Fishing Report Related Information 11/23/05 - Lake Levels - Stocking Schedule Been Fishing? - Where to Fish Tell us about it. Your comments may be added to the - Urban Fishing weekly fishing report.

Report editor: Rory Aikens, (602) 789-3214

Regional editors: Pinetop Region - Richard Dreyer, (928) 367-4281 Flagstaff Region - Chuck Benedict, (928) 774-5045 Kingman Region - Andy Clark, (928) 692-7700 Yuma Region - Brad Jacobsen (928) 342-4051 Tucson Region - Dave Neill, (520) 628-5376 ext. 561 Mesa Region - Richard Wiggins, (481) 324-3544

Other ways to get the fishing report: Internet home page: azgfd.gov Recorded public call-in line: (602) 789-3701

Rory's Tip An angler called from California asking if there is any trout fishing close to Phoenix because he is coming here to visit relatives during the Thanksgiving holiday. He was amazed at the multi-part answer. I proceeded to tell him about a fishery that always amazes me, the Lower Salt River near Phoenix (below ). He was genuinely impressed.

Then I told him about another unique fishery with inflatable dams at each end in the middle of the city: . He was awestruck. I continued, and told him about the trout stockings in Canyon and Saguaro Lakes. He was appropriately amazed.

Then, like a good chef preparing a holiday meal, I topped it off by telling him he could probably walk to one of the urban lakes, which have also been stocked with trout. Then we talked about many of the other winter trout stockings in places such as Oak Creek and Deadhorse State Park, and in the lakes around Prescott where the courthouse square is all lit up during the holidays. Something tells me this ardent fly angler will be visiting his relatives here more often than he originally thought.

So, while you are gathered around the table giving thanks this season, maybe the thought of all that great trout fishing close to home will at least bring a holiday smile to your face. And if you have relatives coming here from out of town, now you know how to impress them too. They can even buy their fishing licenses online at azgfd.gov.

Psssst, keep your voice down and I’ll tell you a fishing secret. Kiwanis Lake in Tempe was stocked with trout last week, and then received a bonus stocking of trout again this week. But don’t tell anybody, it’ll be our secret. If you just have to share a secret with someone, tell them Encanto Lake didn’t get stocked with trout last week, but it did receive a stocking plus bonus fish this week. By the way, in Phoenix did not get stocked because of a golden algae issue. Guess where its trout went?

For you bass anglers, it’s time to break out the trout-imitating swim baits. Trout were stocked in Canyon and Saguaro lakes. The monster bass like to feed on any dazed trout. So you work the lures to resemble a dazed stocker. Be sure to use heavy test line: when those huge bass hit the large lures, the resulting line stress can put a hurt on your fishing line if it is less than 20 or 30 pounds.

Anglers at Mohave and Mead also use the big swim baits to catch huge stripers up to 50 pounds or so in areas where trout are stocked. Consider them the chest of silver under the rainbows.

The central Arizona bass lakes are finally slowing down: it’s been a great season and the future is looking awesome. This holiday weekend might be the last hurrah before most bass go deep and enter their winter activity patterns. My top choices for this weekend are Bartlett and Pleasant (except for you swim bait fans).

Just because bass are going deep and their activity levels are slowing down, that doesn’t mean you can’t catch them. Just the opposite is true. We do catch bass year round here. Just keep in mind that during winter, a bass may only have to eat once every three days or so to maintain its body weight at its lowered metabolic rate. However, it does mean changing tactics, going deeper, slowing down, and for most of us, down-sizing. In other words, it’s drop-shot time, although I still have a fondness for the ponderous Carolina rigs and the lighter slit-shot rigs using small plastic lizards.

Those who still crave fast action in winter should target yellow bass at Saguaro, Canyon and Apache lakes. These diminutive cousins of the striped and white bass are fun to catch on lightweight or ultra-light poles with very small spoons or spinners. They also love mealworms and night crawlers. When you get into them, it is possible to catch one after the other.

I also like targeting white bass and striped bass in Lake Pleasant, especially near the water intakes (near the dam) and in the northern coves. Back when I was young and crazy, I would even go out on cold winter nights and fish for whites under my crappie lights using live minnows, spoons and marabou jigs. Now that I am old and crazy, I still do it sometimes. Makes you appreciate battery-warmed mittens. Don’t forget that a portion of the Agua Fria Arm of the lake will close in December for the nesting bald eagles.

Watch for the winter crappie bite to pick up once the more dispersed fish gather into huge schools in open water. They will look like an upside down Christmas tree on your graph. Sometimes this happens in December. Other times, we have to wait until January. When it happens, the two top lakes are Roosevelt and Alamo. But my other favorite winter crappie lake is Bartlett, which is also a great place to target winter bass in the afternoons. Ironically, the crappie fishing is often best at the coldest first light. Go figure.

Good luck. Maybe I’ll see you out there.

Central Arizona URBAN LAKES — The urban lakes, with the exception of Alvord, have been stocked with rainbow trout. In fact, Kiwanis Lake received trout last week and again this week. Encanto also received extra trout (some of the fish that had been destined for Alvord). Alvord has golden algae. The urban lakes also received a stocking of fun hybrid sunfish.

TEMPE TOWN LAKE – Grab your fishing pole. The trout are back. Come on down and work off that second (or third) helping of turkey with all the trimmings. Try Power Bait, corn, salmon eggs, small spinners or small spoons. The winter fishery will receive 6-8 stockings between November through March given suitable stocking conditions. Bass are biting plastics and crankbaits around ledges, piers and other structure. Many fish in the 1- 3 pound range are common. Yellow bass are plentiful in the 5- to 7-inch range and will bite mealworms; there are no limit or size restrictions for these tasty panfish. Channel catfish averaging 1-2 pounds are biting stink baits, hotdogs and shrimp at night. Carp fishing has been slow. Some crappies are being reported near the Mill Avenue Bridge under lights using minnows. On November 22 rainbow trout will return to the lake.

LAKE PLEASANT - Water level is at 1,667 feet (63-percent full). Angler reports indicate fishing has slowed some, but winter fishing conditions don’t prevail yet. White bass and stripers seem to be very active at first and last light, especially in the northern coves or around the intakes near the dam. Trolled spinners can also produce some whites in the lower lake and off the dam near the towers. Or cast small spoons, such as KastMasters, as close as you can to the intake towers, then strip off line and let them fall. There are even some huge largemouth bass that will hang out there when water is being pumped out. The largemouth bass bite is slowing as more and more fish head for the depths, but there are still plenty of bass to target in the shallows. Quite often, the best shallow water bite will be in the late afternoon. Try reaction baits. For the most consistent bass fishing, drop-shotting is the technique of choice. Power Worms, jigs, Carolina-rigs and Westy Worms are proven producers. Look for white bass and crappie to hit minnows fished under crappie lights in the upper lake in Castle Creek, Humbug and Coles Bay. Catfishing has picked up in the creek channels and upper lake coves on chicken livers and waterdogs. Don’t overlook the Agua Fria Arm; in a recent survey bass, sunfish, whites and crappies were numerous in the nets.

ROOSEVELT LAKE - The lake is 80-percent full at elevation 2,134 feet. The Salt River was flowing at 175 cfs Monday morning. Fishing is very good. The bass fishing outlook is fantastic. Anglers are currently catching large numbers of bass, mostly slots and unders. It appears that the huge number of unders from last year are moving nicely into the slot with the great habitat (submerged structure) and groceries (shad) available, but more "overs" than in past years including an occasional fish in the 4- to 6-pound range. Tight-line drop shot rigs, Westy Worms and Power Worms are all producing... Fishing off points in 10-25 feet of water has been effective. Also, look for bass busting shad in the backs of coves in the mornings, evenings and at times even during the heat of the day. Pop R’s, Ricos and Puppies are all good baits. Live shad or minnows are also good baits either with bobbers or free-lined. Crappie fishing is still good at night. Cove mouths and the marina tires are good spots to start. Crappies are also being caught during the day by trolling jigs. BBC Kalin chartreuse and Jumping Cholla jigs, try the Tonto end or around Windy Hill. Catfishing is slowing down with the cooling water temperatures. Fishing for smallmouth bass can be good; try using in-line spinners and crayfish imitations especially off rocky points and cliff walls. Remember the slot is in place for smallmouth as well. Nice pan-sized bluegill can be caught all around the edges of the lake near submerged structure. Note: anglers are reminded of the slot bass size limit that remains in effect at Roosevelt. 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 1,909 feet. Fishing for smallmouth bass seems to be nonexistent. The yellow bass fishing should be good. Largemouth should be shifting to winter holding patterns, but they could be pretty active in the late afternoons. On Oct. 28, more than 19,500 advanced fingerling walleye, 6 to 8 inches in length, were delivered to courtesy of Goeden Fish Farms, Alexandria MN. The fish were purchase using an $18,000 WCF grant in combination with $7,000 donated by Anglers United (AU) and the Southwest Walleye Anglers (SWWA)- non-profit sportsman’s clubs. After 1,800 miles and 30 hours on the road, the young walleye were delivered in excellent shape aboard an 18-wheeler containing 20 insulated tanks that kept the fish at a comfortable 54 degrees Fahrenheit. From the tanks, walleye were then loaded into plastic garbage can on 5 volunteer boats, courtesy of SWWA. With assistance from Department biologists the volunteer craft spread the fish lake-wide from the Burnt Corral launch ramp. Disseminating the fish allows them to not only spread throughout the lake faster, but also helps them avoid predation from hungry bass, catfish and larger walleye. Transportation and handling stress induced mortalities were estimated to be less than 5%. Walleye are stocked annually in Apache Lake as they don’t reproduce naturally. These advanced fingerlings will compliment the 4.5 million sac-fry size (1/4 inch) walleye and 70,000 one- inch fingerlings stocked during May 2005. Anglers should expect catchable size walleye within the next 2 years at Apache Lake.

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 are hitting jigs and spoons. Fish for them around balls of shad in 20-60 feet of water. Cut bait also works well for them. Catfishing is slowing down. Carp fishing is slow. In a recent survey biologists found decent numbers of largemouth bass ranging from 1- 5 pounds. Other species found in good numbers and healthy were channel and flathead catfish, yellow bass and carp. The bad news is we did not catch any smallmouth bass between 42 gill nets and 20 electro-fishing sites. 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 1,659 feet. Was stocked with trout last week. That’s good news for trout anglers in the Valley, but also good news for bass anglers as well. It’s time to break out the swim baits. Trout anglers can have success using spinners and Power Bait along the picnic shoreline east of the marina. There’s plenty of shoreline access, and even a fishing pier. For bass anglers, Senkos and Westy Worms have also been catching fish. In a recent fish survey good numbers of largemouth bass from 1-8 pounds were caught all over the lake. All other species (except smallmouth bass) were well represented in the survey and fish appeared healthy and in good condition. 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.

SAGUARO - Lake level is 1,524 feet (95-percent full). Rainbow trout were stocked last week in the Butcher Jones and Keyhole (launch ramp) areas. This means Power Bait, corn and spinners to some, but trout imitation swim baits like Castaics for those seeking big bass. Bass fishing is decent. Some fish are being caught before sunrise. There are reports of a decent top-water bite early and then switch to dropshot after 7 a.m. Go deep if it is sunny and hot. Some are taking topwater plugs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits early and late. Look for baitfish being chased at the surface. Jigging is also working at times with white curly tail jigs. Yellow bass can be caught jigging spoons (quarter-ounce KastMaster) or cut bait. Recent reports of yellows are being caught in the Butcher Jones Cove area. Another good area for yellows is near Ship Rock and the no wake buoys in the channel. Try to locate shad in 40-60 feet of water and jig through them. Catfishing is slow. Try stink baits, hotdogs or shrimp. 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 – It’s been a season long litany: this is the fishing hot spot. Fish activity levels are slowing down corresponding to the cooling water temperatures. Lake level is at 1,790 feet (99-percent full). Crawdad imitations and worming (drop shots and Texas rigs) are producing the best. Also try slowly working crankbaits along rocky outcroppings (with the lure bumping the bottom). Crappies are being caught at night using lights. During the day, try newly submerged vegetation along the shoreline and in coves. They will hit minnows and jigs. A live minnow rigged under a slip-bobber can be deadly. Try varying depths from 6-15 feet. Once fish are located, continue to fish at that depth. Last week anglers were picking up crappie in the 2 pound range near the buoy line upriver using Kalin 1/16 ounce BBC jigs. Recently fishing under lights for crappie near the Yellow Cliffs area has been good at night. Catfishing is good. Some channel and large flatheads may still be caught near the dam. Use live bait such as bluegill or small carp for the flatheads and shrimp, hotdogs or stink bait for the channels. Remember the live bait most come from the lake itself (excluding minnows, waterdogs or worms) not transported from another body of water!

HORSESHOE - Lake is empty. Fishing for bass, crappie, catfish and carp may be decent as the fish are concentrated in the minimum pool (about 8 acres of water). No reports as of yet. Fishing bellow the spillway in Catfish Point is known for large flathead and good channel catfish angling. Now would be a good time to try.

VERDE RIVER – Fishing is poor for largemouth, smallmouth and catfish. It may take a year or two for populations to rebound in traditional summer areas. Fish surveys this year showed depressed numbers of sport-fish. High flows and floods this winter appear to have scattered and displaced many of the smallmouth and largemouth bass in the Camp Verde area. 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) - Some bass can be found in the portion above the Verde confluence. They will hit spinners, crankbaits and night crawlers. In a recent survey many largemouth bass were caught ranging from 1-5 pounds. Look for back eddies next to submerged brush. Rainbow trout stockings were stocked last week, try inline spinners, Power Bait or drifting night crawlers. Fly fishing can be good with nymphs and Painted Ladies.

CREEKS – The spring/summer trout stocking season is over for Haigler, Workman, Christopher, Tonto, East Verde River. Some trout can still be found in deeper pools and places of shade and cover. Use spinners (Rooster Tails , Mepps or Vibrex) corn, worms or Power Bait. Access to Canyon Creek is closed.

HORSETHIEF LAKE – This small lake can be found up above Crown King and is a nice get away from the heat located in the pines. It holds bass, sunfish and catfish. Great for a canoe or car topper. Check with the Prescott National Forest for access to see if the road closure is still in effect.

Colorado River Northwest LAKE POWELL — By Wayne Gustaveson. Lake elevation: 3,602. Water temp: 60-64 F. Nights have turned cold but the lake surface temperature is lagging way behind. Temperatures in the mid 60’s during November are very unusual. Fishing techniques should still be geared for springtime conditions. Backs of coves and shallow water hold the actively feeding fish. For one more week, go shallow for best results.

The best fishing technique is trolling a shallow running lure where bottom depth is 20-25 feet. Stripers are feeding on shad in the backs of coves and in the center of the channel near the terminal end of major canyons.

For example: Two weeks ago a school of stripers was reported feeding in very shallow water in the arm opposite Crosby Canyon at the back of Warm Creek. When fishing there Monday, I saw seagulls and herons resting on the rocks guarding the last cove. Surface lures cast to the birds feet were immediately consumed by stripers from 1-5 pounds. Water depth was 3-5 feet. When the fish quit hitting topwater, we pulled out and trolled Bevy Shad and Wally Divers and got immediate hookups where bottom depth was 12-25 feet. These stripers had not moved in two weeks time.

Navajo Canyon has a school of stripers in the back where main channel bottom depth is 20-25 feet. Cruise back past a milk jug marking a shallow reef and look for stripers on the next corner where the canyon takes a right turn. If you go too far, you will find cottonwood tree trunks in 16 feet of water. I went there first looking for crappie and found stripers on the return.

Again trolling Bevy Shad and Wally Divers got instant hookups from yearling stripers. We stopped over the school and dropped 1-ounce swim baits (Storm wild eyed shad) and Stump Jumpers to the bottom for larger fish. We caught 5-pounders that were thin off the bottom and 3-pounders in excellent condition at mid depth in the water column while slow- reeling the big lures. Trolling on the way out caught yearlings every 50 yards.

In the upper lake from Farley Canyon to the river inflow, trolling shallow running crankbaits is very effective for stripers to 5 pounds.

Night fishing is not good up lake but it is much better in Wahweap Bay and Antelope marinas where forage is less and stripers are common. I suspect anchovies will work quite well in the lower lake anywhere stripers are graphed. Some have been trolling to catch the first striper and then fishing bait at the catch location to fill the cooler.

Bass fishing has slowed with falling barometer and full moon but some of the largest bass of the year are taken in the late fall. This may be the time to catch a big fish. Target the deep side of rock islands falling into the main channel for larger bass.

Crappie fishing remains good in shallow brushy coves near Farleys, 4-Mile, Cedar Canyon, Long Canyon, and San Juan near Neskahi.

LEES FERRY — Report courtesy Lees Ferry Guides. Fishing seems to be consistently improving. With the proper fly box and the right head, or a guide, you could keep busy all day with nice, healthier looking fish. There is really no one upriver right now, so all the legendary riffles are available. Nymphing is a must, but try throwing some dries in the back eddies. Stripping Wooly Buggers while drifting has been a hit as well. Give us a call for more details.

We had a report of fairly good fishing down at the walk-in. We heard that the fishing was hot in the morning, but as soon as the sun hit the water, it wasn’t as prolific. Scuds, worms and also some dry flies in the slow eddies will be good.

For spin anglers, fish near the bottom with Marabou Jigs and Panther Martins. Glo bugs on the end will always be productive, as well as plastic worms.

The chilly time of year has fallen upon us, making for a cold ascent upriver in the morning. Luckily the sun still shines and it warms up plenty as it crests the canyon walls. Make sure to bring warm layers and a rain shell to better cope with the changing weather throughout the day. We had a high of around 55+ today and a low tonight of around 32.

Releases from Glen Canyon Dam for November average 8,400 cfs. Monday through Friday the flows will fluctuate between 5,250 cfs and 10,250 cfs. On Saturday the high will peak at 10,000 and on Sunday the high will reach 9,500. These flows should continue for the duration of the month. The estimated average release for December will be 13,000cfs per day.

Now that water fluctuations have returned to Lees Ferry, we should see fishing pick up. We suggest fishing the riffles during the morning rise. The fish should swarm into the shallow water looking for stranded scuds and annelids. Fish San Juan Worms and hairs back scuds to imitate these creatures. There is still a healthy population of midges, so try fishing a dry dropper with a stimulator and a zebra midge.

LAKE MEAD — Striper fishing continues to be good out of South Cove. Many stripers are still "skinny" but this condition should start to improve. As winter approaches, the stripers will really group up and go deep. The threadfin shad will be doing the same, so look for "balls" of shad on your graph and fish below them. Annual fish population surveys were done the week of Oct. 10 in the Virgin and Temple Basin areas. Gillnetting and electro- fishing surveys showed many striped bass in the 1-3 pound range remain skinny. Several 2- to 3-pound smallmouth and largemouth bass were sampled in the Boulder Wash and Monkey Cove areas respectively. Channel catfish and Tilapia were all well represented in the survey. Catfish are very sensitive to any changes in temperature and really come on strong in fall. Most anglers are launching out of Temple Bar, but the ramp is still open at South Cove. The courtesy dock is down to only a few slots and the launching is shallow. The lake level continues to be fairly stable at or near 1,137 feet.

LAKE MOHAVE – With the water level down, the shoreline fishing areas are up. Davis Dam has plenty of shoreline for numerous anglers to enjoy. Cabinsite and Telephone Cove also provide plenty of shoreline for fishing. Princess Cove has a picnic area and a launch ramp. Bring the family and make a day of it. As the water has cooled down both stripers and catfish have been biting really well. Anchovies continue to be the most popular bait for stripers, but if you want to try something different, use shrimp or squid.

TOPOCK MARSH – With the temperatures cooling down, the marsh is good place to fish for crappie, bass and catfish. You can access the marsh by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. Waterfowl season is open; so don’t be alarmed if you hear a shotgun. Also be aware that the Topock Marsh seasonal closure began Oct. 1 and lasts through Feb. 6 and applies to hunters as well as anglers on the marsh. Pay attention to buoys and signs so that you don’t end up in the closed area. For more information on the marsh and the closed area, contact the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge at (760) 326- 3853 or go to http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/havasu/index.html. Fishing is allowed from the shoreline of the Colorado River.

COLORADO RIVER BELOW DAVIS DAM – Stripers and trout are being caught off the shore of Davis Camp. USFWS stocked trout this month and will be stocking once a month until March. Remember to fish for trout, you need a trout stamp on Class A and Lifetime fishing licenses. The 2005 Class A Fishing License is on sale for half price in November and December. Cooler temperatures and lower river flow in the mornings and evenings make for a good time to get out and fish for those stripers and trout along the shore. Community Park is good place for the morning fishing. Anchovies work best for catching stripers, but you may also catch catfish and trout. The water level will go up later in the day, but it will drop after sunset. If you are fishing by boat, plan accordingly. You can also check the Bureau of Reclamation Web site for flow predictions http://www.usbr.gov/lc/riverops.html/ before you go.

WILLOW BEACH - Less than 20 anglers showed up for the Friday trout stocking. Those who were there had good success. Various flavors of Power Bait were being used successfully including rainbow, orange and salmon peach. Eagle Claw nitro green was also used. Lures that were being used were KastMasters and gold Jakes with red dots. On Friday evening, an 11- pound striped bass was caught from shore using a lure. On Saturday, anglers were having success with various flavors of Power Bait including salmon peach, rainbow and orange. Lures that were working were black and yellow Rooster Tails, gold Jakes with red dots and silver KastMasters. One angler caught a 4- pound trout. Several anglers were having success catching small striped bass using cut anchovies.

Southwestern Arizona HAVASU — Striper fishing is back. There are a lot of little stripers being taken all over the lake. Flathead action near the CAP pumping station and Havasu Springs has started slowing down as a result of the colder weather. Anglers at the CAP docks near the Bill Williams were having trouble getting past the small stripers. Most of the catfish action was occurring at or just after sunset with some of the larger fish being caught between 7 and 8 p.m. A bass angler from Phoenix was having fun with small stripers off the dock at the springs flipping a Texas-rigged chartreuse grub. In the late afternoon, stripers were hitting on cut anchovies and they were setting up for cats at dusk.

PARKER STRIP — There has been no change in the fishing on the Parker Strip. Catfish are hitting earlier in the evening just after sunset. Flatheads will hit on most live bait although bluegills work well as do goldfish. Try a small worm around the docks to catch the bluegills and redears that inhabit this stretch of river, but be aware there are some monsters lurking out there waiting to be landed and set a new state record. Channel cats like their bait stinky so cut anchovies would be a good choice or try chicken livers a good standby. There have been reports of bass hitting both top-water baits as well as spider jigs with light weights.

MARTINEZ LAKE/COLORADO RIVER — No change on the lower river. Anglers are doing well on all species. A recent angler caught three flatheads at night using bluegill as bait, the largest weighing 9 pounds. Stripers are being consistently caught at the lake entrances on chicken and beef livers, as well as night crawlers and anchovies. Largemouth bass are biting Senkos in Martinez Lake, while bass in the main river channel are biting skirted spinnerbaits.

MITTRY LAKE — The upper portion of the lake has been posted and the closure started Nov. 15 and continues through March 15. Shore fishing is always great for channel catfish and bluegill. Use worms, mealworms and chicken liver to catch. Boat anglers are catching bass on some topwater, plastics and crankbaits.

YUMA AREA RIVERS/CANALS — Fishing continues to be good for channel catfish and stripers in the canals. Large redear sunfish are being caught in the Gila Main near Mittry Lake on worms.

The Gila River is still a fishing "hot spot" right now for bass. Fish isolated deep pockets where hungry bass are awaiting. They will bite just about anything right now.

FORTUNA POND — There has been no change in the fishing at Fortuna Pond. Anglers were catching a few channel catfish on worms and stink bait. A few bass have also been landed on worms and spinners. Bluegills are biting meal worms. Record breaking striped mullet can be seen jumping in the middle of the pond. If you catch one of these "monsters," bring it by the Arizona Game and Fish office for official weighing to see if you have broken the state record for big fish! They will bite small pieces of worm with little or no weight. Anglers, please pack out your trash when you leave.

REDONDO POND — No new reports. If you fish this pond, please post a fishing report on our game and fish website: www.azgfd.gov under fishing reports.

YUMA WEST WETLANDS POND — No recent reports have been turned in for this area. Effective January 2005, the daily bag/possession limits for fish caught at the Yuma West Wetlands Pond is two trout, one largemouth bass (13-inch minimum), two channel catfish and five sunfish of any combination. For detailed information see the 2005-2006 Arizona Game and Fish Department's fishing regulations.

EHRENBERG — Nothing has changed from previous reports. Largemouth bass should be good in the various backwaters along this stretch of the river. Top-water in the mornings and evenings followed by plastics and spinnerbaits after the top-water bite shuts down. The same fishing for flatheads will continue to bite on bluegill or other live bait in the main channel. Worms and green crankbaits will continue to attract bass in the backwaters. Just a reminder, Cibola Lake is closed to fishing from the first Monday in September (Labor Day) through March 15.

ALAMO LAKE — Last week the fishing was extremely hot at the lake for both bass and crappie. In-line spinners like Rooster Tails should boat you at least 20 to 30 fish. Chartreuse, chartreuse/orange, and white are hot colors right now. Any brushy point is holding fish. Try throwing right up to the shoreline and working the spinner back to the boat. Pay attention to lure retrieval speed. Other anglers reported that throwing a chrome/black crankbait worked real well for them. This is also true with Rat-L-Traps. Local anglers are still finding that throwing plastics in approximately 15 to 20 feet of water will produce bigger fish. Baby brush hogs, lizards, and grubs work best. Crappie fishing is still fair on the night bite. Anglers are reporting that they are able to catch 30 to 60 crappies a night. Lights and minnows are your best bet. With the weather cooling off, it will not be long before the crappie go on a day bite. Cat fishing is still good. The cats are being caught off night crawlers, minnows and livers. Most cats are being caught in the upper end of the lake. The lake level is approximately 1,130. Cholla Ramp is still closed but there have been no problems launching off the main ramp. Quail season opened with a bang and everyone I talked to limited out. There's allot of hunters out here, so pay attention to your surroundings and what's behind you. When you leave your vehicle, try to establish a couple of reference points so you can find your way back. Happiness is not reporting your vehicle stolen only to find out that it was right where you left it. There is a fish advisory at Alamo Lake. The advisory recommends that people limit consumption as follows for bass and crappie. Children under age six: no consumption; women of childbearing age - one 8- ounce fish meal per month; all other adult women - three 8-ounce fish meals per month; adult men - four 8-ounce fish meals per month. For catfish is the same for children and women of childbearing age, but for all other adult women - five 8-ounce fish meals per month and adult men - six 8-ounce fish meals per month.

North Central Region WILLIAMS LAKES:

KAIBAB LAKE — Campground is open for camping (with a $7 fee) and will close to camping on Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. Trout fishing was good over the weekend. Try using corn, worms, or Power Bait on the bottom.

CATARACT LAKE — Campground and parking area are closed, walk-in use only. Trout fishing was good over the weekend. Try using corn, worms, or Bower Bait on the bottom. Some large incentive fish were stocked with the last stocking.

CITY RESERVOIR — Closed

DOGTOWN LAKE — The campground is closed to camping but the lake is open for fishing, as is the picnic area and the boat ramp. The lake, picnic ground and the boat ramp will remain open for the winter, but the campground will be closed until the concessionaire opens in the spring. Trout fishing was good over the weekend. Try using corn, worms, or Power Bait on the bottom. Brown trout were being caught on flies in the evenings. Some large incentive fish were stocked with the last stocking from Sterling Springs Hatchery.

JD DAM — Lake is full. Some nice fish were being caught.

SANTA FE — Lake is full. Trout fishing was good over the weekend.

WHITEHORSE LAKE — Campground is closed, walk-in use only. Trout fishing was good over the weekend. Try using corn or worms on the bottom. Some large incentive fish were stocked from Sterling Springs Hatchery.

FLAGSTAFF LAKES:

LOWER LAKE MARY — The gate is closed during the week. The gate will be open on Friday-Sunday from 8 am-5:30 p.m. through Dec. 18 Fishing was good over the weekend, with trout being caught on worms both on the bottom and under a bobber. Anglers were also catching fish on red or yellow Power Bait fished on the bottom. Boat anglers were also doing well on lures. Trout were being caught all around the lake with most of the fish checked being caught within 25 feet of shore. Most fish checked were 16 inches long and weighed 1.5 to 2 pounds with some approaching 3 pounds. Some northern pike are being caught as well. One angler brought in a 6-fish limit that weighed 12.5 pounds.

UPPER LAKE MARY — No report. Do not eat walleye from this lake: mercury has been detected in high levels in the walleye. Try to limit consumption of other species to 8 ounces a month.

ASHURST LAKE — Lake is full. There were 10 large trout (more than 5 pounds) stocked here from Sterling Springs Hatchery. KINNIKINICK LAKE — No Report

MARSHALL LAKE — No report. The road is open.

OAK CREEK — Being stocked. Good for rainbows and fair for browns.

LONG LAKE — Lake is 70-percent full. Some 9-inch rainbow trout were stocked. Stocked trout are safe to eat, but for other species, there is a health advisory: do not eat fish from these lakes because mercury has been detected.

SOLDIERS & SOLDIERS ANNEX —There is a health advisory: do not eat fish from these lakes because mercury has been detected.

BEAVER CREEK — No report.

WEST CLEAR CREEK — No report.

STONEMAN LAKE — NO FISH.

BLUE RIDGE — Fish about 15 feet deep with bright orange Power Bait.

KNOLL LAKE — Fishing good on corn and worms.

MINGUS LAKE — Last stocked Oct. 24. This is the last load for Mingus this year. The Forest Service locks the gate for vehicle traffic around Nov. 15. Walk-in traffic will still be permitted after that date.

DEAD HORSE STATE PARK — Will be stocked this week with trout. Dead Horse was last stocked week of Nov. 7 in the middle and lower ponds with trout. About 380, 2-pound channel catfish were stocked Sept. 21 into the middle lagoon for the Verde River Days events. Largemouth bass action has been fair in the middle lagoon on small plastic worms and jigs. The first (upper-most) lagoon does not have fish. The catfish bite has been good on night crawlers and liver.

LYNX LAKE — Lynx was stocked the week of Nov 14 with 1,350 rainbow trout. The next stockings are scheduled for the week of Jan. 30. Catfish and largemouth bass were stocked at Lynx on Aug. 25. The Game and Fish Department, in cooperation with the Prescott National Forest, installed artificial habitat into four sites at Lynx Lake. It’s hoped the habitat will encourage bluegill and largemouth bass to frequent those areas and make it easier for anglers to catch them. Trout fishing has been slow due to no stocking and warm water temperatures.

FAIN LAKE — Fain was stocked the week of Nov 14 with 1,000 rainbow trout. The next stockings are scheduled for the week of Dec. 26. Channel catfish were stocked on Aug. 25 at Fain. No reports on catching success.

VERDE RIVER — Trout stockings are scheduled the week of Nov. 28. Stockings will occur at Tuzigoot Bridge outside of Clarkdale, at Deadhorse State Parks access point called the Jacks, and at the White Bridge in Camp Verde. While last winter’s flooding has caused stocking access issues at Bignotti Beach.

GOLDWATER LAKE- Reports from Goldwater have pointed to slow catching. Goldwater was stocked on Nov. 7, so the conditions should improve. If you fish Goldwater and are having luck, please e-mail me at [email protected] so I can share your successes with others. The next stocking is scheduled for the week of Feb. 13.

Mogollon Rim CHEVELON — Brown trout should be in the spawning mode. Chevelon Lake is a hike-in fishery open to artificial lures and flies only. The bag limit is six fish with a slot limit. Trout between 10-14 inches may not be possessed. Trout taken from Chevelon Canyon Lake shall be immediately killed and retained as part of the bag limit or immediately released. Fishing is fair. Try lures such as KastMasters, Z-Rays, Panther Martin spinners, and Rapalas. Fly fishers should try wooly buggers or wooly worms in black or brown colors, crayfish colored patterns, and brown or black semi-seal leeches, KP buggers, peacock ladies and other large streamers. The brown trout should be congregating at the mouth of Chevelon Creek, which is located at the south end of the lake. Brown trout spawn during November in Chevelon creek. Chevelon is open to 10 hp gas motors. Getting a boat into Chevelon will take considerable effort, but hiking with a float-tube is an easier alternative.

BEAR CANYON LAKE — This is a hike-in lake. Small boats or float tubes are recommended. Fishing is fair. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow, orange, and rainbow colored), salmon eggs, lures (small Rapalas, Crickhoppers, Z-Rays, Panther Martin, Mepps, and Rooster Tail spinners), and flies such as brown or black wooly worms and wooly buggers, brown or black semi-seal leeches, KP buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and brown Montana stones. Bear Canyon is open to electric motors only.

BLACK CANYON LAKE —The boat ramp is accessible. Fishing is fair. Anglers have been catching small trout and sunfish. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow, orange, rainbow colored), lures (Z-Rays and spinners), yellow/brown Crickhopper lures, and flies (brown or black wooly worms and wooly buggers, brown or black semi-seal leeches, KP buggers, peacock ladies, Montana stones, prince nymphs, and zug bugs). The lake also has largemouth bass and green sunfish, a great alternative for kids if the trout are not biting. Try fishing a night crawler under a bobber close to shore, especially near weeds and rocky areas. Black Canyon is open to electric motors only.

WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE — Fishing is fair. Try worms, Power Bait (green, orange, yellow, and rainbow colored), lures such as Z-Rays and Rooster Tail, Mepps, and Panther Martin spinners, and yellow-brown Crickhopper lures, and flies such as brown or black wooly worms and wooly buggers, brown or black semi-seal leeches, KP buggers, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and peacock ladies. Boat anglers might try trolling a night crawler, or a fly baited with a night crawler, several feet behind cowbells if other baits and lures are not working. Willow Springs also contains largemouth and smallmouth bass. Some lunker largemouth bass are occasionally caught by anglers. Fish submerged stumps and rocky shorelines with spinnerbaits, crankbaits, or plastic worms for bass. Willow Springs Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. The boat ramp is accessible.

WOODS CANYON LAKE — Fishing is fair. Anglers have been catching trout trolling cowbells with worms. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow, orange, and rainbow colored), lures such as Z-Rays, spinners (Panther Martins, Rooster Tail, and Mepps), Rapalas, crayfish colored crankbaits and yellow-brown Crickhopper lures. Flies such as brown or black wooly buggers and wooly worms, brown or black semi-seal leeches, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, and zug bugs are also effective. Large brown trout should be congregating at the mouth of the small creek, which is located at the north end of the lake. Brown trout spawn in November. Woods Canyon Lake is open to electric motors only. The boat ramp is accessible.

White Mountains BECKER LAKE — Fishing is good. From Oct. 1 through May 24, the fishing regulations are artificial lure and fly only with a two-trout bag and possession limit. Fly fishers should try brown wooly buggers, damselfly and dragonfly patterns, brown Montana nymphs, peacock ladies, beadhead zug bugs, prince nymphs, and midge larvae patterns. Fly fishers are catching 12- to 16-inch rainbow trout. Lures such as small spinners, KastMasters, and Z-Rays are also effective. A few large brown trout are also found in Becker, although not regularly. Becker Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. The boat ramp is accessible. The water temperature last week was 47 degrees and the pH was 8.8.

BIG LAKE — Fishing is fair to good for shore and boat anglers. Boat and shore anglers are catching rainbow trout 7- to 16-inches long, brook trout 10-14 inches, and cutthroat trout 12-22 inches. Anglers should try worms and Power Bait (green, orange, rainbow colored, and yellow), and salmon eggs. Lures such as Rapalas, yellow-brown Crickhopper lures, Z-Rays, KastMasters, Rooster Tails, Mepps, and Panther Martin spinners are effective. Fly fishers are catching trout on brown wooly worms with red tails, peacock ladies, wooly buggers (black), brown semi-seal leeches, and brown Montana stones, beadhead prince nymphs, zug bugs, and KP buggers. All boat ramps are accessible, but the South Cove boat ramp is the best. The main boat ramp near the store is shallow, but okay to launch with smaller boats. The USFS is building a new boat ramp at Railroad Cove and it is unusable for launching large boats. Float tubes can be launched below the concrete boat ramp. Big Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors.

CARNERO LAKE — Fishing is fair for boat anglers, if there is some open water. There are lots of weeds. Recent fall netting surveys showed rainbow trout up to 4 pounds in the lake. There is no established boat ramp and small boats or float tubes are ideal for this lake. Carnero Lake is open to electric motors only. Shore fishing is difficult. The lake is open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and a two -trout bag limit. Try lures such as Z- Rays, KastMasters, spinners (Mepps, Panther Martin, and Rooster Tail) and flies like brown or black wooly worms and wooly buggers, damselfly nymphs, scuds, peacock ladies, KP buggers, and brown Montana stone nymphs.

CONCHO LAKE — Fishing is poor to fair. The lake level is down. Launching small boats or float tubes is recommended. There was a fish kill in early May. Try using worms and Power Bait. Concho Lake also contains green sunfish. Target the weed lines and rocky areas with night crawlers, jigs, and small spinners. As water temperatures cool trout should become more active. Concho Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors.

CRESCENT LAKE — There still is a slight algae bloom present in the lake and it is weedy near the dam and in the back of coves. Fishing is fair to good. Recent fall netting surveys showed good numbers of 12-14 inch brook trout and 12-16 inch rainbow trout. Anglers are catching 13- to 17-inch rainbow trout and 14inch brook trout. Try worms, Power Bait, lures, and flies. Anglers are having good luck with flies, such as prince nymphs, zug bugs, brown Montana stones, black and yellow wooly worms, black beadhead wooly buggers and wooly worms, KP buggers, green damselfly nymphs, and brown semi-seal leeches. Lures such as Panther Martins, Rooster Tails, and Z-rays are catching fish. The west boat ramp water level below the concrete ramp, but usable and the south boat ramp is also accessible. The north boat ramp may be difficult due to muddy conditions. Crescent is open to 10 hp gas motors.

FOOL HOLLOW LAKE — Both boat ramps are accessible. Fishing is poor to fair. Try worms, Power Bait, lures, and flies near structure such as rocks, tree stumps, and weed beds. Anglers have been catching bass, largemouth and smallmouth, bluegills, and green sunfish around rocky shorelines. Anglers are being asked to harvest any pike they catch and not to release them back into the lake. Fool Hollow also contains walleye, channel catfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish, and black crappie. There are some trophy-sized walleye as well as largemouth and smallmouth bass. Fool Hollow Lake is managed by Arizona State Parks and excellent camping facilities are available. Anglers wishing to fish the lake only for the day must use the west side boat ramp and parking area, but free of charge until that parking area fills. Fool Hollow Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors.

GREER LAKES — Bunch Reservoir is filling while Tunnel reservoir is low due to irrigation draw downs. The road to Bunch and Tunnel Reservoirs is open. The boat ramp at Tunnel reservoir is difficult to launch a boat because of the concrete extension at the end of the ramp. Small boats or float tubes are recommended since the lake is low. Bunch Reservoir may be easier to launch a boat since the water level is rising. Catchable size rainbow trout were last stocked in June at Bunch and Tunnel Reservoirs. Fishing is fair. Try using worms, Power Bait, small spinners such as Mepps, Panther Martins, or Rooster Tails, and flies, such as brown or black wooly worms and wooly buggers, peacock ladies, zug bugs, and prince nymphs for trout. The USFS has upgraded the boat ramps at Bunch and Tunnel Reservoirs. River Reservoir is closed for dam repairs. Bunch and Tunnel Reservoirs are open for fishing and electric motors may only be used. River Reservoir is closed to all access by USFS order. River Reservoir is very low. The reservoir has been drained down to minimum pool and dam repairs are currently under way. The water temperature last week at Bunch reservoir was 43 degrees and the water temperature at Tunnel reservoir was 40 degrees.

HULSEY LAKE — Fishing is poor to fair. The lake was last stocked with catchable size rainbow trout in May. The water clarity is poor. Try worms, Power Bait, lures, and flies. The water temperature last week was 43 degrees and the pH was 8.3.

LEE VALLEY RESERVOIR — The lake is down. Lee Valley Lake is open to artificial lures and flies only, two-fish bag limit, with a minimum size of 12 inches. The lake was stocked with 5,000 catchable size Apache trout in May and another 5,000 in late June. Fishing is fair. Anglers should try lures such as Rooster Tail, Mepps, and Panther Martin spinners. Fly fishers should try small peacock ladies, prince nymphs, hares ear nymphs, caddis fly nymphs, mayfly nymphs, and damselfly nymphs in sizes 14-16. If the trout are feeding on surface insects try dry flies such as elk hair caddis and brown caddis fly patterns and midge patterns as well as light Cahills in sizes 16-20.

LUNA LAKE — Fishing is fair to good. The water clarity is good. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow or orange), lures (Z-Rays, KastMasters, and small spinners), and flies (wooly worms, wooly buggers, KP buggers, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and peacock ladies). Bait and tackle can be purchased at the store near the dam and boat rentals are available. Luna Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. The boat ramp is accessible. The water temperature last week was 47 degrees and the pH was 9.0.

LYMAN LAKE — Fishing is fair to good. The lake is turbid as usual. Anglers have been catching catfish at the upper end of the lake on worms, and prepared catfish baits. Try fishing for bass, walleyes, and sunfish along rocky areas or weedy areas of the lake. Try worms, Power Bait, lures, and flies. The lake is managed by Lyman Lake State Park and camping is available. There are also some new cabins for rent. There is a fish consumption advisory here. Consult the fishing regulations or contact the Arizona Game and Fish Regional office in Pinetop for more information. Boat ramps are accessible and there are no boat motor restrictions on Lyman Lake. NELSON RESERVOIR — The main boat ramp at the dam is the best and the east boat ramp is accessible. The middle boat ramp is weedy but usable. Fishing is fair. The lake was stocked with catchable size rainbow trout in May. Try spinners (Rooster Tail, Panther Martins), small KastMasters or Z-rays, or bait (Power Bait or worms) for stocked trout. Anglers have been catching trout on night crawlers fished under a bobber. Trolling brown or black wooly worms and wooly buggers, KP buggers, and peacock lady flies are also effective. Black crappies and green sunfish can be caught near rocky shorelines. Nelson Reservoir is open to 10 hp gas motors. The water temperature last week was 45 degrees and the pH was 9.0.

RAINBOW LAKE — Fishing is poor to fair. The boat ramp is accessible. Try trolling spinners or flies for rainbow trout. Rainbow Lake also contains largemouth bass, channel catfish, black bullhead, sunfish and illegally stocked northern pike. We are asking anglers to keep all the pike they catch. There is no bag and possession limit for northern pike. Do not release them back into the lake. If targeting pike, the small pike are distributed throughout the lake. Try spinners, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits for larger pike and bass along weed beds. Shore fishing for the public is restricted to the dam and area along the boat ramp parking, since most of the shoreline is privately owned. A fishing pier is available at the boat ramp parking. Rainbow Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors.

SCOTT'S RESERVOIR — The lake is full. The boat ramp is accessible. Fishing is fair for trout, sunfish, bass, and catfish. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow or orange), lures, and flies. Try fishing near structure such as rocks, tree stumps and weed beds. Lure fishermen should try crappie jigs, small spinners, crankbaits, and Rapalas for bass and bluegills. Fly fishers should try peacock ladies, KP buggers, brown or black wooly buggers, and Montana stone nymphs. Scotts Reservoir also has channel catfish. Try prepared baits or night crawlers fished on the bottom. Scotts is open to electric motors only.

SHOW LOW LAKE — The boat ramp is accessible. Fishing is fair. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow or orange), salmon eggs, lures, and flies for rainbow trout. Try casting or trolling Rapalas, crankbaits, and chartreuse or brown Mister Twister jigs around rocky shorelines for walleyes, largemouth and smallmouth bass, black crappies, and sunfish. Anglers have had at times good success catching pan-sized walleye by fishing chartreuse or burnt orange jigs in shallow water at the dam area very early in the morning and again late in the evening. Try fishing near rocks with a bobber and a worm for bass and sunfish. Show Low Lake is open to 10 hp gas motors. A campground at the lake is run and maintained by Navajo County Parks. Boat rentals are available.

WOODLAND LAKE— The lake is full. The boat ramp is accessible. Fishing is poor to fair. Try worms, Power Bait (green, yellow or orange), lures, and flies for stocked trout. The lake also contains channel catfish, largemouth bass, and sunfish. Try fishing with a bobber and a worm near weed beds, rocks, and tree stumps. A city park with picnicking facilities and paved trail around the lake make for a great family outing location. A fishing pier is available near the dam. The lake is open to electric motors only.

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR — Fishing is fair. The lake contains trout, largemouth bass, sunfish, bullheads, and catfish. Anglers should try worms, Power Bait (green, rainbow colored, yellow or orange), lures, and flies for stocked trout. It is difficult to launch a boat, the north launch ramp is shallow but usable, and the south one has soft sand and not safe to launch a boat. Access to the upper lake is difficult due to shallow water and a sand bar. Try fishing for sunfish using worms with a bobber near the rocky shorelines.

SILVER CREEK — Trout fishing is fair to good. As of Oct. 1, Silver Creek on the Arizona Game and Fish Department property is open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and catch and release, no kill. Use small lures such as Mepps, Rooster Tail, and Panther Martin spinners: fish upstream or downstream. Fly-fishing anglers may want to try peacock ladies, beadhead black wooly buggers, prince nymphs, bead head nymphs, mayfly and caddis fly nymph imitations, and shrimp patterns. Fish your flies upstream and dead drift them downstream or cast your fly downstream and retrieve it slowly, twitching it occasionally. Try small dry flies such as Adams, parachute Adams, midge imitations, and caddis fly patterns is sizes #16 or #18.

STREAMS

EAST FORK OF BLACK RIVER – Nightime temperatures are getting cold on the Apache- Sitgreaves National Forest and streams are getting ice-covered. If warm temperatures prevail during the day, the ice generally melts. Check the streams after 10:00 AM.

WEST FORK OF BLACK RIVER – Same as above.

LITTLE COLORADO RIVER – GREER – Same as above.

SHEEPS CROSSING – WEST FORK LITTLE COLORADO RIVER – Same as above.

Southeastern Arizona TUCSON URBAN — Kennedy, Silverbell, Sahuarita and Lakeside were stocked with rainbow trout last week. Try Power Bait, corn or cheese. The lakes have been stocked with small sub-catchable sized largemouth bass. They also have been stocked with aggressive, fast-growing, tasty hybrid sunfish. Fishing for sunfish has been good. Use mealworms and earthworms on a small hook, size 10 or smaller, under a bobber set at 3 to 5 feet. Buy a two-pole stamp and try different baits to double your odds. The urban lakes will be stocked on Nov. 15 with trout.

RIGGS FLAT — Riggs Flat lake is scheduled to close for the winter on Nov. 15. Call (928) 428-4150.

CLUFF RANCH — Is scheduled to be stocked with trout this week . Slow for warmwater species. For lake information call (928) 485-9430.

ROPER LAKE — Is scheduled to be stocked with trout this week .For lake information call (928) 428-6760.

DANKWORTH POND — Is scheduled to be stocked with trout this week. For lake information call (928) 428-6760.

KEARNY LAKES — Not stocked due to water quality issues.

ARIVACA — The bass fishing (along with the other warm water species) is fair. The water level is still rather low. You should be able to launch most boats, with the exception of the longer bass boats. The lake is very weedy. Our recent surveys showed that the change in regulations to catch-and-release for all bass has had a positive impact. Several bass in the 7-plus-pound range were surveyed. Remember, powerboats on Arivaca Lake are restricted to the use of a single electric motor only, and all bass must be immediately released back to the water. The mercury advisory for all fish is still in effect.

PENA BLANCA – Will be stocked with rainbow trout this week. The bass fishing (along with the other warm water species) is fair. The water level is still rather low. You should be able to launch most boats, with the exception of the longer bass boats. The lake is very weedy. Our recent surveys showed that the change in regulations to catch-and-release for all bass has had a positive impact. Several bass in the 7-plus-pound range were surveyed. Remember, are restricted to the use of a single electric motor only, and all bass must be immediately released back to the water. The mercury advisory for all fish is still in effect.

PATAGONIA — Will be stocked with rainbow trout this week. The other species remain fair to good. For more lake information, call Patagonia Lake State Park at (520) 287-6965.

PARKER CANYON — Fishing at Parker Canyon Lake is fair to good. Trout stocking has begun with some limits being caught. Power Bait, worms fished deep along with spinners and flies on surface are working well. Bluegill and bass are still being caught along weed beds and at depths of 10-20 feet. Water level still good, but weeds along shallower shorelines and in coves are making fishing from shoreline difficult. Chip seal work completed from milepost 3-7 on Highway 83 by ADOT so road conditions are good.

PICACHO RESERVOIR — No Report.

ROSE CANYON LAKE — Rose Canyon Lake has been closed for the winter.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy Director, 2221 W. Greenway Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85023, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above.

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