Arizona fishing report: The Reel Deal
Visit the mountain regions before the summer heat raises lake temperatures and trout activity patterns slow down — especially in the North Central region.
Summer has officially started, yet great spring-like fishing remains – for now. Sounds like the top-water bite in desert impoundments such as Lake Pleasant haven’t quite picked up yet. Look for that early morning surface action to pick up as water temperatures warm. With daytime highs forecast into the 110s in the central regions (and nighttime lows in the 80s), that shouldn’t take long. A new moon begins Monday, so striped bass anglers with submersible lights can take advantage of those darker nights to draw in plankton, shad, and the predatory fish you want to hook.
Some hot spots this week have included Kaibab Lake near Williams, Frances Short Pond in Flagstaff, Ashurst Lake southeast of Flagstaff for holdover rainbow trout, Upper Lake Mary for walleye, Lower Lake Mary for trout, Bartlett Lake for largemouth bass and Lake Mead for striped bass. Be sure to check the scheduled stockings below.
Catch of the Week
Send your fishing reports and photos to BFishing@azgfd.gov —
one will be selected for Catch of the Week
Canyon Lake
Carlos R. caught this 8-pound, 5-ounce (25 inch) largemouth bass June 12 on a green pumpkin twin tail Chomper.
This week’s scheduled stockings
Rainbow trout: Tonto Creek, East Verde River, West Fork Little Colorado River-Greer, Lower Salt River, Christopher Creek, Haigler Creek, Nelson Reservoir, Oak Creek, Knoll Lake, Dogtown Reservoir, Mingus Lake, Fain Lake, Colorado River.
Gila trout: West Fork-Oak Creek.
Apache trout: West Fork Little Colorado River-Sheeps Crossing.
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”.
