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● Read the Full Fishing With a nice week or so of warmer weather and the days getting longer, our desert Report impoundments had a chance to warm up – especially those with lots of suspended nutrients due to tempestuous runoff. Report editors Even with another moderate storm coming this weekend, we should be on the leading edge of some pre-spawn activity for bass at places like Alamo, Saguaro, Havasu and Martinez (lower Colorado River backwater near Yuma) . Rory Aikens (623) 236- 7214 I haven’t heard much from anglers at Pleasant, but the striped bass must be in the spawning mode my now up anyplace with inflows, such as the Agua Fria Arm, Humbug, Pinetop Region - Richard Castle Creek and the intakes near the dam. Dreyer The luxurious green-up in the deserts is also resulting in good insect reproduction, which is (928) 367-4281 another food source in the aquatic as well as the terrestrial system (can you say quail without smiling). Flagstaff Region - Chuck ● Fishing Locations Map Life is good in the lowlands and this is going to be a long-remembered spring. Benedict ● Weekly Fishing Report (928) 774-5045 For the high Blog country, I Kingman Region - Andy ● Weekly Fishing Report received RSS Feed Clark some (928) 692-7700 photos from ● Lake Levels the Forest ● Stocking Schedule Yuma Region - Vacant Service ● Where to Fish (928) 342-4051 (snow cat ● Urban Fishing time) that Tucson Region - Don have me ● Sign up for AZGFD Mitchell grinning eNews (520) 388-4451 from ear-to- ear in Mesa Region - Diana anticipation. Rogers Check out the Big (480) 324-3544 Lake Store. Wow. Yep, User photos that big Submit your own photos white expanse in front of the store is the lake, or at least, where the lake will be found once the deep snow melts. Snow was measured at five to six feet on the flats and drifted in places up to 10 feet deep – awesome.

Vancouver, eat your heart out. The great snow is in Arizona this year! I don’t think Big Lake has filled since the early 90s. It sure stands a chance of filling and Sign up to receive free spilling this year. news by e-mail! The Arizona Game and Fish I’m jazzed. Department offers a The pictures remind me of the 80s when some of us crazies living in Pinetop would do ice- number of free electronic fishing trips to Big Lake via snowmobile in winter. One year, someone had to go back to newsletters to keep you town and bring out snow shovels so we could even reach the ice. updated with information Bartlett about hunting, fishing, I am just itching to get up there. Ironically, all that snow may mean a longer wait for the wildlife viewing, archery/ roads to open. For high country trout afficionados, that’s almost like Santa Claus saying Christmas is coming late this year, but the number of presents under the tree will be shooting sports, off- tripled. highway vehicle recreation, boating If you could buy trout futures on the market, our whole economy might turn around. recreation, department Okay, back to reality and today’s fishing opportunities. activities, commission news, rules and By the way, there are high country trout fishing opportunities at Silver Creek, Becker Lake regulations, public events, and Fool Hollow. and more. If you are We had Channel 12 out at Rio Vista Park signing up for the first in Phoneix last week for a fishing feature. time, visit www.azgfd.gov/ Syleste Rodriguez was a delight – her signup.If you are already Mogollon Rim Trout grandfather used to take her fishing. Hey, when it comes to introducing kids signed up but wish to fishing, granddads rule!! Go help those subscribe to any of our youngsters catch some memories. It’s other newsletters or one of the best gifts us gray hairs can update your e-mail give the upcoming generations. address information, visit our “edit user profile” The time to get out fishing is while the barometer is dropping as the storm page. approaches the state – say Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. My top The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits choice is actually Lake Pleasant for discrimination on the basis of stripers and largemouth bass, but race, color, sex, national Havasu could be fantastic if the winds don’t blast across the Mohave Desert. origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If Another choice might be Apache Lake for yellow bass and largemouth bass – the anyone believes that they smallmouth bass are still on the comeback trail there. have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s Roosevelt Lake can turn on for smallmouth bass, but it’s tough to tell with some much programs or activities, turbidity from runoff. including employment For all you trout anglers, try the Lower Salt River. Don’t forget Lees Ferry – the wild trout practices, they may file a are in the spawning mode. It’s something all anglers should experience, even if you are a complaint with the Director's Office, 5000 W. Carefree bass addict. Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086- One of my favorite lakes in the state is being stocked with fesity rainbows this week – 5000, (602) 942-3000, or with Goldwater Lake in the Bradshaw Mountains above Prescott (take Senator Highway toward the Fish and Wildlife Service, Groom Creek). I always expect to seen Andy and Opie walking down the lane whistling “The 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Fishing Song.” Goldwater is small, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in sheer Arlington, VA 22203. Persons character – it holds the state record for hybrid sunfish. with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or Also, Dead Horse Ranch near Cottonwood is being stocked this week. This is a great time to this document in an go catch some fish there, and maybe take the Verde Canyon Train or visit the Tuzigoot alternative format by Indian Ruins. The Verde River is also being stocked this week. contacting the Director's Office as listed above. Right now there is a sliver of a waxing moon. The full moon is Feb. 28. If late winter storms don’t change the action, we will probably see the leading edge of the bass spawn with this MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT: coming full moon, although you shouldn’t expect large numbers of spawners until sometime ● Change your E-mail in March or even early May. Inflows can also change the equation, especially at places like address or subscriptions. Roosevelt, Bartlett and Alamo. ● Unsubscribe from all lists. Winter is waning and each day is almost two minutes longer than the one before. Spring is just around the corner. Lakes are filling and spilling. Green up is underway. Wildflowers will be blooming any time (desert mairgolds and brittle brush blooms are already dressing up the desert). Don’t let a little rain deter you – get out and enjoy the bounty nature is bestowing on our deserts and mounains this year.

Have a great time, and maybe I’ll see you out there.

Fishing News News pages from history:

Arizona Sentinel March 30, 1878

Salmon for the Colorado

“Stocking the Colorado River with fish is a matter that is now receiving some attention. At present there is but one variety of the “ Colorado salmon,” though it appears to have no pecularities in common with the noble fish. It grows to great size, 30 pounds not being an uncommon weight. Its fleash is tolerably free from small bones and, during the winter months, reasonably firm. The other varieties are small, bony and of muddy flavor. The temperature of the water is an important consideration in selecting the proper varieites of fish for stocking the Colorado. To determine this fact, the railroad company are cuasing daily record to be made of the temperature of the river, and these observations will be continued throughout the summer.” (Game and Fish Note: the Colorado salmon mentioned are now called the Colorado pikeminnow, which is the largest minnow in the world and can grow up to 100 pounds. Pikeminnows are endangered big river fish)

Arizona Sentinel April 6, 1878 ( Yuma) “Catfish and eels ought to thrive in the Colorado River. They abound in the Mississippi, whose waters are quite warm, and must as muddy, as those of our stream – the U.S. Fish Commissionerso ought to experiment a little out this way. We believe they will.”

Bill's Crappie Report Sorry it’s been a while since my last report but honestly there hasn’t been much to talk about. The big storms a few weeks ago brought in a ton of new water which makes it tough to find and catch Crappie. With all the rain we've had our Crappie Lakes in AZ have come way up. There's more rain to come and a lot of snow in the high country to melt this spring. All the new water brings well needed nutrients and new cover for the fish to hide and spawn in. This should also spark off an incredible shad spawn this summer. Also, it looks like for now anyway, San Carlos has been saved from being emptied and massive fish kills. But it also brings in tons of debris which makes fishing and navigation very tough. It also shocks the fish a bit and slows down there pre-spawn activity. This is commonly known as “new lake effect” and forces the fish is find new areas to live and hunt. In 2004/ 2005, after tons of rain fell for about 3 months it took months before the Crappie fishing really took off. This year hasn’t been as severe so I hope its gets going within a few weeks. With that being said now is the perfect time to do all your boat and equipment maintenance. Clean and oil your reels and check all your rod guides for nicks that can fray or cut fishing line. Re-spool your reels with a premium new line and use a line conditioner. Thoroughly check out your trailer: clean off any excess rust, prime and paint over it, test all the lights and repack your wheel bearings. Check or change all engine fluids and replace the water pump impeller. Wipe the hull down with vinegar/ water to remove any hard water spots. Maybe even give the boat a good wax job. Vacuum and clean the boat interior and remove any tackle or trash that could get in your way. There are few things better than a clean shinny boat ready to seek out some great Crappie fishing.

Alamo - Lots of stained water and some debris. Fishing has been slow to dead but with some good weather, that should change soon. By the end of this month, Alamo should be on fire.

Bartlett - The lake has risen from about 40% to well over 80%. There is a tons of floating debris (especially up river) so be very careful when under way. There are some Crappie being caught above the Yellow Cliffs area trolling grubs.

Pleasant - Lots of debris. I haven’t heard a single report.

Roosevelt - Rosey is nearly back to 100% and there is a ton of floating debris. I have heard of a few Crappies being caught but nothing great.

San Carlos - Well, it’s a mess but it looks like San Carlos will be ok, that least for now. It’s gone from under 2% to over 10% and with tons of snow in the mountains of Western New Mexico, there’s more water to come this spring. But the lake is still more than 20’ lower than it was during last years incredible early spring bite. I don’t expect SC to produce anything like it did last year but there should be some good fishing soon. Give the lakes a few weeks to settle and get after them. I would say Alamo should be the best bet with Rosey going off a couple weeks later. Bartlett should be good up in the river end but will need more time to settle. I’m working from 2 pm to close this week at Bass Pro Shops. So if you need any help or want to share some info, please stop in and see me. To ensure the future of our sport the Arizona Crappie Association practices and promotes the release of all Crappie less than 10” long. Our next meeting will be at Alamo Lake on 2- 20-2010. Go to www.azbasszone.comandcheck the Crappie Forum for more deals.

Bill (Piscolli) Eveland BPS/ AZCA

CENTRAL WATERS

URBAN LAKES -- Fishing for trout continues to be good to excellent at most Urban Fishing Program waters. Winter storms have invigorated the trout and anglers willing to brave the weather are rewarded with good action and little competition. Anglers using scented dough baits (such as PowerBait), worms fished under a bobber, corn on the bottom, or small trout lures have been successful. Best times to fish for trout generally are early morning, but some anglers have reported excellent fishing late afternoon. Small spinners such as Rooster Tails and Panther Martins, or spoons such as Super Dupers are also working well for trout, especially during periods just before and after storms. Lake waters at Green Valley (Payson) and Lakeside (Tucson) are brown colored an d murky due to the high runoff from recent storms—making fishing tough. Lakeside Lake will not be stocked for another two weeks, so anglers are advised to try Kennedy, Silverbell or Sahuarita Lakes that are each getting some of the extra fish. Trout continue to be stocked at Green Valley Lakes, but until the water clears up a bit more, the fishing is expected to remain slow.

We threw in 500 trout at Red Mountain for a Challenged Kids fishing clinic. The trout are biting on shiny, flashy lures.

Angler reports:

Where:Cortez Park When:02/05/10 Caught:Rainbow Trout Technique:Bottom w/ swivel an egg sinker Power bait Comments:A nice clean park and water front. Keep up the excellent. Name:Rich Harris Where:Surprise Lake When:01/28/10 Caught:trout Technique:lures and live bait and power bait Comments:Limit in 4 hours Name:Dave George Where:Surprise Lake When:01/27/10 Caught:trout Technique:lures and live bait and power bait Comments:Limit in 4 hours Name:Dave George Where:Surprise Lake When:01/26/10 Caught:trout Technique:lures and live bait and power bait Comments:Limit in 2 hours Name:Dave George I just wanted to drop you a quick line with a fishing report and a big thank you. First the big thank you; I would like to thank every one at Game and Fish for the tremendous effort that was put into the Urban Fishing Program this year. The amount and quality of trout that are being stock is just fantastic. I have been going to some of the urban lakes and ponds to keep up on my fly casting while I was waiting for the spring thaw up north so I could get in some trout fishing. The last thing I expected was to go out to and be able to catch as many fish as I have. The size has been unbeliveable. There has been a large amount of trout ranging from 14 to 17 inches, along with the normal 12 inch stocker. The quality of fish is second to none, they are nicely colored with good fins, these are not the normal beat up stocker you use see. So I would appreciate if you could pass this thank you to all the people involved in the Urban Fishing Program, I want them to know that their hard work is appreciated. Now for your fishing report ( with a few pictures) Went to Surprise Lake 1/30/2010 caught 6 Rainbow Trout, a 14 and 15 inch alone four 12 inchers. All caught fly fishing using soft hackle phesant tail nymphs and copper johns.

Thanks again, Tom Hodge

TEMPE TOWN LAKE - An angler with 30 minutes to spare on his lunch break caught a chunky bass using a spinnerbait. Anglers are getting checked for fishing licenses. Tempe Town Lake requires a general fishing license not an Urban License.

Don’t forget the current bag limit for largemouth bass at Town Lake is four fish per day with a 13-inch minimum length restriction. There are also no gas powered boats allowed on the lake and Tempe Town Lake permits are available at the City of Tempe Town Lake Operations Center, 620 N. Mill Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85281. Phone: (480) 350-8625. LAKE PLEASANT - Lake elevation 1,689 feet (85-percent full). Look for largemouth bass in the shallow northern coves after the water warms up in the late afternoon. Mornings have been windy. Try fishing the edges of the flats adjacent to shallow water in places like Humbug, Coles Bay, Castle Creek and Bass Bay. For largemouth bass, drop shot is getting a fish here and there. Try using a bead with the drop shot to attract the fish since they aren’t going to see your rig for a bit. Try Rat-L-Traps and some jerkbaits as well. Work your baits slowly -- bass are still lethargic. Or do the opposite and work a reaction bait to elicit a strike, and follow up with a flutter-down bait like a Senko. With the inflows, stripers should either be staging for the spawn in the Agua Fria Arm or spawning. Accessing this spawning area right now will have to be done by foot (or horseback), and it is muddy out there. If you do go and brave the elements, let us know how you do. Spawning stripers can also gravitate to the tower inflows near the dam. ROOSEVELT LAKE -- Lake Elevation is 2149 ft (98-percent full). Tonto Creek runoff is 599 cfs while inflow from the Salt River is at 1,740 cfs.

Water clarity and debris can still be a problem, but with a front moving in this weekend, try fishing the rocky areas -- especially near the dam or the islands -- using crafish-like baits or lures for smallmouth bass. With the barometer dropping, this might pay off. An angler reported the lake temperature at 54.5 degrees. He fished shallow and caught a three pound largemouth on a spinnerbait. Water clarity was at about 2 to 3 feet. There is still a lot of debris on the lake with some clear areas. Watch out for the partially submerged logs lurking about. An experienced crappie fisherman trolled in around Windy Hill and was skunked.

APACHE - Lake elevation is 1,905 feet (91 percent full). A couple anglers noticed a nice shad school by the main launch but no fish were accosting them. They fished around one of the islands and caught 4 largemouth bass in 30 minutes.

Apache is typically not as impacted by runoff events but the dynamics at this fishery can change significantly once Roosevelt fills and spills.

This is a good lake for yellow bass -- try gold Kastmasters or yellow Rooster Tails.

CANYON LAKE - Lake elevation is 1658 ft, which is 96% full. No recent reports. SAGUARO LAKE - Lake elevation 1,526 feet at 94 percent full. Some hefty 3+ pound largemouth were nabbed using deep-diving crankbaits. The debris on all the lakes is adding nutrients. The primary producers will take advantage, multiply and the affect will travel up the food chain.

Saguaro can be one of the first lakes to warm up and have bass staging for the spawn. A lot may depend also depend on flow-through water once Roosevelt fills and spills, so the dynamics can change significantly -- stay tuned.

BARTLETT -- Lake elevation is 1,792 ft, which is 91 percent full and rising. Reservoir release is 400 cfs. A few anglers fishing last Sunday said they couldn't find a bass bite, but did okay on catfish. Apache has huge flatheads and channel cats.The road into the Yellow Cliffs is still closed. The road into the riverine area below Barltett is also closed.

HORSESHOE - Lake elevation is at 2019 feet, 85-percent full. They are releasing water at 1,800 cfs. The road into Horseshoe is closed. VERDE RIVER -- Verde River flow at Tangle is 3,470 cubic feet per second. Release from Bartlett Lake is 400 cfs. Salt River -- Salt River into Roosevelt is 1,740 cfs, and Salt River Canyon is 1350 cfs. They are releasing 650 cfs out of Stewart Mountain dam from Saguaro.

LOWER SALT RIVER -- Stewart Mtn. Dam (below Saguaro Lake) release is 650 cfs. Trout were stocked last week. This section of river has been stocked all winter, so there is a chance of catching some holdover trout despite the higher flows in January. CREEKS – No trout stockings until April. Should be a super runoff year. COLORADO RIVER NORTHWEST LAKE POWELL -- No recent reports. Winter conditions prevail.

LEES FERRY -- Report courtesy Lees Ferry Anglers at http://www.leesferry.com/report/ index.php

Fly Fishing: Fishing has been good the last few days, plenty of fish to net but, nothing real big to report. I was told that yesterday 1-30-10 that it started out a bit slow in the morning hours but, picked up good in the afternoon hours.

The Flows will change tomorrow 2-1-10 to a bit lower, flow If I am not mistaken it will start out at 8,000 cfs in the morning and increase to 14,000 cfs by the afternoon. With flows like these we will be wading in a few days, trout will acclimate and the world will be as one again. T

Fish can be caught using a trifecta of different methods. First choice would be long drifts, sight casting to spawners, and sight casting to rising fish. We are also seeing signs of progress for a strong spawn this year. Combined with minimal traffic, things can’t get much better.

Walk in: I have had only a few reports for this section. Word has it fishing well in the morning hours then slowing up somewhere around noon. When the flows peak fishing shuts off in this area and starts up again after 3 or 4 in the after noon. We are still counting on the zebra midge and San Juan worm to do the work, and they are.

Hopefully in just a few short weeks I will be reporting to you that ham-n-eggs are on the menu. ( glo- bugs and San Juan worms ) T

Spin Fishing: All the reports I have receive for spin fishing are good. Most folks are using the large glo-bugs while drifting and cashing in. And I am getting other reports that gold spinners are doing well. And the marabou jig is producing a good number of trout. T

LAKE MEAD –The Lake Mead water level has been rising nearly 1 foot per week. The current level is around 1,102 feet above msl. The striper bite has been slow. If you want to find the stripers, look for shad on your fish finder. They should be in 40-50 feet deep. The stripers are usually underneath them in 60-70 feet. Trolling may be your best bet. Launching conditions at South Cove will remain fair. The concrete ramp the National Park Service completed last year is two lanes with cones marking the edges. Use caution not to go off the sides of the metal extensions at either side. National Park Service is working to keep the ramp open. Temple Bar Launch Ramp is two lanes. Launching conditions in general are better at Temple Bar than South Cove. Important notice: With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see. For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's web pages at azgfd. gov or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.

LAKE MOHAVE – The lake level is around 644 feet above msl. Trolling with anchovies in 30- 50 feet has been producing stripers, while catfish are on the bottom. Biologists from both Arizona Game and Fish Department and Nevada Division of Wildlife with the help of volunteers, National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation personnel have continued to install fish habitat in Carp Cove, Box Cove and now Shoshone. Fish habitat consists of PVC structures, wood pallet structures, tamarisk bundles, and some Christmas trees. The largemouth, bluegill and catfish are really utilizing the new structures. Additional habitat will be added at several locations over the next two years. These structures are fish magnets.

There is a wheelchair accessible fishing pier just south of the main launch ramp at Katherine's Landing. If you fish Mohave and are having luck, please e-mail me at [email protected] can share your successes with others.

Important notice: With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see. For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's web pages at www. azgfd.gov or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.

WILLOW BEACH - Trout are stocked every Friday. Fishing is usually best immediately following the stocking. Important notice: With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see. If you fish Willow beach and are having luck, please e-mail me at [email protected] can share your successes with others.

For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's web pages at www. azgfd.gov or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.

TOPOCK MARSH –The water level is down for the winter. Fishing for crappie has been fair. Some anglers catching bass as well. Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Topock the first week in February. bass, crappie and catfish populations to be much improved over last continue to do well. You can access the marsh by boat at the North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. All three also provide plenty of area for shoreline fishing too. For more information on the marsh, contact the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge at (760) 326-3853 or go to http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/havasu/index.html.

COLORADO RIVER BELOW DAVIS DAM – Rainbow trout are stocked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service monthly. The next scheduled stocking is for Feb. 24. The fish are stocked in two locations; Davis Camp and near The Riverside. Trout fishing at the stocking sites is great immediately following the stockings, then the fish move out and you need to find them.

Anglers typically report catching trout on the Arizona side across from the Riverside, off the shore of Davis Camp and in the big bend area. This year we have received multiple reports of larger holdover trout being caught. USFWS will be stocking trout once a month from October until March.

Remember to fish for trout, you need a trout stamp on Class A and Lifetime fishing licenses. 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. Water levels on the river fluctuate, so be careful. You can check the Bureau of Reclamation Web site for flow predictions http://www.usbr.gov/lc/riverops.htmlbeforeyou go. If you fish the river below Davis Dam and are having luck, please e-mail me at [email protected] can share your successes with others. Important notice: With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see. For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Web pages at www. azgfd.gov or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.

SOUTHWESTERN WATERS HAVASU -- Fishing slowed durng the storms, but should pick up again, especially for smallmouth bass. SandPoint Fishing Report courtesy Karen Coats: Water temp is 57

November monthly big fish winners are Striper Joe Egan 6.7 Bass Carl Koontz 5.9 Cat Leonard Post 25.14

December monthly big fish Lunker Carl Koontz 5.3 Bass Jim Haremza 4 Striper Rick Spitler 6.3 Catfish Pauline Dey 9.5

January monthly big fish Lunker Carl Koontz 11.5 Striper Carl Koontz 11.5 Bass Jim Farnam 3.12 Catfish Leonard Post 6.13

February monthly big fish Lunker Carl Koontz 11.5 Striper Leonard Post 6.12 Bass Fred Tedesco 4.10 Catfish Cathy Pingel 11.11 Carp Jack Leggett 20.7

ALAMO LAKE – Mark your calandars: the annual Alamo Lake Clean Up is March 6. It might be pretty interesting this year with all the runoff -- who knows what might have washed into the lake?

Following report courtesy Mark Knapp, Alamo Lake State Park Well folks, we have had a week in the upper 70s, low 80s and things should turn on any day now. As of today I know of four crappie being caught and a few bass. I'm happy to report that the lake is clearing up and the log jams are settling into the coves. Cat fishing is still good in the upper end of the lake. Anglers are still heading up the river and working the current. For best results try to get into about 10 feet of water, throw out an anchor and fish out of the back of the boat. Hot dogs, anchovies and night crawlers all should work just fine. We will have night crawlers this Thursday. We had to switch vendors and it takes a couple of orders to get all the kinks works out. We're good to go on minnows and have everything else you need for now. O.K., I was mis informed about the lake releases that were supposed to start last Friday. Here's the deal. The lake level is at 1135 with releases of 88 cfs. The releases will remain at 88 cfs until March 5. At that time the releases will go up to 3,000 cfs for two days. This should (in theory) bring the lake down to 1130ish. At that time the releases will be adjusted to 50 cfs and remain that way through out the summer. Cholla Ramp will remained closed until the lake drops below 1130 and we can see what the damage is. Until then tell everyone you know that the main ramp is open and works just fine. Remember to put your stuff away. That's all I got; Mark

Regional Outlook Alamo Lake: While largemouth bass are present in all sizes, fisheries surveys in the spring indicated that there seem to be an unusually high proportion of bass within the protected slot limit (you are allowed to take one bass in the protected 13-16 inch slot). Hopefully fisheries surveys in the fall will reveal that these fish have grown beyond 16 inches. Regardless, bass fishing should begin to pick up when the weather cools a bit, and is expected to be good to excellent throughout the fall. All types of bait, plastics, spinner baits and top-water lures should work. As the weather cools off, try slowly working plastics in deeper water. There is a very robust population of channel catfish in Alamo Lake that are probably under- fished. AGFD conducted hoop-netting surveys in June, and netted and released over 400 catfish, up to about 7 pounds, with plenty in the 2 to 4 pound size. The best concentrations of channel catfish seem to be found along the upper two thirds of the shoreline, on the western side of the lake. For channel catfish any of the prepared catfish baits will work, as well as chicken livers or your own secret concoctions.

There are other fish present such as bluegill, redear sunfish, tilapia and carp that are a lot of fun to catch. More decent-sized bluegills and redear sunfish, up to about a pound, have been showing up in recent surveys, a trend we hope continues. When Alamo Lake was first impounded, it was widely known as the place to go for sunfish. Sunfish can be caught on a variety of baits and lures. They are particularly susceptible to fly-fishing, and are very enjoyable when caught on light fly-fishing tackle.

Lake Havasu & Topock Gorge:

Fishing for largemouth bass, as well as smallmouth bass, is expected to be good to excellent. Sizes will range from 13 inches and up, with an occasional fish in the 4-6 pound range. Every year, smallmouth bass are becoming more and more numerous in Lake Havasu and upriver. Bass tournaments now often experience nearly a 50/50 ratio of smallmouth to largemouth bass. Striped bass fishing last summer indicates a rebounding shad population, and striper “boils” on schools of shad were more common. Most striped bass in Lake Havasu tend toward the small side (12-18 inches) but occasional fish over 8 pounds are not uncommon. During the annual striper derby held last May, the number of stripers caught was down significantly, but more large fish were weighed in than usual, including 31, 28, 24 and 15-lb fish. Channel catfish as well as bluegill and redear sunfish fishing should be fair to good. Flathead catfish fishing should be fair at the lower end of the lake throughout the fall. Flathead catfish can reach 40 pounds or better in the lower portion of the lake. To find them, select the interior points in the coves and the areas where artificial structure has been placed. The cooler weather causes the bite to slow down, so it is important to work your lures more slowly, and in deeper water. Put away your topwater lures and switch to plastics, crank baits, spinner baits, jigs, etc. Colorado River (Parker Strip Area): Smallmouth bass, with fish over two pounds in size are expected . In addition, redear sunfish should also be fair in the pound-plus sizes. The Parker Strip is well known for its smallmouth bass fishing, especially in the area from the dam to several miles downstream. The Parker Strip is also home to some really impressive, dinner-plate sized redear sunfish of two pounds or better. Channel and flathead catfish fishing is always fair in this section of the Colorado River. Below the dam, striper fishing may pick up this fall, using live shad or anchovies. Colorado River (between Palo Verde Diversion Dam and Walter's Camp): This area should be fair for both smallmouth bass (in the channel) and largemouth bass (in the backwaters) throughout the entire area. Channel and flathead catfish are always fair to good in this section of the Colorado River. Most of the flathead catfish will be in the 2 to 5 pound size range, with an occasional fish over 30 pounds. The time for fishing for both species of catfish is in the evening to midnight. As the weather warms, so will the cat- fishing action. Colorado River (between Walter's Camp and Picacho State Park): This section of the Colorado River is relatively remote and can only be accessed by boat from either end. Fishing is expected to be fair to good for flathead catfish with sizes over 40 pounds. Largemouth bass and bluegill are also present in the various backwaters and slack water areas. Other species available in the main river are smallmouth bass and striped bass.

Colorado River (between Picacho State Park and Imperial Dam):

This area is expected to be fair to good for largemouth bass, channel catfish, and flathead catfish. Bass and channel catfish in excess of 5 pounds are present along with flathead catfish as large as 40 pounds, or larger. Bluegill are also present in the various backwaters and an occasional striped bass will be caught in the main river channel.

Colorado River (between Laguna and Morelos dams):

This area will be fair for largemouth bass and flathead catfish. Bass in excess of 5 pounds are common and flathead catfish over 20 pounds are a good bet. In this area accessibility to the river is dependent on the amount of water being released. Usually shallow draft boats work the best. The lower end has had some dredging work done and larger boats may be able to get on the river in that area. With the increase in border issues and illegal activity on the lower end of this stretch, we recommend exercising extreme caution, avoiding nighttime use, or even staying away from the area between Pilot Knob to Moreles Dam, altogether. Regional Hot Spots: Alamo Lake will be the hot spot for largemouth bass and channel catfish. There are many fish in the lake at the present time (especially channel catfish), and keeping some to eat will not impact the population in the slightest, and will perhaps even enhance it. Next choice would be Lake Havasu for striped bass, Lake Havasu and the Parker Strip for smallmouth bass and sunfish, and Martinez Lake and Imperial Division backwaters for largemouth bass. For the die-hard flathead catfish angler, large catfish can still be caught from Walter’s Camp down to Imperial Dam and fishing will continue to improve as the weather warms. If you need any additional information or assistance don't hesitate to contact the Yuma Regional office at (928) 342-0091 and we will be happy to give you whatever information we have. CENTRAL MOUNTAINS 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. WILLIAMS LAKES: 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 LAKES:

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. WET BEAVER CREEK -- No reports. Rains and associated runoff will likely make this creek tough to fish. Will not be stocked with trout again until mid March. DEAD HORSE STATE PARK – Trout are scheduled to be stocked this week, the week of Feb. 15. 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, the week of September 21st. 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 Feb. 15. 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 Deadhorse 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 this week, the week of Feb. 15. This stocking may be rescheduled if weather does not permit. As of last Saterday, 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] can share your successes with others.

LYNX LAKE — Trout were stocked the week of Feb. 1 and are scheduled to be stocked the first week in March. This is the first stocking since November. Look for the fishing to pick up as the weather warms slightly.

Fingerling brook trout were stocked Sept. 17. Five hundred pounds of catfish were stocked on June 10. One thousand six hundred brook trout were stocked on May 11. The brookies were about 3 to the pound.

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 [email protected] can share your successes with others.

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR – The fishing has slowed down as the water temperature has fallen.

If you fish Willow and are having luck, please e-mail me at [email protected] can share your successes with others.

MOGOLLON RIM

Forest Service gates are locked on the Rim Roads (no vehicle access). Forest Service roads are inaccessible to vehicles. Snowmobile access is allowed.

CHEVELON LAKE — Forest Roads 300 and 169 are closed to the lake. The gate is locked for the winter. Snowmobile access is allowed.

BEAR CANYON LAKE — Forest Roads 300 and 89 are closed to the lake. The gate is locked for the winter. Snowmobile access is allowed. BLACK CANYON LAKE — Forest Roads 300 and 86 are closed to the lake. The gate is locked for the winter. Snowmobile access is allowed.

BLUE RIDGE -- Roads are closed to the lake. The gate is locked for the winter. GREEN VALLEY LAKES, Payson -- These Urban Program lakes have been stocked with rainbow trout. Best trout baits include Power Bait, worms and small spinners and lures. Where: Green Valley

When: 02/14/10

Caught: 8 trout by 2 people

Technique: green shades of power bait floated 2-3 ft off bottom

Comments: Apparently not much pressure at this lake due to cold weather and storms. Four of the eight caught had to have been in the lake for at least 6 weeks - all over 17"

Name: Dick

KNOLL LAKE -- Roads are closed to the lake. The gate is locked for the winter. WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE – Forest Road 149 is closed to the lake. The gate is locked for the winter. Snowmobile access is allowed. There is very limited parking along Highway 260 due to high snow banks so use caution when unloading snowmobiles. WOODS CANYON LAKE — Forest Roads 300 and 105 are closed to the lake. The gate is locked for the winter. Snowmobile access is allowed. There is very limited parking along highway 260 due to high snow banks so use caution when unloading snowmobiles.

WHITE MOUNTAINS Note: Nearly all interior Forest Roads are inaccessible to vehicles. Snowmobile access is allowed. Contact the US Forest Service in Springerville for up to date information on road and forest conditions at (928) 333-4372. Highways 261 and 273 are closed to vehicle access. Snowmobile access is allowed.

BECKER LAKE — Fishing is fair. The lake is ice-free. The boat ramp is accessible. The lake is open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and a 2 trout bag and possession limit. Try lures such as Z-rays, Super Dupers, and KastMasters spoons, and spinners (Mepps, Panther Martin, and Rooster Tail). Try flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, Yeager bugger, brown stone nymphs, peacock ladies, small nymphs like hares ear, pheasant tail, zug bugs, prince nymphs, and midge patterns. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and up to 10 hp gas motors.

BIG LAKE — Highways 261 and 273 to Big Lake are closed to vehicles for the winter. Snowmobiles are allowed. Big lake is ice-covered. Always check ice thickness before ice- fishing on the lake.

CARNERO LAKE — Forest Roads 117 and 117A are inaccessible to vehicles due to snow. Snowmobiles are allowed. Always check ice thickness before ice-fishing on the lake. CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR — No reports. The lake is ice-free. Try fishing worms, lures such as spinners (Mepps, Panther Martin, and Rooster Tail), Crankbaits, spoons (Z-rays, KastMasters, and Super Dupers), and Rapalas. CONCHO LAKE — The lake now has a fair amount of water, but fishing is poor. The lake is ice-free. There are private property owners on the northwest side of the lake and they have closed that portion of the shoreline to public access.

CRESCENT LAKE — Highways 261 and 273 to Big and Crescent Lakes are closed to vehicles. Snowmobile access is allowed. he lake is ice-covered. Ice thickness is 30 inches. FOOL HOLLOW LAKE — Fool Hollow Lake is ice-free. The amount of ice-cover can change rapidly with changes in daily weather patterns. Fishing is fair. Boat ramps are accessible. Walleyes are being caught on lures and bait (night crawlers). Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as Rapalas, crankbaits, lead head jigs, spinners (Mepps, Panther Martin, and Rooster Tail), and spoons (KastMasters, Super Dupers, and Z-rays), and flies such as wooly worms and wooly buggers. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and up to 10 hp. gas motors. GREER LAKES — All Greer Lakes are ice-covered. Check ice thickness before ice-fishing on the lake. The spur road from highway 373 to the Greer lakes is snow packed and inaccessible to vehicles. There is a short section on the spur road that allows limited parking and ice fishermen will have to walk from there. Snowmobile access is allowed.

HULSEY LAKE — Forest Road 86 is inaccessible to vehicles. The lake is ice-covered. Check ice thickness before ice-fishing on the lake.

LEE VALLEY RESERVOIR — Highways 261 and 273 are closed to vehicles. Snowmobiles are allowed. The lake is ice-covered. Always check ice thickness before ice-fishing on the lake. LUNA LAKE — The lake is ice-covered. Check ice thickness before ice-fishing on the lake. The road to the lake has been plowed. Try ice-fishing near the dam with jigs or small spoons with an attached worm.

LYMAN LAKE — No Reports. Lyman Lake State Park is currently open. The lake has some ice cover. The Lyman Lake Recreation Area is managed by Lyman Lake State Park and camping is available. There are also cabins for rent. Lyman Lake has a fish advisory, so check with the State Parks Office at the lake for details. Also, contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Region 1 office at (928) 367-4281. There are no motor restrictions on Lyman Lake. The store is closed.

NELSON RESERVOIR — The lake is ice-covered. Unsafe ice. The amount of ice cover can change rapidly with changes in daily weather patterns.

RAINBOW LAKE — The lake is mostly open water. The boat ramp is accessible. Unsafe ice conditions prevail. Try worms, lures such as KastMasters, Z-rays, Panther Martin and Rooster Tail spinners, crankbaits and Rapalas. The amount of ice cover can change rapidly with changes in daily weather patterns. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and up to 10 hp gas motors.

SCOTTS RESERVOIR — The lake is mostly open water. Unsafe ice conditions. The amount of ice cover can change rapidly with changes in daily weather patterns. The boat ramp is accessible. Try worms, Power Bait, lures such as spinners (Panther Martin and Rooster Tail), spoons (Super Dupers, Z-rays, and KastMasters), jigs, and Rapalas. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and up to 10 hp. gas motors.

SHOW LOW LAKE — The lake is ice-covered. Unsafe ice conditions. The amount of ice cover can change rapidly with changes in daily weather patterns.

WOODLAND LAKE — The lake is mostly ice-covered. Unsafe ice conditions prevail. The lake is full and spilling. The amount of ice cover can change rapidly with changes in daily weather patterns. Roads into the boat ramp, fishing pier, and dam are open.

Try small lures such as Mepps, Rooster tails, and Panther Martin spinners, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, shrimp patterns, midge patterns, and small bead head nymphs. If trout are rising try Adams, midges, and caddis fly patterns in sizes 16, 18, and 20. WHITE MOUNTAIN STREAMS Highways 261 and 273 are closed to vehicles for the winter. Most forest roads are inaccessible. Snowmobiles are allowed. Streams are mostly ice-covered. SILVER CREEK--- Fishing is fair. Silver Creek on Arizona Game and Fish Department property is currently open to artificial lures and flies only, barbless hooks, and catch-and- release fishing from Oct. 1 through March 30. The upper section is open to fishing. Try small lures such as Mepps, Rooster Tails, and Panther Martin spinners, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zugbugs, shrimp patterns, midge patterns, and small beadhead nymphs. If trout are rising on the surface, try Adams, midges and caddis fly patterns in sizes 16, 18, and 20. SOUTHERN WATERS

It is becoming increasingly difficult for the Department to update its weekly fishing report due to an inability to visit all of fishing locations weekly to gather fishing reports. So in an effort to provide a better report the Department is asking anglers to take the time and report their fishing success stories here in southern Arizona. Angler fishing reports can be sent to Don Mitchell, Regional fish Program Manager by email at [email protected]. These reports will then be complied and reported in our weekly fishing reports.

During the winter months fishing in the southern part of the state for the most part turns to trout fishing with Parker Canyon Lake, Patagonia Lake and Roper Lake and Cluff Ranch being stocked regularly between November and March. To get the latest information on the stocking schedule it is suggested that anglers check the Departments website for the stocking schedule at the following link: 2009 - 10 Stocking Schedule. Although fishing reports have been hard to come by it’s a safe bet that anglers wanting to catch trout during this time of the year can do so using powerbait, worms and small flashy spinners and lures.

RIGGS FLAT —The road up Mt. Graham is closed until April. CLUFF RANCH — Check the stocking schedule on the departments Web site for the latest stocking information at 2009 - 10 Stocking Schedule. For lake information call (928) 485- 9430. ROPER LAKE — Water quality issues have been resolved and Roper Lake will once again be stocked. Check the stocking schedule on the departments Web site for the latest stocking information at 2009 - 10 Stocking Schedule. For lake information call (928) 428-6760. DANKWORTH POND — Aquatic vegetation continues to be a problem for anglers and because of this the lake is not being stocked. For lake information call (928) 428-6760. FRYE MESA RESERVIOR –Try a small fly in the early mornings and late evenings. Bait anglers should try Power Bait and worms. Although this small lake is not stocked on a regular basis it does provide some pretty good trout fishing. KEARNY LAKES — This small lake remains fishless due to impacts of golden algae.

ARIVACA — The Lake is full and spilling. Anglers should have no problems launching boats. Use caution however as there is debris floating in the lake. Anglers are asked to please be aware of your wake so as not to disrupt other anglers fishing from other boats and the shore. Some anglers have reported catching 5o to 60 bass a trip. Remember that all bass must be immediately released back to the water. PENA BLANCA – Pena Blanca Lake is full. The Department has stocked the lake with catchable sized rainbow trout. Anglers are reporting tough fishing conditions with very few fish being caught. Because trout is the only species of fish currently in the lake anglers need to have a trout stamp to fish. Currently there are no boat launching facilities available for launching boats. Small boats that can be carried to the lake shore and float tubes are possible and those wanting to use such watercraft should use caution as there is a lot of debris floating in the lake. Shoreline anglers should have no trouble finding a place to fish.

PATAGONIA — Patagonia Lake is full and spilling. Check the stocking schedule on the departments Web site for the latest stocking information at 2009 - 10 Stocking Schedule. Anglers are reporting success with trout, try spinners early in the morning; remember a trout stamp is required to fish for trout. Fishing for bass has slowed with the constantly changing weather. A few anglers are reporting success flipping in the cattails. PARKER CANYON — Limits of trout continue to be reported with most of the anglers using powerbait or worms. Check the stocking schedule on the Departments website for the latest stocking information at 2009 - 10 Stocking Schedule. The store at the lake is open and information on the store and current conditions can be found at www.parkercanyonlake. com.

ROSE CANYON LAKE — The road to Rose Canyon is closed, however anglers may still walk in. 3

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