Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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The recent discovery of invasive golden mussels (Limnopernafortunei) in the California Delta region serves as a reminder to boaters and anglers to please do your part to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in Arizona's waters. Golden mussels have similar impacts as quagga mussels, but can survive in locations that typically quagga mussels cannot. Boaters and anglers are strongly encouraged to clean, drain, and dry their watercraft before launching in ANY Arizona waterbody.... Full story
Have Some Fun While Practicing Your Casts Fly fishing is not that difficult a skill to learn, but it offers a lifetime of opportunities to get better as you increase your casting distance, accuracy and approaches for every possible stream condition. Payson angler Jim Strogen has a great article in the Payson Roundup about how to make it fun and set up challenges through practice to improve your skills and catch more fish on a fly. Read the article: Payson angler Jim Strogen Please check out... Full story
Good news for southern Arizona anglers! Pena Blanca Lake received monthly rainbow trout stockings starting in the last week of January through March. Pena Blanca Lake is located in the Coronado National Forest 68 miles south of Tucson and 17 miles northwest of Nogales in Peña Blanca Canyon. There is a day-use fee of $8 per vehicle, or you can purchase an accepted pass. Learn more about accepted passes here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/coronado/passes-permits/recreation This is our One... Full story
Publisher's Note - Dan Pennell, owner of Toro Construction, has been fishing Arizona's hidden fishing holes for more years than he might want to admit. Long 4-wheel drives and long hikes are part of his getting to the best locations around the state. PS - Pennell is even better at building block walls than he is at fishing. - Jim Allen PARADISE ALONG THE BLACK RIVER Lots of bear tracks, wild turkeys, mountain goats, eagle nests, elk and deer everywhere, and yes---rattle snakes and poison ivy... Full story
Our community lakes are such great places to fish – the Game and Fish stocks them with a variety of fish at different times of year, including trout, catfish, and bluegill. Some of the lakes have bass in them, too! You've probably got an urban lake close by – there are over 50! - and sitting on the bank with a line in the water is one of the best ways to spend a day that I know of. We've been taking our granddaughters to urban lakes since they were very small, and they not only love to fish, but... Full story
Inconsistent, thin ice is not safe; high-country anglers need to be aware. High country temperatures have been up and down this winter. Before taking that first step on an ice-covered lake to do some fishing, or to simply enjoy the winter weather in Arizona's high country, take a step back and consider if the conditions are safe. First Ice, Last Ice The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), along with the Coconino and Kaibab national forests, are urging outdoor recreationists to be aware... Full story
Summary Of Fishing Regulations Changes For 2025-26 Below is a list of changes published in the 2025 and 2026 Fishing Regulations: • The special regulations and seasons section is now organized by Arizona Game and Fish Department regions to make it easier for anglers to know which office to contact for additional information. • New regulation to create unlimited daily and possession limits for illegally introduced warmwater fish species at Becker Lake. Catch-and-release only for trout. Trout mus... Full story
Prespawn bass have a notorious reputation for being hard to catch, but fortunately not all bass in a lake spawn at the same time. This means that in early spring you’ve got fish that are still deep, some that are moving up, and maybe even some already making beds and getting ready to rock and roll. All of these fish may be catchable, and some of the best fishermen I know choose baits that can be worked at a variety of depths at this time of year. 1. Dart Head + Floating Worm Back in the day, t... Full story
Cold-blooded critters like bass slow down in winter, and the colder the water gets, the slower the bass become. But they don't quit eating altogether, and if you know how, where, and what to fish, winter can be your best chance to bag a really big bass.Arizona Game and Fish biologist Bill Silvey explains: "As the air temperature drops, the water at the surface starts to cool off and become denser. Pretty soon it's colder than the water beneath it, and it starts to sink, while the warmer water... Full story
Lake Havasu on the Colorado River is a fantastic place to visit – it has great fishing, beautiful views, plenty of places to stay and play -- and the London Bridge. The London Bridge In the 1930s, the construction of Parker Cam created Lake Havasu. During World War II an R and R camp for the armed forces was built on a peninsula. A developer named McCulloch bought 26 square miles of desert (the current site of Lake Havasu City), and in 1968 he bought the London Bridge and had it dismantled a... Full story
Does trudging up the ramp to fetch your truck and trailer leave you huffing and puffing? What about throwing a jerkbait all day long – can your arm take it? How about your last pre-fish? Did you find yourself missing out on some opportunities because you just didn't have it in you to stand on the trolling motor for another hour? To get into better shape for your next fishing trip, start now. If you want to maximize your enjoyment of the outdoors, getting and staying fit should be a priority. T... Full story
Fall Fishing I first saw Ben in action in 1993, when I was his observer at an All Star Championship. The first day of the tournament was on San Carlos, and I had the opportunity to watch Ben fish a variety of lures, including worms, spoons, jigs, jerkbaits, and even a Pork-o! Nice Weather The championship was in September, and for a change the weather was pretty nice. It was cloudy and cool, and the water temperature was a little over 77 degrees. Ben started off in the very back of a cove,... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) recently celebrated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) decision to remove Apache trout from the federal Endangered Species List . "The recovery of Apache trout is a culmination of more than five decades of hard work and the cooperation of many partners, and it's truly an amazing conservation success story," said AZGFD Director Ty Gray. Apache trout, one of only two native trout species in Arizona, were found in streams across the White Mountai... 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
Most of the trout in Arizona are stocked fish, which means that trout fishing is mostly a "put and take" game. The Arizona Game and Fish Department puts the trout in, and we take them out. Most of the fish that are stocked are small, what the Game and Fish calls "catchable" trout, but some of our lakes and streams have genuine trophy fish, and the Game and Fish Department usually throws in a couple of bigger fish in each stocking just to give you an incentive to fish. Don't miss the Arizona... Full story
Hardcore fishing platforms have lure storage in every possible spot on board. But for the average boat, there's the new Tackle Station from SeaSucker. Because it mounts temporarily and is so easy to relocate, it's perfect for owners who may be pulling a tube one day and trolling the next. Made in the USA of durable high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the Tackle Station uses SeaSucker's powerful 4.5" Vacuum Mount. Supporting up to 120 lbs. once attached to any non-porous surface, it holds the inclu... Full story
Community Fishing Program waters teeming with scrappy fighters. It doesn't have to be Friday to enjoy a good, old-fashioned fish fry. Cole slaw. French fries. Red beans and rice. Oh, and don't forget hush puppies. All are perfect complements to a pile of fresh-caught catfish filets, fried in a savory cornmeal batter until crisp and golden-brown. Whatever your choice of side dishes, leave the main course up to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), which is now stocking Community Fishing... Full story
If you like bass fishing, you will love fishing for pike. Pound for pound, they are among the most aggressive fish you will ever tangle with, and they can weigh up to 40 pounds or more. Even in a state as far south as Arizona, northern pike thrive at higher elevations and provide plenty of action for anglers who would otherwise be dangling earthworms for trout. Behave Like Tigers Pike not only behave like tigers, they have a mouthful of teeth to match. The jaws, roof of the mouth, and even the...
When bass go deep, like they do in winter and summer, it takes a combination of the right lure and the right technique to catch the big ones. Football head jigs dressed up in skirts and grubs are ideal lures for these deep-water hawgs. A jig has all the features that tempt fish and make them eat – the profile is relatively small, but bulky enough to look like a decent meal, and the legs and skirt wave around even when the lure is not moving, so the lure constantly sends out signals that a b... Full story
At the U.S. Open about several years ago, Arizona Nitro pro Kevin Finley found a Storm Arashi crankbait in the goodie bag he received at tournament HQ. Later, he went fishing at Lake Pleasant with a buddy, Taj White, and told him, "you tie on whatever you think I should throw – I've got a tournament coming at Pleasant." Taj absolutely smashed them with the Arashi. That's how he found out about the Arashi, and now he says it's the best crankbait he's ever used. Never Lost One Finley says he's n... Full story
Tournament angling for all species in Arizona has grown tremendously recently. Many people don't realize that the Arizona Game and Fish Department does not issue permits for fishing tournaments. Fishing tournaments are permitted by the land management agency where the tournament is being held. The department is, however, very interested in - • Building relationships with tournament organizations, promoters and anglers. • Working with permitting agencies like the national forests, Arizona Sta... Full story
Fishing Tips By Chase Newlon, AZGFD R3 Coordinator The temperatures are on the rise! With that, bass and bluegill have been stocked throughout all the Community Fishing Waters. Try your luck at one of the 50+ of these waters, many of which are found within the Phoenix Metro area. Find one that is close to you here: www.azgfd.gov/community. When switching from targeting trout to fishing for largemouth bass, you will need to upsize most of your gear. A 7-foot medium power rod is a good starting... Full story
Lake Havasu has big bass, a lot of them. Big bass means big bass tournaments. Thousands of fans from Arizona and surrounding states are drawn to Lake Havasu's premier bass fishing events. Great weather and a beautiful lake-chock full of healthy fish-create the perfect setting for exciting pro angler action. Bass love the lake because of its natural fresh waters, structural contours and warm climate-all reasons why Bassmaster Magazine ranked Lake Havasu as one of the 100 best bass lakes of the... Full story
Stockings will mark earliest Canyon, Haigler and Tonto creeks have received fish. PAYSON, Ariz. - As warmer springtime weather approaches, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will begin its annual trout stockings a bit earlier in some waters near Payson on the Mogollon Rim. Canyon, Haigler, and Tonto creeks began receiving catchable-size rainbow trout in March. This will mark the first time these waters have been stocked this early in the traditional spring and summer stocking season.... Full story
Lakes to receive fish until July; stocking numbers to remain similar to 2023 . The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has announced waters in the Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside areas will be stocked with catchable-size trout from March to July, a change from the traditional stocking schedule of April to September. Those waters include Fool Hollow, Rainbow, Show Low, and Woodland lakes, as well as Scott Reservoir. AZGFD is expected to maintain the schedule change until at least 2026 to... Full story
