This time of the year, some of the best trout fishing in the state can come from Community fishing waters. Anglers have been catching some of the monster rainbow trout that we stocked 2 weeks ago. See the Catch of the Week! Recent storms and run-off have provided some excellent...
Send your fishing reports and pictures to BFishing@AZGFD.gov Ocotillo Lakes (Chandler) Chris: A fishing buddy of mine advised me about the bass/catfish Hawg contest to help promote catch and release. I caught a 5.66-pound largemouth bass out of Ocotillo lakes last night. (Wednesday, Jan. 16). Editor’s note: This bass made the Brag Board...
ROOSEVELT LAKE and MOGOLLON RIM — From Jim Goughnour of Rim Country Custom Rods. Roosevelt Lake: (2,092 feet, 40% full). The latest report from Roosevelt Lake related to the Government shutdown is that the ramps are open and accessible; however, the camping facilities gates are closed. The consensus among anglers is...
We just might be getting our stripers in for the season. Our now-local anglers (formerly from Riverside, Calif.) Dave Grant, and brother Matt Grant, were fishing from shore and using anchovies in the Palo Verde area. Dave hooked a nice striper, and with the help of his brother Matt, landed a...
Send your fishing reports and pictures to BFishing@AZGFD.gov Alvord Lake Arturo C.: Incentive trout at Alvord Lake, 12-16″ … 1/4-ounce Rooster Tails and white color PowerBait best option. Kennedy Lake (Tucson) Eduardo C.: The largest trout I have caught in Community waters came in at 1-pound, 15.5-ounces and 17.5 inches!!! Silverbell Lake...
Editor’s Note: This is the the final of five “things we learned” from our 4-year study to investigate the fate of rainbow trout and Apache trout stocked into several of Arizona’s popular stream trout fisheries. As part of this project, AZGFD biologists conducted nearly 5,000 angler interviews on six different...
PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is conducting a $3.3 million renovation of the Sterling Springs Fish Hatchery in Oak Creek Canyon, north of Sedona. AZGFD expects to complete the renovations by June of 2019. “It’s all about ensuring that successful hatchery operations at Sterling Springs continue...
Send your fishing reports and pictures to BFishing@AZGFD.gov Desert Breeze Lake Dan F.: Caught at Desert Breeze, Chandler: 13 ” 13″ and a 15″ fattie. Editor’s note: Anglers can count on fishing for incentive this weekend in our “core” Community fishing waters. These larger-than-average rainbow trout average around 1 pound. More reports Angler Reports...
The incentive trout that we’ve been talking about for a couple weeks have just been stocked into Community waters. Anglers can count on fishing for them this weekend in our “core” Community fishing waters. These larger-than-average rainbow trout average around 1 pound. If you catch one, send a picture and...
Highways 273 and 261 are closed for the winter. Some lakes at the higher elevations, including around Show Low and Pinetop, are ice covered or partially ice covered. Anglers should always check ice conditions before fishing. Lower elevation lakes such as Concho, Lyman, and Clear Creek Reservoir may or may...
Due to the recent storms and run-off, the amount water flowing into Roosevelt Lake has increased dramatically. Both the Salt River and the Tonto Creek are flowing above their normal rates for this time of year. The lake is currently 40% full and rising slightly each day. The water is...
Send your fishing reports and pictures to BFishing@AZGFD.gov Roper Lake Chrostopher T.: It was a rough bite (Sunday, Jan. 3). Fished for two days and this was the only bite I got (10.38 pounds, 23 1/2 inches). I was using a WOO! tungsten 3/4-oz flipping weight and a black-and-blue Pitboss, flipping about...
Lake Pleasant is 74.8 percent full and 1,679 feet of elevation. See a Lake Pleasant water levels map from Maricopa Parks and Recreation Department. From fishing guide Mike Strole (fishing Saturday, Jan. 5): The striper bite on Lake Pleasant has slowed down as a result of the numerous cold fronts,...
Send your fishing reports and pictures to BFishing@AZGFD.gov Mittry Lake Jeremy L.: Caught these two 5-pounders at Mittry Lake on Jan. 6. This time of year bass have a tendency to school up and feed on shad. Mittry Lake can be real tough at times because there is a lot of submerged...
Water temperatures have dropped statewide to the low-50s at lakes such as Roosevelt. Bass metabolism slows considerably in the mid-50s. But trout love it. And we’re about to stock some big ones. Next week, incentive trout are coming that week to Community Fishing Program waters. These rainbow trout are expected...
We are fortunate in Arizona that our mild climate affords anglers year-round fishing adventures. During January, when lakes in other states are frozen and fishing tackle and boats are stored away for a few more months, Arizona anglers are already thinking about the upcoming spawn. No doubt that some of...
Well I am not sure what’s up with the stripers here along the Colorado River. The bite is on the slow side, or it’s the cold and wind that is keeping our anglers indoors. Our local angler Steve Pugh was able to take his kayak out up on Lake Mohave...
Arizona waters are home to some really large bass and catfish. Conservation of these special-sized fish is increasingly important as more anglers catch them and we continue stocking efforts to increase opportunities to catch a behemoth bass or catfish. We’re encouraging anglers to participate in the new AZ Hawg Bass and AZ...
