02-13-2008, 10:10 PM
With the warmer weather for most of this week, with the exception of a small front expected on Thursday, expect the action to start heating up in the desert lakes -- soon. The early bird-lakes are typically Alamo, Saguaro and Martinez.
With the longer days and increased sunlight penetration as the sun adjusts toward the springtime zenith, it shouldn't take long for the lakes to start responding. Keep watching the reports.
Saturated soils have kept many of the more ephemeral (seldom have water) creeks and rivers flowing, although at more modest rates that we have seen the last couple of weeks following those fantastic storms that drenched the state.
The bite at Lake Pleasant for stripers has been one of our mainstays - expect it to not only continue, but maybe even get better with more whites in the mix and possibly some largemouth bass as well. However, the best bite is typically in the afternoon, or even at night. The Agua Fria River flowing into Pleasant is so clear right now it looks like a mountain trout stream. We haven't heard any crappie reports from here - yet.
We have sure been getting lots of good reports from anglers on Saguaro Lake catching nice mixed-bags of yellow bass, largemouth bass and trout. This is a superb place for a family fishing outing, either from shore, or via boat. Gold KastMasters, live minnows and night crawlers are the triple-threat here. Saguaro had a small fish die-off, but it was nothing to do with golden alga. Some tilapia succumbed to the colder water. It was no big deal.
A dark horse right now is Apache Lake. Some anglers have reported doing well on yellow bass there. We have stocked Apache with lots of trout this winter and some anglers are starting to catch some decent stringers there. Try fishing around the marina or around Burnt Corral. Just for scenic beauty, this lake is worth it - catching a trout or yellow bass is a bonus.
I made a visit to Oak Creek last weekend with the family. The stream is flowing strong and clear with little or no turbidity. The upper reaches had lots of snow. We couldn't find anyone fishing, but saw plenty of active rainbows. With the milder weather, all that snow has probably melted. It ought to be a nice place to fish this weekend. By the way, we stocked about 20 different sites along Oak Creek, so there is plenty of territory to fish even though we haven't stocked it since mid December.
The hot trout spot is probably going to be Dead Horse Ranch State Park yet again. Lots of anglers say they have been catching limits there. But if you head that way, give the Verde River a try. See our fishing report below for the sites we stock. This would also be a great weekend to take the family on the Verde Canyon Railroad along the Verde River. If I didn't have outlaws (in-laws) visiting from Nebraska, that is where I would prefer to be (after catching some trout, of course).
One of my favorite fishing holes, Goldwater Lake, is scheduled for stocking this week if it isn't ice covered. Goldwater is near Prescott just up Senator Highway into the Bradshaw Mountains toward Groom Creek.
This would also be a nice, sunny weekend to fish Silver Creek near Show Low for native Apache trout. These golden beauties are a delight to catch. Silver Creek is spring fed, so doesn't really ice over.
Right now, you can probably find some of the best fishing in the state at Lees Ferry. If you want to see what it is like, visit the KUTV Web site out of Salt Lake City. Sight-fishing trout on redds in Marble Canyon is something you'll never forget.
Also keep in mind that the Alamo Lake Cleanup is set up for Saturday, March 1 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. State Parks will waive camp fees for those that stay in the group use area. For all the details contact Stewart Kohnke, wildlife manager at (928) 684-3763 or (928) 342- 0091. Those who would like to donate items for the raffle should also contact Kohnke.
With the longer days and increased sunlight penetration as the sun adjusts toward the springtime zenith, it shouldn't take long for the lakes to start responding. Keep watching the reports.
Saturated soils have kept many of the more ephemeral (seldom have water) creeks and rivers flowing, although at more modest rates that we have seen the last couple of weeks following those fantastic storms that drenched the state.
The bite at Lake Pleasant for stripers has been one of our mainstays - expect it to not only continue, but maybe even get better with more whites in the mix and possibly some largemouth bass as well. However, the best bite is typically in the afternoon, or even at night. The Agua Fria River flowing into Pleasant is so clear right now it looks like a mountain trout stream. We haven't heard any crappie reports from here - yet.
We have sure been getting lots of good reports from anglers on Saguaro Lake catching nice mixed-bags of yellow bass, largemouth bass and trout. This is a superb place for a family fishing outing, either from shore, or via boat. Gold KastMasters, live minnows and night crawlers are the triple-threat here. Saguaro had a small fish die-off, but it was nothing to do with golden alga. Some tilapia succumbed to the colder water. It was no big deal.
A dark horse right now is Apache Lake. Some anglers have reported doing well on yellow bass there. We have stocked Apache with lots of trout this winter and some anglers are starting to catch some decent stringers there. Try fishing around the marina or around Burnt Corral. Just for scenic beauty, this lake is worth it - catching a trout or yellow bass is a bonus.
I made a visit to Oak Creek last weekend with the family. The stream is flowing strong and clear with little or no turbidity. The upper reaches had lots of snow. We couldn't find anyone fishing, but saw plenty of active rainbows. With the milder weather, all that snow has probably melted. It ought to be a nice place to fish this weekend. By the way, we stocked about 20 different sites along Oak Creek, so there is plenty of territory to fish even though we haven't stocked it since mid December.
The hot trout spot is probably going to be Dead Horse Ranch State Park yet again. Lots of anglers say they have been catching limits there. But if you head that way, give the Verde River a try. See our fishing report below for the sites we stock. This would also be a great weekend to take the family on the Verde Canyon Railroad along the Verde River. If I didn't have outlaws (in-laws) visiting from Nebraska, that is where I would prefer to be (after catching some trout, of course).
One of my favorite fishing holes, Goldwater Lake, is scheduled for stocking this week if it isn't ice covered. Goldwater is near Prescott just up Senator Highway into the Bradshaw Mountains toward Groom Creek.
This would also be a nice, sunny weekend to fish Silver Creek near Show Low for native Apache trout. These golden beauties are a delight to catch. Silver Creek is spring fed, so doesn't really ice over.
Right now, you can probably find some of the best fishing in the state at Lees Ferry. If you want to see what it is like, visit the KUTV Web site out of Salt Lake City. Sight-fishing trout on redds in Marble Canyon is something you'll never forget.
Also keep in mind that the Alamo Lake Cleanup is set up for Saturday, March 1 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. State Parks will waive camp fees for those that stay in the group use area. For all the details contact Stewart Kohnke, wildlife manager at (928) 684-3763 or (928) 342- 0091. Those who would like to donate items for the raffle should also contact Kohnke.