09-15-2004, 03:23 PM
URBAN LAKES — An angler at Red Mountain caught a carp weighing more than 10 pounds using commercial dough bait on a treble hook. Catfish were stocked the week of July 5 for the last time this summer due to rising water temperatures. Fishing for catfish is still decent, especially in the evenings. The top baits include stink bait, shrimp, hot dogs and worms fished on the bottom. The catfish are biting best in the evenings and early mornings. Sunfish are biting well at most lakes: try small worms.
TEMPE TOWN LAKE — Fishing for largemouth bass is best in the early morning hours and late evening and getting better. Look for fish chasing shad and throw shad Rat-L-Traps, crawdad crankbaits or broken-back Rapalas into the boils. Bass are also being caught dragging plastic worms slowly along the ledges. Two anglers reported catching 22 bass and three crappies on minnows during a four-hour period last week. An angler reports catching four bass ranging from 1 to 3 pounds in an hour using a Rat-L-Trap reeled in fast. Fish in the 1-3 pound range are fairly abundant with occasional catches in the 4-5 pound range being reported. A good spot for bass is under and around the Highway 202 overpass on the east side of the lake near the Indian Bend Wash. A 13-inch minimum length regulation for largemouth bass is in effect. There is plenty of bluegill and yellow bass try using mealworms and night crawlers. Channel catfish are biting also. The lake is producing some nice cats up to five pounds. Try hotdogs or stink baits at night. Fishing for carp is excellent: use dough bait or corn. Try fishing in the shaded areas under bridges. You need a state fishing license – Class A (not an Urban License). A two-pole stamp can be used here. All questions regarding boating information can be answered by the Town Lake Operations Center (480) 350-8625.
LAKE PLEASANT — Water level is at 1,661 feet (58-percent full). Water is being released at 2,900 cfs. The topwater action is phenomenal through the morning hours. Anglers are reporting topwater success using Ricos, Spooks, and jerkbaits. Aside from topwater, the best technique for catching largemouth bass is using drop shots. Fish deeper (20-35 feet) during the heat of the day and shallower (5-20) during dusk and dawn. Jigs, Texas-rigs, and Carolina-rigs, are also working well. White and striped bass can be most easily had when chasing shad on the surface but spoons are also producing some fish. The marina, Castle Creek, and Jackass Cove, and the Agua Fria are good places to target these fish. The catfish bite is good and several catfish are being caught in 10 to 30 feet of water. Crappies are being caught under lights at night and on minnows during the day. Sunfish have moved near shore and can be easily had on worms, especially near boat ramps. This is a great opportunity to take a kid fishing.
ROOSEVELT LAKE — The lake is 28-percent full at elevation 2,074 feet and dropping. The Salt River was flowing at 237 cfs Monday morning. Bass fishing has really picked up over the last week. Drop shotting is the most effective fishing technique. Crankbaits are also effective at times. Use topwater baits in and around baitfish boils (shad). Many fish under the slot are being caught in the 10-13 inch range. One angler last week reported an 80-fish day (mostly unders) using Carolina-rigged dark colored worms. Other anglers are reporting lots of bass hitting wired worms. Smallmouth bass are also biting; try using in-line spinners and crayfish imitations especially off rocky points and cliff walls. Carp fishing is excellent, use corn or dough bait. Channel catfish are biting really well right now with fish in the 2-3 pound range being very common. Use baits like corn, stink baits, and hotdogs. Please harvest largemouth bass under the 13-inch slot. Catfishing is good. Reports of large flathead being caught in the Salt Arm of the lake. Call the Mesa Game and Fish office at (480) 324-3544 if you catch a tagged flathead catfish. Note: Anglers are reminded of the slot bass size limit that remains in effect at Roosevelt where bass between 13 to 16 inches must be released immediately. Also those bass below 13 inches and above 16 inches that are kept can only be gutted with the head and tail attached so the legal length can be determined. All other fish such as crappie, catfish and bluegill harvested from the lake must have a piece of skin attached to the fillets so species can be determined.
APACHE — Lake is 94-percent full at 1,908 feet. Largemouth bass fishing is picking up. Try the mouths of coves and off points. Spinnerbaits and lures like a Shad Rat-L-Trap are also working. Drop shotting (tight lines) of Carolina-rigged or Texas-rigged worms are effective. Smallmouth fishing has also picked up. Try along the cliff walls in 5-15 feet of water. They will take inline spinners and crawfish imitation baits. Walleye can be caught off cliffs and rocky points with in-line spinners or drifting night crawlers. Try rock-runners with worm harnesses or shad-patterned crankbaits for walleye after dark. Yellow bass can be found in and around balls of shad. Spoons and cut bait work well for them. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is tagging walleye with a blue spaghetti-type tag near the dorsal fin. If you catch one, please note the tag number, location caught and accurate length of the fish and call the department’s Mesa office at (480) 324-3544. You can keep the tag and the fish. There is a certified scale at the marina boathouse.
CANYON — Lake is 95-percent full at 1,657 feet. Bass fishing is good in the early morning and late evening but slow during the heat of the day. Crankbaits are working well with some big fish being caught at night (10-plus pounds) with a Texas-rigged or Carolina-rigged drop shot method. One angler caught a 4-pound, 14-ounce smallmouth bass. Senkos and lizard imitations have also been catching fish. Target smallmouth with crawdad imitation lures right at dark. At night try noisy topwater lures and crankbaits near shad boils. This is also a great lake for yellow bass, jig spoons in and around balls of shad. A few walleye are being caught trolling along cliffs. Shad imitation Rat-L-Traps can be effective for walleye here. Big carp can be caught off the shore in the recreation and beach/picnic area. Use dough bait and corn. Small bluegill are being caught in the shallows and around docks with worms.
SAGUARO — Lake level is 1,525 feet (94-percent full). Bass fishing has picked up. Fish are feeding at night and coming into the shallows but diving deep during the heat of the day. Look for topwater eruptions of shad in the evenings. Target these boils with topwater plugs and crankbaits. Most fish are being caught drop shotting (tight lines) or with Senkos in 10-25 foot depths during the day. Spinnerbaits were very effective last week also. Yellow bass can be caught jigging spoons or cut bait. Try to locate shad in 40-60 feet of water and jig through them. Catfishing is good at night. Try stink baits, hotdogs or shrimp. Reports of large channel catfish 5-15 pounds are being caught in Mesquite and Bagley Flats areas. There is a certified scale at the marina to get an official weight and still release your catch. Two witnesses are needed for the weight to be official.
BARTLETT — Lake level was at 1,776 feet (70-percent full). Crappie fishing remains excellent in the nighttime hours using lights. Bass fishing is good, especially at night. One angler caught-and-released 33 bass on topwater finesse baits Monday from sunrise to noon. Boils were sporadic. Action should continue picking up. Reports are indicating an abundance of bass in the 1-2 pound range. Bass are being caught with crawdad imitations and dark plastics. Most reports say shad imitation crankbaits fished near rock piles along the main lake are working best. Drop-shotting “Robo Worms” is working well in 10-25 feet of water. Soft plastics, jigs and Westys are the best nighttime baits. Catfishing is really good at night. Recent reports of channel and large flatheads caught at night near the dam. Use live bait such as bluegill or small carp for the flatheads. Remember the live bait most come from the lake itself not transported from another body of water!
HORSESHOE — Lake is empty, a minimum low water pool exists directly in front of the dam and is a good bet for bass and catfish. The end of the boat ramp is 26 feet out of the water. Upstream from Horseshoe Dam is an unlimited harvest area for all game fish. The deep pool below the dam is known for producing flathead and channel cats. The Colorado pikeminnow and the razorback sucker are endangered and must be released immediately.
VERDE RIVER — Monday morning flows were 100 cfs at Tangle Creek. Flows were 116 cfs below Bartlett Dam. Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass is good. The confluences of Oak, Wet Beaver and West Clear creeks are good places to try. Fish congregate in the pools where the cooler water enters the Verde. There is an unlimited harvest of sport-fish in this area of the Verde River. Largemouth will be found in deeper pools and back-eddies while the smallmouth prefer more flow and rocky areas. Typically smallmouth will be found at the end of a riffle. Remember that no baitfish can be transported into this part of the river (above Horseshoe). For further information concerning regulations, call the Arizona Game and Fish Department at (480) 324-3544.
LOWER SALT RIVER (below Saguaro Lake) — Flows were 390 cfs bellow Stewart Mountain Dam on Monday morning. Trout are no longer being stocked in this area but some hold over fish can still be caught. Fish can be caught using traditional trout baits and lures such as Power Bait, corn and spinners. Fish are averaging 9-14 inches. Fly-fishing can be very productive in this stretch of the river. Patterns of black wooly buggers have been working. Largemouth bass can be found in deep pools. Catfishing has been good in the Granite Reef pond using shrimp and water dogs.
CREELS — Tonto, Canyon, Workman (is going dry), and Haigler have all been stocked recently with rainbow trout. Stockings will continue through the spring and into the summer. Spinners, worms, corn, and Power Bait will all work.
HORSETHIEF LAKE — This 10-acre lake located in the pines at 6,000 feet is a sleeper. Take the Crown King exit off I 17. Great for a canoe, car topper or belly boat. The lake is full of small largemouth bass, sunfish and channel catfish. Great trip with the family to escape the heat.
TEMPE TOWN LAKE — Fishing for largemouth bass is best in the early morning hours and late evening and getting better. Look for fish chasing shad and throw shad Rat-L-Traps, crawdad crankbaits or broken-back Rapalas into the boils. Bass are also being caught dragging plastic worms slowly along the ledges. Two anglers reported catching 22 bass and three crappies on minnows during a four-hour period last week. An angler reports catching four bass ranging from 1 to 3 pounds in an hour using a Rat-L-Trap reeled in fast. Fish in the 1-3 pound range are fairly abundant with occasional catches in the 4-5 pound range being reported. A good spot for bass is under and around the Highway 202 overpass on the east side of the lake near the Indian Bend Wash. A 13-inch minimum length regulation for largemouth bass is in effect. There is plenty of bluegill and yellow bass try using mealworms and night crawlers. Channel catfish are biting also. The lake is producing some nice cats up to five pounds. Try hotdogs or stink baits at night. Fishing for carp is excellent: use dough bait or corn. Try fishing in the shaded areas under bridges. You need a state fishing license – Class A (not an Urban License). A two-pole stamp can be used here. All questions regarding boating information can be answered by the Town Lake Operations Center (480) 350-8625.
LAKE PLEASANT — Water level is at 1,661 feet (58-percent full). Water is being released at 2,900 cfs. The topwater action is phenomenal through the morning hours. Anglers are reporting topwater success using Ricos, Spooks, and jerkbaits. Aside from topwater, the best technique for catching largemouth bass is using drop shots. Fish deeper (20-35 feet) during the heat of the day and shallower (5-20) during dusk and dawn. Jigs, Texas-rigs, and Carolina-rigs, are also working well. White and striped bass can be most easily had when chasing shad on the surface but spoons are also producing some fish. The marina, Castle Creek, and Jackass Cove, and the Agua Fria are good places to target these fish. The catfish bite is good and several catfish are being caught in 10 to 30 feet of water. Crappies are being caught under lights at night and on minnows during the day. Sunfish have moved near shore and can be easily had on worms, especially near boat ramps. This is a great opportunity to take a kid fishing.
ROOSEVELT LAKE — The lake is 28-percent full at elevation 2,074 feet and dropping. The Salt River was flowing at 237 cfs Monday morning. Bass fishing has really picked up over the last week. Drop shotting is the most effective fishing technique. Crankbaits are also effective at times. Use topwater baits in and around baitfish boils (shad). Many fish under the slot are being caught in the 10-13 inch range. One angler last week reported an 80-fish day (mostly unders) using Carolina-rigged dark colored worms. Other anglers are reporting lots of bass hitting wired worms. Smallmouth bass are also biting; try using in-line spinners and crayfish imitations especially off rocky points and cliff walls. Carp fishing is excellent, use corn or dough bait. Channel catfish are biting really well right now with fish in the 2-3 pound range being very common. Use baits like corn, stink baits, and hotdogs. Please harvest largemouth bass under the 13-inch slot. Catfishing is good. Reports of large flathead being caught in the Salt Arm of the lake. Call the Mesa Game and Fish office at (480) 324-3544 if you catch a tagged flathead catfish. Note: Anglers are reminded of the slot bass size limit that remains in effect at Roosevelt where bass between 13 to 16 inches must be released immediately. Also those bass below 13 inches and above 16 inches that are kept can only be gutted with the head and tail attached so the legal length can be determined. All other fish such as crappie, catfish and bluegill harvested from the lake must have a piece of skin attached to the fillets so species can be determined.
APACHE — Lake is 94-percent full at 1,908 feet. Largemouth bass fishing is picking up. Try the mouths of coves and off points. Spinnerbaits and lures like a Shad Rat-L-Trap are also working. Drop shotting (tight lines) of Carolina-rigged or Texas-rigged worms are effective. Smallmouth fishing has also picked up. Try along the cliff walls in 5-15 feet of water. They will take inline spinners and crawfish imitation baits. Walleye can be caught off cliffs and rocky points with in-line spinners or drifting night crawlers. Try rock-runners with worm harnesses or shad-patterned crankbaits for walleye after dark. Yellow bass can be found in and around balls of shad. Spoons and cut bait work well for them. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is tagging walleye with a blue spaghetti-type tag near the dorsal fin. If you catch one, please note the tag number, location caught and accurate length of the fish and call the department’s Mesa office at (480) 324-3544. You can keep the tag and the fish. There is a certified scale at the marina boathouse.
CANYON — Lake is 95-percent full at 1,657 feet. Bass fishing is good in the early morning and late evening but slow during the heat of the day. Crankbaits are working well with some big fish being caught at night (10-plus pounds) with a Texas-rigged or Carolina-rigged drop shot method. One angler caught a 4-pound, 14-ounce smallmouth bass. Senkos and lizard imitations have also been catching fish. Target smallmouth with crawdad imitation lures right at dark. At night try noisy topwater lures and crankbaits near shad boils. This is also a great lake for yellow bass, jig spoons in and around balls of shad. A few walleye are being caught trolling along cliffs. Shad imitation Rat-L-Traps can be effective for walleye here. Big carp can be caught off the shore in the recreation and beach/picnic area. Use dough bait and corn. Small bluegill are being caught in the shallows and around docks with worms.
SAGUARO — Lake level is 1,525 feet (94-percent full). Bass fishing has picked up. Fish are feeding at night and coming into the shallows but diving deep during the heat of the day. Look for topwater eruptions of shad in the evenings. Target these boils with topwater plugs and crankbaits. Most fish are being caught drop shotting (tight lines) or with Senkos in 10-25 foot depths during the day. Spinnerbaits were very effective last week also. Yellow bass can be caught jigging spoons or cut bait. Try to locate shad in 40-60 feet of water and jig through them. Catfishing is good at night. Try stink baits, hotdogs or shrimp. Reports of large channel catfish 5-15 pounds are being caught in Mesquite and Bagley Flats areas. There is a certified scale at the marina to get an official weight and still release your catch. Two witnesses are needed for the weight to be official.
BARTLETT — Lake level was at 1,776 feet (70-percent full). Crappie fishing remains excellent in the nighttime hours using lights. Bass fishing is good, especially at night. One angler caught-and-released 33 bass on topwater finesse baits Monday from sunrise to noon. Boils were sporadic. Action should continue picking up. Reports are indicating an abundance of bass in the 1-2 pound range. Bass are being caught with crawdad imitations and dark plastics. Most reports say shad imitation crankbaits fished near rock piles along the main lake are working best. Drop-shotting “Robo Worms” is working well in 10-25 feet of water. Soft plastics, jigs and Westys are the best nighttime baits. Catfishing is really good at night. Recent reports of channel and large flatheads caught at night near the dam. Use live bait such as bluegill or small carp for the flatheads. Remember the live bait most come from the lake itself not transported from another body of water!
HORSESHOE — Lake is empty, a minimum low water pool exists directly in front of the dam and is a good bet for bass and catfish. The end of the boat ramp is 26 feet out of the water. Upstream from Horseshoe Dam is an unlimited harvest area for all game fish. The deep pool below the dam is known for producing flathead and channel cats. The Colorado pikeminnow and the razorback sucker are endangered and must be released immediately.
VERDE RIVER — Monday morning flows were 100 cfs at Tangle Creek. Flows were 116 cfs below Bartlett Dam. Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass is good. The confluences of Oak, Wet Beaver and West Clear creeks are good places to try. Fish congregate in the pools where the cooler water enters the Verde. There is an unlimited harvest of sport-fish in this area of the Verde River. Largemouth will be found in deeper pools and back-eddies while the smallmouth prefer more flow and rocky areas. Typically smallmouth will be found at the end of a riffle. Remember that no baitfish can be transported into this part of the river (above Horseshoe). For further information concerning regulations, call the Arizona Game and Fish Department at (480) 324-3544.
LOWER SALT RIVER (below Saguaro Lake) — Flows were 390 cfs bellow Stewart Mountain Dam on Monday morning. Trout are no longer being stocked in this area but some hold over fish can still be caught. Fish can be caught using traditional trout baits and lures such as Power Bait, corn and spinners. Fish are averaging 9-14 inches. Fly-fishing can be very productive in this stretch of the river. Patterns of black wooly buggers have been working. Largemouth bass can be found in deep pools. Catfishing has been good in the Granite Reef pond using shrimp and water dogs.
CREELS — Tonto, Canyon, Workman (is going dry), and Haigler have all been stocked recently with rainbow trout. Stockings will continue through the spring and into the summer. Spinners, worms, corn, and Power Bait will all work.
HORSETHIEF LAKE — This 10-acre lake located in the pines at 6,000 feet is a sleeper. Take the Crown King exit off I 17. Great for a canoe, car topper or belly boat. The lake is full of small largemouth bass, sunfish and channel catfish. Great trip with the family to escape the heat.