Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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PHOENIX - Though conditions remain very dry and several major wildfires continue to burn in our state, some lakes remain open and many have been stocked by the Arizona Game and Fish Department with trout or catfish for anglers to enjoy this weekend. Lakes that are currently accessible are: Show Low as well as Show Low Creek in the Pinetop/Show Low area Goldwater, Lynx, Granite Basin, Watson and Fain lakes in the Prescott area Mormon Lodge Pond south of Flagstaff and Frances Short Pond in... Full story
More than 67,000 rainbow trout varying in size from 3 to 18 inches stocked into Lower Lake Mary in this spring. By Matt Rinker, Senior Aquatic Wildlife Specialist, AZGFD Flagstaff Region If you have ever fished Lower Lake Mary, you know it is a lake of boom and bust. Some years the lake is full and fishing is great and other years the lake is low or just a meadow. Well, the story of Upper and Lower Lake Mary is directly tied to the history of Flagstaff and its early settlers. Upper and Lower... Full story
We save most of our desert drives for winter because although our Jeep would make it through snow and mud, many northern Arizona off-highway trails are closed in winter, and we also don't like to make deep ruts in muddy roads just from a conservation standpoint. It's too hot in summer to really enjoy a desert drive, because we like to get out of the Jeep and do a lot of walking and exploring. In the summer we have not only the excessive heat to contend with, but also my constant fretting that... Full story
Arizona's bald eagles are back, and they will soon be preparing for the next generation of eagles at breeding sites statewide. To assist with the state's continued bald eagle population growth, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) encourages outdoor recreationists, aircraft pilots, drone operators and motorized paragliders to do their part by not disturbing the state's 93 eagle breeding areas. Hope For A Productive Breeding Season To protect breeding attempts, some portions of public... Full story
Camping is awesome, especially if you know some basics. Choosing a great spot and setting up a camp site is something I've been doing for decades. Of course, when I first started camping, my dad did most of the choosing, but we all helped set up the camp. Where and how we camp still depends a lot on the purpose of the trip. In other words, are we hunting, fishing, hiking, or just exploring and camping? How elaborate our camp becomes is largely dependent on the answer to that question, but the... Full story
From Arizona State Parks Check out our extensive Arizona wildflower list at the bottom of the page, complete with vibrant photos and bloom information! How many will you see in 2021? February showers make March wildflowers in the desert parks and create yet another reason to explore this beautiful state! During years of average and above average precipitation, it seems every direction you look there are beautiful yellow, red, white, orange, blue, or purple flowers blanketing the landscape. Try... Full story
Outdoor Recreationists, Pilots And Drone Operators Asked To Avoid Bald Eagle Nest Areas Arizona's bald eagles are back and they will soon be working on the next generation of eagles at breeding sites statewide. To assist with the state's continued bald eagle population growth, the Arizona Game and Fish Department encourages outdoor recreationists, aircraft pilots, drone operators and motorized paragliders to do their part by not disturbing the state's 89 eagle breeding areas. As such, some... Full story
Alamo has great bass, catfish, and crappie fishing. We were up there with Greg Pishkur one May and we caught a bunch of nice largemouth on Chatterbaits in the main lake. Greg also took us up into the submerged trees in the river end and we tied into some big bass flipping white jigs.... 
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Alamo Lake can be dynamite in April. The average high temperature is 79 degrees and the average low is 44 degrees. Bass may be spawning, and crappie fishing will be great. With all the rain we've had, the ramps are open now and it's a great place to go. April At Alamo Should Be Great One of the reasons I like Alamo so much is that it's far from anywhere and it's not on the way to any place either – you have to want to go to Alamo, and it's a pretty good drive no matter where you live, so the l... Website
Outdoor recreationists, pilots and drone operators asked to avoid bald eagle nest areas. Arizona's bald eagle breeding season is on the horizon and multiple public land and water areas will be closed to protect the majestic animals and ensure even more young eagles take to the skies this spring. Highly Successful Program Each year as part of its highly successful program to conserve and protect bald eagles in the state, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) asks outdoor recreationists, ai... Full story
At times it seems as if there is no winter in the Arizona desert - some years we're still in shirt sleeves on Christmas day. Winter weather like this makes up for the 118 degree summer days, and Alamo Lake is a prime example. You'll swelter at Alamo in summer, but the average high in December is 63 degrees. This makes for awesome days on the water.... Website
Each year as part of its highly successful program to manage and conserve bald eagles in the state, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) asks outdoor recreationists, aircraft pilots, drone operators and motorized paragliders to help this magnificent bird in Arizona. Various land and wildlife management agencies close areas around breeding locations during the birds' breeding season to protect the state's 67 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Some closure areas are located near popular... Full story
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... Full story
Some good lakes to try are Bartlett, Apache, Roosevelt and Canyon. Many anglers have reported spotting huge schools of black crappie on fish-finders at lakes such as Roosevelt and Canyon. Other good lakes to try are Apache and Bartlett. (Crappie fishing at Alamo Lake reportedly is poor.) With some stable winter weather, this can be an excellent time to fish for crappie and they head into deeper waters of our desert impoundments and form large schools. But some anglers will troll jigs with grubs,... Full story
In Arizona, winter doesn't have to mean sending boats and rods and reels into hibernation. While outdoor recreation opportunities across many U.S. states shut down during the season of freeze, Arizona rolls on with trout stockings and water temperatures just warm enough to convince fish to bite during the holidays. Although fishing tends to slow a tad this time of the year, there are some spots that are winter-friendly. Here, then, are the Arizona Game and Fish Department's top-five fishing... Full story
It's finally getting cool enough to do some exploring and hiking in the central deserts of Arizona. There are plenty of beautiful things to see in the desert - you just have to know where to look. A great place to base your adventure is Wickenburg, which is central to recreational areas, mining towns and sites, hiking trails, and tons of opportunities to learn about the plants and environment of the area. Wickenburg is a thriving town with plenty of places to stay - everything from dude ranches... Full story
Havasupai Falls Arizona is a major destination for hikers who want to visit the blue-green waterfalls. Hidden in the Grand Canyon, and difficult to get reservations for, this paradise is for those who can plan ahead and enjoy hikes of eight miles or more. AZBW/WOT Aug. 2016 AZBW/WOT Aug. 2016 By Jim & Carol Allen 32 pages, published 8/8/2016 Havasupai Falls Arizona is a major destination for hikers who want to visit the blue-green waterfalls. Hidden in the Grand Canyon, and difficult to get... Full story
Looking for a summer adventure filled with fun the whole family can enjoy? Spend the weekend or plan a day trip to one of our beautiful Arizona State Parks. We've got you covered whether you're a first-time camper, amateur cave explorer, looking for a watersport haven or prefer to discover Arizona's history. Here are some of our favorite things to get you out of the house and into an adventure: Watersport Havens - The lake and river parks offer something for everyone to enjoy from beaches, boat... Full story
PHOENIX - Looking for weekend plans? Come cast a line in one of the quiet fishing coves at an Arizona State Park lake! Water sport enthusiasts will appreciate the clear, blue waters ideal for skiing, tubing, and boating on the open water. WHAT: Arizona State Parks with boat launch ramps. WHERE: Alamo Lake State Park- Has two paved boat ramps to launch motorized and non-motorized watercrafts. Buckskin Mountain State Park- Has a two-lane launch ramp for motorized and on-motorized watercraft.... Full story
Tip Of The Week From the fishing log: Around this time last year, and in similar water temperatures, the smallmouth bass bite was hot on the Parker Strip section of the Colorado River. Anglers had success on nightcrawlers and assorted soft baits. Worms were also working well for the large hybrid redears known to occupy this stretch of river. Keeping a fishing log - recording dates, times, moon phases, what bait worked (or did not work) for what species and at what water depth/temperature, etc.... Full story
Tip Of The Week At Lake Havasu, a.k.a. Arizona's West Coast, anglers can have banner days on the bedding smallmouth bass. Crappie and largemouth bass will follow with their egg protecting endeavors. (Did I say, "crappie"? Yep, and it looks like Alamo Lake is ripe to be targeted for this great-tasting fish. Just get some good advice from an area tackle shop – if you need it -- and mean business.) The Reel Deal Most bass are in pre-spawn mode in most of the desert lakes. Before recent storms, some... Full story
Imagine your next camping trip - waking up from a good night sleep on a comfortable bed, you walk out the front door onto the porch and breathe the fresh cool morning air while the sun warms your face. As you look out across the placid lake, birds sing gleefully around you. Welcome to the camping cabin, Arizona State Parks' version of glamping! Arizona's state parks provide perfect destinations for family camping adventures without the need for a RV or tent. Nice cozy camping cabins are currentl... Full story
(Phoenix, Arizona - March 9, 2016) - Imagine your next camping trip...waking up from a good night sleep on a comfortable bed, you walk out the front door onto the porch and breathe the fresh cool morning air while the sun warms your face. As you look out across the placid lake, birds sing gleefully around you. Welcome to the camping cabin, Arizona State Parks' version of glamping! Arizona's state parks provide perfect destinations for family camping adventures without the need for a RV or tent.... Full story
Tip Alamo Lake can be a crappie hot spot this time of the year. Heavy rains might delay the great winter crappie bite, but it bodes well for the lake's productivity. Catfishing can still be excellent. These voracious channel catfish at Alamo routinely feed on shad. Try live minnows on the bottom or drop-shot style just off the bottom. The Reel Deal Water temperatures across the state have dropped to their winter standards, and rain and snow has slowed or stalled driving in the high country. Be... Full story
The State Parks in Arizona are offering guided hikes for New Years Day as part of a program called 1st Day Hikes. Guided hikes are great, even if you are an experienced hiker, because the guides will have lots of information about the area that you might not have known. The State Parks are great places to visit at any time, and the opportunity for a free guided hike is a bonus. Generally, the weather is cool on New Years Day, but at higher altitudes, you should add layers. Also, bring your own w... Full story
