News

Fishing Report: Feb. 15, 2018

Posted February 15, 2018

See “The Reel Deal” statewide summary

 

Updated Editor’s Note: Great news for anglers: We’re developing a complete fishing forecast for each season of the year, including primary water bodies by region. It will replace this entire news post and is coming soon. Look for it in the “Fishing” section of our website.

Also, we plan to soon release a new-and-improved Fish and Boat Arizona map! 

For even more up-to-date information, we’ll continue the e-news weekly fishing report and fishing blog. We also suggest calling/visiting a local bait-and-tackle shop, fishing marina or guide service.

The AZGFD fishing report is a free resource meant to inform anglers, and remember that nothing beats spending time on the water to figure out what’s biting.

Help us keep these reports fresh for your fellow anglers by sending your reports and photos to BFishing @AZGFD.gov – one will be selected for Catch of the Week.

Finally, reports from guides, tackle shops or angler groups are not endorsements.

OK, on to the  full report.

Central Waters

(Updated Feb. 15; Editor Nick Walter, 623-236-7214)

ROOSEVELT LAKE — (2,112 feet, 58-percent full).

Feb. 15 report from Jim Goughnour of Rim Country Custom Rods:

Rim Country anglers are excited about the recent rain and snow falls throughout the area. Anglers reported rainfall amounts ranging from 1″ to 2″ depending on locations. The good news is most of that moisture will eventually find its way into streams that feed into Roosevelt Lake. The lack of moisture this year is becoming more evident each week. One only needs to look at the percentage of flows into the lake from the Salt River and Tonto Creek to realize just how little moisture has fallen.

This week the Salt River is flowing at 25 percent of its normal flow for this time of year. The cubic feet per second (cfps) of flow currently is 150 cfps with a “normal”  rate of 590 cfps. The Tonto Creek is flowing at only 10% with 10 cpfs versus a normal rate of 100 cfps. Typically during this time of year, the Rim is covered with a few feet of snow and the ground at lower elevations is saturated.  That runoff typically provides lots of water flow into the Roosevelt Lake watershed during late February and early March. The current rainfall is welcome and the snow at higher elevations is critical to the overall process of keeping water and nutrients flowing into the Salt River chain of lakes.

The cold front, wind and rain definitely have had an impact on recent fishing conditions. Anglers willing to brave the elements reported fair to slow fishing conditions. Experienced anglers know that we are just weeks away from pre-spawn activities and as the calmer and warmer weather returns, fishing results are expected to improve. The overnight low temperatures at the lake are still in the mid to low 30’s which is preventing the lake water temperature to increase. As the days get longer allowing the sun to shine on the water for longer periods, the water temperature will begin to increase. All cold-blooded fish species are aware of even subtle changes in length of days, water temperatures, etc. and inherently know when its time to being the spawning cycle. Angler reports reflect success using baits such as casting spoons, jigs, Texas-rigged worms and crawdads. Roboworms using a drop-shot technique has also been reported successful.

Crappie reports were called sporadic on Roosevelt Lake by local crappie anglers. Many crappie anglers are trolling a small curly tailed grub, while others are utilizing a vertical fishing technique. Crappie schools are being reported in 35-45 foot depths. The morning bite continues to be better than the afternoon for most anglers. Hot-spots recently reported are Windy Hill and Salome Cove.

 

APACHE LAKE – Lake elevation is 1,909 feet (95-percent full).

An angler recently caught a 14-inch yellow bass (pictured).

The ticket is jigging spoons deep for bass. This is an excellent winter tactic here and at Saguaro Lake, especially for yellow bass. Schools typically have been in 30-50 feet of water and this cold, windy weather should keep them drive them even deeper.  Also for yellow bass, try using dropshot rigs with nightcrawlers and slip bobbers to put the bait at a certain depth.

The lake is scheduled to be stocked next week. Fishing has been somewhat slow during the past few weeks for bass as water levels had increased.

 

CANYON LAKE – Lake level is 1,657 feet (95-percent full.)

Scooter Griffith of The Arizona Fishing Guides reported Jan. 23: “Canyon has slowed up a little bit due to the cold front but we are still able to catch them on small ring tail swimbaits from Arizona custom baits on a 1/4-ounce jighead, along with Senkos on the steep walls for those real lethargic fish that don’t know if they want to be deep or shallow.

Also, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has been working with the Tonto National Forest on maintaining the pavement in and around the Palo Verde boat ramp. This will involve milling, crack-sealing, re-paving, seal-coating, etc. as necessary, and is scheduled for March 1 -17. The entire area from the main highway down will be closed to the public during that time, and signs will transfer public traffic to the Laguna boat ramp down the road. Funding for the project comes from both Tonto Pass user fees, and a federal Boating Access grant awarded to Arizona Game and Fish. Both types of funds originate from boaters and anglers, and are now being reinvested back into this boating facility.

A fishing pier is now open to the public at the Boulder recreation site of Canyon Lake. Trout were stocked last week in this area.

Located in the Tonto National Forest’s Canyon Lake, the Boulder recreation site is 15 miles northeast of Apache Junction on State Route 88.

The pier is the culmination of a joint effort between the U.S. Forest Service, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Canyon Lake Marina to remove the original, 20-plus-year-old pier damaged by storms during the summer of 2015 and replace it with a modern pier.

BARTLETT LAKE – Lake elevation is 1,759 feet, feet, 51 % full.

Water temperature has been in the low- to mid-50s and the lake level has dropped about 3 feet during the past week.

Gary Senft, Arizona’s Bass Pro, fished the lake Tuesday and said that the morning bite for largemouth bass has been difficult but as the day progressed and the water temperature warmed, the bite picked up. Fish moved into as close as 5 feet of water. As the water dropped a couple inches during the day, burrowing crawdads that were exposed would move back into water, where bass would be waiting. Best artificial baits were Texas rigged, and Carolina rigged brush hogs, and dropshot-rigged Roboworms. The crankbait and spinnnerbait bite turned on more during the afternoon  as well. Crappie anglers have been fairing pretty well too.

Scooter Griffith of The Arizona Fishing Guides  reported Jan. 23: “Bartlett is another good lake to catch plenty of numbers: You can catch these fish shallow on my Livingston lure crankbait and jerkbaits or catch them deep with a dropshot or a jig. The best drop shot bait we have used is a slim shot by Arizona Custom Baits and scooter special.

 

Don’t forget the Bartlett Lake Marina is now open. See www.bartlettlake.com or contact 480-221-0503 for more information.

Note: The Arizona Catfish Conservation Association, a 501c3 non-profit club based in Arizona, is asking anyone who catches a tagged flathead or channel catfish at Lake Pleasant or Bartlett Lake to note the number of the tag, along with any other information such as weight, length or girth, GPS coordinates (if available) and then visit www.catfishaz.com.

LAKE PLEASANT – (Lake elevation 1,686.45 feet, 82 % full).

Water temperature have been topping out around 59 degrees by late afternoons. Despite the recent “cold” front, largemouth bass are in a pre-spawn mode before the March 1 full moon. John New from the Hook Up Outfitters said Feb. 15 that for largemouth bass, fishing during the afternoons has been the best bet. If you look for birds, you’ll find the bait. Go-to baits he recommends are jerkbaits, particularly a clear Ito Vision 110. Ricos have been good during the late evenings and anglers are still having success throwing Whopper Ploppers. For anglers who don’t throw hard jerkbaits, try soft plastic flukes. Vertically jigging spoons also has been productive in 20-35 feet of water.

For striped bass, many anglers are having success in 30-35 feet of water in northern coves on anchovies and spoons. During late afternoons when striper have been corralling shad in shallow water, try throwing those jerkbaits.

Jan. 26 Angler Report:

I fished Pleasant on Tuesday the 23, and did decent on stripers with flies. I was graphing fish anywhere from 20-30ft down off ledges, humps, and islands in the northern coves. I was using a 5wt fly rod, and a type 6 line. Flies didn’t matter too much. Key was getting to the fish. Retrieve was quick with pauses in between. Other boats around me weren’t catching anything. Fish are scattered and constantly moving, so do not hesitate moving to keep up with the incredibly small schools.

Scooter Griffith of The Arizona Fishing Guides reported Jan. 23: “Pleasant is doing very well with stripers and largemouth. We have been catching them in 2 to 4 feet on a ChatterBait using an AFG Force trailer by Arizona Custom Baits. You can also catch them deep in 30 to 50 ft on 3/4 to 1 oz spoons. Look for the birds to catch them shallow and watch your graph to catch them deep.”

Fishing can be good if you can find some active stripers, white bass or largemouth bass. Hit the northern coves such as Castle Creek, Coles or Humbug and remember the closure for nesting bald eagles is in effect in the Agua Fria arm. Fish period of warmer weather. Alabama rigs are another good option during the winter. Don’t forget that a portion of the Agua Fria arm of the lake is closed for nesting bald eagles. The closure is marked with buoys.

COMMUNITY FISHING WATERS — Community trout fishing has good with recent rainfall. Reports are rainbow trout are biting right off the stocking trucks.  See the latest Community fishing news.

A surprise stocking into Community Fishing Program waters took place about 10 days ago. We stocked some big largemouth bass weighing between 2-4 pounds into select Community waters in Phoenix and Tucson.

We didn’t announce the stocking in hopes there would be less fishing pressure and the largemouth would have a successful spawn this spring.  Largemouth bass already were present in waters that were stocked; this was a supplemental stocking to the natural populations.

Stocking bass is expensive and so is not done often. Anglers can help maintain bass fishing in Community waters by practicing catch-and-release, but if you choose to harvest, remember there are minimum length limits of 13 inches (smaller bass must be released unharmed) and bag limits of either 2 or 1 bass, depending on the water. Water Ranch in Gilbert is catch-and-release only (single barbless hooks).

A reminder to anglers to keep fishing Community waters because you never know what’s going to bite. This time of the year, Community waters can provide some of the best trout fishing in the state.

Also,  check out the stocking schedule of which waters are getting trout.

 

HORSESHOE LAKE – Lake elevation is 1,976 feet (13-percent full).

When the lake is full, there are a lot of spawning fish. No new reports.

LOWER SALT RIVER – A couple anglers on Tuesday afternoon had luck catching suckers on chartreuse woolly buggers fished under a strike indicator in the Blue Point Recreation Area (which is not being stocked with trout during the winter).  Thursday afternoon, there were releases of 8 cfs out of Stewart Mountain and 491 cfs out of Bartlett Lake. Try Phon D. Sutton or Granite Reef, which are being stocked with rainbow trout and were stocked this week. On sunny days, gold and silver-colored spinner lures tend to work best. Anglers can try fly fishing with copper johns, prince nymphs, and egg patterns can work well for sub-surface flies, and for dry fly anglers can try stimulators and elk hair caddis. If you are spin fishing try small Rooster Tails with a gold blade in the slower moving water.

You might be able to catch some bass or sunfish in the deeper holes.

Creeks below the Mogollon Rim

Jim Goughnour of Rim Country Custom Rods reported: “… the trout streams throughout Rim Country are running crystal clear. Experienced anglers enjoy the challenge of catching wild trout during the winter months. Wild trout survive because they are wary and are always alert for approaching danger. Even the shadow from an angler on a bright day will send wild trout to the safety of cover. Anglers talk about “stalking” the trout and developing the skills to land that nymph fly upstream in hopes of aggressive strike from an unsuspecting wild Arizona trout.”

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Mogollon Rim and White Mountains

(Updated Feb. 14; Editor Mike Lopez, 928-532-3692)

 

Recommended Waters to Fish

Due to abnormally warm winter conditions, the ice has melted off a number of lakes earlier than usual.  These include Luna Lake, Hulsey Lake, Willow Springs Lake, Black Canyon Lake, and the Greer Lakes.  All lakes at lower elevation than these are also ice free.

MOGOLLON RIM LAKES

BEAR CANYON LAKE – Roads are open but are likely muddy with some snow remaining.  May have some ice cover on the lake.

BLACK CANYON LAKE – Fishing is fair.  Roads are open and the lake is entirely ice free. The lake level is 8.5 feet below spill and the new boat ramp is fully functional.

CHEVELON LAKE – Fishing is fair for rainbows and wild brown trout.  Roads are open and the lake is ice free.  The lake level is still down about 6 feet. Chevelon Lake is a hike-in lake with a two trout limit and artificial fly/lure only regulations.

WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE – Fishing is fair for rainbow trout and tiger trout.  Roads are open and the lake is ice free.

WOODS CANYON LAKE – The Rim Road (FR 300) is open, but FR 105 to the lake is closed at the Crooke Trail. It’s a 1.3 mile hike to the lake from the closed gate.  There may be some ice cover.

 

PINETOP/SHOW LOW LAKES

FOOL HOLLOW LAKE – Fishing is fair.  The lake is ice free.

RAINBOW LAKE – Fishing is poor.  The lake is ice free. The lake level is down about 3 feet and filling slowly.

SCOTT RESERVOIR – Fishing is poor. The lake is ice free, but the lake level is extremely low and turbid due to irrigation releases. Can’t launch boats from the boat ramp.

SHOW LOW LAKE – Fishing is fair for holdover rainbow trout.  The lake is ice free.

WOODLAND LAKE – Fishing is poor.  The lake is ice free, but also low and weedy.

PATTERSON PONDS – Fishing is fair for trout. Rainbow trout were last stocked in early December in the upper pond.  A regular fishing license or a community fishing license is required to fish here.  The pond daily bag limits in community fishing waters (2 trout; 2 catfish; 5 sunfish) apply.

 

WHITE MOUNTAIN LAKES 

BECKER LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. The lake is ice free. Becker Lake is open to catch-and-release only for trout, artificial fly and lure only; single barbless hooks only. No bait. No trout may be kept.

BIG LAKE – The lake is ice covered with thin ice. Highways 273 and 261 are closed for the winter.

CARNERO LAKE – Roads are open but the lake is ice covered with thin ice.

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR – Fishing is poor for trout, but fair for sunfish and bullheads.

CONCHO LAKE – Fishing is poor.  The lake is ice free.

CRESCENT LAKE – The lake is ice covered with thin ice.  Highways 273 and 261 are closed for the winter.

GREER LAKES (River; Tunnel; Bunch) – Bunch Reservoir is full, while Tunnel and River are still filling slowly. All three lakes are ice free.

HULSEY LAKE – The road is open and the lake is free of ice.

LEE VALLEY LAKE – The lake is ice covered with thin ice.  Highways 273 and 261 are closed for the winter.

LUNA LAKE – Fishing is good.  The lake ice free and anglers are catching lots of rainbows and cutthroats. A 4-pound, 19-inch trout was recently caught.

LYMAN LAKE – Lyman Lake State Park is open. Fishing is fair for carp and catfish. Use corn or night crawlers for carp and chicken liver for catfish.

NELSON RESERVOIR – Fishing is fair for holdover rainbows. The lake is full and ice free.

 

WHITE MOUNTAIN STREAMS

EAST FORK of the BLACK RIVER – Fishing is fair to poor. Roads from Alpine are still open.

LITTLE COLORADO RIVER in GREER – Fishing is fair to poor.

SHOW LOW CREEK TAILWATER – Fishing is poor.

SHOW LOW CREEK MEADOWS (COMMUNITY FISHING WATER) – Fishing is fair at this new Community Fishing Water located at the Show Low Bluff trailhead in Show Low.  The stream is ice free and anglers are still catching a few trout that were stocked in early December. Bait can be used, but daily bag limits are 2 trout, 2 catfish, 1 bass (minimum size 13”) and 5 sunfish.

SILVER CREEK – Fishing is good.  Seasonal Catch-and-Release regulations (with artificial lure and fly only with single barbless hooks) are in effect and will continue through March 31.  All trout must be released immediately and please use proper catch-and-release techniques to ensure the trout survive after swimming away.  The upper section is now open.

SHEEPS CROSSING/West Fork LCR – Highway 273 is closed for the winter.

 

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Central Mountains

Angler Reports:

(New reports; Editor Chuck Benedict, 928-214-1244)

(These are recommended fishing waters. Those not listed either are considered poor or there have been no reports. Send your reports to BFishing@azgfd.gov.)

Trout stockings resume in March. Lakes are completely or mostly frozen. We consider all ice unsafe.

See more fishing spots

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Colorado River/Prescott area Waters

Editor Gregg Cummins, 928-263-8868

(These are recommended fishing waters. Those not listed either are considered poor or there have been no reports.)

Been fishing? Please sense your reports to BFishing@AZGFD.gov.)

Angler Reports:

Dead Horse lagoons

Feb. 8. Awesome Day Of Fishing At Dead Horse Ranch Lagoons!  In 6 hours, I caught & released 91 Rainbow Trout, 2 Sunfish and 1 beautiful 14″ Black Crappie which really made my day…  Most fish caught on split-tail grubs.  My friend ‘Pistol Pete’ caught & release 40 Rainbow Trout.  Weather Conditions: Sunny, clear & with some light breezes.  Water Conditions: From slightly stained to heavily stained.

See more lake-specific information

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Lake Powell and Lees Ferry

LAKE POWELL —

“Warming and moving”

Warm weather makes it seem like Spring is upon us. Yesterday the water temperature was 50F when we started and over 53 degrees on the return trip. Air temperature was in the mid 60s. Surprisingly stripers responded unexpectedly to that warming.

See the details in the full Jan. 18 report from Wayne Gustaveson (www.wayneswords.com).

LEES FERRY – AZGFD plans to stock rainbow trout this spring into the lower 3 mile walk-in section of Lees Ferry.

A public meeting on the proposed stocking and the current status of the Lees Ferry fishery will be held 5-7 p.m. on Monday, March 5, at the old lodge across from Marble Canyon Lodge on U.S. Hwy 89 A in Marble Canyon.

Read more.

 

Angler Report

John U. Caught this 21-inch rainbow trout drifting flies.

 

Latest report from Lees Ferry Anglers:

As 2017 comes to an end and we welcome in a New Year, I would like to discuss where the Lees Ferry fishery has been in the past few years … and where it’s headed.

In the fall of 2013, there was a decline in the trout population due to much lower- than-normal water flows and warmer-than-normal water temperatures from Glen Canyon Dam. The lower water flows were part of the Experimental High Flow Event and the warmer water was a result of Lake Powell water levels being low due to drought. This was the first fishery decline that we had seen since 2007 and the fifth decline witnessed in my 35 years here at Lees Ferry.

The good news is every time we have seen a decline in the fish population, Lees Ferry is back in a boom phase within 3 to 4 years and that’s where we are today.

See the full report.

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Southwestern Waters

Send your reports to BFishing@azgfd.gov.

New reports:

ALAMO LAKE – (Elevation 1,1110.29 feet – 1,101.83 this time last year.)

Angler Report (Feb. 1):

Dick K.: My wife’ cousin, John Pierce from Central Point, Oregon, was a first time visitor to Arizona, I introduced him to crappie fishing at Alamo Lake on Jan 28 and 29 We boated 34 fish that averaged 2 pounds each: John caught the largest fish that was a whopping 2 pounds, 12 ounces. All fish were were caught trolling small crankbaits behind Off Shore side planers over 15-20 feet of water.

Jan. 10 public notice from the U.S. Army Cops of Engineers:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District (Corps) announces availability of the draft Environmental Assessment for the Alamo Dam Flushing Flow Release. The Corps proposes to release water from Alamo Dam outside of the normal non-flood release schedule in order to facilitate required maintenance activities. The proposed flushing flow release would occur as a flood pulse hydrograph designed to mimic a typical rain event in the downstream watershed released with appropriate seasonal timing. While the exact details of the release are subject to variation based on conditions at the time of release, such as water surface elevation and weather, the release will conform to the following general parameters:

1) Maximum release will not exceed 5,000 cfs. 2) Total release time, including ascending and descending limbs, would not exceed 20 days. 3) Ascending limb of the hydrograph will be moderate. 4) Descending limb of the hydrograph will initially drop steeply, followed by a gradual return to base flow. 5) The peak of the hydrograph will be completed prior to March 15th.

See the full notice.

 

Read more about how reservoir filling seems to have rejuvinated this fishery.

LAKE HAVASU — Lake Level 445.72

Feb. 15 report: Smallmouth and largemouth bass tend to spawn earlier at western impoundments such as Lake Havasu than the rest of the state because these solunar bowls warm up quick and early. An unseasonably warm winter nearly made for some early pre-spawning bass but recent rainy, windy weather has prevented many bass from moving in shallow to stick around and build spawning beds. Look for the full moon on March 1 to produce a big wave of pre-spawners, especially for smallmouth bass.

John Galbraith of BassTackleMaster.com reported the average daytime water temp has been running around 54-58 degrees. The daytime striper bite is good for 2-pound class fish using cut anchovies. Those wanting to get “bit” by the bigger stripers must fish during twilight or dark hours. Vast majority of stripers have been coming from the mouth of the river south to Black Rock Cove. Best artificial baits this week have been green-tailed Bass Assassins and 3/4 or 1-ounce White Rat-L-Traps.

Look for evenings or mornings with foul weather windy conditions as the larger stripers will usually  be “on the bite” during this time. Artificial scent is important during tough fishing times as the stripers and bass need a little extra incentive to draw an aggressive strike.

Smallmouth bass bite has been fair to good during late morning through afternoon hours. Try using 8-15 foot diving crankbaits, deadsticking dropshotted Roboworms, Lv500/Rat-L-Trap style lipless cranks cast around primary and secondary points where schooling smallies move up to chase shad or feed on crawdads.

It’s a cover water game as smallies move frequently and you may have to cover several miles of shoreline to find them. We have a great population of smallmouth so don’t give up.

 

PARKER STRIP – This may be the as good a bass fishing spot as anywhere. Our survey was unbelievable this year because we averaged around 80 bass/ 15 minute electrofishing site.  Though most were very small young-of-year and “age 1” fish, we did get a ton of 2- to 4-pound largemouth and smallmouth bass.  We also got a decent number of redear sunfish in our surveys — 17 percent of them were over 11 inches long with the biggest being over 3 pounds.  While a world record is now likely to be in the Parker Strip, the average size is really good and is probably very competitive with Havasu.

YUMA AREA PONDS – Trout stockings returned Nov. 16! See the stocking schedule.

COLORADO RIVER (between Picacho State Park and Imperial Dam, including backwaters and Martinez Lake) –

Our Region 4 IV Fisheries Program conducted an annual electrofishing survey of the backwaters of the Imperial Division of the Colorado River on Nov. 14-16.  These annual surveys are performed to gather data on relative abundance, size, growth of fish, and to detect any large scale changes in the fish population.   A total of 2,323 fish were sampled at 16 survey stations including 242 largemouth bass.   Other species collected included bluegill sunfish, redear sunfish, black crappie, warmouth sunfish, threadfin shad, gizzard shad, blue tilapia, common carp, striped bass, flathead catfish, and channel catfish.  All of the fish were collected, weighed, measured, and released unharmed.

The largemouth bass population in the Imperial Division backwaters appears to be stable and doing well!  The largest bass sampled during the survey was 23.4 inches and 8.2 pounds.

Over 24 percent of the largemouth bass captured during the survey were 15 inches or larger, so there should be plenty of large fish to catch!  We also sampled a large number of young of year largemouth bass for the second year in a row, which may point to a bright future for the bass population of the backwaters of the Imperial Division of the Colorado River. Overall, based on the result of this survey, the Imperial Division of the Colorado River should continue to provide good fishing anglers have experienced the last several years.

 

MARTINEZ LAKE — No report.

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Southern Waters

(These are recommended fishing waters. Those not listed either are considered poor or there have been no reports. Send your reports to BFishing@azgfd.gov. Please send your fishing reports from Southern Arizona to bfishing@azgfd.gov.)

Angler Report (Jan. 28):

Lakeside Lake (Tucson)

 

Shariful I.:  I caught a carp, weight 11 pounds, from Lakeside Park, in Tucson last Thursday, Jan. 25.

Pena Blanca Lake

Recent water quality surveys at Pena Blanca Lake show that conditions have improved and the Department will begin stocking rainbow trout again this week.  The next scheduled delivery will be Wednesday, Jan. 24.

Angler Report (Jan. 3):

Parker Canyon Lake

I decided to go to the other side of the back cove (to the left of the marina). There we SO MANY trout. I threw a spinner and caught one on my first cast. As my friend comes back to find me across the lake, he sees that I caught a fish. He grabs all the stuff and runs over to me as I catch, yet another, trout. It was beyond belief. I had worked for 5 hours to catch a fish. In the matter of three minutes (of course in the last 10 minutes I had there), I caught two fish.

 

See more lake-specific information