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
Art wasn't just one of the best-known crappie fishermen in Arizona; he was also a dynamite bass fisherman. He was one of those guys who was generous with his know-how and even his fishing spots, and he was always willing to teach a seminar, visit a fishing club, or take an outdoor writer out on the water. We will miss him so much! Over the years, Art has helped me with stories about trolling for crappie, night fishing for bass, fishing plastic worms, fishing for spring crappie - you name it,... Full story
Parks For Healing "Being...out in nature, it's just good for the soul. It's cleansing...it gets you outside of yourself. It's my...way to decompress."- Edye Joyner, U.S. Marine Corps and Desert Storm veteran Many national parks have direct connections to the American military - there are dozens of battlefields, military parks, and historic sites that commemorate and honor the service of American veterans. In addition, every national park is part of our collective identity that defines who we... 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 104 eagle breeding areas. To protect breeding attempts, some portions of public land and water areas will be... Full story
Executive Order 14067 This is not what you might think. Look Closely Our Justice System Is At Serious Risk Every citizen of every country should be afraid for the future of their country when criminal illegal aliens are allowed, and encouraged, to vote in our elections. The first item listed on state and federal election rules about voting states that you must be a citizen. Pretty clear isn't it. Then why are federal judges interfering and allowing non-citizens to vote? Good question but the... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has issued a Notice of Intent to Pursue Rulemaking to begin the process to amend its Article 4 rules (live wildlife) to implement the recommendations made in the recent five-year review report. The amendments proposed in the five-year review report are intended to increase the effectiveness of the rules to meet the department’s mission, ensure consistency with state and federal statutes, and to increase the clarity of the existing rules. Except for the a... Full story
Acres: 11,162 Location: South of Roosevelt Lake on the edge of the Superstition Wilderness Personnel: 379 Containment: 45% Resources: 9 Crews | 4 Engines | 5 Helicopters | 3 Bulldozers | 6 Water Tenders Start Date: July 11, 2024 Cause: Lightning Fuels: Tall Grass and Brush Highlights: Gila County Division of Emergency Management along with the Gila County Sheriff's Office lifted evacuation orders for all residences affected by the Black Fire except for the Reavis Mountain School, which remains... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has confirmed golden algae toxin blooms as the cause of recent fish kills at both Saguaro and Canyon lakes. When golden algae is the cause of a fish kill at one of the Salt River chain lakes (Saguaro, Canyon and Apache), varying degrees of fish kills are typically observed at all three of the lakes. AZGFD staff recently collected water-quality samples at both Saguaro and Canyon, which confirmed golden algae as the cause of the fish kills. At Saguaro... Full story
A lot of old-timers will tell you that the best way for a crappie fisherman to deal with a cold front is to stay home. Unfortunately, most of us don't have the luxury of choosing which days to go fishing. Why does it always seem like the dreaded cold fronts pass through just before the weekend, or right in the middle of the tournament? Crappie Recover Faster The effects of a cold front are particularly devastating in the spring. A five degree drop in surface temperature can drive the fish off... Full story
Now that the weather is cooler, the fishing is starting to heat up! It's that time of year when cold water fishing really starts to take off, so make sure you have your gear in order. Whether you are new to fishing or are a seasoned angler, here are a few tips to make sure your gear is ready for the fall. If you are new to fishing and are looking for a rod and reel for cold water fishing, I would recommend a 7-foot, medium-power, fast-action spinning rod with a 2500-size spinning reel. This rod... Full story
Don McDowell Outdoors is hosted by Don McDowell with a slew of guests from politicians, members of the AZ Game & Fish, avid hunters and anglers and so many more! Each Sunday you can be sure to hear great insight into current events both around the country and locally as well as the perfect guides for the current state of hunting, fishing, and conservation. Meet Don McDowell Don McDowell, Arizona native, is an avid outdoorsman and has been an active bass pro fisherman for over 22 years and in... Full story
A succession of winter storms has provided much-needed moisture to Arizona's waters and landscapes over the last several months. Salt River Project (SRP) said this winter has been one of the best for the Verde and Salt River water systems in the last three decades, and SRP's reservoirs (Roosevelt, Apache, Canyon and Saguaro on the Salt, and Horseshoe and Bartlett on the Verde) are projected to fill or be close to capacity. While the rain and snow is welcome in terms of helping to mitigate dry... Full story
It was cold, but the fishing was hot. By Margie Anderson We went out with Dave Prothe under the worst conditions. Roosevelt was the lowest I've ever seen it, and it was cold out. The water was dirty and there was a tournament going on. Prothe, however, seemed cheerful and optimistic. And with good reason, too -- the first fish he caught (before the sun was even over the horizon) was a largemouth that weighed at least four and a half pounds. This Is The Time "This is the time of year that the wat... Full story
Buying a used boat is a great way to get into boating, and there are a lot of good bargains out there. When you check out a boat before buying, don't forget to examine the trailer. First, check to see if the trailer is NMMA-certified. That will mean that it meets industry guidelines for safety and quality. Then check the weight limit that the trailer can handle and make sure that the total weight of the boat, motor, and the gear you're putting in there doesn't exceed that number. Check the... Full story
There are so many opportunities to enjoy angling in Arizona. Here are a few to add to your tackle box. Editor's Note: Fishing is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Arizona; both tournaments and fun family angling events are available almost every month of the year. There is not room here to even begin to cover them all, but here are a few sites to check for upcoming events. Arizona Game & Fish Department Volunteer The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking volunteers to help buil... Full story
Big Fish And Big Money Can Come On Crankbaits When water temperatures start to go down and lake levels begin to rise, crankbait time is here again. Fish start moving up and getting a lot more active, and one of the best ways to find them is to start cranking around the same places you found them during the summer, but shallower.Long points that have good drop-offs to deeper water are prime early-fall areas. Fishing Legend Danny Westfall Re: Crankbaits Fishing crankbaits is easy, but still... 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
Let's Talk About Catfish By Andy Clark - AZGFD Statewide Sportfish Program Supervisor I've come to the conclusion that there are few things better as an angler than feeling "tap-tap-tap" on your line in the pitch dark. Despite the many hours half-dozing in the sweltering heat of the night, forgetting my headlamp is on and wondering why the bugs keep eating me alive, catfish remain one of my favorite fishing targets. Arizona is home to some fantastic spots to catch catfish. Let's focus on simple... Full story
Apache Lake Marina and Burnt Corral Campground will close to the public Friday, 8 a.m. PHOENIX, July 1, 2021 — Firefighters are responding to a wildfire, named the Painted Fire, on the Tonto National Forest east of Forest Road 80 near Horse Mesa Dam and Apache Lake. The Painted Fire was reported late Wednesday afternoon and is burning approximately 3 miles west of Apache Lake Marina. The lightning-caused fire has burned approximately 835 acres in dry thick brush and grass. Visitors to the f... Full story
Mark Kile was the guy to watch at any local tournament a few years back. We were lucky enough to go out with him several times at his home lake, Roosevelt, and he just flat knows how to catch them. This time of year, Kile would be catching forty-plus bass in half a day at Roosevelt, usually with at least one kicker over five pounds. "The fish are moving into the shallows," he'd say, "and some of them are spawning." Kile says that throwing a worm in a channel three to five feet deep will often... Full story
The names Bobby and Garry Garland will be enshrined in the fishing hall of fame for all time because of the Gitzit, the original tube bait. The brothers invented the lure to help them catch the finicky fish on Mead, and it is still one of the best finesse baits ever designed. There are tons of knock-offs, but a lot of anglers insist that the original Gitzit is the best. We met up with Garry many years ago and fished Roosevelt with him. When Conditions Are Tough ...... 
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Outdoor recreationists, pilots, drone operators asked to avoid nesting areas. Arizona’s bald eagles are 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 92 eagle breeding areas. To protect breeding attempts, some porti... Full story
This photo from the National Park Service inspired the cover of this issue. As we remember the tragic events of September 11, 2001, she symbolizes to me the importance of remembering our history -- both the glory and the darkness. She watched as the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center burned and cried with us at the loss of life and the terrifying events of that infamous day. Patriot Day, established soon after, is a national day of mourning and reminds us how quickly and easily we can lose... Full story
As of May 15, many of the Tonto National Forest's developed recreation sites have opened for use. This includes all developed sites for the lower Salt River and Saguaro Lake, most developed sites at Apache, Canyon, and Roosevelt Lakes. Bartlett Lake sites are also open. "In conjunction with Governor Ducey's phased reopening of Arizona, we are opening many popular sites on the forest for public use and enjoyment," Tonto National Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth said. "We recognize the importance... Full story
The key to enjoying a night fishing trip is organization. If you have all the equipment you need, and everything is kept where it should be, fishing in the dark is a real pleasure no matter what kind of fish you're after. Art Chamberlin has a lot of experience fishing at night, so he knows all the tricks that make night fishing fun and easy. Black Lights Black lights are a huge help when paired with fluorescent line at night. The black light makes the line glow, so you can see it jump or move... Full story
