Before launching into fishing tips, here is a quick reminder that we do have a Fishing Blog at http://www.azgfd.net/fish/ where you can find the fishing report and all the other related fishing information we have on our Web site.

One reason I bring this up is two recent angler complaints that there is too much information now on the weekly fishing report and they are having trouble finding the information they want. The BLOG has everything broken up into smaller, bite-size pieces.

As long as we are on the subject, I am amazed at the quality of the digital fishing pictures coming in. I hope all of you are enjoying them. Please send yours (raikens@azgfd.gov), along with some basic information on what was caught, how and by whom – if it is a youngster, please include the age. Great stuff.

Okay, on to fishing. I made a quick photo and gab tour of anglers at some of the Rim Lakes. Woods Canyon was superb as usual – don’t forget that it has lots and lots of crayfish to catch as well. Willow Springs was also pretty good, although not as many limits as Woods. Bear Canyon was superb for those in float tubes, and fun to fish (but not as productive) for shore anglers – but it is visually spectacular.

Five anglers I talked to, including two Game and Fish biologists, didn’t have as much luck as usual at Chevelon Canyon this week, but mid week, it was a little windy.

Two anglers I ran into who were fishing their way back to reality and their jobs in Phoenix said that by far, Big Lake was the best producer of the largest fish, and the most variety – rainbows, cutthroats and brookies, and they were delighted with the golden-colored native Apache trout they caught along the East Fork of the Black River. Their total was 72 trout, mostly caught-and-released (many eaten) of five species in seven days of therapeutic fishing. Not a bad way to spend a vacation!

The one constant seemed to be the wind. Anglers (me included) have had enough wind. Ironically, most of us seem to find out that there is often a pretty good bite going on when it’s breezy. Wind might make fishing tougher, but catching better. As my oldest boy Jason would say, it is what it is.

Right now, it is also bluegill time. Get the kids, bobbers, worms and smiles. Backs of coves are usually best, especially if it is rocky or you can find submerged boulder piles. Saguaro seems to be king of the bluegills, but gills are everywhere.

A few weeks ago, I talked about strawberry salsa for fish tacos with bluegill. Those who tried it said their kids were delighted. I cheat and don’t make it from fresh – I cut up fresh strawberries and add them to my store bought Picante sauce. 

This is also the time for HUGE cats. Some really nice channels are being caught, along with some monster flatheads. In fact, our biologists along the Colorado River doing a survey came up with an 89.38-pound behemoth that was 51.73 inches long from the Imperial Division  It looks big enough to swallow Yuma whole. 

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

Fishing News

Unlicensed anglers:
Scheduling error in your favor, get 2 free fishing days
PHOENIX – Unlicensed anglers in Arizona are getting an unexpected late spring windfall – you can fish state waters without a valid fishing license on both June 7 and June 14 this year, said Arizona Game and Fish Department officials.

“Since there has been some confusion on the ‘real’ free fishing day – June 7 or June 14 – we decided that the only fair decision is to allow anglers to fish state waters on either of those Saturdays without a valid Arizona fishing license,” said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young.

Here’s the story.

Eight years ago, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) took National Fishing Week in early June, (which was a seven-day event) and created National Fishing and Boating Week, which is typically a 10-day event that includes two Saturdays. Each year, Arizona would set the second Saturday in June as free fishing day.

That is why the current fishing regulations for Arizona, which cover a two-year period, says free fishing day for 2008 is June 14.

However, RBFF scheduled the 2008 National Fishing and Boating Week for June 1-8, which is only eight days and one Saturday – June 7.

That created some confusion, even within the Arizona Game and Fish Department itself. Some free fishing day events were set up for June 7, while others were scheduled for June 14 as it says in the regulations. For a list of the fishing clinics, visit www.azgfd.gov/fishing and click on the link for free fishing day events.

“On the bright side, this is the perfect year to have two free fishing days,” Young said.

He explained that thanks to exceptional snow pack and runoff, most of our lakes are full of water. “This is an exceptional fishing year. Free fishing day gives you the chance to get out there and sample it, twice if you like, then maybe you’ll consider joining our growing cadre of licensed anglers,” Young said.

Arizona’s free fishing day covers all state waters, including Urban Program Lakes, and along the Arizona shoreline of the Colorado River. The state free fishing day does not extend to tribal waters.

By the way, for 2009 the National Fishing and Boating Week will revert to 10 days and two Saturdays again, (June 6-14, 2009).

Central Arizona

URBAN LAKES -- Spring catfish stockings will end soon. There are two more scheduled this spring. Stockings will take place the weeks of June 9-14 and June 23-28.

Fishing for catfish continues to be good to excellent the week of stocking. Anglers are having luck using stink baits or shrimp fished on the bottom. Sunfish continue to bite well on small worms fished under a bobber. The cool weather is keeping lake temperatures low allowing fish to be active throughout the day.

At Green Valley lakes (Payson) fishing is slowing down for trout, but anglers are still getting bites using worms or PowerBait.  Bluegill, crappie and bass are still biting well on small jigs and worms fished under a bobber at Green Valley.

Where:Red Mountain Lake
When:06/01/08
Caught:2 catfish
Technique:fished bottom with hotdogs
Comments:I saw 2 guys pull out 5 catfish in less than 2 hours and the cats I caught were around 4lbs. The fish were biting like crazy I got hundreds of bites!
Name:Sergio Rodriguez

Where:chapperel
When:05/31/08
Caught:3 channel catfish
Technique:night crawlers
Comments:heck of a fight but stock bigger ones
Name:joe curtis

Where:Rio Vista
When:05/30/08
Caught:2 catfish
Technique:#10 hook on a bobber and used shrimp
Name:Anthony Garcia

Where:Cortez ParkWhen:
05/30/08
Caught:CatFish, Small Bass
Technique:Shrimp, Hotdogs and Minnows
Comments:Very nice morning fishing. Lots of bites, mostly smaller, but did catch 3 nice sized Cats. 2 smaller Bass....looked like small mouth, but was ot sure. I catch and release..... PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELVE'S, NOTICED MANY FISHERMEN LEAVING MESS BEHIND. LETS SHOW PEOPLE WE CARE....
Name:Gary

Where: Alvord Lake
When: 05/19/08
Caught:3 catfish one was 6lbs.
Technique :i used stink bait
Comments: one broke my line before i could get him out of the water. i caught the biggest ones there that evening. :)
Name: debbie ohl

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

Worms are enticing the catfish to bite. Another fisherman stopped by in the evening for a half hour and caught two bass fishing from shore using a green spinner bait.
One angler stopped by Tempe Town Lake for an hour one morning and using corn on the bottom caught a rainbow trout and a channel catfish. 
Angler report:
An angler caught a nice bass in a couple hours from shore on a very windy day last week.  He used a chatterbait with a white skirt.

Where: Tempe Town Lake
When:05/17/08
Caught: Bass and Bluegills
Technique: I was using all sorts of methods for the bass but in the end all I needed was a worm that was suspended about 5' from a bobber.
Comments: I decided to leave my home of Flagstaff for the weekend and head down south. It was my first time fishing in the lake. I had a blast. I got to the lake at around 7 in the morning and started catching fish. I caught 7 seven bass all of which were post spawned and were over 16". I released them so that some other fisherman could have as much fun as I did. I used the same technique to catch the bluegills. I released all of those as they were too small to keep.
Name: Walter Sprengeler, Jr.

Where: Tempe town lake
When:03/12/08
Caught: Largemouth bass
Technique: slow rolling 4 inch worms
Comments: red hot if you know the lake
Name: ron varney
Where: Tempe Town Lake
When: 04/24/08
Caught: 2 Trout, 3 bass, and a catfish
Technique: Rooster Tails, the Banjo mino, and some worms under a bobber about 8 ft from bait
Name: austin kahn

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

LAKE PLEASANT – Water elevation is 1,692 ft, which is 89-percent full.
Good bass fishing if your using drop shots and Carolina-rigged plastic worms. 

The striper bite seems to be off a bit right now for the night fishermen; keep trying. 

A couple anglers had luck with the stripers trolling minnows between 12 and 35 feet of water.  They fished in the morning.

Important notice: DON’T MOVE A MUSSEL. With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Lake Pleasant, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders (helps protect your boat as well). Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.
Angler reports:

Hi Rory,
We'll, my dad and I went out fishing last Monday (Memorial Day) at Lake Pleasant and boy was it a swell time.  Dad almost landed a 7-pound largemouth bass, which was really big but got off right next to the boat....  We'll, this flat - head catfish below weighted exaclty 18.5lbs... biggest freshwater fish I have ever caught in my entire life!  Took about 45 minutes to real in.  It was taken out of Lake Pleasant up near the northern end of lake in between Castle Creek and Kolls Cove using an anchovie on 6lb test line with an 8lb test tippet.  Would have never got him in with a 6lb tippet.  Almost seems unreal huh?

I love fishing and have been going my entire life. Would love to someday have a fishing guide service for people and please let me know if there is anything I can do for Game and Fish since I have always read these reports and long for the day my ade/pic gets into the Game and Fish report.  Sure felt like a famous rockstar when I caught this guy, it was an unbelievable feeling and fun fight!  Best day on Lake Pleasant ever!
 
Aaron.

Where:Lake Pleasant - Humbug, Coles, and Castle Creek
When:05/31/08
Caught:Nothing
Technique:Senkos, Drop Shot, Minnows, and Spinnerbaits.
Comments:Fished from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and nothing worked... I didn't see anyone else producing either. Time to start saving cash and driving north for some bow fishing.
Name:D.N.

Where:Lake Pleasant
When:06/02/08
Caught:Stripers, white bass
Technique:Anchovies
Comments:We tied up to the tire line at dark. We were sitting over 60 feet of water and fishing the anchovies from the bottom to about 35 feet down. We ended up getting 5 stripers and 1 white bass averaging about 2 pounds a piece. We were marking fish in 40 feet of water all night long. Water temp 73 degrees.
Name:Frank VanLuvanee

Where: Lake Pleasant - Humbug
When:05/17/08
Caught:10 Largemouth Bass and 2 small Crappies
Technique: Drop Shot, Senko (trick & sticking), and Small Yellow and Black Jig.
Comments: Caught the Crappie around 5 a.m. and bass from 9 a.m. up until I was off the water at noon. Usually I come to pleasant and get 1-2 fish per visit, nice to see a change! All Bass and crappie were released.
Name: D.N.

Where: Lake Pleasant - Humbug
When:05/24/08
Caught:11 Largemouth Bass, 3 White Bass (all were slot--released all fish)
Technique: Drop Shot (Morning Dawn & Crawfish) also 5" Senko's worked in deep cover the colors that worked for me where Watermelon and Chartreuse Shad. I also managed to land a decent sized bass off a white spinner bait.
Comments: All I have to say is that it was a great day to put the boat on the water. We won't see another day like this until next fall.
Name:D.N.

Where: lake pleasant
When:05/27/07
Caught: A good Samaritan (and a bunch of others who weren’t)
Technique: "boat dead in the water technique"
Comments: I had just purchased a new Triton bass boat first day on the water and to top it off this is my first boat. Well to make short story of this our boat was dead in the water with the ignition key not turning at all no matter what we did. I tried to flag down 6 boaters and they just looked at me like I was some kind of virus , one guy even looked at us and said " what do you want ?" shook his head and continued on his merry way! Finally some very nice people from Salt Lake city came to help us. One of the gentleman of the boat hopped on ours and tried to get her going and finally did. Thank god for those wonderful people. I thought every boater was suppose to help out one another in cases of emergency such as this ? Well I'll tell ya what I hope those same boaters who turned their nose at us don't ever get into a jam such as ours and be left feeling as though no one gave a hoot about a family of five including two kids under 10. Thanks to those from salt lake city we really appreciated the help.
Name:mike moreno

Where: Lake Pleasant
When:05/03/08
Caught:5 stripped bass
Technique: Anchovy with small split shot in 30 feet of water along submerged ridge
Comments: My son and I fished from kayaks from 8PM to 1130Pm using lights
Name: John W

Where: Lake Pleasant-Humbug
When:05/09/08
Caught: Striped Bass
Technique: Anchovies in 60ft of water.
Comments: Started fishing around 9pm, had out the lights around 11pm, we were surrounded by shad just circling the boat. We only caught a few 1-2 pounders and 3 small ones. Fished until 5am. Guess they were just not too hungry. I thought we would have caught more for sure with al the baitfish around.
Name: Jeff

Where: Lake Pleasant
When:05/16/08
Caught:13 - Strippers (1.5Ibs to 7 Ibs), and 2- Channel cats (1st 7Ibs, 2nd 5Ibs)
Technique: For the strippers I just used cut up anchovies dropped between 25 to 35 feet down in two cow cove. For the channels I used chicken livers, and let them drift on the bottom.
Comments: The stripper bite was hot for the first hour to hour and a half after the sun set. shortly after that I couldn't find a heavy school again. As for the channels we only got a few bites the whole night.
Name: Casey Harkey
Where: Lake Pleasant
When:05/11/08
Caught: largemouth
Technique: drop shotting w/ morning dawn Robo wormsComments:
started fishing at 5 pm by 7 pm we boated 8 bass. All fish were caught in 10ft off main lake points.
Name: Jon Kay

 
ROOSEVELT LAKE – Lake Elevation is 2,149 ft (98percent full).  Tonto Creek runoff is at 27 cfs while inflow from the Salt River is at 632 cfs.

Game and Fish had Camp Carp at Roosevelt and many anglers enjoyed the excitement of catching carp.   We used corn and dough bait and both baits worked well.  You can catch Mr. Hoselips from shore or anchor near the shoreline where you can see them milling around. For shore fishing, just find an area where you don’t have too many bushes and trees to snag your hooks – it’s a challenge this year I know.  A note to fly fishermen, they are really fun to catch on a fly rod. Channel catfish liked the dough bait as well.

For those of you who like to catch “real” fish.  Bass fishing is pretty good at the Salt River end of the lake.  Drop shot method is working well, but topwater action isn’t bad. Jerk baits and jigs are producing some fish as well.

Where:roosevelt
When:05/31/08
Caught:flat heads, channels, carp
Technique:worms
Comments:Worns were the only thing they would take; we tried bluegill, baby carp stink bait, and no hits. We caught 30 channels, 5 flats and 2 big carp. We saw a lot of dead flat heads. I think people are trying to catch them and not using the right tackle, and they lose their rig and the fish die.
Name:michael letcher

Where:Rosevelt
When:06/07/08
Caught:crappie,WHITES?????
Technique:lights and minnows
Comments:when did whites get into Rosevelt?
Name:Dave

Editor’s note: They fishing were probably yellow bass, kissing cousins to white bass.

Where:Roosevelt Lake
When:05/26/08
Caught:Largemouth Bass
Technique:Swimbaits 2 for 4 on(Money Minnow), 1 for 2 on War Eagle Spinnerbaits Baby Bass clr. 1 for 2 on Shad clr soft jerk baits caught 5 nice 13" to 15 1/2" slots. I missed 5 , 1 was 4lbs to 6lbs on MM thats fishing :). Fished 5:00am to 12:00pm nice MDAY :)
Comments:
Bite slowed a little :(
Name:Joel Illig

Where:Roosevelt
When:05/24/08
Caught:9 fat catfish
Technique:fished from the shore of a cove towards the back of the lake with shrimp and worms. Stuck the pole in the mud with a bell on the end, and partied till the bell rang.
Comments:
Camped in the cove all weekend, and every morning woke up to the sound of shad splashing in the water.
Name:Keith C.

Where: Roosevelt
When:05/15/08
Caught: Bass and crappie
Technique: Bass on Rebel Crawfish med diver, red & black in about 10 ft of water. Crappie on minnows anchored in 20 ft of water, fished 10, 12 foot down in the Grape Vine area. The bite was very soft so watch your line and jig slowly.
Comments: Lights brought in the zooplankton and minnows, and a LOT of carp which messed things up. Very windy in P.M. the day before, so no luck except one junior bass.
Name: TeddyJackEddy
 
Where: Roosevelt
When:05/16/08
Caught:10 large mouth bass
Technique: topwater morning and crankbaits afternoon no worm fish top water in the evening
Comments: most fish were in the slot weight in one close to three lbs/ water is high all normal spots way under water
Name: Glenn Peters

Where: Roosevelt Lake
When: 05/10/08
Caught:12 Largemouth
Technique:4" Zoom Fluke Shad Color, Storm Chug Bug, Heddon Zara Spook...
Comments: Most of the bass were caught in the early morning hrs. All bass caught were in the slot. Had lots of hits & misses through out the day. Bite turned off in the afternoon for us. Then @ dusk got on a fun topwater bite. Went 1 for 8 it was a blast; get out there if u can. Clear water backs of coves flooded bushes. Later
Name: Joel Illig

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

APACHE – Lake elevation is 1,910 ft (96 percent full).

Angler are catching fish but are being very tight-lipped about the details.  Apache has plentiful yellow bass.

Where:Apache Lake
When:05/25/08
Caught:Nothing
Technique:Tried night and early morning with drop shot, crank, jig spoon, cleos; No luck but it was beautiful.
Comments:Early reports of dead shad underestimated. Saw thousands of floating dead shad along the edge of lake north of 3 Mile Island.
Name:Paul Courtney

Where: Apache Lake
When: 05/20/08
Caught: Channel Catfish
Technique: Nightcrawlers and shrimp
Comments: Caught this cat off the concrete wallopposite the marina. Just dropped the line straight down from the wall and hauled in an eight pound channel cat. What a surprise!
Name: James & Eric Springer

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

CANYON -- Lake elevation is 1659 ft, which is 93-percent full.
Good fishing at Canyon if you use worms.  A couple fishermen fished in the morning using worms and they caught 30 “good sized” bluegills, 10 yellow bass, a couple small largemouth bass and three channel catfish. 
Angler reports:

Where:Canyon Lake
When:06/02/08
Caught:2 largemouth bass,1 crappie, and 1 smallie
Technique:Jigging 10-15 ft off shorelines using Westy Worms and shakies.
Comments:Hunter bros caught a 2 lb and 4.8 lb largemouths late night at Canyon when the monsters come out !!!
Name:Kevin Hunter

Where:canyon lake
When:05/25/08
Caught:3 largemouth bass 2.5lbs and 2-5lbs cats
Technique:caught everything on 6' motor oil colored worms. The bass were in 10-15 feet of water and bit very softly. The cats were in 15-20 feet of water and were very aggressive
Name:Jayman

Where: Canyon Lake
When: 05/04/08
Caught: Two 4 lb catfish
Technique: Jiggin with Westys and football Garlin jigs
Comments: Slow fishing only few bites in 6 hours fishing
Name: Kevin Hunter
 
SAGUARO -- Lake elevation 1526 feet at 95-percent full.

Saguaro -- Good bass action at Saguaro Lake using 4-inch plastic worms on Texas rigs.  Try a slow retrieve in shallow water around 4 feet or so.  The bass aren’t  real big but they are hitting regularly. 

Picture: Todd DeAngelis said this is Meredith's first day of fishing as an adult. She loved the fight on ultra-light gear and the constant action at Saguaro.

There are reports of an algae bloom at Saguaro over most of the lake (this report comes in the first week of June).  Only a few dead fish around the Snags.  It does not look to be a Golden Algae event, too few fish affected and too localized. 

Despite the algae bloom good fishing abounds. One group caught 73 fish from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and most were caught in the upper basin. They caught about 35 yellow bass half were between 8 and 9 inches, rest were small.  They also caught 20 largemouth and 8 were between 12 and 15 inches.  Fifteen bluegill were caught, seven of them were over 8 inches and lastly three channel catfish, one was five pounds and the other two were about 16 inches.  All the fish were fat and healthy. The bass were disgorging shad as they reeled them in.  Most the fish were caught on 1/8-ounce blue and silver KastMasters and all the fish were on shelves in pretty shallow water about 8-11 feet deep.    

This is a hot spot for large bluegill. Perfect for youngsters fishing worms under a bobber. There are also plentiful yellow bass, channel catfish galore, and plenty of yearling bass to catch.

Where:Saguaro Lake/fishing pier butcher jones
When:05/24/08
Caught:Largemouth and Bluegill
Technique:dropshot: morning dawn, w chartreuse tip and Texas-rigged worm 4 to 6" various colors
Comments: We caught 20 to 30 small bass size 10" to 14" and few bluegills on a KastMaster
Name: Jim Tanaka

Where: SAGUARO
When:05/19/08
Caught:6 large mouths and 1 channel cat
Technique: Drop shotting and spinner baits
Comments: the bass were all about 10-12 inches and the cat was about 2lbs.
Name: kevin

Where: Saguaro
When:05/18/08
Caught: nothing
Technique: drop shoting with Robo-worms
Comments: We were fishing in one of the fishing docks and we only saw someone that whole day catch only a decent size bluegill
Name: Sergio Rodriguez

Where: saguaro
When 05/14/08
Caught: bluegills
Technique: worms and spinners, drifting with the wind
Comments: fish kill noted by the dam across from the marina. Bluegills around 2 doz, all 4" or less in size.
Name: teri

Where: Saguaro Lake, Butcher Jones Fishing Dock
When:05/10/08
Caught: Yellow Bass and Bluegill
Technique: KastMasters, spoons, spinners
Comments: Went out fishing for catfish, got 2 halfhearted nibbles, so moved out to the dock and saw that another fisherman was using gold KastMasters and catching yellow bass and bluegills. Lost my gold KastMaster, they started hitting on the silver one. Lost the silver one and they just kept hitting whatever I threw out there. Kept 7 bass, caught and released over 20 all together.
Name: Kristin Purcell

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

Where: Saguaro
When: 04/27/08
Caught: Largemouth and Bluegill
Technique: Fished with worms, spinners and crankbaits.
Comments: My buddy Jason and I took our first fishing trip of the season to Saguaro. A little windy but we caught 22 fish total in 2 1/2 hours (2 bass and 20 bluegills). Fished with worms and spinner baits mostly. Bass weighed about 2 pounds each and the bluegills were the size of a nerf football (fought like a crappie or small bass). Great time and a start to a great season!
 
BARTLETT – Lake elevation is 1,793 ft, which is 93-percent full.
A couple anglers fished from early morning till early afternoon and caught 25 bass, none of which were huge.  All the fish were caught in shallow water less than 10 feet.  Crankbaits, jerk baits, chatterbaits, and Carolina-rigged power hawgs were all enticing the bite.  Drop shots worked as well with green Robo worms.  Fish were hitting in all kinds of structure and areas.
 
My favorite fishermen were on the lake.  The water temp was about 72oF early morning and reached 74oF by 11a.m.  Rebel deep Wee-R’s were good lures to use.  They caught nine bass before 5:30 a.m. and most were around 1.5 pounds with the biggest one about 3 pounds.  Carolina rigging with small beavers worked well a little later after the Rebels lost their allure.  They fished in relatively shallow water around 18 feet or so.   

Angler reports:

Jake wrote: We tried our luck with an overnight fishing trip to Bartlett.  Caught 20 bluegills, 5 catfish and one 3-pound bass.  Bass was caught with a spinnerbait.  Bluegills and cats were caught with worms and chicken liver.  Tried fishing for larger cats at night with live bluegill.  No luck with the big Cats, the rise in water level from last year changed things a bit.  We'll try to figure out the big Cats next trip. Overall a great time catching fish.

Where: Bartlett
When:05/22/08
Caught: Big Lip Bass LOL
Technique: Grubs, spinners, jigs, work the shoreline slowly
Comments: I caught 4 myself, and my two buddies I usually go with caught 7 each. The weather was ROUGH. 1 other boat on the lake, the waves got so bad we had to leave FAST
Name: John L Dowden

Where: Bartlett
When:05/17/08
Caught: catfish and bluegill
Technique: Hot dogs
Comments: bass very slow,,, looks like most suspended would not bite
Name: Jim
 
Where: Bartlett Lake
When:05/17/08
Caught:25 30 largemouth bass
Technique: We used a combination of drop shot and X-Raps.
Comments: We caught most of the smaller males within 10' of the bank and the larger females on the beds. The water was 70? with the debris all up on the shore. We were there from 6:00 to 1:30 in the northern end.
Name: Steve and Bev Mueller

Where: Bartlett Lake
When:04/28/08
Caught: Bluegill
Technique: Bobbin & hook, with night crawlers
Comments: Family outing; our 10-year-old son's first time; he caught 34 bluegills (catch & release) from the bank at SB Cove between 10 a.m.-5p.m.
Name: Jimmie McElroy

HORSESHOE – Lake elevation is at 2,015 feet, which is 75percent full.  They are releasing water at 900 cfs.

VERDE RIVER – Verde River flow at Tangle is 90 cubic feet per second.  Release from Bartlett Lake is 950 cfs.

SALT RIVER – Salt River into Roosevelt is 632 cfs, and Salt River Canyon is 599 cfs.  They are releasing 575 cfs out of Stewart Mountain dam from Saguaro. 

LOWER SALT RIVER (below Saguaro Lake) – Next trout stocking is scheduled for the week of June 9 and 23 at Blue Point Bridge and Water Users.  Don’t forget your Tonto Pass.

A good technique for spin anglers (ultra-light or lightweight rods) is to use night crawlers with little or no weight cast slightly upstream into the riffles. Let the current carry the bait downstream to any deep pool or back eddy.

For small spinners (or casting spoons like small KastMasters), cast perpendicular to the flowing current and maintain tension on the spinner by slowly reeling in as the current sweeps the lure downstream. Typically, once the spinner gets at least to a 45- to 60-degree angler downstream from you, it will spin with increased action, which can often cause a trout to hit.

Where:lower salt river
When:05/31/08
Caught:rainbow trout
Technique:fly rod...
Comments:Another beautiful day... water level down a bit from last week. Keep up the great work, it keeps my mind off " NOT " being drawn for big game.

Where: Lower Salt River - Water Users
When:05/24/08
Caught:11 Rainbow Trout
Technique: Fly Fishing - 7 on a beaded prince nymph, 1 on a red San Juan worms, 3 on a home made olive green fly similar to a scud.
Comments: Not much luck between 7-8:30 AM. Fish started biting around 8:30AM, and really took off at about 9 AM. Area started getting packed with tubers around 10 AM. All in all a good morning. - Eric Moody
Name: Eric Moody

Where Lower Salt River
When:05/26/08
Caught: rainbow trout
Technique: fly rod...
Comments: fish were biting on everything I threw. Literally. I even put on a piece of Styrofoam (just out of curiosity ) and caught fish. Cast upstream and let it float down. Many thanks to the 2 …who crowded my fishing hole. Then brought their 5 other buddies. You have said it before, PLEASE USE COMMON COURTESY. thank you

Where: Lower Salt River
When:05/18/08
Caught: Two large mouth bass (~1lb, 0.5lb), one beer can
Technique: Larger fish was caught on a Berkeley Gulp Bat Wing Frog (June-Bug color). Smaller fish on a floating Rapala minnow (gold fish color).
Comments: Best to go with weedless sets due to increase in aquatic vegetation over the last month. Best to avoid the major put-ins and walk the banks looking for openings.
Name: Dr. Corey Devin Anderson

CREEKS – Fly-fishing is picking up in the streams.

Haigler Creek – Nymphs and leaches are a good bet.

Canyon Creek –  Try nymph patterns, caddis, pheasant tails, hares ears and midges, mostly in the mornings and evenings.  Try dry fly action in the evening.

Christopher Creek -- Desert Sportsman suggests using a dry dropper with a nymph below, not just in Christopher but other streams as well.

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

Tonto Creek – Fly fishermen are reporting good fishing but I have no details to give.

East Verde – No reports.

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

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

COLORADO RIVER NORTHWEST
LAKE POWELL –
 
Where: Lake Powell
When:05/03/08
Caught: Walleye (one week, 5 boats, 137 Walleye)
Technique: Jigging/grubs and crawler harnesses, no spinner, just beads and a float.
Comments: Walleye seem to be in "post spawn" bite is very light. Catching Smallmouth, Crappie, and Bluegill all day long. Additional info in our newsletter at swwalleye.com or contact me and I will forward an e-mail copy to you.
Name: Deb Prestage/ Southwest Walleye Anglers

By Wayne Gustaveson  Lake Elevation: 3607  Water Temp: 64- 72 F
Rapidly rising lake levels dominate the fishing scene. It is now possible to launch at Hite primitive ramp which has been long awaited by anglers. Unfortunately, the same high flows that allowed the lake to cover the ramp have muddied the water and cooled the main channel, effectively slowing fishing to a standstill. I recommend waiting for curtailment of high runoff before heading to Hite to fish. Still, it is closer to get to the fishable waters of Good Hope Bay via Hite than from Bullfrog.

The lake has risen 3 feet in the last 3 days. That dramatic change renders gently sloping shoreline unusable as a visual reference when searching for spots that hold bass. Look for reefs in open water and fish the breaking edge from 15-25 feet deep for consistent bass action. Slick rock canyons that have many cliffs and few open flats are easier to fish successfully in these unsettled conditions. Fish the cracks and corners to find bass, crappie and walleye.

Another major event finds the rising lake covering brush that survived inundation last year. Water is now lapping at the base of the bush. As soon as the entire bush is covered largemouth bass will head to shallow water and the comfort of brushy shelter. Trees with leaves are unforgiving when most lures come even close by. Newly covered brush is hard to fish with anything but a surface lure, spinner bait or Texas rigged plastic bait.

Striped bass are still waiting for the spawn which will occur during the next warming period. It is not too late to catch a trophy fish as water temperature is still in the preferred comfort zone of all stripers. Big fish feed at night, so find one of the big schools of small stripers commonly found in most any bay or canyon. Fish near the large school at dusk and dawn with big crankbaits. Trophy fish will be shallow during this period so cast, troll or jig during the magic twilight feeding period. Stripers exceeding 30-pounds have been caught during each of the past 4 years. Time is now right for another big fish to show up.
Schools of 2-pound stripers are commonly caught in big numbers in Wahweap Bay, Buoy 3, Buoy 9, Padre Bay near Cookie Jar, Last Chance along points and rock slides extending out from main canyon, Jacks Arch and mouth of San Juan Arm, Lake Canyon, and mouth of Moki Canyon. There are thousands of other spots where striper schools are stationed awaiting the spawn.

Walleye fishing is at its peak. Fish murky water along the edge of the main channel. Walleye share long points jutting into the main channel with stripers. Trolling the edge of the channel with medium and deep runner crankbaits can locate schools of stripers and willing aggregations of walleye.

Fishing conditions continue to change but fish are very catchable with a slight alteration in fishing techniques.

LEES FERRY – Sunday June 1 2008   Report by: Ted Welling
After much debate, the park service will now allow you to take your dog up river with you.
Today’s Fish rating  Upriver: 6.75  Walk-In: 4.0
Key: 1 = Go fish somewhere else
       10 = Rent a helicopter and get here now! 
Today Weather: Sunny, with temperatures in the low 90’s.
Today’s Crowd Rating:  Upriver: 2.5  Walk In: 1.0
Key: 1 = Sleep late and fish where you want.
       10 = Very crowded, get up early!
Today’s Fly Fishing: The trout are starting to look up, so consider a large attractor fly as your strike indicator with a midge dropped below. Otherwise, just the old standard Lees Ferry nymph rig. Your weight will vary as the river changes and as you approach new water. We have been wading in the mornings and by lunch drifting along approach the structure from the outside of the riffle seam lines. I am also finding fish in the frog water, just under the foam lines.

Carry scuds, San Juans, zebra midges, and even a few wooly buggers. Stop by and get the scoop from the fly shop or better yet hire a guide. I am looking forward to the “cicada hatch.” Every year about the second or third week in June we start to hear the buzz! Watch for our Cicada reports, which are great fun, and one of the best times to fish Lees Ferry. See you on the river!

Walk in: Having received a fresh report I can tell that the confluence is fishing pretty good, even at higher water. The flies of choice are scuds, and zebra midges. 
Spin Fishing: Spin fishing is still great! Stop in and pick up some egg patterns and ask us about the recommended rig and best areas to fish. We do have maps available in the fly shop as well.
 

LAKE MEAD – Lake Mead water levels continue to drop as the elevation is currently at 1,108 feet above msl.  Water temperatures are running between 65 and 70 depending where you are on the lake.  Backs of coves are warming up nicely and largemouth bass are starting to move in for the spawn.  Striper fishing continues to be good.  Anglers using artificial lights were catching as many 13 to 18-inch stripers as they wanted to clean.

Catfishing under lights was also very productive using anchovies. Launching conditions at South Cove have continued to deteriorate with the dropping water. Both the dirt ramp and the new concrete the National Park Service just completed are one lane ramps with buoys marking the edges. Use caution not to go off the sides of the metal extensions at either side.  According to the Bureau of Reclamation, water levels are projected to dip as low as 1,105 feet above msl later this summer before rebounding slightly by October. 

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

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

Biologists from both Arizona Game and Fish Department and Nevada Division of Wildlife have continued to install fish habitat in both Carp cove and Box cove.  The largemouth and bluegill 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 recent discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

COLORADO RIVER BELOW DAVIS DAM –The striper bite is picking up.  Trout were last stocked on March 24-25.  This was the last trout stocking until next winter. 

Water levels on the river fluctuate, so be careful. You can check the Bureau of Reclamation Web site for flow predictions http://www.usbr.gov/lc/riverops.html before you go. If you fish the river below Davis Dam and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.
Important notice: With the recent discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.

For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's web pages at azgfd.gov or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.
 
Where:Below Davis Dam
When:05/17/08
Caught:Striper
Technique:no weight with anchovy
Comments:My father in law and I fished the area just below Davis Dam on the Nevada side and caught 17 stripers in about 2 hours, they ranged from 12" to 20" in size and were caught by throwing an anchovy into the current with no weight and letting them flow into the slower water. These technique returned a strike every time and the only hard part was setting the hook before they took the bait. Fishing is better when the water is down a little bit other wise the bait won't settle into the calmer water.
Name:Stephen Greenwood

SOUTHWESTERN ARIZONA
LAKE HAVASU – The following report courtesy Debbie Blanchard, Anglers Pro Shop - Lake Havasu, 5/20/2008): Average surface water temperature is 75 degrees.  The striper bite is good to excellent as they are in full spawn mode, and are feeding on spawning shad as well.

The early morning bite with hard baits can be productive with the use of Sassy Shads or 5-inch jerk baits such as the R2S Trophy Minnow or the Pointer 128 in the colors of Chartreuse Shad or MS Herring. The afternoon bite is great with cut anchovies, using a bottom presentation in 45-58 feet of water. The stripers are holding on the drops of the old river creek channel during this time of the day.

The catfish bite is very good right now and producing quality channel and flathead catfish. The bite is incredibly good during the morning hours of 5 a.m.-9 a.m. They begin to bite again during the night hours of 6p.m. -10 p.m. These fish are hefty and hearty feeders and will rapidly consume large amounts of cut anchovies and mackerel. To increase your catch limit be sure to chum the waters with anchovies to bring and hold the fish to your spot.

The large and smallmouth bass bite is slowing down as the water temperature continues to rise as summer approaches. The best time to get these fish is in the early pre-dawn hours. They are taking top water surface lures such as R2S Bubble Walkers in Chartreuse Shad and white, or the "Rico" in  Bone or White with the red eye.  Later during the day, you can catch them by flipping Yamamoto Senkos or Tube Baits at the base of tules that are in the deeper waters in the river or lake.  

Sandpoint Fish Report for May 27, 2008 from Karen Coats:
5-23 - Friday we had 2 inches of rain, but it did not stop Chop Bellue of Ramona CA from fishing at Satellite Cove and come up with a 6-pound cat he was using anchovies.
5-24 Gary Lamprecht of Peoria AZ got a 2-pound striper and son Ryan got a 1-pound smallmouth bass they were using anchovies and were in Satellite Cove
5-27 This morning Roberto Arrambade of Litchfield Park, AZ using night crawlers got a nice 8.13-pound cat over at Benson Bay.
Ryan Lampricht of Peoria AZ got a 4-pound striper off the jetty using anchovies.

Where: Lake Havasu
When:05/14/08
Caught: Large Mouth Bass, Huge Bluegill
Technique: Night crawlers.
Comments: I caught four largemouth bass in just under an hour all over four pounds and one that went at least six. Caught several bluegills well into the two pound range, huge monsters. All from the bank at Site Six. All fish were released to spawn another day. Also caught and released several very nice Smallmouth bass the week before trolling along the flats between Crazy Horse Campgrounds and the lighthouse at Site Six. Excellent fishing right now.
Name: Dennis Pinkerton

PARKER STRIP – COLORADO RIVER (PARKER STRIP AREA) – Courtesy June’s Bait Shop in Parker: Water temps along the strip have been averaging in the upper fifties to low sixties, and it's only getting hotter!
Important notice:  Quagga mussels have been found in Lake Havasu so proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please move to the parking lot, DRAIN your live-wells and bilge where the water does not return to the lake. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, INSPECT your watercraft and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.

IMPERIAL DIVISION, COLORADO RIVER -- Fishing for flatheads should be good. Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists recently surveyed an 89-pound flathead in this area that would have shattered state records.

ALAMO LAKE – Day time temperatures are getting high. This is the leading edge of the good night time fishing for bass, crappie and catfish.

Angler reports:

Where: Alamo lake
When: 05/17/08
Caught: large mouth
Technique: spinnerbaits thrown in the brush on main lake points
Name: josh

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

 
NORTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
Note:  Northern Pike have been illegally stocked in Francis Short.  If you catch a Northern Pike at Francis Short Pond please REMOVE IT FROM THE POND.  

WILLIAMS LAKES:  

KAIBAB LAKE -- Campground area is open.  Main parking lot and boat launch open for day use only. Some trout are being caught. Scheduled to be stocked this week.  Free Fishing Day Clinic June 14 9-12

Where: Kaibab Lake
When: 05/03/08
Caught: Rainbow Trout
Technique: Multi Colored Power Bait with glitter 24 inches up from the bottom.
Comments: My wife and I caught the 7 trout in four and a half hours. My wife had not been fishing since she was a child.
Name: Wesley Peacock

CATARACT LAKE — Campground is open.  Lake is open for walk in fishing.  Some fish being caught on flies and worms. Stocked with catfish.  Scheduled to be stocked the week of June 9.  

CITY RESERVOIR — Road is open.  Lake is full. Stocked with 900 rainbow trout. catfish  Scheduled to be stocked the week of June 9.  

DOGTOWN LAKE — Campground area is open. No Report   Some browns are being caught on lures.  Scheduled to be stocked the week of June 9.  

Where:dogtown
When:05/23/08
Caught:10 trout
Technique:worms
Comments:caught more fish when snowing than when sunny.
Name:shiela

JD DAM — Road is open. 

RUSSEL TANK - Recently stocked.
Where: Russel Tank
When:05/03/08
Caught: Rainbow Trout
Technique: Power Bait and spinners.
Comments: Average 10 inch, limit out within an hour. Locals were doing just as good. I will be headed back up there for the second opening day for Spring Turkey, if I can't seal the deal with Mr. Tom I'll just catch some trout.
Name: Gilbert

SANTA FE — Lake is full.  Anglers are catching trout and yellow perch. Stocked with 900 rainbow trout last week. Scheduled to be stocked the week of June 9.  

WHITEHORSE LAKE — Stocked this week with 2,700 rainbows and the water temperature was 61F. No report from anglers.  Campground area is open.  Lake is open for walk in fishing.  Lake is full.

Where:White Horse Lake
When:05/24/08
Caught:Rainbow Trout
Technique:Worms 18" below a bobber and Yellow Power Bait with glitter on the bottom.
Comments:On the 24th, mid morning, my son and I caught nine trout in an hour and a half in a snow storm. We release six and gave three others to a couple of little guys next to us that were not have our luck. On the 25th, early in the morning, in three hours I only caught-and-released two trout, but my two nieces and one of their friends, each caught their limits right off the loading ramp on Power Bait. Very exciting for the kids. Me too. Trout ranged from 8" to 12".
Name:Richard Bettes

Where: white horse
When:05/19/08
Caught: trout and crappie
Technique: all types of lures
Comments: caught and released well over 100 fish in two days of fishing all stockers nothing with any size but had a blast and I’m sure this next cold front will mess up the fishing for the memorial day weekend
Name: JARED PENSINGER

FLAGSTAFF LAKES:

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

Where: Lower Lake Mary
When:05/25/08
Caught: Trout
Technique: Worms with bobbers
Comments: Great fishing for all, especially the kids. Every cast would get a bite within 30 seconds, it was unbelievable! The trick was hooking them and trying to help watch all the kids' bobbers. Just about everyone was leaving with their limit!
Name: AlexTheis

Where: Lower Lake Mary
When:05/31/08
Caught:18 Trout
Technique: Worms about 3' off of a bobber with a weight about 1.5' from the hook.
Comments: From the first cast to the last we were getting bites galore. They were small but they tasted great, I think in a couple months these guys will be much bigger. There were worms under every rock my boys turned over.
Name: Lance Plummer

Where: Lower Lake Mary
When: 05/13/08
Caught Rainbow Trout
Technique: Using brown and black flies with a fly bobber.
Comments: I went down to the lake the day after that storm front went through and it snowed. I was not sure what I was going to catch but when I got to the lake I thought it was raining. Turns out it was all the trout eating the little gnats that were on the surface. I fished for about 2 and half hours and caught over 100 fish. I was just having fun. The sizes ranged from 8" to over 12". This is the hot spot in the northern lakes. One more thing more: bring bug spray.
Name: Walter Sprengeler, Jr.

Where: Lower Lake Mary
When:05/03/08
Caught: Trout -- 8" - 1'-2"
Technique:1/8-1/4 oz spoons as well as Power Bait
Comments: The bite was on for a good hour or so, died for 30 minutes and was on again (Like this throughout the day)
Name: Josh
UPPER LAKE MARY — This is still a northern pike hot spot. The lake is full. Some anglers have reported catching huge northern pike on frozen anchovies fished with little or no weight on steel leaders.

UPPER LAKE MARY — The lake is full.  Some Pike are being caught on anchovies. 

Where:Upper Lake Mary
When:05/31/08
Caught:Northern Pike
Technique:Frozen Anchovies
Comments:Nice 22" and 23" Pike. Be sure to take your STEEL Leaders. Lake is full and was a Beautiful day....
Name:Gary Webb

Where: Upper Lake Mary
When:05/14/08
Caught: Northern Pike
Technique: Was using silver spinners and spoons.
Comments: I was fishing up by the dam and was not sure if I was going to catch anything. Turns out I landed a few of these monsters. It was fun.
Name: Walter Sprengeler, Jr.

Where: Lake Mary
When:05/05/08
Caught: Northern Pike
Technique: Trolling Rapalas. Brought in 4 nice Pike all over 2' in length. Windy conditions and cool but beautiful. Lake Mary has been consistent for one fish an hour minimum this Spring.
Name: Jeff

ASHURST LAKE — Stocked this week with 3,600 rainbow trout. The water temperature was 62 F. The lake is full. Some larger hold-over trout are being caught. Recently stocked. The road is open. Some trout anglers are catching northern pike.
 
Where: Ashurst lake
When:05/10/08
Caught: caught limit of trout. one big rainbow. big enough for two.
Technique: used worms with a floater. size eight hook.
Comments: they start biting the first five minutes. it up to you when to hook'em
Name: Ryan Becenti
Where: Ashurst Lake
When: 04/05/08
Caught: trout
Technique: rainbow KastMaster, trolling
Comments: Fishing is slow but patience will be rewarded. There are some huge hold-overs
Name: Corey Myers

FRANCIS SHORT POND – Stocked this week with 700 pounds of channel catfish. Fishing was fair to good for trout on flies or Power Bait.  Catfish are being caught on night crawlers.  Please remove all pike caught to save stocked trout for the anglers! Scheduled to be stocked with catfish the week of June 9.  

KINNIKINICK LAKE — Road Open. Scheduled to be stocked the week of June 9.  

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

MARSHALL LAKE — Stocked last week with 900 rainbow trout and the water temperature was 69 F.

Where: Marshall Lake
When:05/26/08
Caught: Rainbow Trout
Technique: I was using a silver spoon and flies with a fly bobber.
Comments: Went to the lake over the weekend and had a great time. Went up there with my fiancée and our son and caught lots of trout. The trout were about 12+ inches long and weighed about a pound.
Name: Walter Sprengeler, Jr.

OAK CREEK — Stocked with 1,800 rainbow trout and the water temperatures ranged from 60 to 70 F. Fishing is generally slow for browns although some large ones have been caught recently, but is okay for rainbows.

Austin Souto: My father and I went fishing Monday June 2 and Tuesday June 3. The fishing at Oak Creek hadn't been this good in a long time. We started below Bootlegger Campground where within the first 10 minutes I had caught 3 trout. I ended up pulling out 8 trout before we left (but my dad caught none). The next day we fished below the bridge at Slide Rock. We started at the smaller pool first where I caught 3 trout, my dad 1. Then my dad moved to the big pool where the action never stopped. I moved over with him and we ended the day catching 8 trout each and losing at least just as many. The fish bit every time we cast. We were using worms 2 feet under a bobber or silver Z-rays. The total for the trip was 23 rainbows, 1 brown, stockers and holdovers.

Where:oak creek
When:06/29/08
Caught:2 trout
Technique:i used a wet fly, black with a red streamer in the deeper pools
Name:scott

Where:Oak Creek
When:05/29/08
Caught:trout
Technique:worms, lures
Comments:Bit on anything --threw a crickethopper and had 2 bites on the top. We(13 year old son)had our limit in 1 hour as did the gentleman next to us. He was using flies. we kept fishing and releasing for another hour then bite stop about noon.
Name: Gordon Hall

LONG LAKE — Stocked recently with 2,700 rainbow trout and the water temperature was 57 F. Lake is open.  Water level is good.  Some nice fish are being caught near the ditch. 

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

BEAVER CREEK — No reports. 

WEST CLEAR CREEK — No report.

STONEMAN LAKE — Low water. NO FISH.
MINGUS LAKE – The seasonal gate across the access road is open. Rainbow trout are being stocked twice a month. Mingus was stocked on May 12  and is scheduled to be stocked again the week of June 2.  The best bait has been white Power Bait, fished on the bottom with a treble hook and an egg sinker. Several six-fish limits of trout were caught this way. Fishermen using night crawlers under a bobber are also having some success.

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

DEAD HORSE STATE PARK – Trout fishing success has slowed since the last seasonal fish stockings April 1. The best bait has been kernels of canned corn with a split-shot sinker, fished about 3 feet under a bobber. Power Bait fished on the bottom with an egg sinker is also catching a few trout. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Try using small plastic jigs, plastic worms, or small spinnerbaits near deeper cover.  Catfish are scheduled to be stocked prior to June 14 fishing events.
Bluegills are very abundant, but most are small.  This is a great opportunity to teach kids how to fish.  Try using a #8 hook with a small piece of worm under a bobber and you should have success.  While the crappie numbers are up a little, most are small.  Look for the crappie fishing to be good late this year or next year.  Catfish are scheduled to be stocked the week of June 9.

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

LYNX LAKE — Rainbow trout were last stocked the week of May 12.  Game and Fish Biologists held a kids fishing clinic on the 17th.  This was the fourth year this fishing clinic was held and once again the kids had fun.  Nearly all of the kids caught fish.  The fishing should improve following this stocking. Channel catfish are scheduled to be stocked in time for free fishing day events on June 14.  Trout are scheduled to be stocked again the week of June 16. 

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.

FAIN LAKE —Fain was stocked with rainbow trout May 12 and is scheduled to be stocked again the week of June 2.  While some were doing very well others were not.  Try to fish were the water is clearer.  Use spinners or bright colored power bait.  Fain lake was stocked with brook trout on Feb. 25. 

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

GOLDWATER LAKE — Trout were stocked on the 18th and the 20th.   Game and Fish held the First Fish fishing clinic on Sunday the 18th.  Fishing success was good.  One angler reported catching a 13- and 14-inch trout in two hours of fishing. While there is no shortage of fish, most people report catching only one or two fish. Try using KastMasters. If that does not work you may try worms or Power Bait. Early in the morning and in the evening the bite may be a little better. Some days the fishing seems to be better than other days as well. Bluegills were stocked Feb 25.  Game and Fish biologists weighed a 22-pound channel catfish that was caught at Goldwater in March.

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

MOGOLLON RIM

Note:  Access roads are open to all the Mogollon Rim lakes. There is a Bald Eagle closure located in the northwest shore area of Woods Canyon Lake. The Bald Eagle closure area is marked by red signs. Access to the shore and parking a boat on the shoreline area that is within the Bald Eagle closure area is prohibited.  The closure affects only a small area on the northwest shore and the rest of the shoreline on the lake is open to the public.  Boat travel is allowed throughout the lake, but stopping in front of the bald eagle shore closure is not allowed so that the nest is not disturbed. Contact the U.S. Forest Service’s Black Mesa Ranger District office at (928) 535-4481 for more information. 

CHEVELON LAKE – This is a hike-in lake via a steep slope. There is not a lot of shore access. It is best fished from a float tube, inflatable or canoe. Fishing is fair to good. The lake is full. Anglers have been catching good numbers of moderate size trout.

The lake is open to artificial lure and fly only, trout between 10 and 14 inches may not be possessed, and the bag limit is six trout.  Try lures such as Z-rays, Super Dupers, spinners, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and other small nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors.

Where: Chevelon Canyon Lake
When:05/20/08
Caught:21 inch Brown Trout
Technique: KastMaster fished slowly right about midday.
Comments: I caught 6 total and my brother caught 8 but other than the German Brown they were all very small Rainbows. Didn't have a scale for the brown but we figure he is somewhere between 3 and 4 pounds.
Name: Michael D. Lazok

Where: Chevelon
When: 05/21/08
Caught:4 inch rainbow
Technique: Flies, spinners, z-rays, spoons from 6 am to 7 pm
Comments: Caught the little 4-incher on a wooly worm
Name: M&M

Where: Chevelon Canyon
When: 05/18/08
Caught:1 small trout
Technique: Fly fishing from float tubes
Comments: Got down to the lake at 8:30 a.m. Three fishers floated the entire lake from 8:30 to 3 p.m. Caught only one small stocker rainbow. Used a variety of flies, both dry and wet, sinking line, nothing was biting. Lot of work for only one trout.
Name: Ed

BEAR CANYON LAKE - The lake is full and spilling and fishing is very good.  The lake was stocked with catchable size rainbow trout and anglers are still hauling in some nice hold-overs as well. This is a hike-in lack down short but steep and winding paths. There is pretty good shore access. This deep canyon lake is great for those with float tubes.

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

Where: Bear Canyon and Woods Canyon Lake
When: 05/26/08
Caught: One 6-8 inch Rainbow Trout
Technique:Yellow Power Bait fished under a bobber.
Comments: The trout were really jumping in the mornings from about 8am-10am at Woods Canyon Lake. There were lots of 6-8 inchers cruising along the shoreline feeding. Not so much luck with Bear Canyon Lake as the winds picked up a lot during the week, it made for choppy water and not much fish activity.
Name: Tommy McNamara

Where: Bear Canyon Lake
When:05/17/08
Caught: A lot of Trout
Technique: Power Bait Flies
Comments: I had a great morning 13-16in. I Limited out in two hour's. The best fishing on the Rim. I have fished all the Rim lake this year, and this lake is hot !!!!
Name: Tommy Krauter
 

BLACK CANYON LAKE –- Fishing is fair. The lake is full and spilling.  Black Canyon Lake will be stocked this week with rainbow trout.

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

Where: Black Canyon Lake
When:05/08/08
Caught:16'' inch Rainbow Trout
Technique: set-up with a bobber with the hook about two feet and the fundamentals, good old fashion worm.
Name: Chris Spaziano

BLUE RIDGE – Fishing is fair to good. Open and accessible. This is a deep canyon lake that is tough for shore angling, but great for small boats and canoes, or float tubes.

Where: Blue Ridge Reservoir
When:05/20/08
Caught:2 little stocker Rainbows
Technique: Every type of fly or lure I know of.
Comments: Fishing was slow all day. There was a four hour stretch from 2-6 where I never even saw a fish jump or anything. But I did manage to net a few small 'bows. 6-8 inches. No one else caught anything but small stockers (or maybe they just didn't admit it?). I was surprised at how crowded and busy it was, it seemed like a holiday weekend, on a Tuesday. Oh ya, winds were bad, worse than Big Lake bad.

Where: Blue Ridge Reservoir
When:05/18/08
Caught: Rainbows
Technique: Trolling with worms
Comments: My wife & I landed and released 8 stockers (9" to 10") but definitely had fun. Action picked up as the temps picked up toward midday. Lake is definitely full. Water temps are little cold for the larger ones just yet.
Name: Mike & Nancy

KNOLL LAKE – Fishing is good to very good, with stockers and larger hold-overs being caught. Stocked with 3,330 rainbow trout last week.

Where:Knoll Lake
When:05/26/08
Caught:3 Rainbows. 6 released
Technique:I caught all 3 trout with a #2 Mepps spinner.
Comments:Fished with PowerBait most of the morning and got nothing. About 1pm switched to the Mepps. They were hitting all afternoon.
Name:Frank

  
WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE - The lake is full and the fishing is fair to good, with various anglers reporting limits of rainbows, occasional browns and even some bass. Willow Springs is stocked weekly with rainbow trout. Anglers have been catching trout trolling lures. Trout have been active at the surface down to 15 feet.

Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as Z-rays, spinners, and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, Yeager buggers, and nymphs in black, brown, or green colors. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors. Recent electro-fishing surveys revealed lots of nice sized smallmouth bass, up to 15 inches, and largemouth bass, up to 21 inches, lots of small rainbow trout and one large 7pound brown trout.  
 
Angler reports:

Where:Willow Springs Lake
When:05/29/08
Caught:Bass and Trout - Caught and Released
Technique:Trolled Wooly Buggers and 1/4 oz. KastMasters from my kayak for trout and used silver Rapala Countdowns #7 back in the inlets for bass in the shallows.
Comments:The day started a little windy and it picked up more towards noon. I was able to slow troll my wooly buggers - wind aided to net a few rainbows.
Name:Ed Elefante

Joel Mielke: Sat 05/17/08 at Willow Springs Lake. Marina (my wife) and me caught 32 trout in 6 hours fishing from a small boat and using worms as bait. The average was 9-10 inches, some were 6-inch, and some were foot-long. Kept three nice foot-longs, left the rest for the Memorial Day crowd. Here’s a pic of Marina fishing while she reclined and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Good times! Thanks AZGFD!! Keep up the good work. - Joel

PS. I tried a new fillet technique that I saw on Youtube. It really was just as easy as this guy makes it look! I flipped the trout over and used the same technique on the other side. Fast, easy and who can resist a sautéed trout fillet? Here’s his demo video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtuOGdt-GWw

Where: Willow Springs Lake
When:05/12/08
Caught:4 trout
Technique: Power worms
Comments: Fish not interested in salmon eggs or flies at all. VERY SLOW fishing!
 
WOODS CANYON – Fishing is fair to good.  Boat anglers are catching trout by trolling KastMasters and Panther Martins. Woods Canyon is stocked weekly with rainbow trout and anglers are still reporting catching some larger hold-over trout. Water temperature last week was 68F. Trout have been active at the surface down to 10 feet.

Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, small spoons (Super Dupers, and Z-rays), and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms and wooly buggers, Yeager buggers, Peacock ladies, and nymphs in black, brown, or green colors.  The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.
There is a Bald Eagle closure located in the northwest shore area of Woods Canyon Lake. The Bald Eagle closure area is marked by red signs. Access to the shore and parking a boat on the shoreline area that is within the Bald Eagle closure area is prohibited.  The closure affects only a small area on the northwest shore and the rest of the shoreline on the lake is open to the public.  Boat travel is allowed throughout the lake, but stopping in front of the bald eagle shore closure is not allowed so that the nest is not disturbed.

There is a store and marina at this lake – you can rent a boat.

Angler reports:

Where: woods canyon lake
When: 05/11/08
Caught: trout
Technique: fly fishing peacock ladies and Dave’s hoppers.
Comments: the fishing was awesome me and son in float tubes caught our limit of nice 12 - 14 inch fish in less the an hour after sunrise and then caught and released about 30 in the afternoon. Evening about dark the fish went nuts was cast, release cast-and-release had a ball thanks for your efforts fish and game
Name: mike

Marty Nelson: Took my Twin boys, Chase and Gavin fishing for the first time. 5/9/2007 (Woods Canyon) Caught 12 trout in 3 hours all on spinners, No bites on Power Bait.

Where: Woods Canyon Lake
When: 05/15/08
Caught: Rainbow Trout
Technique:
Weighted bobber w/#10 hook 4' below it using worms.
Comments: Was windy at times but still caught fish near the spillway between 9am & 12pm.
Name: Rick & Steve

WHITE MOUNTAIN WATERS

NOTE: State Highway 261 is open to Big Lake and Crescent Lake, as well as most main Forest roads, including the road to Reservation Lake on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

State Highway 273 on the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest is undergoing reconstruction and realignment and the following closures are in effect from the Fort Apache Indian Reservation boundary to Crescent Lake, which is closed to all traffic, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will remain closed until the road construction project is complete.

BECKER LAKE -- Fishing is fair to good.  The lake is almost full and the boat ramp is accessible. The lake is open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and a two-trout limit. Try small lures such as Super Dupers, spinners, and Z-rays. Fly-Fishers have been catching 10- to 18-inch rainbow trout. Try small nymphs such as zebra midges, scuds, pheasant tails, zug bugs, prince nymphs, wooly worms and wooly buggers, dragon fly patterns, peacock ladies, and brown Montana stone nymphs. Fish deep and slow.
The water temperature on May 4 was 63 degrees and the pH was 8.8.  The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors.
   
BIG LAKE – This is a trout fishing hot spot. Rainbows, cutthroats and brookies are all being caught. There are also Apache trout in this lake.

By the way, Big Lake is not stocked during spring and summer – it is stocked in the fall with a couple hundred thousand fingerling trout. The trout you catch here are close to being wild. On any given day, Big Lake can be the best trout lake in the state. There is a store and boat rentals available and some of the prettiest scenery in Arizona.

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

Where:Big Lake, AZ
When:05/26/08
Caught:Trout
Technique:Fishing from shore using night crawlers, Power Bait light tackle, small split shot with 4lb line.
Comments:Wife & I caught 25 nice fish from 0700 to 1100. A good mixture of cutthroats, brookies and rainbows all about 12" to 14". Fishing was best I have seen in years at Big Lake. We kept out limit and returned the rest! The wind was horrendous but made sure it was at our back.
Name:Dick McBlane

Where:big lake
When:05/23/08
Caught:Rainbow Trout
Technique:fishing from the bank we used all kinds of Power Bait
Comments:My family and I went fishing for the weekend and caught are limit every day . The best part of the trip was when my 3-year-old caught her first fish of her young life; a 15-inch rainbow.
Name:Pete and Tracy Encinas

Where: Big Lake
When:05/21/08
Caught:3 cutthroats, 4 rainbows
Technique: KastMaster, Z-ray
Comments: Caught from shore
Name: Doug

Where: Big Lake
When: 05/17/08
Caught: Trout (Rainbow)
Technique: Trolling with cowbells and using both orange and green powerbait on a fly!
Comments: The fishing was absolutely fantastic! We caught and released 30 trout in a six hour period (from 7am - 1pm). The wind was strong which was the only thing that dampened the day. If we didn't have a prior commitment, we would have fished longer and probably would have reached the 50-trout level! Great lake - someone caught a 3.5 pound rainbow that morning as well trolling with a Panther Martin lure! Worms were also working well too! We could see shore fisherman pulling up lots of fish as well. Definitely the best time to hit the high country lakes!
Name: Bryan Baker
 
Where: Big Lake, East and West Forks of the Black River
When: 05/18/08
Caught Big Lake Rainbow trout, East and West Fork - Brown and Apache trout
Technique: For Big Lake use yellow Power Bait. All fish caught at Big Lake were rainbow holdovers from the 10" to 13" range. The West Fork of the Black River did not seem to have been stocked as of yet (probably due to the higher water flows). I did catch several brown trout including a 3 1/2 lb. 19" brown! The East Fork of the Black River had been stocked recently and I did catch several Apache trout and two brown trout.
Comments: Caught a 19" 3 1/2 lb. Brown Trout in the West Fork of the Black River!
Name: Matt Myrick

CARNERO LAKE – Fishing is fair. Carnero Lake experienced a winter kill, however the lake was re-stocked with 4000 subcatchable size rainbow trout in the last week of April and with 5000 catchable rainbow trout in the first week of May.

The lake is open to lure and flies only, barbless hooks, and a two-trout bag limit. Try small lures such as spinners and spoons (Super Dupers and Z-rays), and flies such as wooly worms, peacock ladies, small nymphs such as hares ear, pheasant tails, prince nymphs, zug bugs, damsel fly and dragon fly nymph patterns, and midge patterns. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only   

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR - Fishing is good. The lake was stocked with catchable size rainbow trout in mid-May.  Fishing for warmwater fish such as bass, sunfish and catfish should also be picking up. The east side boat ramp is accessible and the only ramp to use. The old boat ramp is blocked off and no longer usable.

Try worms, Power Bait, Salmon eggs, and lures such as spinners, Z-rays, crankbaits, and Rapalas, and flies such as woolly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies. There are no motor restrictions on Clear Creek Reservoir. 

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

CRESCENT LAKE – Fishing is good.  Highway 261 to Big and Crescent Lakes is open. Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation is open to Forest road 87 but is closed beyond the 273/87 junction to Crescent Lake 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, due to continuing road construction.  Crescent Lake experienced a winter kill, however the lake has been restocked with over 14,000 catchable size brook trout in the last week of April and first week of May.  Crescent was also stocked with almost 5000 catchable rainbow trout in mid-May. 
Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, Yeager buggers, and small nymphs like prince and zug bugs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors or up to 10 hp. gas motors. The water temperature last week was 49 degrees and the lake has come up about 1.5 feet from last year. The only boat ramp accessible is the south boat ramp.
    
FOOL HOLLOW LAKE - Fishing is fair to good for trout and bass, with some walleye being caught. The lake is full and all boat ramps are usable for larger boats.  The water clarity is still turbid. The lake was stocked last week with catchable size rainbow trout.  Bass anglers have been catching smallmouth and largemouth bass on lures. Shore anglers are catching rainbow trout on worms and Power Bait in the southwest area of the lake.

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

GREER LAKES -- Fishing is fair to good.  Will be stocked the week of June 9. River, Tunnel and Bunch reservoirs are all full, and all boat ramps are accessible.  All three reservoirs have been stocked with catchable size rainbow trout. Boat anglers at River Reservoir have been catching some nice sized brown trout on Rapalas. Anglers are catching rainbow trout on worms at Bunch, Tunnel, and River Reservoir.

Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, and small nymphs. Bunch and Tunnel Reservoir are open to electric trolling motors only. River Reservoir is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp gas motors.     
 
Angler report:
Lindsay Balmer said that between myself and my sister, we caught seven rainbow trout. Mostly pan-size, but one was a good 2.5 pounds. All caught on Gulp lime green with glitter Power Bait.

   
HULSEY LAKE - This lake experienced a fish die-off, most likely due to water chemistry fluctuations prompted by snow, runoff, increased nutrients, and lowered oxygen, along with an alga bloom.

The lake is full.  Hulsey Lake is a short hike in fishery. Try worms Power Bait, salmon eggs, and lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and   flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, and small nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.  The water is clear. The water temperature last week was 53 degrees.
  
 
LEE VALLEY RESERVOIR - The roads to Lee Valley Lake are still closed.  Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation is still closed due to continuing road construction and is closed just north of the junction of Highway 273 and Highway 261. Lee Valley Lake probably has some ice cover, although it should be considered unsafe.        

LUNA LAKE - - Fishing is fair to good. The lake is full and the boat ramp is accessible. The lake was stocked with nearly 4,000 catchable size rainbow trout in late April. Anglers have been catching some nice sized trout at the dam.
 
Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, and nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp gas motors. The water temperature last week was 50 degrees.      

Where:Luna Lake
When:05/31/08
Caught:4 lb 19 inch rainbow trout
Technique:night crawler
Name:Tim Polanco

LYMAN LAKE - Fishing is fair. The lake level has come up quite a bit, catching a lot of water with snowmelt runoff, and is only 8 feet below spill.  The water is turbid.  Anglers have been catching channel catfish on worms and stink baits. 

Try worms, Power Bait, catfish stink baits, and lures such as spinners, crankbaits, and Rapalas. The Lyman Lake recreation area is managed by Lyman Lake State Park and camping is available. There are also some new cabins for rent. 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. 
 
NELSON RESERVOIR - Fishing is good.  The lake is full, not spilling and was stocked with many catchable size rainbow trout in mid-May.  Both boat ramps are accessible. 

Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, Super Dupers, Z-rays, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors. The water temperature last week was 50 degrees. 

RAINBOW LAKE - Fishing is good.  Will be stocked the week of June 9. Rainbow Lake was stocked with over 5000 catchable size rainbow trout in mid-May.  The lake is full and the boat ramp is accessible. 
Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as Z-rays, spinners, crank baits, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors. The water is clear. The water temperature last week was 59 degrees.

SCOTTS RESERVOIR - Fishing is good. Will be stocked the week of June 9 with rainbow trout. Anglers have been catching trout, bass, and channel catfish on worms.  The lake is full, spilling and the boat ramp is accessible.

Where: Scotts res
When:04/16/08
Caught: Catfish
Technique: Night crawler, dead shad
Comments: lost a real nice big cat at shore really sucked will hit it again this week
Name: roger may

Try worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs, lures such as Super Dupers, Z-rays, spinners, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, peacock ladies, and prince nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only. Recent surveys revealed good numbers of rainbow trout (average size, 11 inches), fair number of largemouth bass (average size, 12 inches), and some nice sized channel catfish (average size, 25 inches). The lake is open to electric trolling motors only. The water is clear. The water temperature last week was 56 degrees.       

SHOW LOW LAKE - Fishing is fair. Will be stocked with rainbow trout the week of June 9. The lake was stocked with 3600 catchable size rainbow trout in mid-May. The lake is down quite a bit to accommodate bridge construction over Show Low Creek downstream in Show Low, but the boat ramp is still accessible.

Try worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, rubber lead head jigs, crankbaits, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors.  Recent surveys revealed good numbers of large walleyes (average size, 23 inches), including two 12-pounders, good numbers of rainbow trout (average size 14 inches), largemouth bass (average size 14 inches), and small black crappie. The water is slightly turbid. The water temperature last week was 52 degrees. 

Where:Show Low Lake
When:05/28/08
Caught:Limit(6)Rainbow Trout, all 2+lbs
Technique:worm under a slip bobber, Power Bait off the bottom on a slip sinker set-up
Name:Tony Major

Where: Show low lake
When:05/10/08
Caught: trout an walleye
Technique: trolling Rapalas and spinnners
Comments: caught 2 nice trout at 2 lbs each really nice trout and 2 walleye about 1 lb each only fished couple hours this evening but was worth it for the size of those trout ..saw one man on shore he had a few stocker size said he was using power bait
Name: roger may

WOODLAND LAKE - Fishing is fair to good.  The lake was stocked with catchable size in mid April. The lake is full and spilling.  Try worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, Super Dupers, and small spoons, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and Hares ears nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.  Recent surveys revealed nice sized largemouth bass (average size, 14 inches), and 1 channel catfish (21 inches). The water is clear. The water temperature last week was 59 degrees.

WHITE MOUNTAIN STREAMS: 
West Fork Black River - West Fork Black River - Fishing is good.  The West Fork was stocked at the campground with catchable size Apache trout last week and will be stocked again this week. Wild brown trout are also present in the lower portion of the river. In the campground area.

Try worms, salmon eggs, small lures such as spinners, and flies such as Peacock ladies, woolly worms, small nymphs like hares ear, pheasant tails, zug bugs, prince nymphs, and caddis imitations.

The upper portion of the river, upstream of the confluence with Hayground Creek and including the Forest Road 116 crossing, is open to artificial lures and flies only, with catch and release regulations.  Water temperatures were 54 degrees on May 1.

East Fork Black River - Fishing is good.  The East Fork was stocked with catchable size Apache trout last week and will be stocked again this week.  Wild brown trout are also present throughout the river.

Try worms, salmon eggs, small lures such as spinners, and flies such as Peacock ladies, woolly worms, small nymphs like hares ear, Pheasant tails, Zug bugs, Prince nymphs, and caddis imitations.  Water temperatures were 60 degrees on May 1.
Sheep’s Crossing - Highway 273 is closed for the year due to road construction and an area closure is still in effect around Sheeps Crossing.

Where:East Fork Black River
When:05/30/08
Caught:Apache Trout and a few German Browns
Technique:Mainly caught little stockers. Worms worked well. Caught several Apache's using Rooster Tails, Super Dupers, and KastMasters. Caught several 6 in. brown trout with various nymphs.
Comments:
Caught about 25 throughout the day. Saw some nice size trout swimming around. One person caught a 19 in. Apache and another caught a 24 in. brown.
Name:Cameron B

Where:East Fork of the Black River
When:05/24/08
Caught:15 + Brown Trout, 1- 24 inches and 5.5lbs
Technique:4lb test, 1/16 split shot w/night crawler, large fish released, kept 4 in the 10" range
Comments:

Name:Jobe

Little Colorado River Greer - Fishing is good. The LCR in Greer was stocked with catchable size Apache trout last week and will be stocked again this week. Try worms, salmon eggs, small lures such as spinners, and flies such as Peacock ladies, wooly worms, small nymphs like hares ear, pheasant tails, zug bugs, prince nymphs, and caddis imitations.  Water temperatures were 47 to 48 degrees on May 1.

Silver Creek - Fishing is good. The stream and will be stocked this week with catchable size Apache trout.  Silver Creek on the Arizona Game and Fish Department property is now open to bait fishing and statewide fishing regulations are in effect until Sept. 30.  The upper section is closed to fishing.  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. Bait fishermen should try worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs.            

SOUTHERN WATERS

Southern Arizona Fishing Outlook
The ample winter rains and snow fall have kept all the regional lakes full. This combined with a large spawn last year should lead to great year of fishing. Water temperatures will warm up soon putting fish into pre-spawn mode causing them to feed voraciously; many personal bests could be beaten this year.

If the summer rains come again like last year, look for easy access at all you favorite southern Arizona lakes, keeping the experience enjoyable. As always, we recommend that lake conditions be checked before heading out to find your lunker

TUCSON URBAN — Fishing for catfish continues to be good to excellent the week of stocking.  The top bait for the 14-20 inch channel catfish are stink baits fished on the bottom.  Other baits such as shrimp and worms have worked well.  Anglers are catching good numbers of sunfish on small worms or mealworms.  Cats have been biting best mid morning and in the evenings.  Recent stockings have included some big catfish in the 3-5 pound range.  At Green Valley lakes (Payson) fishing is good for trout with most fish biting bait such as worms or Power Bait.  Bluegill, crappie and bass are biting well on small jigs and worms fished under a bobber at Green Valley.

Stocking updates: Tucson Area Lakes – Stocked with catfish the week of May 26-31.

Where: Lakeside
When:05/26/08
Caught:1 Sunfish
Technique: Stinky bate
Comments: Tones of hits but only one stuck. Had issues with the blue hearing birds more then the fish.
Name: Hope

Where: Sahuarita
When: 04/05/08
Caught: limit of catfish 15"-20"
Technique: standard slip sinker
Comments: I noticed when I was filleting the fish that a 19" catfish had the dorsal and pectoral fins from another catfish ion its stomach. They were approximately the same length as the fins on the catfish that must have eaten them. I thought it was interesting that this fish must have eaten at least part of another catfish but i cant figure out how it ate another catfish of similar size. Any ideas on how that may have happened?  There is no way the fish i filleted could have eaten another catfish of that size. So i am wondering if during the 40hr drive there may have been a dead fish in the tanker and was eaten by the transported fish?? I just thought it is interesting.

RIGGS FLAT — Fishing is slow but a few fish are being caught.  Due high pH levels the lake will not be stocked until these values come down. 

CLUFF RANCH — No recent reports of success.  For lake information call (928) 485-9430.

ROPER LAKE — No recent reports of success. For lake information call (928) 428-6760.

DANKWORTH POND — No recent reports of success. For lake information call (928) 428-6760.

FRYE MESA RESERVIOR – A few fish are being caught in the very early morning and late evenings. 

KEARNY LAKES — The lake remains fishless due to golden algae problems.
 
ARIVACA — Anglers wanting to catch some trophy sized redear sunfish should definitely visit this lake.  Recent surveys show outstanding numbers of large redear’s at this lake.  A few bass are being caught in shallow water using swim baits.  The lake level has a dropped a bit but launching is not a problem and the aquatic vegetation is not a factor.  Jan. 1 marks a change in the motor restrictions at this lake.  Motors 10 horsepower or less will now be legal for use at Arivaca.  Anglers are encouraged 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.

PENA BLANCA – Be aware that the lake will be drained and renovated late this summer to remove mercury contaminated sediment form the lake bottom.  Anglers wishing to comment on the proposed dredging of this lake should contact the U.S. Forest Service at (520) 281-2296.  The fishing is slow and the aquatic vegetation is becoming a problem.  At this time there are no problems with launching a boat but lake level is dropping.  The lake now has a 10 HP limit but be aware of your wake so as not to disrupt other people fishing in boats or on shore. The mercury advisory for all warm water fish is in effect. Bass less than 13 inches long must be immediately released.  The daily bag limit for bass is four.  Jan. 1 marks a change in the motor restrictions at this lake.  Motors 10 horsepower or less will now be legal for use at Pena Blanca.   

PATAGONIA — Bass fishing remains slow with a few anglers reporting success on soft jerk baits.  With warming summer temperatures anglers should focus their efforts to early morning and late afternoon for best results.  Flipping the cattails remains the best option for catching bass at this time.  Cat fishing continues to do well at night on flatheads. Some nice ones are coming in by using live bluegill or redear that are caught easily in the lake. Hook them up with a hook under the dorsal and a slip weight. Some trout are still being caught in the deeper water near the dam.

PARKER CANYON —Trout fishing has slowed a bit with warmer temperatures.  All bait types, including live worms, power baits, salmon eggs, and lures, are producing fish.  With the water level being high, spawning areas will not be limited as in past years when the level was down.  April through the end of May is a great period for anglers to catch a variety of cold and warm water species. 

Where:Parker Canyon Lake
When:05/31/08
Caught:3 blue gill 1 rainbow trout
Technique:Meal worms about 6 feet from the bottom of the lake.
Comments:Nice day, water is kind of cloudy.

Where:parker canyon lake
When:05/28/08
Caught:bass
Technique:Rooster Tails, plastics
Comments:  Water level slowly going down, exposing some plant life. Bass bite picking up though.

PICACHO RESERVOIR — No Report at this time.

ROSE CANYON LAKE — The access road is now open for the season.  The fishing continues to be outstanding and anglers are encouraged to get up there and try their luck.  The lake is scheduled to be stocked this week with rainbow trout.

 
Where: Rose Canyon Lake
When 05/20/08
Caught: Stocker rainbows and browns
Technique: Small spinner baits fished just below the surface.
Comments: Caught 40 - 50 fish after the wind settled down at about 4:30 p.m.
Name: Matthew Dimka

Where: Rose Canyon Lake
When:05/26/08
Caught: Rainbow Trout
Technique: Small spinnerbaits, reeling in at medium speed.
Comments: Fishing was PHENOMENAL! We fished near the dam. Three of us caught about 25 fish in about 3 hours. They ranged from 8 to 12 inches.
Name: Liam Giffin

Where: Rose canyon
When:05/10/08
Caught: trout
Technique: Worms
Comments: Caught my limit in just an hour hot fishing in the cool
Name: Mahler