Fishing Report from Arizona Game and Fish
URBAN FISHING REPORT - July 29th, 2008
Fishing activity has slowed over the summer due to high water temperatures and absence of fish stockings through July and August. Catfish up to four pounds are still being reported along with many in the two pound range, but catch rates are poor overall. The last seasonal (spring/summer) stocking of catfish was June 25.Generally, the best bite is late in the evening, however some anglers are finding hungry cats in the middle of the day. Top baits are stink baits or shrimp fished on the bottom without a sinker. Sunfish continue to bite throughout the summer on small worms fished under a bobber, mornings are best. Largemouth bass fishing is slow with the best activity around dawn for anglers using finesse worms rigged dropshot or splitshot style, or try topwater at first light. Catfish stockings will not resume until late September. At Green Valley lakes (Payson) the best fishing is for bluegill, crappie and bass. Monsoon rains have kept the lake cooler and seem to invigorate the fish. Try small jigs and worms fished under a bobber at Green Valley.
February 29, 2008 by
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Apache lake,
Arizona Rivers,
Bartlett lake,
Canyon Lake,
Horseshoe Lake,
Lake Pleasant,
Pena Blanca Lake,
Roosevelt Lake,
Saguaro lake,
Urban Lakes
Game and Fish - http://www.azgfd.gov/
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Urban Lakes - Trout were stocked the week of Feb. 18-23 at all Urban Program lakes in the state. Anglers using scented dough baits (such as Power Bait), worms fished under a bobber, or small trout lures have been successful. Try fishing with minnows along the bottom for larger trout and the occasional bass or catfish. Best time to fish for trout generally is early morning, but some anglers have reported excellent fishing later in the afternoon. Small spinners such as Rooster Tails and Panther Martins, or spoons such as KastMasters are also working well for trout. Make sure to use light tackle geared for trout such as 2- to 4-pound test, small sinkers and hooks. Fly anglers can have success using wooly buggers and small beadhead nymphs as well as peacock lady, prince nymph or hare’s ear.
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Tempe Town Lake - Looks like it is slow but on the comeback trail.
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Lake Pleasant - Water elevation is 1,689 feet, which is 85-percent full. Water clarity runs about 6 feet and water temps are running about 55oF in the afternoon. Received a report from a shore fishermen who caught four stripers in the 3- to 5-pound range in the Castle Creek area using anchovies. Tournament fishing this last weekend was a bit slow. Buzzbaits are attracting some largemouth bass but the bite’s not consistent. Some were having luck using drop shots in 25 feet of water but overall it was slow. The north end of the lake is more productive.
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Roosevelt Lake - Lake elevation is 2,138 ft (86-percent full). Tonto Creek runoff is at 635 cfs while inflow from the Salt River was at 2,496 cfs. Fishermen are reporting the bite is off right now due to the incredible amount of debris on the lake. Water temps as of this last weekend was 51-53oF in the mornings and it warmed up to 61 in the afternoon. The water is full of sediment and is a chocolate milk color. In the late afternoons, fish might be found in the warmer shallows, especially in those pockets of clearer water tucked between vegetation and the shore.
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Apache - Lake elevation is 1,911 ft (97-percent full). We received a report that the yellow bass fishing is starting to pick up at Apache Lake. Try using and 1/8-ounce KastMaster for yellows. Also, Apache Lake received nearly all of the rainbow trout intended for Canyon Lake this year due to the reservoir draw down. There should be plenty of trout in Apache to catch. Try using Panther Martins, Rooster Tails, and Mepps spinners.
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Canyon - Lake elevation is 1,658 ft, which is 97-percent full. Canyon Lake is open to boaters but the Forest Service has a strong warning to boaters to be cautious of floating logs and other debris. The Forest Service in planning a Grand Reopening event for Canyon Lake on March 1, at the Canyon Lake Marina from 9 a.m. - 3p.m.
- Saguaro - Lake elevation 1,526 feet at 96-percent full. Water Temperatures varies from 48oF in the narrows at mid-day to 49o to 52oF around the marina in the mornings. It’s 52o - 54oF in the snags in mid morning and water clarity is only about a foot in most places. By p.m., water temps reaches 60oF. There were some tilapia that didn’t fare to well in the cold water so about 50 to 100 were seen floating in the lower basin especially at Butcher Jones area and the launch ramps. That’s normal though - they typically die off in cold weather. A couple fishermen caught eight yellow bass in 5.5 hours of jigging spoons and KastMasters. Most were keepers. They were in 30-35 feet of water in the second basin but the bite was real slow. They caught one big bluegill and one small largemouth bass. Three hundred pounds of rainbow trout were delivered a couple weeks ago. I read a report of an angler catching five bass last weekend fishing Zoom lizards and Zoom finesse worms. His fishing partner was able to catch four trout and two bass dragging a night crawler behind the boat. I also heard that the yellow bass and bluegill fishing is beginning to pick up. Try fishing a 1/8-ounce KastMaster for both yellows and bluegill.
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Bartlett - Lake elevation is 1,797 ft, which is 99-percent full. Water temps are about 48oF in the early morning at mid lake. In a half day of fishing, a couple fishermen caught nine bass in the 1-2 pound range using crayfish imitation crankbaits. Try crankbaits or spinnerbaits with trailers worked along the rock trailers in the main basins, or any of the major points, islands and reefs. Although we have no reports of crappie, try along the Yellow Cliffs using small jigs or live minnows. You should also pick up some bass if you are lucky.
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Horseshoe - Lake elevation is at 2,024 feet, which is 96-percent full. The inflows just about match the outflows, so this lake is being held pretty full. It should act as a sport-fish nursery for Bartlett, just like in 2005 when we had lots of runoff.
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Verde River - Verde River flow at Tangle Creek is 1,551 cubic feet per second (cfs) and at Camp Verde is at 1,290 cfs. Releases from Bartlett Lake are currently at 1,200 cfs.
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Salt River - Salt River into Roosevelt is 2,880 cfs, and Salt River Canyon is 1,584 cfs. They are releasing 8 cfs out of Stewart Mountain Dam from Saguaro as of today, but with all the expected runoff, that may increase.
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Lower Salt River (below Saguaro Lake) - A quote from one fishermen, “Its (fishing) been good all day long; try chartreuse spinnerbaits or Yamamoto Kreatures T-rigged in watermelon/red/black up against the weeds and deeper pools.” Another fisherman said he went to Coon Bluff for a few hours Sunday and the trout were scarce, but the bass were back - not big though. He caught 24 bass (only a few were sizable) in 5 hours using worms, but most action was from jointed Rapalas and spinners.
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Creeks - Fishermen are still waiting for the flows to taper off a bit, but are anticipating some good fly fishing once the flow settles and fishing sites are accessible. With the decent snow pack it ought to be a pretty good spring.
- Horsethief Basin Lake - No reports.
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