In addition, it’s also monsoon time in the high country. When those afternoon clouds start building up and the barometer takes a dip, trout can start actively feeding in the mountain lakes. Mix the bonus stockings and the monsoon mountain madness together and it’s time for a midsummer trout expedition to your favorite high country lake along the Mogollon Rim or in the White Mountains.

By the way, those monsoon-generated storm events can also cause the fish to actively feed in the desert impoundments as well. In the desert impoundments, bass will often get very active right before a storm hits. There are times when the bass will feed like crazy during a light or moderate rain shower. A major deluge can typically turn off the bite, but when it turns back on, it can do so with gusto.

Don’t get caught on or near the water when there is lightning.

With a quarter moon this weekend, it is also a superb time to use floating or submersible lights at night to catch fish. One of the stand outs is Lake Pleasant for striped bass using frozen anchovies. But crappie anglers at Alamo Lake have been routinely catching 30 to 50 speckled beauties at night, mostly using live minnows.

If you don’t have a boat, don’t despair. This is the prime catfish fishing season. Slip sinkers and stink baits are the twin keys. Pick any of the desert impoundments. They are all full of under utilized channel catfish.

It’s also sunfish time. Meal worms under bobbers are the trick, especially in the backs of coves around any rocky structures or anything that creates a shade line.

It sounds like there is still a cicada bite at Lees Ferry. Give it a try. It’s quite an experience.

Go out and catch some memories. Good luck. Maybe I’ll see you out there.

CENTRAL ARIZONA
URBAN LAKES – The last catfish stocking of the spring-summer season was the week of June 25-30. With the high temperatures of summer here, it becomes impractical to continue to haul live fish into Arizona’s urban lakes. No fish stockings will be scheduled during July, August and the first half of September. Mark your calendars: fall catfish stockings will resume the week of Sept. 17-22.  Anglers can still fish for catfish, bass and bluegill at urban waters throughout the summer, but the action is generally slower. 

TEMPE TOWN LAKE – Bass fishing is fair for largemouth bass, catfish, bluegills and yellow bass. Plastics and crankbaits worked around the ledges and docks are working especially well during the early morning and right before dark. Channel catfish averaging 1 to 2 pounds will bite stink baits, hot dogs and shrimp. Carp fishing is excellent using corn and dough bait. Remember no gas motors are allowed (trolling motors are) and you must have a boating permit, which can be obtained at the Town Lake operations center. 
  
LAKE PLEASANT – With a quarter moon this weekend, fishing frozen anchovies under lights should produce pretty good action.

Jeff Herrington says striper action is still HOT! “We started fishing at around 9 p.m. and started catching stripers almost immediately after we tossed out the lights. We ended up with 34 fish in about three to four hours of fishing (using frozen anchovies in 40 to 50 feet of water).”

Frank VanLuvanee used anchovies fished 30 feet down near the tire line. “We caught 40 stripers averaging a whopping 10 inches. We had a great time all night with our biggest weighing in at 4 pounds.”

Tem Bumstead, his wife, and kids “caught hundreds,” keeping 44 stripers and more than half were over 3 pounds. “Filled the 100-quart ice chest; a ton of fun!”

Striper fishing is great at night near the marina tires, the intakes, or in the northern coves at night under lights. If you can, catch live shad and use for bait. Frozen anchovies, minnows and ¼-ounce jigs with a 2-inch pearl white curly tail grub will also work.

There have been reports of crappies averaging a pound and a half biting in the back of Humbug and Coles at night under lights on live minnows 15-18 feet down. With a two-pole stamp, you can set up one pole for crappies and another (with anchovies) for stripers and whites.

Largemouth bass is still hot in the northern coves of the lake at night using drop shots or Carolina-rigged 10-inch worms around points, islands and reefs, or over the submerged creek channels at night.

There is still a decent topwater bite at first and last light for stripers, whites and largemouth. Try stick baits, poppers, or soft-plastic jerkbaits: think small. Small KastMasters on lightweight rods or ultra lights can produce excellent result. Also try small in-line spinners, with silver and white the two best colors. A tiny Blue Fox might work very well. Also expect topwater action off-and-on throughout the day, mostly for largemouth bass, but stripers can be found chasing shad too.

Channel catfishing should be good as well, day or night using stink baits.

ROOSEVELT LAKE – Lake Level is 2107.95 feet 53-percent full. Art Chamberlin, a local guide at Rosey, reports that bass fishing at night is pretty good when weather allows. So far the storms have mostly split and gone around us. Art is mostly using Texas-rigged worms in five to 25 feet of water. Kurt Rambo (Mr. Crappie) is catching crappies in the morning vertically jigging.

Some anglers report catching bigger bass off points, ledges and Islands around 15 feet to 30 feet. Best time is three hours before dark till dark using watermelon or pumpkin colored jigs.

There is a quarter moon this weekend, which means floating and submersible lights should be effective. We have no reports from night crappie anglers here lately. One strategy might go out during the daylight to locate spots holding crappie, and then visit those spots at night.

Catfishing is great right now, night or day for channels and at night for the huge flatheads. Try shrimp or hot dogs in the mouths of coves for the channels and live bluegills or small carp for the flatheads.

Common carp are biting corn and dough baits along any shoreline and in coves right now.  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.  ADEQ discovered and captured three gizzard shad in the lake in January. This is the first positive confirmation of this species in the lake.
 
APACHE - Lake Level is 1,908.95 feet 95-percent full. No recent angler reports. Surveys show that channel catfish and yellow bass are plentiful and there is an okay population of largemouth bass as well.
 
CANYON - Level is 1,658.13 feet 96-percent full. No recent reports. Fishing should be good for channel catfish and sunfish. This lake is renowned for its lunker bass, but fishing has been slow lately.

SAGUARO - Lake Level is 1,525.78 feet 94-percent full. Some anglers are doing well catching channel catfish, mostly at night using stink bait or corn.

BARTLETT – Lake Level is 1,749.23 feet 41-percent full. Bass are being caught along the shores in about 25 feet of water drop shot or Texas rig. Crappie fishing has been slow at night, but some are still being caught. Catfishing at night has been good.

Tyson McKee reeled in a surprise. “Biggest can I have ever caught and it was equipped with a bullet hole.”

During a late spring survey, department biologists found quite a few flathead catfish in the 10-20 pound range up lake where the Verde comes in. They will take live sunfish, carp or water dogs.  Remember the live bait most come from the lake itself (excluding minnows, water dogs or worms) not transported from another body of water! 

VERDE RIVER – This morning flow was 62 cfs at Tangle Creek station above Horseshoe Lake. No reports.
 
LOWER SALT RIVER (below Saguaro Lake) – Jody Poldolak used night crawlers just floating downstream to catch rainbow trout measuring from 12 to 17 inches, adding the fish “gave a good fight.”

This morning flow was 1,540 cfs. Fishing has slowed down for bass, catfish and a few trout are still being caught. Look for the trout in deep holes and under cut banks with over hanging trees. Use in-line spinners such as Rooster Tails, Panther Martins, or flies such as hoppers and caddis during the evenings or early mornings. Live bait should also work, such as hoppers, mealworms, night crawlers. Power Bait or salmon eggs can work at times.

CREEKS- Fishing has slowed down cause of lower flows and warmer weather. The best time to fish is early morning or around sundown. 

Bill West reports that he caught trophy trout from Haigler Creek using white Rooster Tails on 6-pound test line. He caught six nice 12- to 14-inch fish and one giant around 24 inches long.

Canyon Creek has been stocked recently with 225 rainbow trout and is a good bet for rainbows and browns. 

Christopher, Tonto, Haigler, East Verde and Workman creeks also have been recently stocked with rainbow trout.  Use in-line spinners such as Rooster Tails, Panther Martins, or flies such as hoppers, caddis during the evenings or early mornings. Live bait such as hoppers, mealworms, or night crawlers should work. Power Bait or salmon eggs can be effective.

HORSETHIEF BASIN LAKE - This lake can be found up in the Bradshaw Mountains near Crown King. The lake sits in the pines and is good for a canoe or car topper. There are also improved campsites near the lake. During a recent survey, lots of largemouth bass averaging a pound and red ear sunfish nice pan size were observed. Redears love mealworms and night crawlers. No recent angler reports.

COLORADO RIVER NORTHWEST

LAKE POWELL – Lake Powell is now declining. That is not all bad when creature comforts are considered. Most of the troublesome drift wood will become stranded on shore within a few weeks. Weed covered beaches will open up into ever increasing clear sandy areas. Hot weather will be mitigated by afternoon clouds as monsoon flows begin.

Fishing? That will be about the same as it has been. Air temperatures have been in the 100s and the catch of stripers is also in triple digits if the holding spot for the resting school is discovered. Striped bass are holding in deep, cool water where energy can be conserved while waiting for a feeding opportunity. An anchovy chum shower wakes the school and draws them off the bottom and toward the surface as each fish tries to get to the next drifting morsel before his school mate.

A good fish finder is very helpful in locating these resting schools. Graph the edge of the main channel or canyon. Start shallow and then look on the drop off as the boat heads to deep water. Zigzag from shallow to deep water looking for the distinct school signature signifying many resting fish hovering just off the bottom. It may take 10-15 minutes to find a likely looking school but time spent graphing may be rewarded with instant hookups and long lasting fishing fun.

When the school is detected try anchoring so the boat is right over the school. The easiest way to do this is to mark the school with a float. Then turn the boat into the wind, move forward the same distance as bottom depth on the graph and drop anchor. Make sure the anchor catches on bottom, then drift back letting out line until the boat is very near the float. It may take 2-3 tries to get it just right. The good thing about stationary summer striper schools is lack of movement. They will wait where last seen while the boat gets in position.

Next chum about 5-6 anchovies cut in quarter inch slices. Broadcast chum pieces all around the boat. The last action required is to place a one-inch chunk of bait on a hook or jig head. Toss the bait in the water and get ready for action. Make sure the first fish or two is played at depth for an extended period. Try to get the second fish on before the first one is landed. Once the school is invigorated in this manner they seem to stay in the same spot as long as a trickle of chum continues to fall. Toss in a few pieces each time the hook is re-baited for best results. Make sure to catch the first fish that bites. Missing the first fish or two sometimes allows the school to follow the fleeing fish and the entire school disappears. If that happens start the search grid over and repeat the process.

Bass fishing is still steady each morning and evening. Smallmouth have moved to the ends of quick drops such as reefs and terminal points. The magic depth is 20 feet. Slick rock basins and steep cliffs hold bass in these warm water conditions. Free-floating plastic bait on a split shot or Carolina rig is an effective presentation. A sliding sinker rig is just as good. The key ingredient is to move the bait slowly and rest often. Fish in summer act like winter fish and take their time looking at the bait before tasting it.

LEES FERRY – Whirling disease has been detected in the rainbow trout population here. Please take the following steps.

* Never transport live fish from one water body to another (this is illegal in Arizona).
* Dispose of fish entrails and skeletal parts properly. Never discard fish parts in or near streams or rivers. Do not discard fish parts in a kitchen disposal. Whirling disease spores can survive most wastewater treatment systems. Instead, discard in dry waste that would go to a landfill.
* Rinse all mud and debris from equipment and wading gear, and drain water from boats before leaving an infected drainage. This is good practice for preventing transfer of other aquatic hitchhikers as well.

Although the above precautions will remove most spores from your gear, you may want to consider the following if fishing in heavily infected waters:

1) Rinse, and then thoroughly dry your boots, waders and other fishing equipment. This is generally sufficient to kill the TAM stage of the parasite.
2) Chlorine (regular household bleach) is a very effective disinfectant, and one of the few that can kill all stages of the parasite if used at the proper concentration. However, chlorine is a very strong chemical and can harm your equipment with prolonged exposure, so make sure you rinse the chlorine off your waders and other equipment after you disinfect, and dry in the shade. 
3) To kill the TAM stage, use 1 part chlorine to 32 parts water. It must stay in contact for about 10 minutes to assure disinfection.  
4) To kill the mature spores that may be found in the mud from an infected stream is much more difficult and hard on equipment, such as 50% solution (1 part chlorine to 1 part water) - dip waders into a solution of the bleach or wipe or spray it on or 10% solution (1 part chlorine to 9 parts water) and soak your equipment for 10 minutes.
5) Quaternary ammonium compounds are also effective in killing both parasite stages. These disinfectants are commercially available for disinfecting fishing equipment (Bright Water TM) or for the pet/veterinary trade (Roccal-D TM, Parvosol TM).

Equally effective is water heated to nearly boiling (200°F) poured over your gear and allowed to cool.

Report Courtesy Lees Ferry Anglers, Kris Stoudt.
Fly Fishing: The riffles fished well in the early part of the day. Once the water comes up, it’s to your advantage to drift along the banks with Cicadas. Everybody I’ve talked to today has told me the fish look amazing. Cicada fishing at Lees Ferry is stupid, stupid good. We hope you can make it up here to witness this remarkable event!   

Walk In: The walk-in is fishing really good early in the morning, weekends in particular, when the flows are lower. Use a big dry fly as the indicator and a long dropper. Down a little lower at the beach, fishing can be very good when the water hits a certain level. At times you can see a couple dozen trout sipping midges on the surface. This is when you want to shorten up the dropper to about a foot or so, and use a tiny little fly #22 to #24. I know this part of the report has not changed in a while but not much will change with the summer flows.  Although, I was down at the beach yesterday, and the fish were sipping midges, just as I said they would be.

Spin Fishing: Egg patterns are still producing down deep when drifting. Make sure that you have the proper weight on so that the flies are bouncing the bottom and not dragging bottom. Consider a scud dropped below the glo bug about a foot and a half. KastMasters and Rapalas are also productive while back trolling.

Fishing Synopsis and Forecast by Terry Gunn: All the Lees Ferry Angler guides agree – This  spring and early summer provided the best and most consistent fishing that we have seen on the river since 1999. The trout are in great shape (growing rapidly), strong and eager to eat!
That being said, the Arizona Game and Fish Department recently detected whirling disease in a small percentage of Lees Ferry trout that were collected for a random sampling. This is not good news nor is it necessarily terrible news. Whirling disease has infected many of the western state’s fabled trout streams with greater and lesser affects. The Madison comes to mind as one river that was severely impacted while the San Juan suffered little notable impact from whirling disease.

Lees Ferry has more in common with the San Juan than the Madison… Lees Ferry and the San Juan are both tailwater rivers with clear, cold water that is a consistent temperature year around. Consistent cold water temperatures are believed by most experts on the disease to keep the spread and severity of the disease in check. I’ll be sure to keep you informed as more data becomes available. In the mean time, when you do come to Lees Ferry be sure to clean your wading gear thoroughly before you leave to prevent the spread of whirling disease. For more information visit: http://www.whirling-disease.org/     

The water flow changed June 1 and so did our “style” of fishing. Most likely the midge fishing will be finished until we see lower water flows. Our focus has shifted to drifting out of the boat and wading only in lower water flows (early morning, weekends, and holidays). We have been drifting “heavy” nymph rigs consisting of a long tapered leader, two large nymphs and a split-shot.  July should bring cicadas and the best dry fly fishing of the year. Our cicada fishing rivals that of any other river in the country and happens most years. The summer drift fishing is often the best and most productive fishing of the year and this has certainly been the case recently. The high summer flows will also be great for the trout by providing more drifting food. I can’t wait to see what our fish look like this fall; my bet is that they are going to grow all summer and be fat and sassy this fall.

The trout spawn is over. We saw the best spawn that the river has experienced in years. Most all the spawn occurred in deep water which bodes well for fry survival and future recruitment of juvenile trout.

LAKE MEAD - Fishing has been good. This is a good time to find largemouth bass and bluegill in the backs of coves, especially at first light. Catfish have been biting all day on anchovies. The striper bite is good also. Try slow-trolling a small crankbait during the day. With a quarter moon this weekend, stripers should be very active at night; your submersible lights should be effective in bringing in the shad.  The ramp is open at South Cove, but it is a gravel ramp. The lake elevation is now 1,112, and continues to drop at nearly one foot per week.  

Important notice: With the recent 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 – No new reports- The striper bite has been slow. Anchovies are the most popular bait for stripers, but if you want to try something different, use shrimp or squid. Fishing for striped bass at night with crappie lights can be very effective.  For the lights to be most effective, try to time your trips around a new moon. Davis Dam has plenty of shoreline for numerous anglers to enjoy the fishing. Cabinsite and Telephone Cove also provide plenty of shoreline fishing access. Arizona Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Lake Mohave recently and observed the largemouth bass to average about 2.5 pounds. Channel catfish and striped bass were also plentiful. Also, 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 mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

Important notice: With the recent 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/.

WILLOW BEACH –Trout are stocked every Friday. The fishing for trout has been good from shore immediately following the stocking.  With the water temperature up in the basin, the stripers move toward cooler water, so the big stripers should be in the vicinity of Willow beach. Bighorn sheep are in the rut right now, making this an excellent time to see them along this stretch of the Colorado River.

Important notice: With the recent 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 mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

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

TOPOCK MARSH – Catfish have been excellent. They are back in the cattails. Try using mackerel, anchovies, or worms in the early morning or night. Bass fishing has been fair in the early morning and evening. The bass are starting to move out of the cattails and into the wood. There is a bit of a top water bite in the evening. Water temperature is around 81ºF. Game and fish biologist sampled lots of largemouth bass the middle of January throughout the marsh. The bass numbers were great and the crappie and catfish populations looked really good as well. You can access the marsh by boat at 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.

Important notice: With the recent 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/.

COLORADO RIVER BELOW DAVIS DAM – No new reports.  Fishing for striped bass has been fair around the needles area. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on March 28 and 29 last stocked rainbow trout. Stocking will resume in the fall. 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.html/ before you go. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see. If you fish the river below Davis Dam and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

Important notice: With the recent 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/.

SOUTHWESTERN ARIZONA

LAKE HAVASU – Courtesy Mrs. Karen Coats, Sandpoint Bait & Tackle Shop: Dusty Ryan of Ontario, CA got a 1½ -pound largemouth bass off B dock using anchovies on July 11. On July 13, Pat Griffth, Doug Eidismo, and Russell Marte of Escondido, CA went night fishing south of Sandpoint and used  anchovies to catch14 stripers weighing 1-6 pounds and one 2-pound catfish. On July 14, Steven Youngbery of Yucca Valley, CA got a 1-pound bluegill using a night crawler in the marina.
On July 16, Ron Bott of Saugus CA caught a lot of stripers weighing 1-2 pounds at Red Rock using Anchovies. On July 17, Mark, Pam and Elliot Foster of Costa Mesa, CA got 25 stripers weighing 1-2 pounds using jigs going in and out of coves north of Sandpoint. On July 18, Ron Bott of Saugus, CA caught two stripers at 2 pounds at Red Rock using anchovies.

Striper action continues to be good using cut frozen anchovies trolled or still fished throughout the main basin south to Black Rock. There is some topwater action to be had from 5 to 7 a.m. using Vixens, R2S Bubble Walkers and medium-sized chug bugs. These baits must be fished slowly across the surface with frequent pauses. Try not to use any topwater baits over 5-inches long as fish have been a little spooky and reluctant to hit topwater baits aggressively, but if you are patient, you can fool these fish into striking.

Night fishing for big flathead or channel catfish has been excellent with many fish over 10 pounds being caught. Live bait such as medium size bluegills, shad and frozen cut mackerel is key to catching these larger cats. Deep rocky banks from Copper Canyon south are excellent places to target big flatheads.

Largemouth bass fishing is excellent using artificial frogs fished near cattails and weed mats first thing in the morning and last hour of light in the evening. Senkos and tubes using a Texas or Carolina rigging and fished along submerged weed lines or any shaded pocket are also working very well.

Important notice:  Quagga mussels have been found in Lake Havasu, so proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please move to the parking lot, DRAIN your live-wells and bilge where the water does not return to the lake. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, INSPECT your watercraft 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.

PARKER STRIP – For largemouth bass, try tubes in a variety of colors (white, green/yellow frog patterns, and brown). Some of the larger fish were being caught from grass beds. Down river, the smallmouth are biting. The local bait shop in Parker, June’s Unique, is under new management, and they have recently received a large 60-plus pound scale from the Game and Fish Department.  They plan to put it to good use this summer and are holding a “big cat contest” July 1- Aug 31. Grab some bluegill or goldfish start chasing the big flatheads that hang out along the lower river. According to Dusty Wooddall at the bait shop, a 42-pound flathead was caught recently. Dusty is going to provide information each week for the department’s fishing report.

ALAMO – Well folks, after spending a week in the high country over in New Mexico, I'm here to tell yah that trees are green and some parts of the world do get daily rain showers.  You sit out here in the desert long enough and you forget about these things. Fishing is pretty good right now. Let’s start with bass. From sunrise till around 9 a.m., watch for some boil action. If you see a boil, throw something in there. Training wheels like line spinners and Rat-L-Traps work great.   The deeper you can get your bait down, the bigger the fish. Once the breeze picks up, the boils stop. This is good time to tie on a watermelon colored brush hog/lizard and start working drop offs in about 25 feet of water.

From about 11 till 5, the bite slows down. From 5 till dark you’re in for great fishing. Jerry Connelley and I had a blast Saturday and Sunday evenings. We used Texas-rigged lizards and brush hogs to work inside points. We quit counting fish at 20 both nights. Although I had the numbers, Jerry did catch big fish going about 3 pounds. Credit where credit is due. Anglers are reporting catching 30 to 50 crappies a night. The coves from Cholla Ramp up to the dam are holding crappies. Of course, no one is giving up there honey holes so you so you just have to try different places. Up by the dam is like a crap shoot. Some nights are good and some nights are bad.

Cat fishing is good. Try using shrimp or stink bait about anywhere on the lake. No reports on shore fishing. If you are coming, out bring a camera. The burrows are all over the place and you can get good shots of them and their babies. It saddens me to say the lake level has dropped to 1,111 with releases of 40 cfs.  Between releases and evaporation, we are loosing over a foot of water a month. There's enough water to keep both boat ramps in operation for the rest of this year but after that, your guess is as good as mine. Winds have been kicking up daily around 1 p.m. Remember to bring sun block and fluids. Still no word on when the new store will open or who will run it. That's it for now.

SUMMER OUTLOOK:

Alamo Lake:

Alamo Lake has had a couple years of good reproduction the fishing should be excellent for largemouth bass and crappie. There is currently a good number of bass over the slot and a couple of strong year classes of smaller bass that just ready to enter the protected slot.  In fact the condition of the bass indicates that we need to harvest more of the smaller bass.  Channel catfish are also expected to excellent this year. In addition to excellent fishing, all of the boat ramps will be useable.

The store at the lake has closed so you need to bring everything with you. If you run short of anything you might be able to pick it up at the Wayside Inn or in Wenden. The certified scale that was located at the store is now located at the Alamo State Park Office and the park office also has live bait for the crappie fishermen.

Lake Havasu & Topock Gorge:

Largemouth bass, as well as smallmouth bass are expected to be good to excellent. The size will range from 13 inches and up with an occasional fish greater than 4 pounds. Striped bass will continue to be excellent for small fish (12-18 inches) with occasional fish over 8 pounds. Channel catfish as well as bluegill & redear sunfish will be fair to good. If your interest is in flathead catfish it should be fair at the lower end of the lake (Bill Williams River Arm) late in June and on through the summer. Sizes of flathead catfish can reach as high as 40 pounds.

Colorado River (Parker Strip Area):

It is expected to be good to excellent for smallmouth bass with fish over two pounds in size this summer. In addition, Redear sunfish should also be good to excellent in the pound plus sizes. Channel and flathead catfish are always fair to good in this section of the Colorado River.

Colorado River (between Palo Verde Diversion Dam and Walter's Camp):

This area should be fair for both smallmouth bass (in the channel) up river from the I-10 Bridge 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 20 pounds. The time for fishing for both species of catfish will be summer and on into the fall months. Generally speaking, when fishing for catfish the hotter the weather the better the fishing.

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 good to excellent for flathead catfish with sizes over 40 pounds. The best time will be summer and on into the fall months. The hotter the temperature the better the fishing is. The various backwaters will be good for largemouth bass and other sunfish (bluegill & redear). Other species available in the main river are smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and striped bass.

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

This area is expected to be good to excellent 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. Bluegills 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 good for largemouth bass and flathead catfish. Bass in excess of 5 pounds is common and flathead catfish over 20 pounds is 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 the larger boat will 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 area I would away from that area (Pilot Knob to Moreles Dam).

If I were to pick a hot spot for summer in the region it would have to go with the Colorado Rive below Palo Verde Diversion Dam (near Blythe) all the way down to Imperial Dam (near Yuma) for flathead catfish.  A second spot would be Alamo Lake. It should be good to excellent for largemouth bass, crappie and channel catfish with the bluegill fishery also picking up.

If you need any additional information or additional areas covered don't hesitate to contact the Yuma Regional office at (928) 342-0091 and we will be happy to accommodate you.

NORTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS

WILLIAMS LAKES:  
KAIBAB LAKE — Campground area is open. Main parking lot and boat launch open. Fishing was good. Lake level is dropping

CATARACT LAKE — Campground is open. Fishing is good on yellow or white Power Bait or lures.  Some crappies are being caught.

CITY RESERVOIR — Gate is locked because of fire danger. 

DOGTOWN LAKE —Lake level is down.  Campground area is open.  Fishing is good on yellow or white Power Bait or lures.   Some browns are being caught on lures.  Stocked last week.

JD DAM — Anglers are catching brown trout fly-fishing.  Bullfrog catching is excellent.

RUSSEL TANK – Stocked.

SANTA FE — Lake is down a little.  The side of the lake opposite of the Perkinsville road is closed because of the fire danger.  Fishing is good on yellow or white Power Bait or lures.

WHITEHORSE LAKE — No report from anglers.  Campground is open.  Because of low water levels the lake will not be stocked anymore this year.

FLAGSTAFF LAKES:

LOWER LAKE MARY —The Lake is extremely low.  No fish, the lake suffered a winter kill due to low lake levels. At current conditions, lake will not be stocked this year.

UPPER LAKE MARY — The lake is 17-percent full.

ASHURST LAKE — The lake is accessible again. Fishing was good on worms fished about 3 feet below a bobber and Power Bait.  A trout angler caught a 31.5-pound Northern Pike on a worm.

FRANCIS SHORT POND – Trout were being caught on green or yellow Power Bait fished on the bottom. Catfish were also being caught on night crawlers and hot dogs.  

KINNIKINICK LAKE — Lake is open.  Fishing was good for Channel Catfish on night crawlers and Chicken Livers.  Fishing for trout was good on Power Bait.  Scheduled to be stocked this week.

MARSHALL LAKE — Low water. Small trout are being caught on flies. A few larger hold over fish are being caught.  No longer stockable

OAK CREEK — Fishing is slow. A few small rainbow trout are being caught on flies. Stocked last week.

LONG LAKE — Lake is open. Holdover trout are being caught. 

SOLDIERS & SOLDIERS ANNEX — Lake is open. No report.

BEAVER CREEK — No reports. 

WEST CLEAR CREEK — No reports.

STONEMAN LAKE — NO FISH.

MINGUS LAKE – No new reports. Mingus Lake was stocked last the week of April 30. As a result of the very low water levels, trout stockings have been suspended. The Forest Service gate is open. The water level is very low and the water is turbid. Try bright-colored Power Bait, salmon eggs, or spinners. 

DEAD HORSE STATE PARK – No new reports. Game and Fish stocked catfish the week of June 4, so look for the catfish fishing to be good. Several largemouth bass, up to two pounds, have been caught on in-line spinners, plastic grubs, and small crankbaits. The bluegill fishing has been good using salmon eggs or small worms on a small bait hooks below a bobber. The bluegills are plentiful in both the middle and lower lagoons.

Dead Horse State Park employees and Game and Fish biologists placed 40-plus Christmas trees in the lower lagoon as fish habitat on Jan. 16.  Fish should begin to congregate near these trees within days.

VERDE RIVER (throughout Verde Valley) – No new reports. Trout were last stocked at all five sites (March 19). That was the last trout stocking for the season and the river won’t be stocked again until this coming fall. For largemouth and smallmouth bass, try plastic grubs and small spinnerbaits. Catfishing should be biting as well.

LYNX LAKE — The fishing has been slow, but some of the catfish stocked in June are still out there. Try floating a night crawler just off the bottom. Chicken livers or anchovies should work as well, but avoid fishing in water over 20 feet deep; oxygen levels below 20 feet are very low, so fish won’t be there. The bass stockings from the last two years as well as the four fish habitat sites should begin to pay off this year. Plastic worms should be the ticket for the bass.
Trout were stocked last week (June 11). That was the last scheduled stocking until September due to water temperature. Some of the brook trout stocked last September and October are continuing to be caught, but they are on the small side. Game and Fish stocked catfish the week of June 4. There were 200 pounds of bluegill were stocked on March 29.  These fish were hand-sized and should be easily caught. Try using worms or mealworms on a bobber. Small spinners may work as well. Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Lynx in May and found that the brook trout stocked last year were still present.

FAIN LAKE — Fishing should be slow. Some of the catfish Game and Fish stocked the week of June 4 will still be around as well as bullhead, sunfish, and bass. As the fishing pressure decreases, the regular angler’s should have some success. Anchovies, chicken livers, or night crawlers should all work.

Rainbow trout were stocked the week of June 11. This was the last trout stocking until September.  On June 4, catfish were stocked.  There were150 pounds of bluegill stocked on March 29.  These fish were hand-sized and should be easily caught. Try using worms or mealworms on a bobber. Small spinners may work as well.

GOLDWATER LAKE—Trout were stocked the week before last (July 2).  The stocking scheduled for this week was cancelled due to high water temp. If we get some rain and the temperature comes down, Game and Fish may stock next week (July 23). The fishing last weekend was slow. Most anglers had little luck. Try using spinners and jigs in the early morning and switch to worms and rainbow Power Bait on the bottom as the temperature goes up. Avoid fishing in water over 30 feet deep.  Even if you don’t catch fish, this is a great lake to visit.

Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Goldwater during the middle of May and found the trout and sunfish plentiful. While the number of catfish and bass was low, the quality was exceptional. One 16-pound catfish was sampled and released. The bass averaged about 3.5 pounds.  On March 29, 400 pounds of bluegill were stocked. These fish were hand-sized and should be easily caught.  Try using worms or mealworms on a bobber.  Small spinners may work as well. If you fish Goldwater and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

MOGOLLON RIM
Note:  Fire restrictions are in effect on the entire Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. No campfires will be permitted on the entire Black Mesa Ranger District. For more information about fire restrictions on public lands in Arizona call toll free at 1-877-864-6985 or visit the web site at http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/.

CHEVELON CANYON LAKE — Fishing is fair. Chevelon Lake is open to artificial lure and flies only, with a six-trout bag and possession limit. Trout between 10 and 14 inches may not be possessed and any trout kept outside this slot must be killed immediately and retained as part of the bag limit. Try lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or buggers, semi-seal leeches, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, and zug bugs. Some fly-fishermen are catching trout on dry flies. Try dry flies such as Adams, Parachute Adams, Humpies, and Royal Wulff. Chevelon Lake is a remote hike in lake with difficult access.  The lake is open to 10 hp gas motors.   

BEAR CANYON LAKE — Fishing is fair to good. The lake will be stocked with catchable size rainbow trout this week. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or buggers, semi-seal leeches, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, and zug bugs. If trout are taking insects on the surface try dry flies such as Adams, Parachute Adams, and midge patterns. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only. Bear Canyon Lake is a steep hike in lake with moderate (north side and south side trail) to difficult (west side trail) access.  

BLACK CANYON LAKE — The boat ramp is low so use caution when launching a boat. Fishing is fair. Try worms, meal worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Super Dupers, Z-rays, KastMasters, crankbaits, and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms or wooly buggers, prince nymphs and zug bugs. The lake is open to electric motors only. Try fishing with worms off rocky areas for bass and sunfish.

BLUE RIDGE — Fishing is best from a boat. There is limited shoreline access. Expect the trout action to pick up as clouds start to build and the barometer drops. J. Douglas caught a limit of trout in less than two hours in early July using earthworms on No 8 hooks with no weights or bobbers fished from a boat, adding that he had no luck with spinners, lures or trolling.

KNOLL LAKE — Marty Nelson, Geoff Callarman and Jacori Jacobs caught-and-released more than 50 trout while fishing from 5 a.m. to noon using Power Bait and spinners.

There were lots of good reports from anglers in early July using everything from Power Bait and worms to small spinners and spoons. Fly anglers were also doing well.  

WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE — Has received extra bonus stockings for rainbow trout and fishing should be very good to excellent. The boat ramp is accessible. Try worms, meal worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Super Dupers, Z-rays, KastMasters, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, black or brown semi-seal leeches, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, and zug bugs. The lake is open to 10 hp gas motors.         

WOODS CANYON LAKE — Has received extra bonus stockings of trout and the fishing should be good to excellent, especially at first and last light, or right before monsoon storms hit.
Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Super Dupers, Z-Rays, and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, wooly worms or wooly buggers. Try trolling cowbells or lures with worms. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only. The store is open and boat rentals are available.    
 
NORTHEASTERN ARIZONA (White Mountains)

Note: Fire restrictions are in effect for the entire Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Campfires are only allowed in certain developed campgrounds. For more information about fire restrictions on public lands in Arizona call toll free 1-877-864-6985 or visit the web site at http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/.

State Highway 261 is open to Big Lake and Crescent Lake, as well as most interior forest roads. State Highway 273 on the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest is undergoing reconstruction and realignment and the following closures are in effect. State Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation boundary to the junction of Forest Road 554 (Winn Campground Road) is closed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and will remain closed until the project is complete.  The southern part of State Highway 273 from Forest Road 554 junction to Crescent Lake will be closed each week beginning Mondays at 6 a.m. through Thursdays at 6 p.m. Access to Lee Valley Reservoir, Gabaldon Campground, and East Baldy Trailhead will only be open on Labor Day Holiday, and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 

BECKER LAKE — The boat ramp is accessible. Fishing is fair. Try lures such as spinners, Super Dupers, and Z-rays, flies such as woolly worms and woolly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, dragonfly imitations, midge imitations, and brown Montana stone nymphs. The lake is open to artificial lure and fly with barbless hooks only, with a two trout bag and possession limit.  No bait fishing is allowed. The lake is open to 10 hp. motors.

BIG LAKE — Fishing is fair. Try worms, meal worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, Super Dupers, Z-rays, KastMasters, Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and brown Montana stone nymphs. Boat anglers may want to try trolling worms on lures, flies or behind cowbells. The lake is open to 10 hp motors. During the hot summer months, try fishing early in the morning and late in the day.  

ACCESS: State Highway 261 is open from Eager. State Highway 273 will be closed throughout the year for road construction. State Highway 273 from Crescent Lake to Winn Campground will be closed each week from Mondays at 6 a.m. through Thursdays at 6 p.m. Access to Lee Valley Lake, Gabaldon Campground, and East Baldy Trailhead will only be open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and Holidays. Winn Campground will only be open on Labor Day Holiday, and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The boat ramps are low, but still usable.

CARNERO LAKE — Fishing is fair. Try small spinners, jigs and spoons, and flies such as wooly worms, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and small brown, black or green nymphs. Carnero is open to artificial lure and fly only with barbless hooks and a two-trout limit. No bait fishing is allowed. This lake doesn’t have a boat ramp, so most float tubers launch at the fence line. The weeds along the shoreline have begun to grow back.  As summer progresses weeds will become a problem. The lake is open to electric motors only. 

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR — Fishing is fair. Try worms, meal worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures (spinners, Z-rays, and spoons, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and Rapalas), and flies (wooly worms or wooly buggers, zug bugs, prince nymphs, and peacock ladies). The northeast boat ramps are usable but the middle boat ramp is steep and has soft sand. There is also an old concrete dam structure across from the middle boat ramp so use caution when motoring on the lake. There are no motor restrictions on the lake when using larger watercraft. Clear Creek Reservoir has largemouth bass, sunfish, black bullheads, and channel catfish.  

CONCHO LAKE— The lake is low and weedy. The boat ramp is accessible but low. Fishing is poor to fair. Try worms, meal worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, and lures such as spinners, spoons, Super Dupers, Z-rays, and flies such as wooly worms and wooly buggers, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and hares ear nymphs. The lake is open to 10 hp. motors.    

CRESCENT LAKE — Fishing is fair.  The lake is approximately 4 feet low.  The boat ramps are low but accessible except the north boat ramp, which is very low and muddy. Try worms, meal worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Super Dupers, Z-rays, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms and wooly buggers, prince nymphs, zug bugs, brown Montana stone nymphs.

ACCESS: Highway 261 is open from Eager. Highway 273 will be closed for the year for road construction.  State Highway 273 from Crescent Lake to Winn Campground is closed from 6 a.m. Mondays through 6 p.m. Thursdays, but will be open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and Holidays. Winn Campground will only be open on Labor Day Holiday, and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only. The store is closed. 
  
FOOL HOLLOW LAKE — The lake level is down about 4 feet. All boat ramps are accessible. Fishing has been fair to good. The lake will be stocked with catchable size rainbow trout this week. Anglers have been catching trout, bass, sunfish, walleyes, and channel catfish. Try worms, meal worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Super Dupers, Mister Twister worms (chartreuse green, brown or gray with silver specks) on ¼-ounce lead head jigs, crankbaits, and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms and wooly buggers and semi-seal leeches. Boat anglers may want to try trolling lures or flies with an attached worm. Fish near structure such as rocks, trees, weed beds, and fishing piers.  Fool Hollow State Park has excellent camping facilities. Anglers wishing to fish the lake for free must use the southwest side boat ramp and parking area. A fee is charged for use of the other facilities including the east side boat ramp. The lake is open to 10 hp. Motors.

GREER LAKES — All reservoirs are very low. Bunch and River Reservoir boat ramps are not usable. Tunnel Reservoir’s boat ramp is usable but very low. Please use caution when launching a boat. Canoes or float tubes are recommended. Fishing is fair. Try worms, meal worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners and spoons, and flies such as wooly worms and wooly buggers, peacock ladies, and small nymphs. Bunch and Tunnel Reservoirs are open to electric trolling motors only. River Reservoir is open to 10 hp. motors. 

HULSEY LAKE — Fishing is fair. Try worms, meal worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as small spinners and spoons, and flies such as woolly worms, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, and zug bugs. During the summertime, weed growth is present along the shoreline areas. The lake is a short hike (moderately steep) in fishery.

LEE VALLEY RESERVOIR — Lee Valley Reservoir is low, so use caution when launching a boat. The lake was stocked with catchable size Apache trout during May and early June. A few small grayling still remain in the lake, but it doesn’t look like they grew much from last year. The lake is open to artificial lure and fly only, with a minimum size limit of 12 inches, and a limit of two trout. Try lures such as small spinners and spoons, and flies such as wooly worms, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, hares ear nymphs, pheasant tail nymphs and other small black, brown or green colored nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.       

Access: State Highway 273 from Sunrise Lake to Winn Campground is closed for the year for road construction. State Highway 273 from Crescent Lake to Winn Campground is open 7 days a week from 6 a.m. Mondays through 6 p.m. Thursdays, but will be open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and Holidays. Winn Campground will only be open on Labor Day Holiday, and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This section of the road is in poor condition (many parts of the road have potholes) and is experiencing use by heavy equipment. Drive with caution.

LUNA LAKE — Fishing is fair. The boat ramp is accessible. Try worms, meal worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, small spoons, Z-rays, or flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and other small nymphs in brown, green or black.  The lake is open to 10 hp motors. There is an algae bloom present in the lake.

LYMAN LAKE —The left boat ramp is accessible. Fishing is fair to good. Anglers have been catching channel catfish on worms and prepared baits, and walleyes and bass on lures near rocky shoreline areas. Try worms, meal worms, and catfish prepared baits. The Lyman Lake Recreation Area 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. The lake has no motor restrictions.

NELSON RESERVOIR — Statewide angling regulations started on April 1 and the daily bag and possession limit is six trout. The lake is about 2.5-3.0 feet low. The boat ramp at the dam is recommended, as the ramp at the upper end is still too shallow. Fishing is fair.  Try worms, meal worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners and Z-rays, flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and other small brown, green, or black nymphs. The lake is open to 10 hp motors.
                
RAINBOW LAKE — The lake is down a few feet. Fishing is fair to good. Try worms, meal worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, semi-seal leeches, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and brown Montana stone nymphs. Northern pike are being caught on spinnerbaits, Rapalas, and big spinners. Anglers have been catching largemouth bass on Rapalas and crankbaits. Trout, bass, bullheads, and channel catfish have been caught on worms off the fishing pier. We are encouraging anglers to keep all northern pike that are caught. Northern pike are not desirable in Rainbow Lake because they eat stocked rainbow trout and small bass and we want them removed. The lake is open to 10 hp. motors.          

SCOTT'S RESERVOIR — The reservoir is down about 1.5 feet. The water is slightly murky. Fishing is fair. Anglers are catching trout and channel catfish on worms. Bass are being caught on lures such as spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and spinners. One northern pike was caught during spring gill net surveys. Please report anybody that is moving fish from one location to another. It is illegal to stock any fish in public or private waters without a proper stocking permit. This illegal activity spoils angling opportunities for most other anglers. Try worms, meal worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, brown Montana stone nymphs, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, and zug bugs. The lake is open to electric motors only.     

SHOW LOW LAKE — The lake is nearly full, down about 7 feet. Fishing is fair. The lake will be stocked with catchable size rainbow trout this week. Try worms, salmon eggs, mealworms, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, ¼-ounce lead head jigs (chartreuse green, and brown, or gray with silver specks), Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms and wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, and semi seal leeches for trout. Anglers have been catching trout trolling cowbells and lures with worms. Shore anglers are catching 10-16 inch rainbow trout on green Power Bait and night crawlers. Walleyes and smallmouth bass are being caught by anglers trolling Rapalas and casting jigs along rocky shoreline areas early in the morning. The lake is open to 10 hp. motors. The store is open. Boat rentals are available.   
  
SILVER CREEK — The stream will be stocked with catchable size Apache trout this week and fishing is good. Silver Creek on the Arizona Game and Fish Department property is open to statewide angling regulations, including bait fishing and six-trout bag and possession limit (from April 1 through Sept. 30). The upper section (big fence boundary) is closed to fishing. Try 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 or green wooly buggers, prince nymphs, zug bugs, 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 the fly slowly upstream. Try small dry flies such as Adams, parachute Adams, midge imitations, and caddis fly patterns in sizes #16 or #18 or # 20. Night crawlers, Power Bait, and mealworms work well.

WOODLAND LAKE — The lake is down about 2.5 feet. The water is slightly murky. Weeds are present along shoreline areas. An algae bloom is present in the lake. Fishing is poor to fair. The lake is experiencing high pH levels.  Fish early in the morning when water temperatures and pH are low.  Try worms, salmon eggs, meal worms, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, small spoons, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms and wooly buggers, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and other small nymphs. Anglers have been catching rainbow trout off the fishing pier on night crawlers. Woodland Lake is a city park with picnic tables, Veranda’s, restrooms, volleyball and softball courts, hiking trails, boat ramp, and a fishing pier.  The lake is open to electric motors only.    

WHITE MOUNTAIN STREAMS:

WEST FORK OF BLACK RIVER – All access roads are open. The stream will be stocked with catchable size Apache trout this week and every week through mid-September. Try worms, meal worms, and salmon eggs, lures such as small spinners and spoons, and flies such as wooly worms, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and small black, brown or green nymphs. Stream flows are low.

EAST FORK OF BLACK RIVER – All access roads are open.  The stream will be stocked with catchable size apache trout this week and every week through mid-September. Try worms, meal worms, and salmon eggs, lures such as small spinners and spoons, and flies such as wooly worms, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and small black, brown or green nymphs. Stream flows are low.

SHEEPS CROSSING – Not accessible. Highway 273 is closed for the year due to road construction.

LITTLE COLORADO RIVER – GREER – All access roads are open. The stream will be stocked with catchable size Apache trout this week and every week through mid-September. Try worms, meal worms, and salmon eggs, small lures such as spinners and spoons, and flies such as wooly worms, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and small black, brown or green nymphs. Stream flows are low.

SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA
URBAN LAKES – The last catfish stocking of the spring/summer season was the week of June 25-30. With the high temperatures of summer here, it becomes impractical to continue to haul live fish into Arizona’s urban lakes. No fish stockings will be scheduled during July, August and the first half of September. Mark your calendars: fall catfish stockings will resume the week of Sept. 17-22.  Anglers can still fish for catfish, bass and bluegill at Urban waters throughout the summer, but the action is generally slower.

RIGGS FLAT —The road to the lake is open.  High pH levels have already begun at this lake and trout stocking has been suspended for the time being. Hopefully summer rains will alleviate this problem and the department can resume stocking once the pH levels come down.  There are still plenty of fish in the lake however. 

CLUFF RANCH — Fishing for warmwater species is fair with a few reports of largemouth bass being caught. Recent surveys show good numbers of crappie. For lake information call (928) 485-9430.

ROPER LAKE — Fishing for all warmwater species is fair with early morning being the best opportunity.  For lake information call (928) 428-6760.

DANKWORTH POND — No reports on success. For lake information call (928) 428-6760.

FRYE MESA RESERVIOR – The fishing remains good at this small reservoir. Anglers are reporting that limits are common. The road to Frye Mesa is in fair condition and is currently passable with a two-wheel drive vehicle. Use caution because the road is steep and narrow in places.

KEARNY LAKES — This lake remains fishless due to golden algae.
 
ARIVACA — The water levels are extremely low. The water is now below the cement portion of the boat ramp. Boat launching will not be possible except for the smaller watercraft. The fishing has slowed with warmer temperatures and night fishing is the best opportunity at this time. 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. Also, be aware of the boating regulations, specifically those pertaining to personal flotation devices. If you are not in compliance, you are subject to receiving a citation.

PENA BLANCA – The water levels are extremely low. Larger watercraft will not be able to launch. Use caution when launching your boat. No reports of angler success have been reported recently.

PATAGONIA — Fishing for largemouth continues to be good for anglers working reaction baits along the cattails. Flathead catfish continue to be caught using small bluegills as bait.  The lake remains in good condition with no reported problems launching boats at either ramp.

PARKER CANYON — The water level is at near capacity. Fishing remains fair for all species.  Some nice bluegills continue to be caught on night crawlers and meal worms. 

PICACHO RESERVOIR — No Report.

ROSE CANYON LAKE — Rose Canyon remains open and anglers are reporting limits of fish.  Water temperatures have reached levels which have forced the department to suspend trout stockings at this time. Once the monsoon season begins and water temperatures cool, trout stocking should continue.