Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

Expect to find bass in the spawn and post-spawn modes. Just pick your favorite lake and go. Top picks are Roosevelt, Bartlett and Alamo lakes for largemouth bass.For places like Roosevelt and Alamo, flipping and pitching is a great technique, especially around submerged trees.

The Reel Deal

The transition to spring fishing conditions is finally setting in -- time to get out and fish!

Let's get to some highlights:

• Striped bass catch rates are picking up at Lake Pleasant. Check out a report from guest contributor Barry Worman of the Arizona Striper Fishing Facebook page.

Lake Havasu: 5-Pound Redear Sunfish

• The Arizona Department of Transportation has opened State Highways 261 and 273. ADOT was working to clear the last of the snow drifts off of the highways before opening. The roads were closed during winter months for public safety. Opening the state highways allows access to Big Lake and Crescent and Sunrise lakes. See an Arizona Traveler Information map that shows only minimal delays on these roads.

• The 300 road is open to the Woods Canyon Lake turnoff. Store and boat rentals are open. Campgrounds won't open until May. A recent survey found lots of rainbow and tiger trout winter carry-overs averaging around 11-12 inches, and rainbow trout are being stocked this week. We saw full stringers this week before it was even stocked - fish are hungry and biting hooks.

• Recently-stocked brown trout have been hitting at Lynx Lake. One angler hooked a bunch of 'em on 1.5 inch-crappie tubes on the southern shore of the lake.

• A monster 5-pound redear sunfish was caught from Lake Havasu (pictured).