Fishing Report Related Information March 23, 2005 - 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 Cool temperatures and a chance of rain (or snow in the higher elevations) are expected late this week, but a warm-up is forecast for next week--heating up the fishing statewide as well. If you haven't yet gotten your fishing license, this is a great time to buy one and head outdoors! The first catfish stocking of the spring in Phoenix and Tucson urban lakes will be done on March 24. About 13,000 pounds total of 2-pound catfish will be stocked. Good fishing has been reported up at Green Valley Lake, our urban lake in Payson. In the Prescott area, venture out to Fain Lake and Lynx Lake-we've had great reports on rainbow trout action. These lakes were recently stocked. In central Arizona, look to Lake Pleasant for white bass. Most are running in the Agua Fria arm of the lake, where the fishing has been great. Canyon Lake still remains the best bet among the Salt River lakes for bass. In our western waters, trout fishing has been good at Willow Beach on the Colorado River. The spawn is in full swing for largemouth and smallmouth bass at Lake Havasu. Some smallmouth bass have already spawned there. For anglers, this means the bass have moved out of their winter pattern into shallower water and are more susceptible to being caught. Heading south? Pena Blanca, Patagonia and Parker Canyon have all recently been stocked with trout, and anglers have reported good success. Central Arizona URBAN LAKES - See our latest Urban Fishing Bulletin. Please note that the reopening date for Chaparral Lake, which has been under construction, has been extended two weeks to April 15. TEMPE TOWN LAKE - The lake is open again to boats. No reports on fishing. Water is still flowing through the lake. The downstream inflatable dam has been reinflated, however the upstream dam is deflated. Horseshoe and Bartlett reservoirs are virtually full, meaning that any excess flows will continue to flow through Phoenix. The Game and Fish Department has decided not to stock rainbow trout for the remainder of the winter trout season. If you want trout action, try Canyon and Saguaro, or any of the urban fisheries. LAKE PLEASANT - Water level is at 1,700 feet (98-percent full). The Agua Fria was flowing at 32 cfs Wednesday. The upper end of the lake will be turbid. Watch for logs and debris. White bass are running in the Agua Fria arm of the lake and at this time fishing is phenomenal. Access can be had from the Table Mesa road. Reports of 10-40 fish per day are common. The whites have moved back into the lake, still concentrated in the Agua Fria arm. Fish are averaging 1-3 pounds. Shore fishing has slowed considerably but is great from a boat a mile or so into the lake above the eagle closure. One angler this week reported seeing a couple of rattlesnakes in the water. Fish are being caught on minnows, quarter-ounce jigs with white curly tails, live shad, and KastMasters. Striped bass can be caught trolling shad imitations in the open water. Largemouth bass are beginning to bite, especially in south-facing coves during warm afternoons. There are reports that largemouth bass fishing is really picking up in the Humbug and Castle creek areas. The males will begin to build nests in preparation for the upcoming spawn. Look for the females to be staging a bit deeper in the mouths of coves and off points. Crankbaits and plastic worms drop shotted or T-rigged are working. Once fish are on the beds, creature baits can be effective. Remember, the Agua Fria closure is in effect. The catfish bite is slow. ROOSEVELT LAKE - The lake is 90-percent full at elevation 2,143 feet and rising. The lake has approximately 8 more vertical feet to rise to reach 100-percent capacity. The Salt River was flowing at 1,730 cfs Wednesday and Tonto Creek was at 226 cfs. The lake is turbid and full of logs and debris, so go slow and be careful. SRP estimates the lake will be 100-percent full this spring, which means it is expected to surpass the old lakebed for the first time since the dam was raised in 1995. Lots of new cover and added nutrients point to a fantastic spring for bass and crappie. The lake should also experience tremendous shad spawn this year. Get out on Roosevelt as much as possible when the water is rising to familiarize yourself with what will be underwater structure. This should be the leading edge of fantastic fishing at Roosevelt for at least the next several years. Look for crappie to move inshore near the full moon on March 24 and be found around structure. This weekend could be great for crappie. The back of Salome Cove and Chub Bay are good places to try, as well as the flats just north of Salome. Use live minnows under a slip bobber. Bass fishing picked up a bit last week. Drop shotting is the most effective fishing technique. Wired worms are also working. Fishing for smallmouth bass can be good; try using inline spinners and crayfish imitations, especially off rocky points and cliff walls. Smallmouth fishing is better than fishing for largemouth. Remember, the slot is in place for smallmouth as well. No reports on carp or catfish. Please harvest largemouth bass under the 13-inch slot. Call the Mesa Game and Fish office at (480) 324-3544 if you catch a tagged flathead catfish. Note: Anglers are reminded of the slot bass size limit that remains in effect at Roosevelt. Bass between 13 and 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 99-percent full at 1,912 feet. Largemouth bass fishing is getting better. Try the mouths of coves and off points. Spinnerbaits and lures like Shad Rat-L-Traps are working. Tight-lining drop shots, either Carolina-rigged or Texas-rigged worms, can be effective. Smallmouth fishing is good on windy days and very good in general this time of year. Wind-driven waves stir up the bottom. Try along rocky bottoms and cliffs using crawdad crank imitations in 5-15 feet of water. Walleye can be caught off cliffs and rocky points with inline spinners or drifting night crawlers. Try rock-runners with worm harnesses or shad-patterned crankbaits for walleye after dark. Yellow bass can be found around balls of shad. Spoons and cut bait work well for them. Catfishing is slow. 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 99-percent full at 1,662 feet. Bass fishing is good. This lake has been the best recently for quantity and quality. For bass, drop shotting is still the method of choice, either Texas-rigged or Carolina-rigged. Senkos and Westy Worms have also been catching fish. One angler over the weekend reported catching a dozen largemouth on worms, two over 5 pounds. Target smallmouth with crawdad imitation lures right at dark. At night, try noisy topwater lures and crankbaits near shad boils. 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. Catfish, sunfish and carp fishing are slow. SAGUARO - Lake level is 1,530 feet (99-percent full). Bass fishing is getting better daily. Fish are being caught by drop shotting and T-rigged worms. Jigging is also working at times with white curly tail jigs. The bass are moving into the shallows to spawn, and fishing should be red hot over the next month. Some anglers are trying imitation rainbow trout swim baits to hook a monster. Many anglers last week reported five to 15-fish days. Rainbow trout were stocked for the last time this season last week. Use Power Bait, corn, salmon eggs, and inline spinners like a Vibrex or Rooster Tail. Yellow bass can be caught jigging spoons (quarter-ounce KastMaster) or cut bait. Recent reports of yellows 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.