Commission creates first-ever blue ribbon roundtail chub fishery ... “Plus the unique history of Fossil Creek itself makes this a ... “One concern being voiced is that some stretches of Fossil Creek have been

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AZGFD Weekly Fishing Report

Here is a portion of the latest Weekly Fishing Report issued by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. You can access the entire fishing report here.

Game and Fish now has a new interactive online fishing hole map of Arizona.

 

March 3, 2010 Rory’s tips; From Rory Aikens   Rory's March Madness Tips: Late update Wednesday, March 3. Just got back from where the Agua Fria River enters Lake Pleasant. White bass and carp are running upriver to spawn. Even though the gate is closed, the walk to the good fishing is only about 150 yards downstream and the lake begins a few hundred yards downstream. The river is still flowing heavily enough (172 cfs) that there are small rapids where the road crosses the river (be extremely tough to negotiate with a vehicle even if the road was opened). The water is flowing so clear it looks like a trout stream in the Upper Sonoran Desert. Just take I-17 to Table Mesa Road, and follow it West (it parallels I-17 then swings west) until you reach the gate. The parking area is dried mud waiting for more rain to turn to goo again. Nobody seemed to be catching any stripers -- it was all white bass. March fishing madness is here. This is what I call a (be) 'tweener month – storms can chill things down and slow the bite, warmer days will prompt fish to stage for the spawn or even enter it. It’s spring one day, and winter the next. And that can even vary from lake to lake. Wind will mix cold water with warmer water and sometimes shut things down. You never know from day-to-day. It’s either smiles or expletives depending on the day, lake or location. There was a full moon earlier this week. The desert habitats are in the mid 70s most of this week with another weather front headed our way this weekend. Most interior lakes have lots of suspended particulates from runoff. Sunlight will hit those suspended particles and the resulting energy transfer will help warm the water. Shallows should warm and bass will move into spawn. It’s possible that crappie will also move into spawn at Alamo (it’s like a huge solar bowl) any time now. Don’t forget the clean up at Alamo Lake on Saturday. As a side note, the Army Corps of Engineers will be doing a “pulse release” from Alamo Lake on Sunday, March 7 that will gradually be ramped up to 3,000 cfs and then held at that flow level for 36 hours, then ramped down Tuesday morning to the typical 40 cfs release. The lake level is expect to drop 2.5 vertical feet from the pulse release. Here is some information gathered by Diana Rogers, our fisheries biologist who does the weekly Central Arizona fishing report. f you want to talk biologically, 57.9 to 59 F is when nest building occurs for the most part and full force spawning occurs when the nests are at or near 64 F.  Keep in mind spawning will take place on different time lines depending on the temperature of coves and depths where spawning activity is occurring.  Another thing to keep in mind is the bass don’t read the biological assessments so there are a few that does it their own way or they simply find warmer spots we aren’t aware of. Crappie move into  the shallows when temperatures are between 60 and 65 F.  A temperature of 62 F is usually a very good. The males come into the shallows first then the females follow when the temps are typically about 64 F.  Use 1/32-ounce and lighter tube or curly tail jigs. You have to figure out the color they like, but I would start with blue-black chartreuse jigs or John Deere grubs. You can always tow a live minnow using No. 8 or 6 Aberdeen hook with a small split shot above it about an inch. Good information from Diana. Also keep in mind that at Roosevelt, the crappies really love the recently inundated flats with cockleburs. You’ll want to fish using mono filament rather than any braided line – cockle-burs will stick to thread-like line but won’t stick to mono. If you have water temperature readings for Roosevelt (or other lakes), especially in the shallow sheltered coves, please send them to either Diana or myself to share with other anglers. Okay, back to some other really interesting fishing dynamics along the Salt River chain of lakes. We have an historical set of fishing or hydrological circumstances occurring right now. Roosevelt at the top of the line is full. Salt River Project (SRP) must match the outflows to the inflows – and snow melt has not even begun yet at the higher elevations. These inflows and outflows will likely last through much of the spring. Plus, SRP will still be doing pump-backs to at non-peak electrical use times so they can maximize $$$ from hydroelectric production. This is a first, at least since the Rosey dam was raised in 1996. Last year Rosey filled and they did releases, but not for a protracted period of time. So first, there will be the flow-through dynamics with inflows and outflows somewhat matching and creating a flushing current through Apache, Canyon and Saguaro lakes 24-7, and ultimately into the Lower Salt River and through Tempe Town Lake as well (if it exceeds the amount they divert for Valley of the Sun use). It will almost be a riverine/lake environment, with an added dimension. There will be pump backs when possible during off-peak use, say nighttime, mornings and early afternoons (before the kids get home from school) from Canyon back to Apache, and Saguaro back to Canyon. This will likely disrupt the flow-through current in a localized way, but not necessary reverse the current like we see during normal operations, especially during summer when we need lots of power to run our air conditioners to survive in this desert environment. Some anglers and biologists have described these lakes as being similar to tidal basins where the current reverses and water levels fluctuate. Possibly not this spring though. I suspect that this spring, anglers will have fun trying to figure out what these currents and flows do to the bite and spawning patterns for the different species of fish. We’ll likely be more like those southeastern waterway systems, such as along the Tennessee River and such. Just remember, predatory sport-fish face into the current to feed – adjust your presentations accordingly. It also means bass will spawn first in the shallow coves not directly affected by current, but we will likely see a protracted spawn because the lakes won't warm up as quickly. It could also change the locations for pre-spawn and post spawn bass to feed, loaf or whatever, but that is a hypothesis needing verification or ground truthing. So for all of you dedicated Apache, Saguaro, and Canyon anglers (Rosey as well), let me know your thoughts and observations as we move through the season. It would be way cool to figure out the patterns so we know what to expect in the future if and when this happens again. Or if nothing else, it’s intriguing to figure out these biological mysteries or humbling when we can’t. Besides, life without some mystery would be boring. Go catch some memories my friends. PS: Come chat with me on Facebook when you get the chance (no negative stuff please, just like a good drop-shot fishing pole, I can be sensitive). Oh, and I am still figuring out the FB stuff, so be patient with my fumbling. Lend a hand at the Alamo Lake cleanup on March 6 A fishing hot spot needs your help – the Alamo Lake clean up is set for Saturday, March 6 starting at 8 a.m. Arizona Game and Fish Department experts predict that this 2,500-surface-acre desert lake west of Wickenburg will be one of the state’s hottest fishing spots this year. “The problem is, Alamo needs to be cleaned up,” said Wildlife Manager Stew Kohnke. “The solution? Come join the volunteers and department employees cleaning up the shoreline at the Alamo Lake Wildlife Area.”  The Arizona Game and Fish Department is holding its 11th annual Alamo Lake cleanup March 6 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. In the past 10 years, volunteers have picked up over 23 dump trucks full of trash from around Alamo Lake. "Volunteers have removed everything from a kitchen sink to an old truck frame including the engine block," says Kohnke. "This is a great opportunity to give something back to a lake that so many people enjoy." The department will provide boat transportation and trash bags for those who do not have them. The Alamo State Park will waive camp and launch fees for participants staying at the Cholla Campground Group Use Area. Registration begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 5 and runs through March 6 at the group use area.   North Central Note:  Recent snow has made the higher elevation trout lakes in the Flagstaff and Williams areas either inaccessible or ice-covered, or likely both. Fishing is viable in the Verde Valley and Prescott areas. Note: Northern Pike have been illegally stocked in Francis Short.  If you catch a Northern Pike at Francis Short Pond please REMOVE IT FROM THE POND.  Stone Dam near Ashfork was stocked with catfish last week.    Williams:   KAIBAB LAKE — Campground area is closed. CATARACT LAKE — Campgrounds are closed. CITY RESERVOIR —   Road is closed. DOGTOWN LAKE —. Road and Campground area is closed. JD DAM — Road is closed. RUSSEL TANK - Road is closed SANTA FE — Lake is full. WHITEHORSE LAKE — Road is closed   Flagstaff: LOWER LAKE MARY —  No fish, but lots of snow. UPPER LAKE MARY — Expect snow and ice. ASHURST LAKE —  Road is closed due to snow. FRANCIS SHORT POND – Frozen. KINNIKINICK LAKE — Road is closed due to snow.   MARSHALL LAKE —  No fish. Inaccessible. However, due to good snow pack, this lake should have more water in it this spring. LONG LAKE — Road is closed. SOLDIERS & SOLDIERS ANNEX — Road is closed STONEMAN LAKE — NO FISH.   Verde Valley OAK CREEK -- Not scheduled to be stocked until the first week of March. Angler report: Fished along oak creek for five days,north and south of Page Springs Hatchery.  Caught two 5in brown trout on olive dry fly and bead-head copper john, Feb 17 in Lo Lo Mai resort section of oak creek. Landed a 10.75in catfish in the same fishing spot on Feb 19 with a rainbow trout fry jig,  but he was fairly skinny for a catfish of that length (possibly sick?).  Locals have been telling me of an ecoli problem in the slide rock area of oak creek, which is upstream of the places I was fishing. Also hooked into, my first ever smallmouth bass downstream of Page Springs Hatchery! Wow! What a fight!!! I have never seen a fish put up so much of a struggle before! Sadly,  he was such a good fighter that he threw the hook before I ever got to touch him. But I at least got to see and fight my first smallmouth bass! He was caught using a Gizit watermelon/salted tube with an 1/8th ounce rattlehead tube jig. Although, I will be back to claim that smallmouth on another day when the weather isn't so wet and cold. Robert Cochrane WET BEAVER CREEK -- No reports. Will not be stocked with trout again until mid March. DEAD HORSE STATE PARK – Trout were last stocked the week of Feb. 15.   They are scheduled to be stocked again next week, the week of March 8.  Trout can be easily caught on Power Bait, corn, or spinners.  Many anglers prefer to make their own homemade dough baits.  They typically consist of flour, vegetable oil, and garlic powder.  Many anglers have their own secret ingredients that they believe works better than anybody else’s.  Catfish were stocked for the Verde River days in September 21;  1500 lbs of catfish were split between the two lagoons.  VERDE RIVER (throughout Verde Valley) – Trout are scheduled to be stocked this week, the week of March 1.  Look for the trout to be schooled up at the stocking sites.  Stocking sites are at Tuzigoot Bridge outside of Clarkdale, The bridge that leads to the Dead Horse State Park, at Dead Horse State Parks access point called the Jacks, at the White Bridge in Camp Verde, and at Bignotti Beach.   West Clear Creek -- Not scheduled for stocking until mid March. Prescott Area Lakes FAIN LAKE — Trout were stocked last week, the week of Feb. 8. Bright colored Power Bait will be your best bet.   Bluegill were stocked on June 15 and again the week of June 20.  Catfish were stocked the week of June 15. GOLDWATER LAKE — Trout are scheduled to be stocked were stocked in mid February.  . As of last Saturday, the boat launch was not accessible for stocking. The fishing pressure has been low as well as fishing success.  About 25percent of the anglers are successful in catching at least one fish. The fish that are being caught are larger than the usual stocked fish.  Power Bait and salmon eggs have been the best for trout. Both bass and catfish were stocked the week of June 22. Bass were stocked on June 10.  The bass are being stocked to give a boost to a dwindling population in the lake and to reduce the excessive number of crayfish. Please practice catch and release with the bass, while the population gets re-established. Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Goldwater on Sept. 15, 2009 and found bass and catfish populations to be much improved over last year. The number of green sunfish was greatly reduced.  The bass had a successful spawn this year.   If you fish Goldwater and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others. Granite Basin –The bass and bluegill are not biting.  Look for the fishing to pick up in the spring when the water warms.   If you fish Granite Basin and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.govsoI can share your successes with others. LYNX LAKE —  Scheduled to be stocked this week for the second time this season. Fishing might be good -- let us know how you do. MINGUS LAKE –Trout were last stocked the week of Oct. 19. This was the last scheduled stocking until the spring.  While the gate is closed you can still walk in.  The best bait is usually orange, pink, or white Power Bait, fished on the bottom with a treble hook and an egg sinker. Someone illegally stocked yellow bullhead into Mingus several years ago.  These fish compete directly with the trout and keep growth rates very low.  If you witness anyone, anywhere, moving fish like bass, bluegill, catfish and stocking them, please report it to our Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-352-0700.  Illegal stockings cost YOU money! WATSON – The fishing has slowed down as the water temperature has fallen.  Large numbers of small crappie are in Watson, but I have not heard about people catching them. Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Watson last fall and found the bass,  sunfish, and bullhead to be plentiful.  Crappies were also doing well.  Look for the crappie fishing to pick up in a year or two. If you fish Watson and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others. WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR – The fishing is slow due to cold  water temperatures. If you fish Willow and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

Flagstaff fishing is always fun and is usually productive. Come on out, wet a line... and enjoy the ouldoors.

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