Rory’s tips;

Roosevelt, Alamo and San Carlos are hot spots with some anglers catching impressive numbers. If you are a bass or crappie angler, you don’t need to read any more. Just go.

It's that topsy-turvy time of year when there can be an on-again, off-again bite for warmwater fish – the water temperatures are rising but are still below optimum, which means weather disturbances such as high winds can alter the action.

There is a full moon this week. The spring equinox is heading our way on March 20. It won’t be long before the days are longer than the nights. This is the leading edge of the great spring fishing. Plus this is shaping up to be a terrific year for all sport-fish action.

Right now, expect some bass to be staging for the spawn in the warmwater lakes. Staging bass can often be found of the major points on the outside of the coves, secondary points inside the coves, and submerged creek, rivers, ravines or arroyos (fish highways) leading into the coves. Sometimes the edges of the large flats will hold staging bass. Mostly keep your presentations slow, but every once in awhile, speeds things up (like burning a spinnerbait or fast reeling a crank) and try for a reaction bite.

Definitely check the backs of shallow coves for bedding bass. It is the male that guards the nests, so when you find one, work your lures in the surrounding area for the larger females.

But don’t ignore the deeper spots that have been productive during winter – a lot of the sport-fish will still be holding deep. It’s kind of like people doing their taxes early versus the few days preceding April 14 – we haven’t reached the point when there is a mass fish exodus to the spawning beds.

Female crappies are full of eggs and should start spawning in the next couple of weeks or so at most lakes. Alamo often has the earliest spawn if inflows don’t disrupt things.

Alamo is a hot spot for bass and crappie. The inflows and outflows have subsided, so the action is heating up. Crappie anglers need only look for the crappie flotilla on the east end and join it. However, this large bowl-like lake is not the place to be when the winds pick up. It sounds like there are a lot of weekend tournaments at this lake as well this spring.

Many say Roosevelt is on fire, while some are having trouble catching fish. Both may be true at any given moment depending on where you are on this super-large lake that is full of forage fish, nutrients and expectations. But guaranteed – some anglers are catching large numbers of bass. Rosey is one of the best choices to fish at any given time and routinely has the potential to provide you great action. On any given day, it might be the best in the West. Besides, at this historic full level, all anglers should strive to experience this lake just for future gab sessions around the campfire.

The reports from anglers visiting San Carlos near Globe are mostly terrific, with 100-plus boats a day out there angling for the speckled slabbers. The San Carlos Apache Tribe http://www.scatrwd.com/  has jurisdiction there, so be sure to adhere to their regulations and fees.

Those looking for an early striper bite at Powell may want to check out Wayne’s Words in the regular Powell report below. We have high hopes for Powell this year, so you’ll want to plan a spring visit.

Another hot spot in the state is Lees Ferry for spawning wild trout. Fly anglers are doing great, but spin anglers are doing phenomenal (with the right tackle). Check out our Lees Ferry entry for more information and tips.

For trout, most higher elevation lakes are still ice challenged, or access challenged, but there are plenty of trout fishing opportunities anyway.

Last week we stocked rainbow trout in Goldwater Lake (near Prescott), the Verde River and Oak Creek. This week we are stocking Dead Horse State Park, Parker Canyon and the Lower Salt River.

The Lower Salt River flows are down just a little. It is a superb place to fish for trout close to Phoenix, especially if you have a canoe or kayak. We will continue stocking this spring as conditions allow. Typically, we can get into May before low flows and high water temperatures make stocking inadvisable. It's always a wait-and-see proposition.

In the higher elevations, the Rim lakes are still not accessible due to lingering snow drifts and such but places like Show Low Lake, Fool Hollow and Becker are all providing some nice trout action. Silver Creek is always worth a try for golden Apache trout.

We have now stocked thousands of rainbow trout into Lower Lake Mary near Flagstaff. This may not be the place to fish yet, but I have no doubt it will soon be a trout-fishing hot spot for all of us. We have had at least one angler catch some large northern pike out of Upper Lake Mary.

Both Santa Fe and Cataract reservoirs near Williams should get stocked this week, which is weeks early. We have also stocked Kaibab Lake near Williams. This is a very family-friendly lake. Go catch a fish, and then maybe mosey into Williams for the daily shoot out at the Grand Canyon Railway Station.

Two of my favorites, Beaver Creek and West Clear Creek, are both being stocked this week. If you like to hike, fish, and scramble over boulders in fun canyons with deep pools, these are good places for an adventure.

Don’t forget to mark March 28-29 on your calendar for the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 2009 Outdoor Expo. We’ll have the kids fishing tank there, plus a demonstration tank. Local anglers from the Bass Federation Nation and guides from Fisherman's Choice will be sharing their secrets at the fishing demonstration tank. Come over and see us.

Go catch some memories. Maybe I’ll see you out there.

CENTRAL WATERS

URBAN LAKES – Good fishing for trout will continue through March as all lakes receive their final stocking the week of March 2-7.  Most trout are falling for Power Bait fished on the bottom.  Other good baits include worms, corn and salmon eggs.  The cool morning hours are the best times to target the trout. 

As waters warm up, try fishing for largemouth bass and bluegill that are now moving closer to shore as they prepare to spawn and search for food. Regulations require that all bass under 13 inches must be released unharmed immediately. Reports keep coming in of anglers catching catfish, even though it has been nearly four months since the last cats were stocked.  Speaking of catfish, the catfish stocking season starts on Thursday, March 19 at all Phoenix and Tucson area urban waters.  A 7.6-pound catfish was caught from our newest urban lake, Veterans Oasis.  The angler, Rex, used bacon and it took all of 5 minutes for the catfish to take the bait.

On the other hand, excellent trout fishing conditions can be found at Payson’s Green Valley lakes. Best bets for these pine country trout are Power Bait, corn and worms.  Some success has been found by anglers using spinners, small spoons and nymph and wet fly patterns. Crappies are just starting to bite at Green Valley and some good reports are coming in from Silverbell Lake in Tucson. 

STOCKING CHANGOVER: The last winter trout stockings in the Phoenix and Tucson area urban lakes took place the week of March 2-7.  Urban lake water temperatures are increasing to the mid 60s signaling the annual stocking changeover from winter trout to spring catfish.  For Payson’s Green Valley Lakes, trout stockings will continue every two weeks until the middle of May. 

All lakes and ponds in the Phoenix and Tucson areas will be stocked with 15- to 20-inch channel catfish on Thursday, March 19.  Catfish will be stocked through June at rates averaging from 40 to 60 fish per acre.  Nearly 14,000 pounds of Arkansas farm-raised catfish will be delivered and stocked into 20 Urban Fishing Program lakes every two weeks by Mr. Fish, our outstanding fish contractor for many years.

Angler reports:

Where:Chaparral
When:03/07/09
Caught:Nothing
Technique:Spinner Baits, plastic grubs, worms, flukes
Comments: I fished Saturday and Sunday morning for bass to no avail. I hooked one small bass on a spinner but he jumped and got off. The bass are still sleeping or I just don’t have the patience to fish my plastics slow enough. Too much vegetation to drag lures on the bottom.
Name:Phil T

Where:surprise
When:03/07/09
Caught:5 rainbow trout
Technique:white power eggs.
Comments:trout are strange right at 7 the trout hit good for 15 to 20 minutes then nothing. after that you might catch 1 or two more all day but that’s trout for ya.
Name:Brandon Ryer

Where:Chaparral Lake
When:03/01/09
Caught:Nice channel cat
Technique:cheese flavored catfish bait from Wal-Mart fished on the bottom with a large wait under a size 8 treble hook
Comments:Just left the bait on the bottom at the front of the north end and the fish nearly pulled my rod in the water!
Name:Steve

Where:Papago park pond #3
When:03/03/09
Caught:18 largemouth just under 4 lbs. and two 7" bluegills
Technique:Fished on beds with chartreuse colored 1/4 ounce rabbit hair jig. Fished on beds. Worms for bluegills.
Comments:Bass were in the pre-spawn mode. I would enter the bass into the big fish of the year contest but I only had one witness. I will submit photo.
Name:Martin Olsen

Where:Chappell Lake
When:03/03/09
Caught:one 3 pound Largemouth bass
Technique:Worms
Comments:Finally, caught one! Didn’t think they were in there. A foot off the bottom. I'll bring my buddy Walt with me next time!!!
Name:Paul

Where:Papago Pond # 2
When:02/28/09
Caught:Catfish
Technique:Trout Power Bait, Took 4 tries to catch this 18 inch monster. Put up a really good fight, and put back in the pond so someone else could have fun like I did. Guy in Pond 3 caught a huge Carp which also put up a good fight.
Name:Blue44

TEMPE TOWN LAKE – There is a bit of a current going through the Town Lake, with about 200 cfs or less going over the downstream inflatable dam. Keep in mind that sport-fish will generally face into the current to feed, so work your baits accordingly.

You can try the usual methods for the rainbows (baits like Power Bait, night crawlers, mealworms or try spinners and spoons such as Panther Martins and KastMasters).  Remember no gas motors are allowed (electric trolling motors are) and you must have a boating permit, which can be obtained at the Town Lake operations center.

You can fish around the marina area and catch some dinks or search for some structure, that’s what one angler did and found a nice pocket of 3+ pound bass.  He flipping worms and Texas-rigged imitation crayfish in overhanging trees and did pretty well.  The larger fish are there, but you need to think like a bass and find the structure. 

Where:Tempe Town Lake
When:02/20/09
Caught:30+Yellow bass and 25+Bluegil
Technique:Small piece of night crawler on a #10 hook on the bottom. Under rural bridge ASU side.
Comments:Kept: one 10" yellow bass, four 7" bluegill and 8" one bluegill/yellow bass mix looking fish (shaped like a yellow bass but colored like a bluegill). All others were under my keep size.
Name:Martin Olsen

Where:Tempe Town Lake
When:02/28/09
Caught:1 catfish
Technique:Hot dogs and dough balls originally used for carp
Comments:Slow all day, little nibbles here and there, but nothing to get excited about. Nonetheless had a great day fishing at T.T.L.
Name:Tim Y.

Where:Tempe Town Lake
When:02/24/09
Caught:Nothing
Technique:Berkley worms, Berkley gulp minnows, various jigs and crankbaits.
Comments:Nothing was biting on my line. Was fishing from about 4PM to 7PM. Didn’t see anyone around me reeling anything in either.
Name:Hopper

Where:Tempe town lake
When:02/22/09
Caught:Large Crappie
Technique:I was using a rainbow panther martin fishing around the pillars under the rural bridge.
Comments:That was the only fish I caught. I was out there for 2 hours. That big fish made it all worth it. I threw it back so another can catch it.
Name:Curt

Where:Tempe Town Lake
When:02/24/09
Caught:1 largemouth
Technique:Sinking/countdown Rapala...rainbow trout pattern cd-7...yearling large mouth about 11am yo-yo lure off the bottom bout 10ft from wall then bite was slow, talk w/ a guy with a big carp on corn also east of Scottsdale rd east of as stadium...not bad but no trout.
Name:Eric ''yeti'' b

Where:Tempe town lake
When:02/22/09
Caught:Large Crappie
Technique:I was using a rainbow Panther Martin fishing around the pillars under the Rural Bridge.
Comments:That was the only fish I caught. I was out there for 2 hours. That big fish made it all worth it. I threw it back so another can catch it.
Name:Curt

Where:tempe town lake
When:02/24/09
Caught:1 largemouth
Technique:Sinking/countdown Rapala...rainbow trout pattern cd-7...yearling largemouth about 11am yo-yo lure off the bottom bout 10ft from wall then bite was slow, talk w/ a guy with a big carp on corn also east of Scottsdale Rd east of ASU stadium...not bad but no trout .
Name:eric ''yeti'' b

Where:Tempe Town Lake
When:02/24/09
Caught:Nothing
Technique:Berkley worms, Berkley gulp minnows, various jigs and crankbaits.
Comments:Nothing was biting on my line. Was fishing from about 4PM to 7PM. Didn't see anyone around me reeling anything in either.
Name:Hopper

Where:Tempe Town Lake
When:02/10/09
Caught:Caught a limit of Rainbows
Technique:No.8 egg style hook on a short leader w/sliding sinker. Lemon or Lime Twist/Power Bait.
Comments:Cooler weather = There biting fast, so keep an eye on your line boys and girls. Also, try a 4" Texas rigged worm for a little Bass action.
Name:Blue

Where:Tempe Town Lake
When:02/15/09
Caught:Carp
Technique:Worms off the bottom
Comments:Caught one carp in two and a half hours length was 27 inches put up a good fight well worth the wait.
Name:DK

LAKE PLEASANT – Water elevation is 1,689 feet, which is 85-percent full. It sounds like some anglers are doing well using live bait, especially live shad, and others are finding the bite a little challenging.

The Agua Fria River has slowed to 43 cfs at Rock Springs. That may still be enough inflow to attract white bass or striped bass, but recent angler reports seem to indicate the spawn has either ceased, or slowed down significantly, but there is a full moon this week, which can influence spawning behavior.

For the largemouth bass, some should be staging for the spawn, but it may be possible to find bass on beds in the sheltered portions of the shallow northern coves.
This is the time of year when it is possible to target white bass and striped bass along the submerged creek or river channels at night in the northern coves. With the full moon, lights won’t be as effective, but chumming anchovies when schools of fish are graphed can be a good strategy.

Angler reports:

Hi Rory,

Here is my update for fishing the Agua Fria arm from Table Mesa Rd. I went up and scouted the area (to see how difficult it would be to get my canoe in) Thursday afternoon.  So I just walked in and in 2 hours caught 2 white bass and 2 largemouths. Nothing huge, but they were fat. I fished from shore using a silver KastMaster, and actually saw 2 of them hit the lure close to shore. I could see them following it and then boom, they hit it. It was pretty exciting. I decided I wanted to try to get the canoe back in there so I came back Saturday with a friend, Jon. It was Jon’s first fishing trip in AZ in a while, and he had never caught a fish in his two previous attempts at Pleasant. I assured him this was the day.

We got the canoe on a wheeled cart to carry it. It was very difficult to get it across the rocky bottom of the river right there at the parking lot. But once we got to the relatively smooth dirt road, it was much more manageable. Our feet were frozen from crossing the river though.

We got in the water at 7:30 a.m. and paddled to deeper water. On my very first cast of the day I caught a 15-inch largemouth on silver KastMaster. Told Jon it was going to be a good day. Didn’t bother getting the camera out since there were sure to be more. Well, there weren’t any more. We fished till 2:30 p.m. and I had one more bite. Jon may have had a bite too, or maybe just the bottom. But the first fish on the first cast of the day was the only fish. And we tried everything but live bait. I don’t know what happened. I wish we could have stayed for the afternoon, but Jon had to get back.

It was a beautiful day, and we had fun. I told Jon it was my mission in life now to help him catch a fish in Arizona. So we will be back. The Agua Fria is flowing enough that you could tie a rope to a canoe or kayak and pull it down to the lake through the river, but do it with waders or in the afternoon when the water is warmer. Otherwise your feet will be numb.
-Dean

Where:Lake Pleasant
When:03/03/09
Caught:2 largemouth/ 3 stripers
Technique:robo worms on slip bobbers. They are in the shallows cruising the drop offs. Just let them sit, little tug, little tug WAM!! fishy!
Comments:Was there 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. 2 slipped off the line and one is always a monster.
Name:ED

Where:Lake Pleasant, Agua Fria arm.
When:03/03/09
Caught:You name it, we caught it!
Technique:curl tail grubs
Comments:I was initially angry when Maricopa County closed the road off at the table mesa access, but now I'm very grateful for it. This place is so nice to visit now without all the trash and people ripping it up with quads and motorcycles. My buddy and I walked in and I took my kayak along. We caught 2 stripers @ 19 in., 3 whites, a largemouth just over 16 in., a bluegill about the size of a small plate, and a channel cat almost as long as my arm, all trolling white grubs. It was a LOT of work getting back out of there with the kayak and gear plus fish, but definitely one of the best fishing trips we've had in the 4 years I've lived here. But definitely not for the faint of heart.
Name:Matt Waite

Where:Lake Pleasant
When:02/28/09
Caught:5lb 21 inch Largemouth Bass
Technique:anchovies on a hook floating to the bottom without a weight
Comments:Was fishing in Castle Creek area all the way at the end by the bridge. Watched guys catch shad with nets and flip them back in the water to catch stripers hand over fist! I anchored 15ft away from the bridge and sat there working the area. Water temp was 61 I got photos of this fish if anyone wants to see it!
Name:Warren Risberg

Where:Lake Pleasant
When:03/01/09
Caught:nothing
Technique:jerk baits, bass assassins ,drop shots, I tried everything
Comments:5 hours of nothing I saw one guy catch a large mouth on a boat in humbug creek area but that’s it -  a couple weeks early I think next weekend but I’ll be at Roosevelt fishing then
Name:Andrew Althaus

Where:Lake Pleasant
When:02/28/09
Caught:14 stripperss,3 largemouth bass,22 channel catss,7 crappie
Technique:used roboworm for all bass, used anchovies and used stink bait on the worms, used worms for crappie niqquhss<33'
Name:Bill Heffernan

By the way, the Lake Pleasant Regional Park will be hosting the annual Honeywell Company Employee Campout from Thursday, March 19 through Sunday, March 22. This event closes the north entry and four-lane boat ramp of Lake Pleasant at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18 and reopens to the public at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 22. Park visitors are encouraged to use the 10-lane boat ramp on South Park Road accessed through the main entrance of Lake Pleasant Regional Park.

For more information, contact Lake Pleasant Regional Park directly at (602) 372-7460 or Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department at (602) 506-2930.

ROOSEVELT LAKE - Lake Elevation is 2,151 ft (100-percent full).  Tonto Creek runoff is at 102 cfs while inflow from the Salt River had slowed to around 1,550 cfs by Tuesday, March 10.  The lower flows down both Tonto Creek and the Salt River should allow the lake to stabilize a little, but with a full lake, there will continue to be releases.

Some say the “lake is on fire,” others aren’t doing as well. Some are doing great in stained water, others are doing better in the clear water.

A low pressure system expected this weekend could either send some fish deep, or get them excited. It is possible that unsettled weather conditions might slow down the crappie and largemouth bite, but might get the smallmouth bass more active – theoretically. A full moon this week can equate to fish being active more at night, possibly making a late morning or afternoon bite more likely.

Where:Roosevelt
When:03/04/09
Caught:Largemouth
Technique:Shallow water jerk bait
Comments:Boated 48 bass and one crappie today. Far and away my best day ever. Caught some big fat females full of eggs.
Name:Dan Hynes

Where:Roosevelt
When:03/10/09
Caught:morning
Technique:60 slot bass caught, including 10 whoppers over 4 lbs. Try casting chartreuse Bucktail Mepps spinners with XL treble hooks into heavy cover!! As soon as you feel a tug, set the hook hard and hold on for dear life! Also try polywogs under a bobber.
Comments:Tonto arm of Roosevelt.

Where:Roosevelt Lake
When:02/27/09
Caught:Largemouth Bass and one Smallmouth
Technique:Soft plastics and spinnerbaits. White was the color of choice
Comments:Fished the entire weekend from the shore. Caught 30+ fish, 20 dinks and 10 slots. Caught all fish in the stained water of the flooded coves. Nothing in the clear water of the main lake.

Where:Roosevelt (near Ironwood Campground)
When:03/04/09
Caught:1 crappie
Technique:Live minnow and bobber.
Comments:Caught at about 10:30 p.m. from shore, 17" about a lb and a half have the picture. We ate it for lunch today; pregnant female full of eggs.
Name:Kristina Brown

Where:Roosevelt
When:03/04/09
Caught:40 bass and 1 big slab crappie
Technique:fished from 9 to 5. My son and I fish around School House and nailed them fished with 5' worm watermelon Texas rigged
Comments:great day fishing with my son
Name:Tim knight

Where:Roosevelt
When:03/01/09
Caught:largemouth and smallies
Technique:spinnerbait crankbait chatterbait soft plastic
Comments:this lake is on fire we caught well over 70 bass about 15 overs all overs were 16 to 18 inches and about 2.2 to 3 pounds caught fish all day but really hammered them at 1st light and at dusk where we caught them I’m not telling lol
Name:Shawn Salow

Where:Roosevelt Lake
When:03/02/09
Caught:Crappie and LM Bass
Technique:Kalin's 2" black N' blue chart grub tipped with a minnow
Comments:The bite was exceptionally lite. Had our best luck casting out and rather than just reeling it in we would reel in the slack then very slowly raise the rod then reel back down and raise the rod. The fish never did "bite", you would just feel a little weight on the line. One crappie was 16 inches and lost a bass over the slot to my 4 lb crappie line.
Name:Enno Malling

Where:ROOSEVELT
When:02/27/09
Caught:1 LAGRE MOUTH 1 CRAPPIE
Technique:CAUGHT THE LARGE MOUTH ON A NIGHT CRAWLER; CRAPPIE WAS CAUGHT ON LIVE MINNOW WITH A CRAPPIE RIG
Comments:CAUGHT CRAPPIE AT 1 IN THE AM FRIDAY NIGHT; 10 MINUTES LATER CAUGHT THE LARGE MOUTH BUT FISH WAS IN THE SLOT; BITES NOT TO OFTEN; STARTED FISHING 6 AM SATURDAY NOTHING ALL DAY FISHED THE MARINA AND TROLLED; TRIED JIGS; NOTHING WAS TOLD BY A FAMILY MEMBER THEY WERE REALLY CATHCING THEM ON BOTH FLATS; ITS SPAWNING TIME SO THEY ARE COMING IN TO THE SHALLOW WATER; GOOD LUCK GUYS; WILL BE OUT IN ANOTHER 2 WEEKS UPDATE THEN
Name:JASON

APACHE - Lake elevation is 1912 ft (98-percent full).   Surface temp is 53 degrees taken at the surface around 11 a.m. 

An angler caught 12 inch yellow bass at Burnt Corral no mention of what he was using.  KastMasters work pretty well and so does live worms (pieces will work just as well as the whole worm).

Where:Apache Lake
When:03/07/09
Caught:nothing
Technique:We tried everything we had, worms, baby shad, an assortment of bass lures at a variety of depths all with no results.
Name:Matthew

An angler caught a 1.5 and a 2 pound largemouth bass shore fishing with brown plastic worms at Burnt Coral.

A Challenge to Anglers -

There are so many fish in the lake, people are seeing them on their fish finders but catching them is proving to be difficult.  Find out what the fish will bite and you will have an awesome fishing experience.  Thousands of trout were stocked in that lake, so swim baits ought to do pretty well.  Yellow bass are taking live worms (pieces will work just as good).  They also like KastMasters, the blue and silver seem to be a yellow bass favorite this year.  They like the points where the substrate drops off.  This lake has good smallmouth habitat and they like to hang where the runoff hits the lake.  Largemouth will take advantage of the feast coming down the washes as well – don’t forget largemouth like the overhanging vegetation.  Catfish are taking worms, hotdogs and just about anything else.  It’s a little chilly for them so give yourself an advantage and find them on the fish finder.   

CANYON LAKE – Lake elevation is 1,660 ft, which is 98-percent full.
Anglers were catching bluegill on worms.  One angler caught 4 largemouth bass on jigs near Boulder Creek and he said they were all about 5 pounds.

Where:Canyon Lake
When:03/03/09
Caught:Rainbow trout...
Technique:Fished from the shore in a spot just past the bridge. Tried worms, then Panther Martins, and then a Countdown and original Rapalas but only got a slow follow from a largemouth. However switched to the last resort fish finder, a gold jointed Rapala and on the 2nd cast landed a 13' rainbow that like to get air born. I think the jointed action triggered a violent reaction in the cold and slow conditions when nothing else would. I’ll be going back next week for another report good luck...p.s. do those trout holdover in the summers there probably not right??
Name:"yetti"

Editor’s Note: Some rainbows may indeed become holdovers. There have been times when we have seen large rainbows being caught in the fall and winter, especially in the narrows or near Horse Mesa Dam.

Where:Canyon Lake
When:03/07/09
Caught:2 bass
Technique:drop shot
Comments:tried everything but that’s all I could catch. Minnows from a bobber were catching large mouth for lots of people
Name:Andrew Althaus

Where:Canyon Lake
When:03/01/09
Caught:nothing
Technique:Bass fishing. Plugs, spoons and spinner baits.
Comments:Fished all over the lake and tried everything but had no bites! Lots of fish on fish finder. A lot of wood, debris in the lake.
Name:John

Where:Canyon Lake
When:03/04/09
Caught:Nothing
Technique:My father and I came down from Illinois to visit my grandparents and tried some of our bass gear we use in the north. We tried some bright spinners, cranks - shallow runners and divers, all kinds of plastics from minnows to lizards to Senko worms. We also tried some live bait. We threw everything we had for 7 hours with only a few bites. We worked them slow off the bottom and worked the banks.
Comments:We may have been skunked, but we had an awesome time. To be out on the lake in 80-degree weather in March for us Northerners was great! The lake is absolutely beautiful and we took plenty of pictures. We even got to see a bird come down and grab a fish from the water. We were jealous, took us 7 hours to not catch a thing and took the bird 7 minutes for his lunch. Also - Chad at the marina was very nice and helpful and everyone around here seems to be very welcoming. Looking forward to fishing here again sometime. Next time we'll bring some jig and pigs and go later in the year.
Name:Jay Laue

SAGUARO LAKE Lake elevation 1528 feet at 98 percent full.  Great place to take the kids for bluegills. Try meal worms. Yellow bass are hitting gold colored Kastmasters. Largemouth bass are staging for the spawn, so fishing should be decent for them.

Where:Saguaro
When:03/06/09
Caught:1 Trout
Technique:We tried everything...The trout hit only when the lure stopped moving.
Name:Lance

Where:Saguaro Lake Butcher Jones
When:03/07/09
Caught:100 bluegills
Technique:Drop shot with mealworms (5to9in)
Comments:caught around 8 to 11
Name:Moses Haskins

Where:Saguaro past Butcher Jones
When:03/02/09
Caught:3 Largemouth Bass
Technique:
Worm on the bottom
Comments:They were all under the slot limit.
Name:JC

BARTLETT LAKE – Lake elevation is 1,787 ft, which is 83-percent full.  Reservoir release is 100 cfs. The Verde flows at Tangle Creek has slowed to around 496 cfs, and the inflows from Horseshoe are 425 cfs, so the lake is rising, but not rapidly.
The bite has been good at times for both largemouth bass and crappie. A low pressure system expected into the state may slow the bite, but might also prompt the largemouth to feed more aggressively, especially when the barometer dips.

SRP is expected this lake to fill this year. Horseshoe Lake will gradually be drained to keep Bartlett as full as possible, just like last year, making this a very dynamic fishery for anglers.
Don’t ignore the flathead catfish fishing opportunities here. You’ll likely find the big flatheads holding in the deep holes where there is current, but it’s possible to catch a big catfish just about any place on the lake.

Crappie fish has been best in the riverine portion of the lake, but the Yellow Cliffs are always a good option as well. The crappies being caught are reportedly full of eggs, so it shouldn’t be long before they head into the shallow coves to spawn.

Where:Bartlett
When:03/06/09
Caught:3 bluegill and 3 channel catfish
Technique:Night crawlers and chicken livers.
Comments:All the fish were pretty small and were released but when the catfish hit, they hit hard.
Name:Ashley, Chirs, Ralph and Mary

Where:Bartlett Lake
When:03/09/09
Caught:2 Largemouth Bass, 1 Channel Catfish
Technique:Swimming Curltail Jigs
Comments:Bass and Catfish were nice and healthy. All over 3lbs. (all released, was searching for Crappie). One healthy Otter sighting. (didn't know we had them here).
Name:dt

Where:Bartlett
When:02/28/09
Caught:6 Bass
Technique:Small spinner baits while walking the bank.
Comments:Fish were 1-5 lbs, conditions are ideal with perhaps one more week of warmth for WOF. The kids are excited to go back this week as they know the 50 fish days are close.
Name:Douglas Miller

Where:Bartlett Lake
When:03/27/09
Caught:Lots O' Carp / Nice sunburn
Technique:Liver at night for the cat's...Nothing there. Corn for the carp during the day.
Comments:Lake was full of campers after 12pm Friday. Get there early to avoid spending an hour looking for a spot.
Name:Kevin

HORSESHOE LAKE -- Lake elevation is at 2,010 feet, 64-percent full.  SRP is releasing water at 425 cfs. The Verde River flows at Tangle Creek have subsided to 496 cfs

This lake is expected to fill this season, but will eventually be used to keep Bartlett full. Once again this year, it could act like a sport-fish and bait-fish nursery for Bartlett, just like last year and back in 2005. This might be the year to get that annual Tonto permit and avoid the hassles with daily ones.

VERDE RIVER – Verde River flow at Tangle has reduced significantly this past week and as of Monday was 1,270 cubic feet per second.  Release from Bartlett Lake is 100 cfs.

LOWER SALT RIVER (below Saguaro Lake) -- Stewart Dam releases dropped to 1,592 cfs as of March 11. The Lower Salt is being stocked this week at the Water Users (just below the dam) and at the Blue Point Bridge (the only bridge to cross the Verde along Bush Highway).
With low pressure expected to pass through the state this weekend, trout fishing this classic desert river should be very good. This river is also a lot of fun to fish from a canoe or kayak for either spin anglers or fly anglers.

For spin anglers, try night crawlers or meal worms with little or no weight cast slightly upstream into the riffles, then let the worm float naturally downstream, mending your line as it moves. Also, small spinners (Mepps, Rooster Tails and Vibe) cast slightly downstream can work well. Some anglers are adept at catching trout in the river using Power Bait, but most find it difficult to use. Plus, Power Bait might not get you action from bass and other sport fish.

According to AZ Fly Fishing, fly fishermen are having good luck using egg patterns, San Juan worms, green weenies and nymph patterns. There are also some mayfly hatches in midday, so try mayflies in the afternoons. 

Because of the overly-abundant food supply (lots of insect larvae etc.), the trout will grow super fast here. The hold-over trout not readily caught will look like small footballs in a month or so, so keep this fishery close to Phoenix on you’re a-list.

Where:lower salt river
When:02/28/09
Caught:8 Rainbow Trout ( Released all)
Technique:Worms, one bb shot 12" above, floated down in semi fast water below ripples -- all nice size today 10-12 inches. Started fishing today at 11 am, first cast = first fish!!
Name:Blake

CREEKS – Runoff is underway, but that doesn’t mean some of these creeks are fishable. It does mean they can be a gamble this time of year. 

COLORADO RIVER NORTHWEST

LAKE POWELL -- March 10, 2009, By Wayne Gustaveson: Lake elevation: 3,611. Water temp: 50-52 F.

Water temperature is still stalled in the low 50s. Warming that triggers bass activity, walleye spawning, and striper feeding is still anticipated but not factual yet. On the bright side you haven't missed any lake-wide fishing opportunities.

Specifically, the only bright spot is striper fishing in the upper lake between Hite and Good Hope. Shad are still abundant in the upper lake and stripers are there to take daily advantage of any shad misstep. Water temperature is still limiting feeding and excessive movement but no self respecting striper will allow a shad-looking morsel to swim close to his snout without reaching out and touching it.
 
Striper City - Stretches from Buoy 131 to 136

Such was the case recently. An angler reported readily catching stripers at the common mouth of White, Farley’s and Trachyte Canyons. That area is affectionately called "striper city" by the regular Hite anglers. A return trip to the same area produced no stripers but the angler fished his way down-lake to Good Hope Bay and found willing fish in the back of Red Canyon.

The technique was flat line trolling with jointed megabits in "shallow" water. Megabits tuned properly will troll at 20-25 feet. If fished just above the bottom, stripers that have come shallow to feed will take a pass at baits that come in close proximity. They won't chase far but a lure that occasionally scuffs the bottom in 22 feet of water is hard to resist. One day last week over 100 stripers were caught in the back of Red Canyon. The next day the fish may have moved to another reef or another location. They could also go deep and not feed every day.

The pattern is most important and the individual location less so. All winter, trolling with a deep diver has produced a few stripers for patient anglers. It is a good technique that allows graphing and locating while offering the fish a hook to bite if it is so inclined.

Other lures that will work for deep trolling are deep Thunder sticks, deep down Husky Jerks. Shallower running baits can be fished deep with down riggers, leaded line, or by adding weight in front.

Another variation I seldom pass up is dropping spoons to stripers school located on the graph while trolling. A spoon placed mid-school can start instant feeding activity. Stripers may continue to bite as long as a spoon is in the school or a hooked fish is being played. What often happens is all anglers get fish in the boat at the same time allowing the remaining fish to lose interest and get away? The worst thing that can happen is for a hooked fish to break off and swim away with lure in mouth and the rest of the school in pursuit. When that happens it's time to troll again to locate a new school.

LEES FERRY – Fishing report courtesy Lees Ferry Anglers.

Today’s Fly Fishing: The front has pushed through last weekend and now the fish are back to feeding in their regular holding areas. Size 16-18 midges are working well with nymphing rigs. Dry dropper rigs in the morning produced a lot of fish. San Juan worms and Glo-bugs in the afternoon are still getting the numbers. Bigger fish have been showing up, and are being caught with more regularity. Remember longer lines, longer drifts, = longer fish!

Walk in: We have had a lot of walk waders coming through. The fish are out there, they seem to be a little particular about what they take. They might be a little line shy, so if you can bump down to 6 xs or 7 xs, your hook-up should improve.

Spin Fishing: No new report but, fishing with Glo bugs 10-12 on the bottom seems to be the ticket for spin fisherman right now. Rapalas and jigs have also had some success. Big fish are keying on eggs and spin fishing is producing big numbers.

Fishing Synopsis and Forecast by Terry Gunn: Spring has arrived at Lees Ferry, I have always considered Feb. 15 to be our first day of spring, not only am the weather warming but the sun is moving higher in the sky and once again flooding the canyon corridor with sunlight. As usual, the midges are responding to the arrival of the sun and the hatches are beginning in earnest and the trout have just this week begun to move into the riffles to feed on the emerging midge pupae.

The last few days I have been drifting a worm and a midge in the deep tail-out of the riffles and 90-percent of the trout have been eating the midge.

The spawn is just trickling along; it started with a bang in early December and has been slowly increasing in intensity the last few weeks. I get the feeling that the fish are currently staging for a major push into a full blown spawn within the next couple of weeks. Although it is important to keep in mind that spawn of the past 2 years has been off the charts in intensity and survivability so the fish may take a break this year.

The current water flows are perfect wading and drifting flows for fishing Lees Ferry and these same flows will continue for the next several months. I expect the fishing this spring to be a banner year and likely better than the last several years.

The average size of the fish is the largest of this decade; most of the fish that I put in my net are 16 to 17-in with many that are larger. I recently had a father and son get a double hookup and both landed fish in excess of 20-inches at the same time. It has been more than 20 years since I have seen this happen.

A few days before, a client landed a substantial 24-in long fish and I’m seeing a bunch of big fish in the river. We are also starting to catch some of the “little guys” that were part of the mass spawn of last year and the year before, these 12-in fish are growing fast and I always remind everyone that it takes small fish to make big fish. 

Is this a peak before another down turn in the fishery? No, this is the beginning of a trend that is set to continue for at least a couple of years, and if nature cooperates and gives us moisture in the Rocky Mountains, and Lake Powell continues to rise, this trend of healthy trout populations and good fishing will continue for the next several years.

The turning point and the beginning for the recovery of the Lees Ferry fishery occurred in 2005 when Lake Powell had the first above normal snow-pack and runoff year since 1997.

Last year we had almost exactly the same conditions. The above normal winter snow pack and runoff into Lake Powell in 2007-08, stirred up a tremendous amount of nutrient laden sediment that had accumulated at the lake mouths of the Colorado River, San Juan River, and the Green River. Lake Powell elevation increased 43-ft. and the rivers flowing into the lake mixed the sediment and nutrients into the lake water. It usually takes several months before we see this mixing affect the nutrient load in the water that enters the river from Glen Canyon dam. The increased nutrient load in the lake and river will be evident this coming spring by the enormous and dramatic increase in aquatic vegetation and aquatic organisms throughout the river.
For those of you that remember what the fishing were like in 1999 and 2000…you should be as excited as I am about the current conditions and what the increased nutrient load should do for the fishing at Lees Ferry.

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

RECENT FISHING: With the water flows once again fluctuating and lower flows; we have been fishing from the boat as well as wading the riffles. The best fishing technique has been using a “heavy nymph rig” which is a 9 to 12-ft leader, strike indicator, split shot, and dual fly rig. I have been using 6X fluorocarbon tippet and feel that the lighter tippet results in a much higher success rate than say 5X. Anglers might argue that they break fish off on such light tippet but my argument is that in order to break a fish off, you first have to first get a fish to eat your fly and you are going to get more eaters with lighter tippet than heaver tippet.

When wading the riffles you need long dead drifts. There are two types of drifts; perfect dead drifts and all other drifts. Perfect dead drifts catch fish at Lees Ferry; all other drifts don’t catch fish here. You get a dead drift by mending the line, then throwing slack line on the water. If your line is straight from your rod tip to your indicator or you move your indicator during the drift, then your drift is not perfect and will not catch fish. The key to success is to stay over fish, get the flies down to the bottom, and get a long, perfect dead drift.

Word has it that the “walk-in’ is fishing very well. There are times in the spring that this area actually fishes better than upriver. Look for this area to continue fishing well until the summer high water arrives.

The high flow experiment, 4/08, 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/
The experimental steady flows that occurred in September and October 2008 (12,000 constant) were beneficial to the river and are scheduled again for 2009.

In years past, the flows in September and October have been the lowest flows of the year and have reset the “green line” to the 5,000-cfs level from the 12,000-cfs level of the summer flows. This has effectively reduced the food supply in the river by a significant amount. Then the higher flows of November and December arrive; but because of the declining sun angle and the shade of the cliffs, photosynthesis and aquatic production in the river declines and the areas of the river that were desiccated by the low flows do not regenerate until the following spring. This did not happen this year because of the steady flows in September and October the green line stayed high.

The current fluctuating flows (7,500-cfs to 13,000-cfs) are continuing to keep the green line higher than in years past. There have been prolific midge and black-fly hatches every day and it appears as though the scud population has a higher density than any time since 2004.

For details on Lake Powell conditions and snow-pack, go here: http://lakepowell.water-data.com/
For a real time graphic view of water releases and ramp rates go here: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv?09380000

The AZ Game and Fish Department has detected whirling disease in a very small percentage of Lees Ferry trout that were collected for a random sampling. A more recent sampling turned up no sign of the disease, which may mean that it was a “one time” exposure, where the disease was not established or that the disease is present but at a very low prevalence.  Anglers should still use caution in cleaning their equipment both before and after they have fished here or in other waters. For more information visit: http://www.whirling-disease.org   
   

LAKE MEAD – No new reports- Lake Mead water levels are fairly stable at around 1,111 feet above msl.  Fishing remains on the slow side from Temple Bar up through Greggs Basin.  An occasional striper is being caught down below 40-feet on anchovies. 

Launching conditions at South Cove have remained nearly the same for the last three months.  The new concrete ramp the National Park Service just completed is two lanes with cones marking the edges. Use caution not to go off the sides of the metal extensions at either side. National Park Service is working to keep the ramp open. 

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

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

LAKE MOHAVE –  The lake level is around 641 feet above msl is the current elevation.  Fishing for stripers seems to be pretty good in the southern portion of the lake. One angler reported catching a limit of 20” stripers in 5 hrs.  The fish cleaning station at Katherine’s landing is not working.  National Park service is repairing it, but it will be several weeks before it is up and running.  Lots of bass and bluegill located on fish habitat in 10-15 ft.  As the aquatic vegetation has died off, the fish have consolidated around submerged trees and brush. 

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

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

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

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

WILLOW BEACH - Trout are stocked every Friday.  Fishing has been pretty good for trout.    Most of the success has been coming from or around the new pier. Try using green Power Worms, or salmon eggs. 

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

TOPOCK MARSH – Water level should be down for the winter, so be careful while launching.  The fishing has been slow. 
Golden shores and Game and Fish held a kids fishing clinic at five mile landing on Saturday  October  11th.  This is the second year this event has been held.  The kids had fun.  Some catfish and bass were caught.

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

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

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

COLORADO RIVER BELOW DAVIS DAM –The striper bite has been slow.    Trout are stocked once a month at both Davis camp and the Riverside.  Look for the trout fishing to be good immediately following the stocking.
 
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 discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.

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

SOUTHWESTERN ARIZONA

LAKE HAVASU -- Lake Level 448.24

Report courtesy John Galbraith of Anglers Pro Shop
Lake Havasu City

Striped bass bite is fair with limits of medium size stripers coming on trolled cut anchovies rigged on a 2/0 hook, 3-4 ft. leader and a 1.5 to 3-ounce banana sinker or fish seeker used to keep the anchovy skipping on the bottom.  Bottom bouncers work well too.  Still some action during the dark hours of the morning using Stump Jumpers, Pointers and glow Sassy Shads around Thompson bay and south at Havasu Springs.

Smallmouth bass hitting red craw colored crankbaits and drop shotted curly-tail Robo Worms in oxblood or red craw colors fished in 8 to 20 feet of water.

Fishing report for courtesy Karen Coats, Sandpoint Bait and Tackle Shop: A few small–and I stress small–catfish are being taken at North Dyke in the Topock Marsh. Fishing news from the Topock Gorge is light. Striper action may be off, but the smallmouth and largemouth bass bite remains solid.

The smallmouth bass are in pre-spawn and expected to hit their stride soon. But alas, another chill befell our area which sent the water back down to 50 degrees. It isn’t as cold, so bass aficionados expect the temperature to be back up in no time.

Some anglers have been power fishing with white and chartreuse spinnerbaits and others have been using white swim baits. Still others prefer finesse fishing with motor oil colored plastic worms. Both techniques have been producing fish up to 4-pounds.

ALAMO LAKE – Well, folks, things are picking up out here.  In a nut shell bass fishing is pretty good.  I'll go more into that in a minute.  I'm happy to report the inflow into the lake has slowed down, which in turn has caused the water to clear up and, and the best part is that they ( CORP) cut there releases from 500 cfs back to 60 cfs.  That leaves the lake level a smidge over 1,125 (target evevation) and with a little luck nobody messes with it and there’s a good spawn all the way around.  A few anglers have reported seeing a few buck bass on beds but that’s about it.  The crappie should be heading into spawn any week now.  According to all the bass planners I've kept over the years, the last week of March and the first week of April have been really good for me to catch allot of crappies throwing 1/8-ounce jigs with a white/ chartreuse skirt right up to the shoreline.  Of course things chance but I think this year it's going to be close to that time frame.  Anglers are averaging 10 to 30 crappies a day.  That means some days 10 and other days 30.  It's really starting to pick up.  Same ol’ drill.  Load up with a few dozen minnows and roadrunner jigs and head up to the cluster at the end of the lake.  Crappies are in about 19 to 12 feet of water right now.  Last I heard water temp was 55 in morning and 60ish in afternoons.  I know from 4 in the afternoon there’s a killer evening bite going on.  Training wheels and plastics both seem to work.   O.K., one t thing you really gotta keep in mind for the next few months is that were going to have afternoon winds everyday starting around noon till around 5.  You can get in some clam waters to fish crappies in from dark thirty till around 11.  If you in a small 12- to 14-foot boat with a 25 horse, or less get off the lake at the first signs of white caps.  Make sure bilge pumps works or at least have a bucket handy.  Worse case scenario, head into a cove and wait it out.  Hyperthermia can set in minutes if you fall in with a shirt and shorts.  This time of year I always keep an extra pair of sweets and a shirt with me.  You just never know.  Ask Randy, Dec. 19, 6:30 a.m. 2006. I'm sure he remembers it well.  I think he finally stopped shivering around June.    Anyway watch the weather.

Cat fishing is still o.k. up in the river area.  I'm sure as the inflow slows down the cats will move on to the back of coves and other food sources. One thing to be aware of this weekend we have a pretty big bass tournament scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.  They should start pre fishing around Wed. As much as I enjoy the tournaments, and the people, this always one I'm glad to see over with. I think most of our hook sites will be filled by Friday night, but, if you’re willing to dry camp for a day or two then I have never had to turn anyone away.  The temp has been cold in the morning and warm in the afternoons so remember jackets , bug spray and sun block.  You know, I mentioned that I would try to keep this report a little more updated like I did in the past few years but running a new store is been a learning experience to say the least.  I'm starting to get organized and should start having a little more time to inform everyone of current events.   All in all our new store turned really nice, or I'm just going numb with it, maybe both.  Well that's all I got.  mark

Angler reports:

Where:lake alamo
When:02/07/09
Caught:large mouth bass
Technique:4''- SENKOS SMOKE WITH RED FLAKE RIGGED WACKY STYLE- ASO ORANGE COLORED CRAKS SHALLOW RUNNERS
Comments:ARRIVED LATE SATURDAY NITE STARTED FISHING AROUND 0730 SUNDAY POINTS AND INSIDE COVES WEST SIDE OF LAKE TOTAL FISH COUNT FOR TWO DAYS 83 BASS BIGGEST BASS 4LBS
Name:gary shanley


Where:Alamo Lake
When:01/17/09
Caught:3 - 2lb - 3lb Largemouth Bass and more.
Technique:Drifted past north lake points approaching into the sun and into the breeze...15-20 feet of water...using smoke colored 6 in. Lizard by Zoom. Also hooked good numbers on a bluegill colored 6 in worm by Zoom.
Comments:Arrived on main spot at 10AM - off the lake by 2:30PM- too windy
Name:Jason Whitaker

Where:Alamo
When:01/02/09
Caught:Catfish
Technique:Worm on Red and Green Jig heads
Comments:My son and I got on the lake about 11 a.m. fished in a bay with no luck, we went to a tree at the mouth of the bay. Dropped the jig head with worm down into the tree. My son caught 17 and I caught 21 we missed about 20 they hit like Bluegil real light. All were 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 pound. We let them all go back to grow to 5 & 6 pounders
Name:Bob Zvara

Where:Alamo
When:01/03/09
Caught:Afternoon
Technique:Junebug colored Berkley worms.
Comments:Cove on North side of lake. Caught 3 large mouth bass. Caught 1 catfish on live worm.
Name:Monty

Where:Alamo Lake state park
When:02/04/09
Caught:largemouth bass
Technique:Texas-rigged watermelon red baby brush hogs, black and shad colored lizards, spinner baits and buzz baits
Comments:Jaime Zachea and Dave Newsom of Las Vegas fished Wednesday the 4th and Thursday the 5th. Great weather before the front moved in. Caught 20 on Wednesday between them and 12 more for half a day on Thursday. Top water bite at dusk on Wednesday in the back of coves on white/silver buzz bait. All cookie cutters in the 1 to 2 pound range with a couple a little larger. Good winter fishing!
Name:Jaime Zachea

SOUTHWESTERN WATERS (Winter Outlook 2008-2009):

Winter Outlook 2009:

Alamo Lake:

Alamo Lake is not expected to increase much in surface acreage from its present 3,700 acres, as the Corps of Engineers changes its release regimes from Alamo Dam to maintain the reservoir at the targeted 1,125-foot level.

However, increased inflow into Alamo Lake brings in additional nutrients, which generally improves the fishery, sometimes dramatically. The largemouth bass and black crappie populations at Alamo Lake are currently healthy, and poised to benefit from an increased food supply.

The primary prey base of these species is the threadfin shad.  Increased nutrients in the system should stimulate the plankton community, upon which the shad feed.  This should, in turn, stimulate increased production of shad, which could be a very good thing for growing bass and crappie this year.

Bass numbers are good in Alamo Lake, but large bass are relatively uncommon.  Given abundant food resources, bass can grow quickly, and we are hoping the largemouth bass population will respond accordingly.  Regardless, the current lake elevation, resulting from the last two years of decent inflow, should ensure that fishing at Alamo Lake will be good to excellent for the next couple of years.

Lake Havasu & Topock Gorge:

Fishing for largemouth bass, as well as smallmouth bass, is expected to be fair. The size will range from 13 inches and up with an occasional fish greater than 4 pounds.  Striped bass will continue to be excellent for small fish (12-18 inches) with occasional fish over 8 pounds.

The lake is also full of smaller stripers, which will make it challenging to catch the larger fish.

Channel catfish as well as bluegill & redear sunfish will be fair to good. Flathead catfish fishing should be fair at the lower end of the lake (Bill Williams River Arm) through the fall. 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 cooler weather causes the bite to slow down so it is important to work your lures more slowly and in deeper water.  Put away your topwater lures and switch to plastics, crank baits, spinner baits, jigs, cut fish, live shad, etc.  

Colorado River (Parker Strip Area):

Smallmouth bass with fish over two pounds in size are expected to be fair this winter.  In addition, redear sunfish should also be fair in the pound plus sizes.   The Parker Strip is well known for its smallmouth bass fishing, especially in the area from the dam to several miles downstream.

The Parker Strip is also home to some really impressive, dinner-plate sized redear sunfish of two pounds or larger.  Channel and flathead catfish are always fair in this section of the Colorado River.  Below the dam, striper fishing should also be fair, using live shad or anchovies this winter.

This stretch of the river will be low during the month of January so access will be limited.  The good news is that the fish will be concentrated during that time period.

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

This area should be fair for both smallmouth bass (in the channel) 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 30 pounds. The time for fishing for both species of catfish is in the evening to midnight.  

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 fair to good for flathead catfish with sizes over 40 pounds. The best time for fishing for both species of catfish will be in the evening to midnight.  Largemouth bass and bluegill are also present in the various backwaters and slack water areas. Other species available in the main river are smallmouth bass and striped bass.

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

This area is expected to be fair to good 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. Bluegill are also present in the various backwaters and an occasional striped bass will be caught in the main river channel.

Colorado River (between Laguna and Morelos dams):

This area will be fair for largemouth bass and flathead catfish. Bass in excess of 5 pounds are common and flathead catfish over 20 pounds are a good bet. In this area accessibility to the river is dependent on the amount of water being released. Usually shallow draft boats work the best. The lower end has had some dredging work done and larger boats may be able to get on the river in that area.

With the increase in border issues and illegal activity on the lower end of this stretch, we recommend exercising extreme caution, avoiding nighttime use, or even staying away from the area altogether (Pilot Knob to Moreles Dam).

Regional Hot Spots:

Alamo Lake will be the hot spot for largemouth bass and channel catfish.  There are many fish in the lake at the present time (especially channel catfish), and keeping some to eat will not impact the population in the slightest, and will perhaps even enhance it.  Next choice would be Lake Havasu for striped bass, Lake Havasu and the Parker Strip for smallmouth bass, and Martinez Lake and Imperial Division backwaters for largemouth bass.   For the die-hard flathead catfish angler, large catfish can still be caught from Walter’s Camp down to Imperial Dam, although fishing likely won’t be as effective as in the warmer months.

If you need any additional information or assistance don't hesitate to contact the Yuma Regional office at (928) 341-4052 and we will be happy to give you whatever information we have.

CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
Note:  Always check on road conditions before venturing afield.

Williams Lakes:  

KAIBAB LAKE — Stocked two weeks ago with 7,200 trout. The lake is accessible although the campground is still closed. These early season trout will sometimes readily gulp down delectable items they haven’t seen for some time, like wiggling night crawlers or meal worms.

CATARACT LAKE — Possibility of stocking it with trout this week.

CITY RESERVOIR — No report.  

DOGTOWN LAKE — Campground area is closed.

JD DAM — No reports. 

RUSSEL TANK - No reports.

SANTA FE — Lake is full. Will be stocked with trout this week, which is a few weeks early.

WHITEHORSE LAKE — Campgrounds are closed. No reports.
Flagstaff Lakes:

LOWER LAKE MARY — This ephemeral lake does have some water and has been stocked with 6,282 trout three weeks ahead of schedule. The water temperature was 44 degrees at the time of stocking. There is a possibility that this small lake will increase in size with the snow melt.

UPPER LAKE MARY — The lake is almost full (four feet down). It sounds like fishing is good for northern pike.

Where:Upper Lake Mary
When:03/02/05
Caught:Pike, Pike, Pike!!!
Technique:Anchovy, weightless, steel leader, big old "circle-style" catfish hook.
Comments:The pike are biting!!! This fish was a 7.63 lb/31" fish. Last year, most of the fish we caught were hovering around the 24" range (22-28 with a few 30-32). Most of the fish I saw were about 4-5 lbs. If this one fish is representative of the current population, it looks like the current "batch" of northerns could be a 2/3 lbs heavier and 2 inches or so longer! My fish had some kind of baitfish or game fish fry in its belly, about an inch and a half long. These pike cook up really nicely if they are deboned (see youtube), seasoned with old bay, and broiled on high for 15 min! Never mind the mercury, you can detox when its not pike season!  See you out there! Fish Mary hard before all the crazy boating starts happening!
Name:danny iberri-shea

 
ASHURST LAKE — The lake is full. Access is apparently closed. Probably ice covered.

FRANCIS SHORT POND – No report. Likely ice covered.

KINNIKINICK LAKE — Access conditions unknown.  Road is likely closed.

MARSHALL LAKE — Access conditions unknown.  Road is likely closed.

LONG LAKE — The lake did have open water a few weeks ago, but access may be questionable.  Water level is good.  Lake was stocked last year.  This lake was producing some nice trout and pike last fall, so might be worth a try this spring once the snow melts and the roads are passable.

SOLDIERS & SOLDIERS ANNEX — No reports.

BEAVER CREEK — This picturesque stream is scheduled for stocking this week. You might also pick up some holdover trout in the creek well upstream from the crossing.

WEST CLEAR CREEK —  Scheduled for stocking this week. This is a great place for those who like to hike and fish.

STONEMAN LAKE — NO FISH.

Verde Valley

OAK CREEK – Trout were stocked last week and water temperatures ranged from 40 to 48 F. Fishing for rainbow trout should be decent. There are also some brown trout, but they are much more difficult to catch.

Where:Oak Creek
When:03/06/05
Caught:Rainbows and Brown
Technique:Worms and corn, 4 lb test, weightless presentation in the upper-most stretches of Oak Creek.
Comments:
After fishing lower lake Mary with my wife,son,and daughter (strapped to me) for a bit with no luck (the fish seem to be acclimating a bit still), we jetted down the canyon to hit a few of our favorite spots. My 3 ½-year-old cranked out a nice fatty rainbow caught on a piece of corn by his own cast. I rounded it off with 4 rainbows (including a 13" fish)and a 10" brown. We ate 5 fish tonight! The rush of water is receding but many fish can still be found in the stretches between rapid water and slower, deeper pools behind the rapid water. Fish terrestrials, aquatics, real, fake, whatever. Just let the drift seem natural and don't use any weight if possible. 4 lb line (soon 2 will be better), #8 bait holder hooks, and a super fat worm hooked once through the "sex collar" (not all gobbed up like for catfish). This week has rendered a 7.63 pike at Upper Lake Mary, a 2 lb brown out of Oak Creek, and today, 6 trout out of the upper most stretches of oak creek(all in about 4 hours total of fish time).

The best reward of all, however, is seeing my young son handle a 6 ft spinning rod and reel all by himself. He puts his tiny little finger on the line, pulls the bail back, looks at his target, begins the pendulum motion, and releases his trigger-finger at just the right moment! I have been waiting for this spring in particular for 3 1/2 years! (my son has never even held a push button deal)! Get your kids out there and don't be afraid to hand off a big fish. Sure the line might break due to excessive reeling, a bad drag set up, etc. but...they just might land something that haunts their dreams!  Spring is here! Fish hard!

Editor’s note: Danny is right on the money – get your children out while they are young. It is amazing how fast even toddlers can pick up the sport.

Where:Oak Creek
When:03/02/05
Caught:Brown 2 lb - 16 1/2"
Technique:nightcrawler/#8 hook/4 lb
Comments:The runoff has helped make the creek really high and slightly murky. Find a nice spot on a deep pool. Cast a weightless worm out right along an undercut bank. Wait for your line to go peeling out! The fish get a little less critical in the swifter, murkier water. 4 lb test will work where 2 would be the norm. Drift bait from faster water into slower, deeper water (keeping the drift natural). With all due respect to (non-elitist)catch and release fly-fishing, catching browns and eating them is a lot of fun. They don't taste like corn! My favorite holes are heavily used, easily accessible, and ALWAYS have trout in them. You just have to think a-symmetrical to other humans (ie- Fish hard in the winter, go early/late, fish storms, fish in snow/ice, etc. Good luck on Oak Creek! Its really a magical little canyon! Peace!
Name:Danny Iberri-Shea

DEAD HORSE STATE PARK – Scheduled for stocking this week. This is the last scheduled stocking until the fall; 3,600 rainbow trout are split between the lower and middle lagoons each stocking.  The stockings have been so frequent that any day is a good day to fish, even the day before the stockings.  Fishing in general has been very good.  It is not uncommon for anglers to report catching their limit in less than 1 hour.  If you are willing to fish all day you should be able to get a limit. Try using white Power Bait, homemade dough baits, flies or small spinners. If you’re not catching anything you may want to try a different bait or the other lagoon.  It is not uncommon for the anglers at one lagoon to do better than the anglers at the other lagoon.

Catfish were last stocked on Sept. 17 in both the middle and lower lagoons.  Verde River day festivities on Sept. 27  were a success with around 300 people attending.  As the water temperature continues to cool, the bass, bluegill and catfish become less active. 

Where:Dead Horse State Park
When:03/07/09
Caught:beautiful rainbow trout
Technique:artificial lures and flies...
Comments:first time here. great day fishing. Spinners okay ( nothing shiny ). Bait dunkers not catching as many as the fly fishers...think like a trout

VERDE RIVER (throughout Verde Valley) – Trout were stocked last week; water temperatures ranged from 52 to 56 F. Scheduled to be stocked again next week, the week of March 16, with 2,400 rainbows into all four sites. Those sites are Tuzigoot Bridge, just down from the Dead Horse Bridge or “Jacks”, Bignotti Beach or the Thousand Trails site, and the bridge out of Camp Verde.
Prescott Area

FAIN LAKE —Trout are scheduled to be stocked this week, the week of March 9; 1,325 rainbow trout will be stocked.  Trout fishing is best immediately following the stocking.  For trout try using spinners or bright colored Power Bait. 

Catfish and sunfish were stocked the week of June 23, 2008. 

GOLDWATER LAKE —Trout were stocked last week, the week of March 2 and the water temperature was 55 F.  Fishing should be good. The next scheduled stocking is for the week of March 16.  Look for the fishing to really pick up following the stocking.  Some anglers are having limited success on worms and night crawlers.  If that does not work, you may want to try using KastMasters.  When the weather is cold, the bite may not pick up until 10 or 11. 

Catfish and bass were stocked the week of Sept. 15.  Game and Fish biologists weighed a 22-pound channel catfish that was caught at Goldwater in March.  On July 11, a 26-pound catfish was caught on a hotdog and an 11-pound catfish was caught since then.

Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Goldwater on Sept.16, 2008  and found the trout and sunfish plentiful. While the number of catfish was low, the quality was exceptional. One 19lbs and a 14lbs catfish was sampled and released. No bass were sampled this year. If you fish Goldwater and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

Granite Basin - Bluegill and bass are plentiful in this lake.  The aquatic vegetation has not been bad this year making fishing this lake easier than normal. The bite should be pretty slow all winter.  If you fish Granite Basin and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

LYNX LAKE — Rainbow trout were stocked the week of Feb. 2nd and are scheduled to be stocked again this week, the week of March 9th.  The fishing has picked up following the stocking, as well angler use when the weather is nice.  Sub-catchable brook trout were stocked on September 24th.  Try using chartreuse Power Bait on the bottom for these pretty little fish.  Catfish were stocked June 9 and again on June 25.  Try using night crawlers or hot dogs for the catfish. 

Game and Fish Biologists installed PVC fish structures on Jan. 3.  These structures should protect small fishes from predation.  Some 7-inch brook trout were in February and 5-inchers in September. 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.

MINGUS LAKE – Mingus was stocked the week of October 20th.  This was the last scheduled stocking until spring.  The gate is closed and will remain closed until road conditions improve.  The best bait has been orange or pink Power Bait, fished on the bottom with a treble hook and an egg sinker.

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

WATSON – NO NEW REPORTS: Bass, Bluegill and catfish are common in this lake. One angler reported seeing several 5lb catfish recently.  Another angler reported catching 3-8 nice bass per evening on green or chartreuse “woolly bugers.”  As the water begins to cool this will slow, so get them while you can.  Crappies are found in low numbers. Bullheads are easily caught using a small piece of worm. 

Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Watson on September 17th, 2008  and found the bass,  sunfish, and bullhead to be plentiful.  Crappie are also doing well.  Look for the crappie fishing to pick up in a year or two. If you fish Watson and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR – NO NEW REPORTS: Bass, bluegill, and bullhead are plentiful.  Most of the bluegills are on the small side, but the bullhead are thick.  If you fish Willow and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

MOGOLLON RIM LAKES
RIM LAKES: The runoff season is underway. With the warmer weather, ice is starting to diminish on the lakes. All ice should be considered unstable. Snow is still creating an access issue at most Rim lakes. The gates on Interior roads are still closed. Access is by snowmobile only, but in some places, snow is patchy even though there are still lots of huge drifts. Contact the US Forest Service’s Black Mesa Ranger District office at (928) 535-7300 for up-to-date information about forest and road conditions.   

CHEVELON LAKE — The lake is accessible from the north (Winslow) via four-wheel-drive on a muddy road. Fishing is fair to good. Anglers are catching trout on lures. The lake is open. The lake is full and spilling.  Forest roads from the south are closed. Forest road 169 north is open to Forest road 169B and Forest road 169B to the lake is muddy with some snow pack so 4-wheel-drive vehicles are needed to get to the lake. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and /or up to 10 hp. gas motors.

This is hike-in, steep sided canyon lake with limited shoreline access that is best fished from a float tube or other floating device.

BEAR CANYON LAKE — The lake is ice-covered. Check ice thickness before venturing out on the lake.  The lake is inaccessible by motor vehicle, except snowmobiles.  Forest Road 300 is closed.  

BLACK CANYON LAKE — The lake is ice-covered. Check ice thickness before venturing out on the lake. The lake is inaccessible by vehicle, except for snowmobiles.  Forest Road 300 is closed.   
BLUE RIDGE – Not accessible, but the lake is full and spilling. 

WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE — The lake is ice-covered. Check ice thickness before venturing out on the lake. The lake is inaccessible by vehicle, except for snowmobiles.  Forest Road 149 is closed. 

WOODS CANYON LAKE — The lake is ice-covered. Check ice thickness before venturing out on the lake.  The lake is inaccessible by vehicle, except for snowmobiles.  Forest Road 300 is closed. The store is still closed for winter.

WHITE MOUNTAIN LAKES

High mountain lakes as well as streams are ice covered. Check ice thickness before venturing out on lakes. Forest roads are snow packed.

State Highway 261 is closed to vehicles accessing Big Lake and Crescent Lake. Snowmobile access is permitted. 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 is closed to Crescent Lake, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will remain closed until the road construction project is complete.

Most interior Forest Roads are closed and/or inaccessible to vehicles. Snowmobile access is permitted.
BECKER LAKE — Fishing is fair. The lake is ice-free.

The lake is open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks only, and a two-trout limit. Try small lures such as Super Dupers, spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps), KastMasters (gold or silver), and Z-Rays.  Try small nymphs such as zebra midges, scuds, pheasant tails, hares ear, zug bugs, prince nymphs, wooly worms and wooly buggers, brown and gray semi-seal leeches. Also try dragon fly patterns, peacock ladies, and brown Montana stone nymphs.

Fish off the bottom along weed beds and retrieve your fly slowly. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors. There is a new fishing pier with a handicap walkway located at the northwestern part of the lake
   
BIG LAKE — Ice fishing is fair to good. Accessible by snowmobile only. The lake is ice-covered. The lake is ice-covered. Check ice thickness before venturing out on the lake.  Try worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs, and lures such as small spoons and jigs. State Highway 261 from Eager/Springerville is closed to vehicles but open to snowmobiles.  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. Snowmobile access is permitted. The store is closed for the winter. 
 

CARNERO LAKE -- The lake is ice-covered Check ice thickness before venturing out on the lake.  Forest roads to the lake are inaccessible by vehicle, except for snowmobiles.       .     

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR — Fishing is poor. The lake is ice-free. Try fishing with a bobber, split shot and worms near rocky shoreline areas for sunfish and bass.  The old boat ramp has been re-opened. The new boat ramp near the dam is blocked off because of very low water levels and thick weeds near this ramp. Try worms, Power Bait, Salmon eggs, and lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster tail, and Mepps), Z-Rays, crank baits, spinner baits, and Rapalas, and flies such as woolly worms or woolly buggers, Yeager buggers, and peacock ladies. There are no motor restrictions on Clear Creek Reservoir. The gate on the north side of the lake is usually closed during the winter months, while the road on the south side of the lake is open.

CONCHO LAKE — Fishing is poor. The lake is ice-free and weedy. The water level low. There is practically no water at the boat ramp. If you choose to fish at Concho Lake, target the small areas of open water between the weeds off the dam. The rest of the lake is not fishable. 

CRESCENT LAKE —  Fishing is fair to good. The lake is ice-covered. Check ice thickness before venturing out on the lake. Anglers have been catching trout on small jigs and worms.  Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, small spoons and jigs.

State Highway 261 from Eager/Springerville to Crescent-Big Lakes is closed to vehicles but open to snowmobiles. State Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation to Crescent Lake is closed 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, due to continuing road construction. Snowmobile access is permitted
    
FOOL HOLLOW LAKE — Fishing is fair. The lake is ice-free, full and spilling. Boat ramps are usable. Anglers have been catching a few small trout and bass on worms. Try worms, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, spoons, lead head jigs, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms and wooly buggers. Try fishing off rocky areas and around fishing piers. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp gas motors.

GREER LAKES — The Greer lakes are ice-covered. Unsafe ice conditions.    
     
HULSEY LAKE — The lake is ice-covered. Unsafe ice conditions.
 
LEE VALLEY RESERVOIR — An angler recently asked about possible access – via foot – to Lee Valley this spring. Other anglers might find the answer valuable.

If you have a snowmobile, you can access Lee Valley Lake right now, but it is iced over.  Our limnological surveys through the ice this winter show that Lee Valley Lake will likely NOT winterkill, but we still have at least a couple months of ice cover to go.  We will be checking Lee Valley, Crescent and Carnero lakes weekly as part of a winterkill study we are doing, hopefully to gather information that will help us reduce the occurrence of winterkill in the future.
 
There have not been many grayling in Lee Valley Lake because they are so difficult to come by, we have to drive a hatchery truck to Wyoming to pick them up. However, we did stock several thousand subcatchable size grayling in Lee Valley in May 2008. They should be doing okay and put on some size by the time the lake opens in the spring.

Normally I would recommend fishing near the creek inlet in late April and May because they will often congregate there in an attempt to spawn in the creek, but these fish will likely not be reproductively active yet, so they could be anywhere in the lake.

However, we have surveyed some very large Apache trout over the last few years during the road closure, up to 4.5 pounds. We caught them all in one net at the creek inlet one year, then right off the dam the next year. Go figure.
 
The road from Sunrise was officially open this last summer up to the junction with Forest Road 87 (back road to Greer), then closed from there to Crescent Lake. The Forest had set up a temporary trailhead at that junction that tied into the west baldy trail.  Some anglers would take this trail to the West Baldy Trail, then take the crossover trail towards the East Baldy Trail.

This crossover trail crosses Lee Valley Creek about 1/2 mile upstream of Lee Valley Lake.  Folks were not allowed to bike or hike along the closed road because of safety reasons, plus the Forest had an official closure on the road and the Sheep's Crossing area (eliminating hiking access from Greer).  Technically folks could not set foot into this closure without permission from the National Highways folks.

Anglers/hikers could also reach the crossover trail from another temporary trailhead that accessed the East Baldy Trail from the Burro Mountain area, but I did not know the details of how to get there (I found it once on the Apache-Sitgreaves Forest web-site).
 
As of today, the road is still officially closed, mostly for winter conditions, as they are not doing construction on it right now.  It is open to snowmobiles though. The road will still be closed initially when things thaw out in the spring.

However, they tell us they are mostly complete, they just need to add a sealant.I don't yet know when the Forest's closure will be lifted. As long as that closure is in place, folks will not be able to step foot onto the closed road (the exception is for snowmobiles this winter).

As we get closer to spring, we will coordinate with the Forest and provide information to anglers as we get it.  Then the road should be open for good sometime in early summer.
 
Keep checking back with us and we'll pass on that information when we get it.  Whatever happens though, you should be able to hike into the lake via the crossover trail from the West Baldy Trail.
 
Mike Lopez

The roads to Lee Valley Lake are closed.  The lake is ice-covered. State Highway 261 from Eager/Springerville to Crescent-Big Lakes is closed. Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation to Forest road 87 is open but is closed beyond the Forest road 273/87 junction road to Crescent Lake 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, due to continuing road construction but is open to snowmobiles.

LUNA LAKE — Fishing is fair. The lake is ice-free, full and spilling.  Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps spinners, small spoons like KastMasters and Super Dupers, and flies such as wooly worms and wooly buggers, peacock ladies, zug bugs, prince nymphs, and brown Montana stones. The store is closed for the winter. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors.  

LYMAN LAKE — Fishing is poor to fair. The lake is ice-free. The lake has some ice-cover along the shoreline areas.  Try worms, Power Bait, catfish stink baits, and lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps), crank baits, and Rapalas. Try fishing lures along rocky areas for bass and walleye.

There is fish consumption advisory here, so check with the State Parks Office at the lake for details. Also contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Region 1 Office at (928) 367-4281. There are no motor restrictions on Lyman Lake. The store is closed for the winter.    
 
NELSON RESERVOIR — Fishing is poor to fair. The lake is ice-free. The lake is full and spilling. Fishing bag limits are now unlimited for rainbow and brown trout from Sept. 1 through March 31.

RAINBOW LAKE — Fishing is poor. The lake is ice-free, full and spilling. The boat ramp is usable. Try worms, Power Bait, lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps) spoons (Super Dupers, Daredevils), and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, and peacock ladies. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp gas motors.

SCOTTS RESERVOIR — Fishing is fair. The lake is ice-free, especially during warm weather days but on cold weather days expect thin, unsafe ice conditions. The lake is full and spilling..

SHOW LOW LAKE — Fishing is fair. The lake is ice-free, full and spilling. The fishing piers are not accessible from the shoreline because of rising water levels. The boat ramp is usable. Anglers are catching 12- to 14-inch rainbow trout on flies. Try worms, Power Bait, lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster tail, and Mepps), spoons such as Super Dupers, lead head jigs, Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, prince nymphs, peacock ladies and brown Montana Stones.

The road to the dam has water flowing over the road, so use caution when driving to the dam. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp gas motors. The store is closed.

Where:Show low lake
When:03/01/09
Caught:Trout/walleye
Technique:drifting/trolling night crawlers on walleye spinner rig and Rapela's. Also vertical jigging
Comments:Trout were nice size 13-14 inches walleye were in the 15 inch range
Name:roger

WOODLAND LAKE — Fishing is poor. The boat ramp is not usable. The fishing pier is on the boat ramp for repairs. The lake is ice-free due to warm weather days, but on cold weather days expect thin, unsafe ice conditions. The lake is full and spilling.

Try worms. Power Bait, spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster tail, and Mepps), spoons such as Super Dupers, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, and zug bugs. The fishing pier is closed to public use because of safety concerns. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.      
       
White Mountain Streams: 

Streams are ice-covered.  Forest Roads are snow packed and closed and/or inaccessible to vehicles except snowmobiles.

WEST FORK BLACK RIVER — Forest roads are closed to the Black River.  Ice is present on the stream. The stocking season has ended and no trout are being stocked.   

EAST FORK BLACK RIVER — Forest roads are closed to the Black River.  Ice is present on the stream. The stocking season has ended and no trout are being stocked.   

SHEEP’S CROSSING — Highway 273 is closed for the year due to road construction and an area closure is still in effect around Sheep Crossing, 24 hours and 7 days a week.

LITTLE COLORADO RIVER GREER — The stream has some ice, along the shoreline areas during morning hours, but may open up on warm weather days. The stocking season has ended and no trout are being stocked.  

SILVER CREEK — Fishing is fair. Silver creek does not ice over during the winter because it is a spring creek with a more constant water temperature.  Nice sized Apache and rainbow trout were stocked in October at Silver Creek. Silver Creek on the Arizona Game and Fish Department property is currently open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and catch-and-release only. The upper section is open to fishing.  The catch-and-release season is from Oct. 1 through March 31. Try small lures such as Mepps, Rooster tails, and Panther Martin spinners. Fly-fishers may want to try wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, Zug bugs, shrimp patterns, midge patterns, and small bead head nymphs. Try small dry flies such as Adams, parachute Adams, midge and caddis fly patterns.

SOUTHERN WATERS

Note: The Tucson and Sierra Vista Angler roundtable meetings are:
* Tucson – 7-9 p.m., March 18, AZGFD Regional Office, 555 N. Greasewood Rd.
* Sierra Vista, 7-9 p.m. March 19, Fry Fire District, Station #2, 4817 S. Apache Ave.

Topics:
* Results of last years fish surveys
* Upcoming improvements to boat ramps at Patagonia and Arivaca (yes help is finally on the way!)
* Pena Blanca Lake sediment removal project update with lots to report!
* Pena Blanca Lake fish habitat project update; It’s time to get started and we need volunteers!
* And anything else you anglers want to talk about

TUCSON URBAN — Good fishing for trout will continue through March as all lakes receive their final stocking the week of March 2-7.  Most trout are falling for Power Bait fished on the bottom.  Other good baits include worms, corn and salmon eggs.  The cool morning hours are the best times to target the trout. 

As waters warm up, try fishing for largemouth bass and bluegill that are now moving closer to shore as they prepare to spawn and search for food. Regulations require that all bass under 13 inches must be released unharmed immediately. Reports keep coming in of anglers catching catfish, even though it has been nearly four months since the last cats were stocked.  Speaking of catfish, the catfish stocking season starts on Thursday, March 19 at Tucson area urban waters.

All lakes and ponds in the Phoenix and Tucson areas will be stocked with 15- to 20-inch channel catfish on Thursday, March 19.  Catfish will be stocked through June at rates averaging from 40 to 60 fish per acre.  Nearly 14,000 pounds of Arkansas farm-raised catfish will be delivered and stocked into 20 Urban Fishing Program lakes every two weeks by Mr. Fish, our outstanding fish contractor for many years.

Where:Lakeside
When:02/07/09
Caught:18.25", 2.25 # Rainbow Trout
Technique:Trolling with misc. lures
Comments:
First time trolling Breaking in a friends new boat !!! Thanks, to Terry for buying a boat !!
Name:mark Metcalf

RIGGS FLAT — The lake is closed for the winter.  

CLUFF RANCH — The lake was stocked last week with 1,500 rainbows and the water temperature was 63 degrees.  No recent reports of success.  A new fishing pier has been installed which should provide a large increase in access for shore anglers.  For lake information call (928) 485-9430.

Where:Cluff Ponds
When:03/07/09
Caught:4 Rainbows
Technique:Power bait (corn yellow) and yellow Panther Martin spinner
Comments:We only fished for an hour or two but it was a beautiful morning. No wind, the sun was shining and the water was calm. The fish were biting the best just after sunrise. Not many people there which is surprising considering it was the beginning of spring break and they had just stocked the pond. I did not appreciate the gentleman who was blasting his music loud enough to scare the average teenager. Isn't there anywhere left to get some peace and quiet? Fortunately he didn't stay long. I think he scared all the fish away and must have got bored. Please be considerate of other outdoorsmen.
Name:Dave

ROPER LAKE — The lake was stocked last week with 1,500 rainbows and the water temperature was 65 degrees.  No recent reports of success. For lake information call (928) 428-6760.

DANKWORTH POND — No recent reports of success. Due to the lack of open water and poor angler access the Department has decided not to stock this lake until conditions can be improved.  For lake information call (928) 428-6760.

FRYE MESA RESERVIOR – Poor road conditions are preventing any further stockings.  Plans are underway to get the road repaired.  Although the lake has been stocked, no reports of success have been received.  Early morning and late evenings should produce fish though.  

KEARNY LAKES — Conditions at this lake have taken a turn for the worse and golden algae has caused a fish kill.  The Department and the town of Kearny continue to work on the problem.
 
ARIVACA — Please use caution on the sides of the ramp. Erosion has caused some problems and we are working to repair it as quickly as possible. The fishing remains slow but a few anglers are catching some bass on crankbaits.  Anglers are asked to please be aware of your wake so as not to disrupt other anglers fishing from other boats and the shore.  Remember that all bass must be immediately released back to the water.

Where:arivaca
When:03/01/09
Caught:6 bass 1.5 to 2.25 lb
Technique:Rat L Trap, stop-and-go retrieve
Name:joe

Where:Arivaca
When:02/22/09
Caught:1 Largemouth Bass and a few other bites missed
Technique:Artificial Worms and Spinners
Comments:Water still very cold, low, and a lot of algae on top of the water but nice fishing with few snags and others anglers were having some success as well
Name:Mike

PENA BLANCA – Pena Blanca Lake is closed.
 
PATAGONIA —No reports of angler success have been received.  Warmwater species are slow but anglers are reporting a few bass on plastic worms.  Some anglers are catching bass as well while flipping the cattails.

Where:Patagonia
When:03/07/09
Caught:Bluegill and 1 Catfish while jigging for Crappie
Technique:Spinners, jigs, worms
Comments:Nothing much working for us or most of the anglers
Name:Mike

Where:Patagonia Lake
When:03/07/09
Caught:4 Largemouth Bass
Technique:Crank baits
Comments:A 4lb, a 1Lbs7oz and a 1lbs4oz and little 7oz
Name:James Sorensen

Where:Patagonia
When:03/06/09
Caught:20 Bluegills, 1 Largemouth bass
Technique:Worms under a bobber
Comments:bass was only 10 inches, and bluegills were about 6 inches (all fish released)
Name:Ben Mader

Where:Patagonia
When:03/03/09
Caught:Sunfish, Crappie, BassTechnique:
Spincast and retrieve Kalin Plastic Grubs with 1/16 oz jig head, caught Sunfish, Crappie and small Bass. Caught one 3 lb Bass trolling a large Rattle Trap Silver Shad (DT-16).
Comments:Crappie are beginning to Spawn. Caught six Crappie in shallow water.
Name:Billy Dean

Where:Patagonia
When:02/22/09
Caught:2 Bass
Technique:Crank Baits, Plastics Worms
Comments:Caught the bass after 2 days, one was 3.10 pounds the other was about .7oz. No other fish all weekend.
Name:James Sorensen

PARKER CANYON — Scheduled for stocking with rainbow trout this week. The store at Parker Canyon is closed.  Anglers needing a license will need to purchase that prior to arriving at the lake.  The fishing has been fair with some angler success coming in the early morning just after sunrise. Anglers are reporting that worms and Power Bait are working the best currently.
 

Where:Parker Canyon
When:03/07/09
Caught:Bass, Trout
Technique:trout spinners and spoons, shakey head, drop shot, jig and trailer
Comments:Weather was cold and windy, clear day after that front made it real tough. still managed 3 bass. The bit was super soft...
Name:Ben Payne

Where:parker canyon lake
When:03/10/09
Caught:rainbows limit
Technique:Power Bait
Name:Donald

Where:Parker Canyon Lake
When:03/02/09
Caught:Bass
Technique:it came to the shallows so i grabbed him with my hands
Comments:One of the park guys told me that treble hooks are illegal to use. Most lures you buy come with treble hooks. Do I have to change all my lures over to singles? Ive never heard of that before? Is this true? Please respond... Thank You
Name:Matt Caceres

Editor’s Note: Treble hooks are okay at most fishing waters unless there are special regulations in place requiring single barbless hooks.

Where:parker canyon lake
When:02/24/09
Caught:limit on rainbows
Technique:Power Bait all colors on bottom 18-20in
Comments:patience, patience is the key
Name:Donald Pieper

 
ROSE CANYON LAKE — Fishing is reported to be slow with a few fish being caught on spinners.  The road is closed for the winter and anglers wishing to fish this lake will have to hike in.