09-14-2007, 02:10 AM
Rory's Tip
A quick note: Starting this week, we have a new fishing report editor, Diana Rogers, for the Central Arizona waters. Diana has joined the Mesa regional fisheries staff. She had worked in the department's Research Branch on projects such as the striped bass study at Lake Pleasant. Welcome aboard Diana.
Okay, on to the fishing tips.
The nights are getting longer, the days are getting shorter - autumn should be knocking at the door any time now. The best advice is to pick your favorite fishery and just go. Staying at home should not be an option when nature is putting on such a grand show (at least that is what I tell my wife).
Bass, trout and other sport-fish species will be feeding more aggressively to put on fat before winter conditions arrive. It can get pretty dramatic at times when bass start chasing shad and whole sections of a lake erupt with surface boils.
Just watching the action is awesome enough, participating in the melee has to be experienced to be believed. Don't miss out.
Here are the top places:
* Lake Pleasant for largemouth bass and stripers.<br />
* Lake Powell for stripers, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.<br />
* Mead for stripers and largemouth bass.<br />
* Havasu for stripers and smallmouth bass.<br />
* Roosevelt for largemouth bass and channel catfish.<br />
* Alamo for largemouth bass.<br />
* Martinez Lake for largemouth bass.<br />
* San Carlos for largemouth bass (no word on crappie).
At most of the larger lakes, a key to finding fish at the surface is locating actively feeding birds, such as seagulls, great blue herons and osprey. When seagulls are circling and diving into the water, you'll want to get in on the action. Take along binoculars.
All striper anglers will want to read Wayne's Words - the Lake Powell report in the Colorado River Northwest section below - for tips on how to catch these hard-fighting fish in the fall.
Don't forget the high country trout opportunities. Arizona's high country is green, lush and full of summer wildflowers. This is a superb time to camp out before the nights get chilly and while the days are still pleasantly warm. Elk should be bugling in the forest. Grab the camp gear and go! Take along a jacket - sometimes, there is a 50-degree shift in temperatures from the Valley to the cool mountains.
Brown trout should be pre-staging for the spawn any time now. Great places for browns include: Chevelon, Willow Springs, Canyon Creek, Nelson, Blue Ridge and Reservation lakes.
Another excellent angling experience this time of year is catching native Apache trout. These golden-colored native trout can be found along the West and East Forks of Black River, the Little Colorado River in Greer, and Silver Creek. Lee Valley has Apaches, but it is only accessible on weekends (see the road closure information in the White Mountain section of the fishing report).
This is also the time of year when you might catch a record walleye from either Show Low Lake or Fool Hollow, both of which are in the city limits of Show Low. Fool Hollow is an Arizona State Park and has excellent camping facilities. Fool Hollow also has largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Fall colors could also start any week now in the high country. Typically, either Escudilla Mountain just south of Springerville or the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff will sport the first blush of autumn each year. Visit the high country and find out for yourself which one will wear the autumn crown first this year.
Go catch some memories. Maybe I'll see you out there.
Fishing News
Invasive mussels discovered in central Arizona waters<br />
PHOENIX - The quagga mussel invasion in Arizona has now advanced from the Colorado River lakes to the state's interior, and wildlife officials are seeking the public's help to fight this advancing menace.
A single adult quagga mussel measuring 15 mm in diameter was found on a sampling device in the Central Arizona Project aqueduct in north Scottsdale. The adult quagga mussel was discovered on a concrete tile sampling device placed in the aqueduct to monitor aquatic insects. The mussel was found at approximately mile post 179 just east of the Loop 101 bridge over the aqueduct in north Scottsdale.
"Finding just one mussel may not seem like much," said Larry Riley, a fisheries biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "But that single quagga is probably the tip of the iceberg - where there is one, there are bound to be others."
Riley pointed out that a single quagga mussel can produce 30,000 to 40,000 fertilized eggs in a single breeding cycle, and one adult female quagga can release up to a million eggs in a single year. It is clear that these larvae, or very young quagga mussels, flow toward central Arizona with water from the Colorado River. That puts them in direct proximity to central Arizona reservoirs.
Game and Fish Department officials are once again pleading with all boaters and anglers throughout the state to help fight the continuing spread of these and other invaders by routinely taking simple precautionary steps.
Riley added that the presence of other invasive species, such as golden algae, means all boaters and other water recreationists should take the simple precautionary steps - every time they go to a lake.
Before leaving a lake or other waterway, always:<br />
* CLEAN the hull of your boat.<br />
* DRAIN the water from the boat, livewell and the lower unit.<br />
* DRY the boat, fishing gear, and equipment.<br />
* INSPECT all exposed surfaces.<br />
* REMOVE all plant and animal material.
After you leave a lake or other body of water, please wait five days before launching your boat someplace else. This five-day-waiting period will aid tremendously in killing those hidden hitchhikers on your boat, such as the microscopic quagga larvae.
Also, it is a good idea to wash the hull of your boat with high-pressure water either at the lake, if washers are available, or after leaving the waterway.
Visiting a self-help car wash that has high-pressure soapy water is an excellent idea either on your way home, or while on the way to the next lake - it can help keep your boat looking new. Or giving your boat a hot soapy bath when you get home can also help protect your investment and while also helping protect the next lake you visit.
Remember, many of these aquatic hitchhikers can harm your boat as well. These invaders will attach themselves to boats, and can cause damage to boat motors if they block the flow of cooling water through the engine.
However, quagga mussels do not pose a known threat to human health. Biologists are concerned that quagga mussels may cause ecological shifts in the lakes they invade, with consequences to valued wildlife resources.
Because these invasive mussels attach to hard surfaces like concrete and pipes, they will affect canals, aqueducts, water intakes, and dams resulting in increased maintenance costs for those facilities.
Pena Blanca Boat Ramp Closed to all Access<br />
The Pena Blanca boat ramp is closed.
A recent inspection of the boat ramp at Pena Blanca Lake showed the road is severely undercut.
Game and Fish Department employees determined that the undercut was as much as four feet in places. The department is working to get the ramp repaired but at this time, there is no timeline for when the ramp will be opened to the public.
For further information, please contact Don Mitchell, Fisheries Program Manager at (520) 388-4451 in the Tucson regional office.
Free activities mark National Hunting and Fishing Day<br />
Learn about the great outdoors and pick up tips on hunting, fishing and wildlife at several events held around the state Sept. 17-21 in celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day.
Activities include a "Get Outdoors" outdoor expo from 7-11 a.m. at Tempe Town Lake on Sept. 22, a mini-expo at the Tucson Sportsman's Warehouse store on Sept. 22, and various seminars or booths in the Phoenix, Tucson and Kingman areas Sept. 17-21.
"The events provide the opportunity for people of all experience levels to learn about or enhance their knowledge of the great outdoors and outdoor recreation pursuits," says Tristanna Bickford, hunting recruitment and retention coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
National Hunting and Fishing Day was established by Congress in 1971 to recognize hunters and anglers for their contributions to wildlife conservation.
For a complete list of events, click here.
Canyon Lake Faces Restrictions During Drawdown<br />
Boaters, campers and passengers of the Dolly Steamboat will face restrictions this fall and winter when Canyon Lake becomes the second Salt River reservoir in two years to be drawn down for scheduled maintenance work at Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams.
The scheduled maintenance will result in lower levels at Canyon Lake from Sept. 29 until about Jan. 26. Canyon Lake will be gradually lowered to approximately 50 feet below the normal lake levels through normal water order during the four-month drawdown. Last fall, Apache Lake was lowered about 50 feet during a similar drawdown for maintenance work at Horse Mesa Dam.
Because of safety concerns and the smaller capacity of Canyon Lake, Tonto National Forest District Ranger Arthur Wirtz said the lake will be closed to all recreational boating during the majority of the drawdown. Wirtz also said the Canyon Lake Marina Campground will be closed to the public during the drawdown, but the Acacia Picnic Area will remain open for picnicking and viewing the lake.
"The potential for hazardous conditions, such as the steepness of the submerged canyon, will increase as the water goes down," said Wirtz. "The forest will keep foot access open as long as possible for recreation users such as anglers. We will be evaluating safety conditions daily and will consider closures and restrictions to lake access dependent on public safety needs."
Jim Warnecke, fisheries biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, said a fish habitat project is planned for Canyon Lake that will be similar to the project completed during the Apache Lake drawdown last fall and winter.
Status updates of the drawdown will be available on the Canyon Lake Marina home page at http://www.canyonlakemarina.com. During the drawdown, lake levels will be updated daily on the SRP web page at www.srpnet.com/dwr.
Central Arizona
URBAN LAKES - Get your stink baits ready: catfish stockings are scheduled to resume sometime the week of Sept. 17. But the fishing is not too bad even before the stockings.
Bret Baron caught 25-plus channel catfish in about 3 hours during the day at Red Mountain Lake using "good ole hot dogs and vanilla" and a 5-ounce weight on the bottom. "The fisher here is OUTSTANDING for Mr. Whisters is you know the right spots.
Angel Ulloa visited Desert Breeze to catch largemouth bass and caught two catfish weighing 2-pounds each using white and chartreuse spinnerbaits. He also caught largemouth bass at Red Mountain Park using 4- to 5-inch pumpkinseed-colored worms or red craws Texas rigged.
"I caught two largemouths on the north side of the big island weighing 2-pounds each by casting past the rocks and retrieving slowly and at the same time, jerking my rod tip. Then I switched to the chigger craw where an estimated 3- to 6-pound bass broke my new rod in half. Was disappointed about the rod, but happy I got to experience the bass," Angel said.
TEMPE TOWN LAKE - Bass fishing is picking up and anglers are also catching catfish, bluegills and yellow bass. Plastics and crankbaits worked around the ledges and docks can work well during the early morning and right before dark. Channel catfish averaging 1 to 2 pounds will bite stink baits, hot dogs and shrimp. Carp fishing is excellent using corn and dough bait. Remember no gas motors are allowed (trolling motors are) and you must have a boating permit, which can be obtained at the Town Lake operations center.
LAKE PLEASANT - If it's possible, the striped bass and largemouth bass fishing is continuing to get better both night and day.
Denny Wood caught a 5.1-pound largemouth bass on a Rico topwater plug in Humbug just before dark on Sept. 11.
John Uram, Jr. fished from shore using frozen anchovies free floating on the bottom and caught stripers, adding, "First time I've caught stripers. I understand it is difficult to catch them from shore, especially at 8 a.m. "
Mitch Jordan fished from 5 a.m. to noon using topwater poppers and spooks cast into boils or trolled at medium speed to catch stripers and largemouth bass. "Lots of largemouth out in the middle of the lake on top. Between two of us, we caught about 35 fish, some weighing over 3 pounds."
Some anglers are encountering huge boils of stripers and largemouths, especially in the northern coves or along submerged creek channels (underwater fish freeways) off-and-on throughout the day. Also try major points, islands and reefs throughout the lake. Go armed with topwater lures, soft plastic jerkbaits, spoons (such as KastMasters) and frozen anchovies. Shad-like crankbaits can work great at times.
Paul and Tom Johnson from Tucson wrote: We fished the night of the eclipse and targeted largemouth bass from about 5 p.m. until 7p.m. We caught none, but we are recent transplants from Alaska and are still figuring out the Bass fishing. About seven boats huddled around the mouth of Humbug bay from 8pm until 11:30pm and then all but two of us packed up and went elsewhere. The Striper bite began at midnight and continued non-stop until about 5 AM. We boated 60-70 fish in that time and kept a handful of stripers and catfish. All fish were caught in the water column and on anchovies. We were back in Tucson eating catfish at 11:30AM. This was great fun-the eclipse was great and the shooting stars were out in force.
The reports keep rolling in from anglers catching livewells full of hard-fishing striped bass at night using frozen anchovies. A new state record 27-pound striper was caught here recently. This is
A quick note: Starting this week, we have a new fishing report editor, Diana Rogers, for the Central Arizona waters. Diana has joined the Mesa regional fisheries staff. She had worked in the department's Research Branch on projects such as the striped bass study at Lake Pleasant. Welcome aboard Diana.
Okay, on to the fishing tips.
The nights are getting longer, the days are getting shorter - autumn should be knocking at the door any time now. The best advice is to pick your favorite fishery and just go. Staying at home should not be an option when nature is putting on such a grand show (at least that is what I tell my wife).
Bass, trout and other sport-fish species will be feeding more aggressively to put on fat before winter conditions arrive. It can get pretty dramatic at times when bass start chasing shad and whole sections of a lake erupt with surface boils.
Just watching the action is awesome enough, participating in the melee has to be experienced to be believed. Don't miss out.
Here are the top places:
* Lake Pleasant for largemouth bass and stripers.<br />
* Lake Powell for stripers, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.<br />
* Mead for stripers and largemouth bass.<br />
* Havasu for stripers and smallmouth bass.<br />
* Roosevelt for largemouth bass and channel catfish.<br />
* Alamo for largemouth bass.<br />
* Martinez Lake for largemouth bass.<br />
* San Carlos for largemouth bass (no word on crappie).
At most of the larger lakes, a key to finding fish at the surface is locating actively feeding birds, such as seagulls, great blue herons and osprey. When seagulls are circling and diving into the water, you'll want to get in on the action. Take along binoculars.
All striper anglers will want to read Wayne's Words - the Lake Powell report in the Colorado River Northwest section below - for tips on how to catch these hard-fighting fish in the fall.
Don't forget the high country trout opportunities. Arizona's high country is green, lush and full of summer wildflowers. This is a superb time to camp out before the nights get chilly and while the days are still pleasantly warm. Elk should be bugling in the forest. Grab the camp gear and go! Take along a jacket - sometimes, there is a 50-degree shift in temperatures from the Valley to the cool mountains.
Brown trout should be pre-staging for the spawn any time now. Great places for browns include: Chevelon, Willow Springs, Canyon Creek, Nelson, Blue Ridge and Reservation lakes.
Another excellent angling experience this time of year is catching native Apache trout. These golden-colored native trout can be found along the West and East Forks of Black River, the Little Colorado River in Greer, and Silver Creek. Lee Valley has Apaches, but it is only accessible on weekends (see the road closure information in the White Mountain section of the fishing report).
This is also the time of year when you might catch a record walleye from either Show Low Lake or Fool Hollow, both of which are in the city limits of Show Low. Fool Hollow is an Arizona State Park and has excellent camping facilities. Fool Hollow also has largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Fall colors could also start any week now in the high country. Typically, either Escudilla Mountain just south of Springerville or the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff will sport the first blush of autumn each year. Visit the high country and find out for yourself which one will wear the autumn crown first this year.
Go catch some memories. Maybe I'll see you out there.
Fishing News
Invasive mussels discovered in central Arizona waters<br />
PHOENIX - The quagga mussel invasion in Arizona has now advanced from the Colorado River lakes to the state's interior, and wildlife officials are seeking the public's help to fight this advancing menace.
A single adult quagga mussel measuring 15 mm in diameter was found on a sampling device in the Central Arizona Project aqueduct in north Scottsdale. The adult quagga mussel was discovered on a concrete tile sampling device placed in the aqueduct to monitor aquatic insects. The mussel was found at approximately mile post 179 just east of the Loop 101 bridge over the aqueduct in north Scottsdale.
"Finding just one mussel may not seem like much," said Larry Riley, a fisheries biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "But that single quagga is probably the tip of the iceberg - where there is one, there are bound to be others."
Riley pointed out that a single quagga mussel can produce 30,000 to 40,000 fertilized eggs in a single breeding cycle, and one adult female quagga can release up to a million eggs in a single year. It is clear that these larvae, or very young quagga mussels, flow toward central Arizona with water from the Colorado River. That puts them in direct proximity to central Arizona reservoirs.
Game and Fish Department officials are once again pleading with all boaters and anglers throughout the state to help fight the continuing spread of these and other invaders by routinely taking simple precautionary steps.
Riley added that the presence of other invasive species, such as golden algae, means all boaters and other water recreationists should take the simple precautionary steps - every time they go to a lake.
Before leaving a lake or other waterway, always:<br />
* CLEAN the hull of your boat.<br />
* DRAIN the water from the boat, livewell and the lower unit.<br />
* DRY the boat, fishing gear, and equipment.<br />
* INSPECT all exposed surfaces.<br />
* REMOVE all plant and animal material.
After you leave a lake or other body of water, please wait five days before launching your boat someplace else. This five-day-waiting period will aid tremendously in killing those hidden hitchhikers on your boat, such as the microscopic quagga larvae.
Also, it is a good idea to wash the hull of your boat with high-pressure water either at the lake, if washers are available, or after leaving the waterway.
Visiting a self-help car wash that has high-pressure soapy water is an excellent idea either on your way home, or while on the way to the next lake - it can help keep your boat looking new. Or giving your boat a hot soapy bath when you get home can also help protect your investment and while also helping protect the next lake you visit.
Remember, many of these aquatic hitchhikers can harm your boat as well. These invaders will attach themselves to boats, and can cause damage to boat motors if they block the flow of cooling water through the engine.
However, quagga mussels do not pose a known threat to human health. Biologists are concerned that quagga mussels may cause ecological shifts in the lakes they invade, with consequences to valued wildlife resources.
Because these invasive mussels attach to hard surfaces like concrete and pipes, they will affect canals, aqueducts, water intakes, and dams resulting in increased maintenance costs for those facilities.
Pena Blanca Boat Ramp Closed to all Access<br />
The Pena Blanca boat ramp is closed.
A recent inspection of the boat ramp at Pena Blanca Lake showed the road is severely undercut.
Game and Fish Department employees determined that the undercut was as much as four feet in places. The department is working to get the ramp repaired but at this time, there is no timeline for when the ramp will be opened to the public.
For further information, please contact Don Mitchell, Fisheries Program Manager at (520) 388-4451 in the Tucson regional office.
Free activities mark National Hunting and Fishing Day<br />
Learn about the great outdoors and pick up tips on hunting, fishing and wildlife at several events held around the state Sept. 17-21 in celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day.
Activities include a "Get Outdoors" outdoor expo from 7-11 a.m. at Tempe Town Lake on Sept. 22, a mini-expo at the Tucson Sportsman's Warehouse store on Sept. 22, and various seminars or booths in the Phoenix, Tucson and Kingman areas Sept. 17-21.
"The events provide the opportunity for people of all experience levels to learn about or enhance their knowledge of the great outdoors and outdoor recreation pursuits," says Tristanna Bickford, hunting recruitment and retention coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
National Hunting and Fishing Day was established by Congress in 1971 to recognize hunters and anglers for their contributions to wildlife conservation.
For a complete list of events, click here.
Canyon Lake Faces Restrictions During Drawdown<br />
Boaters, campers and passengers of the Dolly Steamboat will face restrictions this fall and winter when Canyon Lake becomes the second Salt River reservoir in two years to be drawn down for scheduled maintenance work at Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams.
The scheduled maintenance will result in lower levels at Canyon Lake from Sept. 29 until about Jan. 26. Canyon Lake will be gradually lowered to approximately 50 feet below the normal lake levels through normal water order during the four-month drawdown. Last fall, Apache Lake was lowered about 50 feet during a similar drawdown for maintenance work at Horse Mesa Dam.
Because of safety concerns and the smaller capacity of Canyon Lake, Tonto National Forest District Ranger Arthur Wirtz said the lake will be closed to all recreational boating during the majority of the drawdown. Wirtz also said the Canyon Lake Marina Campground will be closed to the public during the drawdown, but the Acacia Picnic Area will remain open for picnicking and viewing the lake.
"The potential for hazardous conditions, such as the steepness of the submerged canyon, will increase as the water goes down," said Wirtz. "The forest will keep foot access open as long as possible for recreation users such as anglers. We will be evaluating safety conditions daily and will consider closures and restrictions to lake access dependent on public safety needs."
Jim Warnecke, fisheries biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, said a fish habitat project is planned for Canyon Lake that will be similar to the project completed during the Apache Lake drawdown last fall and winter.
Status updates of the drawdown will be available on the Canyon Lake Marina home page at http://www.canyonlakemarina.com. During the drawdown, lake levels will be updated daily on the SRP web page at www.srpnet.com/dwr.
Central Arizona
URBAN LAKES - Get your stink baits ready: catfish stockings are scheduled to resume sometime the week of Sept. 17. But the fishing is not too bad even before the stockings.
Bret Baron caught 25-plus channel catfish in about 3 hours during the day at Red Mountain Lake using "good ole hot dogs and vanilla" and a 5-ounce weight on the bottom. "The fisher here is OUTSTANDING for Mr. Whisters is you know the right spots.
Angel Ulloa visited Desert Breeze to catch largemouth bass and caught two catfish weighing 2-pounds each using white and chartreuse spinnerbaits. He also caught largemouth bass at Red Mountain Park using 4- to 5-inch pumpkinseed-colored worms or red craws Texas rigged.
"I caught two largemouths on the north side of the big island weighing 2-pounds each by casting past the rocks and retrieving slowly and at the same time, jerking my rod tip. Then I switched to the chigger craw where an estimated 3- to 6-pound bass broke my new rod in half. Was disappointed about the rod, but happy I got to experience the bass," Angel said.
TEMPE TOWN LAKE - Bass fishing is picking up and anglers are also catching catfish, bluegills and yellow bass. Plastics and crankbaits worked around the ledges and docks can work well during the early morning and right before dark. Channel catfish averaging 1 to 2 pounds will bite stink baits, hot dogs and shrimp. Carp fishing is excellent using corn and dough bait. Remember no gas motors are allowed (trolling motors are) and you must have a boating permit, which can be obtained at the Town Lake operations center.
LAKE PLEASANT - If it's possible, the striped bass and largemouth bass fishing is continuing to get better both night and day.
Denny Wood caught a 5.1-pound largemouth bass on a Rico topwater plug in Humbug just before dark on Sept. 11.
John Uram, Jr. fished from shore using frozen anchovies free floating on the bottom and caught stripers, adding, "First time I've caught stripers. I understand it is difficult to catch them from shore, especially at 8 a.m. "
Mitch Jordan fished from 5 a.m. to noon using topwater poppers and spooks cast into boils or trolled at medium speed to catch stripers and largemouth bass. "Lots of largemouth out in the middle of the lake on top. Between two of us, we caught about 35 fish, some weighing over 3 pounds."
Some anglers are encountering huge boils of stripers and largemouths, especially in the northern coves or along submerged creek channels (underwater fish freeways) off-and-on throughout the day. Also try major points, islands and reefs throughout the lake. Go armed with topwater lures, soft plastic jerkbaits, spoons (such as KastMasters) and frozen anchovies. Shad-like crankbaits can work great at times.
Paul and Tom Johnson from Tucson wrote: We fished the night of the eclipse and targeted largemouth bass from about 5 p.m. until 7p.m. We caught none, but we are recent transplants from Alaska and are still figuring out the Bass fishing. About seven boats huddled around the mouth of Humbug bay from 8pm until 11:30pm and then all but two of us packed up and went elsewhere. The Striper bite began at midnight and continued non-stop until about 5 AM. We boated 60-70 fish in that time and kept a handful of stripers and catfish. All fish were caught in the water column and on anchovies. We were back in Tucson eating catfish at 11:30AM. This was great fun-the eclipse was great and the shooting stars were out in force.
The reports keep rolling in from anglers catching livewells full of hard-fishing striped bass at night using frozen anchovies. A new state record 27-pound striper was caught here recently. This is