The water temperature last week was 50 degrees.    

WOODS CANYON – Woods Canyon Lake - Access roads and the store are open.  Fishing is fair to good. Anglers are catching carryover trout to 1.5 pounds using corn or worms near the dam. Boat anglers are catching trout by trolling KastMasters and Panther Martins. The lake was stocked with catchable size rainbow trout last week.

Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as Z-rays, spinners, and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, and nymphs in black, brown, or green colors. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.

Angler report:
Where:wood canyon lake
When:05/04/08
Caught:rainbow trout
Technique:blown up worms from the bottom
Comments:
caught 11 nice rainbows 7am-1pm including 1 18". the rest were 12-14 "
Name:
Don Smith

Where:Woods Canyon Lake
When:05/03/08
Caught:Rainbow Trout
Technique:Rainbow power bait, worms, flies. We tried everything we had.
Comments:
Fishing was very poor. Shore fishing very slow and boaters trolling caught only a few. Lake is clear and cold, crawdads active.
Name:
R Wilding

Where:Woods Canyon Lake
When:04/22/08
Caught:Rainbow Trout
Technique:Worms and grubs on the bottom from the shore.
Comments:
Arrived at 0630 and had our limit of larger trout by 10 a.m. There is still snow on the bank on the store side of the lake.
Name:
Steve Rasmussen

Where:Woods Canyon
When:04/26/08
Caught:Rainbow trout
Technique:Power bait on the bottom, meal worms and night crawlers under a bobber, and fly-fishing
Comments:
I took my Aunt and my 2 young kids and we had a blast. The fish were biting all morning, and we caught them using pretty much anything we wanted. Combined we caught and released around 30 fish, after keeping a couple to take home. All the fish we caught were holdover fish between 12 and 16 inches.
Name:
Brent Uffelman

Where:Woods Canyon LakeWhen:04/19/08
Caught:30 trout
Technique:Drove boat straight across from the boat ramp. Used whole kernel corn on a No. 6 hook with a bobber about 3 ft down.
Comments:

Name:
Mike

Where:Woods Canyon lakeWhen:04/19/08
Caught:Rainbow/Brown Trout (holdovers)
Technique:Worms, and Rainbow Power Bait
Comments:
The boat store was open but they were not renting boats yet. The Northern section of the lake shore was snow covered. The water was cold but crystal clear. Fished just to the left of the boat dock and pulled out and released 12 rainbows, the largest being 18 inches. Also 3 browns, the largest 16 inches. We were using Power Bait about 1 foot from the bottom and worms on the bottom.
Name:
Gabriel Martinez

WHITE MOUNTAIN WATERS
NOTE: Some streams are still flowing moderately high, although peak runoff is now over and water flows are coming down.  All lakes are now ice-free.

State Highway 261 is open to Big Lake and Crescent Lake, as well as most main Forest roads, including the road to Reservation Lake on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.  State Highway 273 on the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest is undergoing reconstruction and realignment and the following closures are in effect.

State Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation boundary to Crescent Lake is closed to all traffic, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will remain closed until the road construction project is complete.

BECKER LAKE - The water temperature on May 4 was 63 degrees and the pH was 8.8. Fish deep and slow. Fishing is fair to good, especially for larger holdover trout.  Has been stocked with subcatchable size rainbow trout (6-8 inches) and there are plenty of larger hold-over trout as well. The lake is ice free and almost full. The boat ramp is accessible. The lake is open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and a two-trout limit. Try small lures such as Super Dupers, spinners, and Z-rays. Fly-Fishers have been catching 10 to 18-inch rainbow trout. Try small nymphs such as zebra midges, scuds, pheasant tails, zug bugs, prince nymphs, wooly worms and wooly buggers, dragon fly patterns, peacock ladies, and brown Montana stone nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors. The water is clear. The water temperature last week was 54 degrees. 
   
BIG LAKE – ACCESSIBLE. Fishing is great. This is the place for wild-like resident trout (not stockers). It has rainbows, cutthroats, brooks and Apaches.

The water temperature on May 1 was 51 degrees and the pH was 7.9.

Main access roads are open, including Highway 261 from eager/Springerville. State Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation boundary to Crescent Lake is closed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will remain closed until the road construction project is completed. Fishing is good. The lake is up about 3 feet from last year, but still 3.4 feet below spill. All boat ramps accessible, however, Railroad Cove may still be fairly shallow for launching larger boats.  Anglers have been catching rainbow and brook trout on worms and salmon eggs. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, and Yeager buggers. The lake is open to electric trolling motors or up to 10 hp. gas motors. 

Where:Big Lake
When:05/03/08
Caught:
Rainbow and Brook trout
Technique:
Worms sliding sinker 20-40 feet from shore
Comments:
4 of us cuaght 9 in 2 hours before the wind blew us out
Name:
Dan Stewart

Where:Big Lake
When:05/03/08
Caught:
4 trout
Technique:
any kind of power bait
Comments:
The boaters need to use more edict They seem to not care about other fishermen on the bank. Fishing not to fair to the kids fishing on the banks!
Name:
M. L.

Where:Big Lake
When:04/26/08
Caught:
Brook Trout
Technique:
Worms and secret sauce
Comments:
Was a very tough day. Wind was blowing very hard most of the day. My son Joseph managed to catch his first two brook trout though, which was great. Wind settled for a few hours around mid day, that was when the bites began. Wind started up again, fish shut off. Noticed several people catching when wind died. Not much happening when wind was up. But any day at Big Lake is a great one in my book.
Name:
Joe Guin

Where:Big Lake
When:04/26/08
Caught:
trout
Technique:
trolling cowbells with worms
Comments:
The bite is outstanding. Went out Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon, caught and released 65 rainbows and brownies. Almost all are last stocked of last season and only 10-12 inches, but lots of fun to catch.
Name:
Danny
 

Where:Big Lake
When:
04/17/08
Caught:
Trout
Technique:
Power Bait (Orange)
Comments:
Fishing was great got out there on the first day the lake was open and spent all weekend there. Fishing was good using orange power bait rainbow power bait and worms. Most trout were good size.
Name:
Daniel Lopez

CARNERO LAKE - All main access roads to the lake are now open, including 117, 117A and 118.  Recent gill netting surveys have confirmed a winterkill in Carnero. No trout were caught in two nets set over night. There is a chance a few trout may have survived, however, these will be rare if any at all.  The lake will be stocked with catchable size rainbow trout next week.    

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR - Fishing is poor to fair. The lake is full and spilling. The lake will be stocked as soon as the lake stops spilling. The east side boat ramp is accessible and the best ramp to use. The north boat ramp (steep hill) may have soft sand and would be difficult to launch a boat. Try worms, Power Bait, Salmon eggs, and lures such as spinners, Z-rays, crankbaits, and Rapalas, and flies such as woolly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies. There are no motor restrictions on Clear Creek Reservoir. 

CONCHO LAKE - Fishing is fair. The lake is about 2 feet low but the boat ramp is accessible.  The lake has been stocked with two loads of catchable size rainbow trout in early April. Spring surveys have also revealed carryover rainbow trout ranging from 12-16 inches, with an average length of 13 inches.  These carryover trout are smaller than usual, likely due to illegally stocked carp that are now established in the lake and impacting benthic invertebrates.   Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, Z-Rays, and Super Dupers, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, peacock ladies, and small nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors. The water is clear and the water temperature was 58 degrees.       

CRESCENT LAKE – There was a winter kill, but this productive lake was stocked with rainbows last week and is scheduled for another stocking this week.

Highway 261 to Big and Crescent Lakes is open. Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation is still closed due to continuing road construction.

The lake has come up about 1.5 feet from last year, but is still about 2 feet low. The only boat ramp accessible is the south boat ramp because of construction on roads leading to the dam area and the other two ramps.

Recent surveys on April 25 confirmed a winterkill, although a few trout did survive.  One rainbow trout was caught in two gill-nets set overnight.  The lake will be stocked with catchable size brook trout this week.  Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, Yeager buggers, and small nymphs like prince and zug bugs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors or up to 10 hp. gas motors. The water temperature last week was 49 degrees and the lake has come up about 1.5 feet from last year. The only boat ramp accessible is the south boat ramp.
    
FOOL HOLLOW LAKE - Fishing is fair. The lake is full and all boat ramps are usable for larger boats.  The water clarity is turbid. The lake was stocked last week with catchable size rainbow trout.  It is scheduled to be stocked again next week, (April 5-9). Bass anglers have been catching smallmouth and largemouth bass on lures. Shore anglers are catching rainbow trout on worms and Power Bait in the southwest area of the lake.

Where:Fools Hollow
When:
04/19/08
Caught:
nothing
Technique:
drifting worms and stink baits, tryed for cats,walleye,small mouth and thru spinners for northern pike wind was real bad
Comments:

Name:
roger may

Where:fools hollow lake
When:
04/24/08
Caught:
20# flathead catfish
Technique:
worm and bobber
Comments:
just after dark also i have landed 2 other cats in the 10# range in the last 2weeks
Name:
charlie kelley

Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, crankbaits, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers. Fish around structure such as rocks, tree stumps, and fishing piers. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors.  Recent surveys revealed good numbers of walleyes (average size, 23 inches), a few large northern pike (average size, 30 inches), a couple of big smallmouth bass (4.5 pounders), some largemouth bass (average size, 17 inches), trout (average size, 10 inches), and small black crappies and sunfish.  The water temperature last week was 58 degrees.     

GREER LAKES --  Fishing is fair to good.  River, Tunnel and Bunch reservoirs are all full, and all boat ramps are accessible.  Bunch and Tunnel were stocked with catchable size rainbow trout in early and mid April, and River Reservoir was last stocked with catchable size rainbow trout last week. Boat anglers at River Reservoir have been catching brown trout on Rapalas. Anglers are catching rainbow trout on worms at Bunch and River Reservoir.

Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, and small nymphs. Bunch and Tunnel Reservoir are open to electric trolling motors only. River Reservoir is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp gas motors.  The water temperature last week at Bunch and Tunnel Reservoirs was 48 degrees and 56 degrees at River Reservoir.    
     
HULSEY LAKE - Fishing is good. The lake has been stocked with rainbow trout. The lake is full and slightly spilling. Hulsey Lake is a short hike in fishery. Try worms Power Bait, salmon eggs, and lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and   flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, and small nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.  The water is clear. The water temperature last week was 53 degrees.
  
 
LEE VALLEY RESERVOIR - The roads to Lee Valley Lake are still closed.  Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation is still closed due to continuing road construction and is closed just north of the junction of Highway 273 and Highway 261. Lee Valley Lake probably has some ice cover, although it should be considered unsafe.&nbs