Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Lake surface temperature and lake level are declining. Cool monsoon weather patterns are adding much-needed rainwater to the lake but not enough to keep the lake from declining one foot per week. Fishing success for stripers on anchovy bait and smallmouth on plastic bait is still exceptional. Adult stripers are holding at about 30 feet where cooler temperatures make life more pleasant for these hungry fish. Add some anchovy chum to the water and stripers come running. Best fishing spots are... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has added largemouth bass virus (LMB virus), whirling disease and all snakehead fish to the Director’s Orders aquatic invasive species (AIS) list. LMB Virus LMB virus, which primarily affects adult largemouth and smallmouth bass during the summertime, has been discovered at Lake Pleasant (Maricopa County Parks) and Bartlett, Saguaro, and Roosevelt lakes on the Tonto National Forest. All watercraft users leaving those lakes will now be required by law to c... Full story
With catfish stockings at all Phoenix and Tucson urban waters on hold during the summer months, fishing becomes more challenging, requiring anglers to be adaptable, patient and persistent. Plenty of wily catfish still lurk the depths of the lakes, especially larger lakes of more than 4 acres. Catfishing is fair for anglers using worms, stink baits, or shrimp fished on the bottom. Catfish can be caught throughout the day, but are most active when the sun goes down. Most catfish are from 14-18 inc... Full story
TAMPA, Fla., -- 4/1/2013 -- Doug Hannon, a legend in the fishing world known as the “Bass Professor” whose unique expertise in a wide range of design skills and academic subjects in and outside of angling, died Thursday at his home in Keystone, a north Tampa suburb. Hannon was 66. He recently had neck surgery and was recovering at home said friend Russ Riley, a family spokesman and president of WaveSpin/MicroWave, a fishing components design company Hannon launched eight years ago, and whi... Full story
Lake level is slowly rising, but that is not as important as the rise in water temperature. During May the surface temperature was consistently in the 60s, which was great for bass fishing. During June, lake temperature have been in the 70s, which means young shad are growing large enough to draw interest from lake predators. The immediate result of new shad presence is a dramatic change in sport fish behavior. Last week’s report was all about stationary schools of striped bass that were easy t... Full story
Tip Of The Week If you're bass fishing and having a hard time with standard techniques such as the dropshot or Texas rig, try something a little different: Flick-shaking. This method can include a 1/16-ounce jig hook, and a 5 ½-inch flick shake worm (made by Jackall or Bass Pro Shops). Hook the worm right in the middle so that it’s whacky style. Try a spinning rod and 8-pound test line. As the jig sinks, pull up a bit to see if a bass is hitting the worm on the fall. Once the bait hits the bo... Full story
With catfish stockings at all Phoenix and Tucson urban waters on hold during the summer months, fishing becomes more challenging, requiring anglers to be adaptable, patient and persistent. Plenty of wily catfish still lurk the depths of the lakes, especially larger lakes of more than 4 acres. Catfishing is fair for anglers using worms, stink baits, or shrimp fished on the bottom. Catfish can be caught throughout the day, but are most active when the sun goes down. Most catfish are from 14-18... Full story
The most recent catfish stocking at press time was the week of April 29 – May 4 at all Phoenix and Tucson area Urban waters. Cats from previous stockings have been biting very well on worms, stink baits, and hot dogs or shrimp fished on the bottom. Catfish have been active throughout the day with mornings and evenings best. Worms (night crawlers) have been the top bait for three Urban category Big Fish-of-the-Year entries, all in March. Robert Foy hauled in an 8.2-pound, 22-inch largemouth b... Full story
Stripers are still running along the canyon walls in the southern lake. They spilled into the main channel 3 weeks ago and have been eager to hit bait offered by anglers ever since. I have heard they are chasing boats, begging for anchovies. Well, that may be a bit much, but if you pass over some hungry stripers please stop and feed them! Glen Canyon dam still holds the majority of the fish, but many are behind the barricade out of casting range. The Chains parking area offers good shore... Full story
You've probably seen it before: Every stretch is different. The way the banks wind and present a new portrait of our meadows and trees and mountains changes with each jaunt to another fishing hole. Spring surely is here. As we hit another stretch of above-average seasonal spring temperatures, the opportunity to hit the White Mountain and Mogollon Rim streams and lakes will broaden. Unfortunately, many lakes and streams remain inaccessible, but any day now — Rarin’ To Go One lake is raring to... Full story
Declining lake level will have a huge impact on spring fishing. Current lake level is now at the projected low of 3600 and it will likely decline another foot before spring runoff reverses the lake level. That is great news for boaters using the southern lake as it will allow the construction crew currently deepening the Castle Rock Cut to remove one more foot of soil and make the pass last a bit longer in future low-water situations. But, fish care more about the water level as it relates to... Full story
March offers the best time of the year to fish your nearby park lakes for trout, sunfish, bass and catfish. Good fishing for trout will continue through March as all lakes receive their final winter stockings. Most trout are biting on Power Bait fished on the bottom, but worms and small jigs have worked well at times. The cool morning hours are the best times to target the trout. As waters warm up, try fishing for largemouth bass that are now moving closer to shore as they prepare to spawn and... Full story
It’s been a cold winter at Lake Powell. Water surface temperature bottomed out at 44 F and presently fluctuates between 45 at night and 47 during the “heat” of the day. Water level continues to decrease resulting in the closure of the Castle Rock Cut and the primitive launch ramps at Hite. Luckily, the last cold spell featured an increase in the snow pack in Colorado, which means there will be some runoff this spring. On the bright side, those anglers who continue to bundle up and venture out h... Full story
Roosevelt Lake is the upper most and largest in a series of four reservoirs on the Salt River. The Bureau of Reclamation constructed Roosevelt Dam in 1911 forming Roosevelt Lake. At full capacity it is approximately 22 miles long with 91 miles of shoreline; its maximum depth is over 300 feet and it can store 1,653,043 acre feet of water. Roosevelt Lake is also home to a variety of game fish including largemouth and smallmouth bass, black crappie, yellow bass, bluegill, channel and flathead catfish and carp. Threadfin shad, gizzard shad, and blu... Full story
This is the last 2012 fishing report from Wayne Gustaveson for 2012, and we thank him for all the excellent information he has provided us for the past 12 months. It has been an interesting year with more highs than lows. Bass and walleye fishing in the spring was awesome, followed by a great run of surface fishing for juvenile stripers in summer. Now, going into winter it’s a mixed bag with unexpected fishing opportunities occurring each day. For example, on Saturday we took a side trip into Ca... Full story
Arizona Game and Fish Department officials have confirmed the presence of largemouth bass virus in Lake Pleasant. Lab tests on largemouth bass tissue samples collected during a routine survey in October by Arizona Game and Fish and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel showed presence of the disease in some samples. While the virus can affect largemouth bass, it doesn’t pose a risk to people and pets, and the water is safe for drinking water supply and recreation. “Largemouth bass virus is... Full story
After more than 22 years and 1,200-plus weeks of producing the weekly fishing report, this is my last one. I am retiring. I am truly blessed for having had such a superb readership. And such an interactive one. I truly appreciated all the e-mails and phone calls with tips and questions. It was also gratifying to meet so many of you on the lakes, at events, or in some cases, even places like the local super market. Being just an old small-town newspaper editor, I have always looked at all of you... Full story
Fishing out of Wahweap is hot and cold. Fishing is super hot for the first hour of light in the morning. Toss a small profile surface lure like a Sammy or Sugoi splash toward the shoreline for fast action from smallmouth bass and juvenile striped bass. On one morning recently, one of the hottest spots was the Stateline ramp cove. A shad school moved under the courtesy dock at first light and was quickly surrounded by bass and stripers. Lures landing on the outer perimeter of the shad school... Full story
All lakes were stocked again with channel catfish the week of Oct. 1-6. Fishing for catfish is good to excellent now that the fall stockings have resumed. Mornings and evenings are the best times as catfish prefer to feed under dim or dark conditions. While the majority of stocked catfish are caught in the first five days of stocking, anglers are still catching cats one to two weeks later at a slower rate. Top baits for catfish have been stink baits, shrimp and worms fished on the bottom in the... Full story
For a little while longer, Lake Powell's water level is stable and temperature remains in the low 60s, which is ideal for excellent bass, walleye and crappie fishing. With day length and ambient temperature increasing, the best tip is to fish in the shade. That includes the shady side of an individual rock or the shady side of a canyon. Seek shade to increase catch. Bass Spawning Near Completion Bass nests are still seen in the clear water and some have male guards cruising in the vicinity.... Full story
It seems that this Bartlett Lake largemouth bass bit off more than he could chew. As Don McDowell of Shake, Rattle, and Troll Radio explained when asked if either or both of the fish could survive: "Only if someone removes the smaller fish. What happens is the dorsal fins on the smaller fish won't allow the larger fish to release the small fish.The smaller fish basically is stuck and without intervention, both are doomed."... Full story
Hey, with temperatures in the deserts expected to soar into the triple digits, it might be time for a cool dose of scented pine air. Especially since we are getting great fishing reports from most of the mountain lakes. Woods Canyon Lake Big Lake and Woods Canyon Lake are both hot spots right now. Both of those waters have stores and boat rentals, making them even more attractive. I have been getting lots of reports of anglers catching limits of trout — even some larger holdover ones. Ironically... Full story
Fishing is fantastic as long as you are fishing for bass in the afternoon. Bass spawning is imminent. It may take a little while longer due to unsettled weather, but fishing will remain very good for bass for the rest of the month. Water temperature still declines into the mid 50s overnight, but by afternoon, water in the backs of the canyons and coves warms to the mid 60s. This warming and cooling cycle produces the best bass fishing of the year. Sight Fishing Sight fishing for very big bass... Full story
Imagine getting a rebate for fishing? Well, guess what? You can now get a rebate for having or buying a 2012 Arizona Fishing License, thanks to a promotion by Shakespeare. Here’s the deal. Buy any two Shakespeare products (such as the Ugly Stick) that total $40 and a 2012 Arizona Fishing License (or show proof that you have one), submit the documentation by mail, and get $10 back by mail. It’s as simple as all that. For more information, visit the Recreation and Boating and Fishing Foundation at www.rbff.org. “We are already stocking trout... Full story
Just recently, we just stocked a bonus 3,000 rainbow trout into the Lower Salt River below Saguaro Lake near Phoenix at the Waters Users (where the tubers put in) and Blue Point Bridge. Despite our late winter temperatures soaring up just as spring approaches, the water in the Lower Salt comes from the bottom of Saguaro Lake, so it is in the low 50s, making it a superb riverine trout fishery in the Upper Sonoran Desert. Basically, it's a one-of-a-kind fishery. So, give it a try. Be sure to get y...
