Arizona fishing report: The Reel Deal
A gorgeous weekend for another high country excursion is ahead with daytime highs forecast in the upper 60s to low 70s. Get there before winter conditions prevail. We’ve had some great reports of tiger trout action at Woods Canyon Lake and Willow Springs Lake, and we just stocked tigers into Kinnikinick Lake southeast of Flagstaff.
At Kaibab Lake near Williams on Thursday afternoon, sunfish, crappie and rainbow trout were hitting slowly worked flies such as prince nymphs and woolly buggers. (The campgrounds are closed at Kaibab.)
That day we sunk three trailer loads of juniper trees (above) into Kaibab — this critical habitat should make for even better fishing.
Remember that seasonal closures for campgrounds on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests have taken place on most of the forests districts. Read more.
This also is the time of year brown trout fishing picks up. Try Chevelon Lake, the East Fork Black River or Hawley Lake, where the Catch of the Week was caught.
In the desert regions, bass fishing will pick up as they become more active in preparation for winter. Sounds like yellow bass action is good at Saguaro Lake. We received a report from Thursday of yellow bass hitting Kastmaster spoons in 22-25 feet of water.
Fate of stocked trout: 5 things we learned
Did you miss the 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? Read the entire list.
Catch of the Week
Send your fishing reports and photos to BFishing@azgfd.gov —
one will be selected for Catch of the Week
Hawley Lake
Quadray A. caught and released this brown trout, reported at 21 inches, at Hawley Lake around 3 p.m. on Oct. 18 using a homemade midge-like fly.
This week’s scheduled stockings
Rainbow trout: Lynx Lake, Fain Lake, Frances Short Pond, Oak Creek, Parker Canyon Lake.
Tiger trout: Kinnikinick Lake, J.D. Dam Lake.
Family Fishing Events
Note: At these free fishing clinics, loaner rods are provided, bait is free, and no license is required for those who register at the AZGFD booth during event hours.
Saturday, Nov. 2
Family Fishing Fun. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Pena Blanca Lake, located off of SR 289 Nogales, AZ 85648
Please join AZGFD staff and volunteers, Santa Cruz County Supervisor Rudy Molera, and the Coronado National Forest-Nogales Ranger District for a morning of family fishing fun. The Arizona Game and Fish Department will be providing loaner rods and bait for this event (or you may bring your own). Bring your family out to enjoy free fishing and instruction from AZGFD Sport Fishing Education staff and volunteer instructors. The event is open to all ages. Fishing licenses are not required, during the planned hours of the event, for those who register at the Game & Fish booth. For more information please contact the Sport Fishing Education Program at (623) 236-7240.
Thank you, anglers!
Arizona fishing opportunities wouldn’t be possible without the Sport Fish Restoration Program. It was created through the Dingell-Johnson Act of 1950 (Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act) and the Wallop-Breaux amendments of 1984.
Through a federal excise tax paid by manufacturers on fishing gear and motorboat fuels, it provides grant funds for fishery conservation, boating access, and aquatic education.
Save time, buy online
Grab a license online (that helps conserve all species of wildlife, not to mention provides funding that goes back into fishing opportunities) and go “Fish AZ”.
