Beautiful rainy weather this week should kick the winter trout fishing up a notch or two, but an expected high pressure system this weekend could change things. That's the ups-and-downs of winter fishing in Arizona. I guess another front is due on Sunday or Monday, so we'll have to see what happens.
Arizona Fishing Report - Winter Trout
Rory's Tip
The best fishing will likely be for trout as these fronts move through the state. Watson Lake, Lynx Lake and Goldwater Lake near Prescott are scheduled for stocking this week, so they might be good bets this weekend. Watson also has a decent largemouth bass population, but the bass are likely holding deep and tight. Goldwater is one of my all-time family favorites.
Saguaro Lake is also scheduled for stocking this week, so it should be a decent place to try for some combo fishing. Saguaro has lots of fishing piers, so it's very shore-fishing friendly. Take along some night crawlers and meal worms, not only are they good baits for trout, the yellow bass also like to gobble up worms. Just below Saguaro in the Lower Salt River, we stocked the Phon D. Sutton and Granite Reef recreation areas last week. They are worth a try as well.
These between-front weekends also offer a nice window to fish one of my favorites -- Apache Lake. The smallmouth haven't come back all the way to previous levels, but between the largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and yellow bass, you might just score some pretty good fishing. Walleye could be active any time now -- not sure their spawning time at this elevation.
If you have three days (President's Day), you might want to try Casino Row along the Colorado River where they have been catching stocked trout and some huge holdover rainbows up to around 5 or 6 pounds.
I also like Willow Beach (see picture on the left). They stock every Friday, so Saturday is a good time for a visit. There is a really unique fishing pier there that looks like a giant erector set. Sometimes you can sight-fish the rainbows from the pier. No kidding! It's a blast. Sure gets the kids excited.
Hey, here's some interesting news from the high country. Come April, we may be stocking the Williams area lakes with trout. That's about a month early. You might just want to plan a fishing/Grand Canyon Railway trip. At both Kaibab and Dogtown I have heard the whistles announcing the canyon-bound trains leaving the station in Williams. Kind of adds a poignant note to a fishing expedition. So mark this in your early spring bucket list.
It doesn't sound like the weather will stabilize long enough this week for the crappie action to really pick up again. It typically takes three days of warm sunny weather following a storm for the suspended crappie to feed aggressively again. They are kind of like some of us older, ah make that "vintage" anglers -- mostly fair weather addicts at best.
There is a new moon on Feb. 21, making that a good time to try for stripers at night on Pleasant, Havasu, Mohave and Mead using submersible lights and frozen anchovies as bait on a circle hook.
Don't forget the International Sportsmen's Exposition on Feb. 23-26 at the Phoenix University (Cardinals) Stadium in Glendale. I'll be doing talks on all four days and will be glad to autograph copies of the Official Arizona Fishing Guide Books. We'll have guide books on sale at our Game and Fish license sales booth. We'll also be unveiling something new -- a revised online fishing map. I know, it's about time. I agree.
This year we have a welcome addition to the Youth Fair Area of the Expo -- the Boy Scouts Grand Canyon Council will have a significant (and fun) presence, including activities like a climbing wall. Once again, we'll have the Kids Fishing Pond, Kids Archery, Air Gun Trailer from the Ben Avery Shooting Range and live wildlife from the Adobe Mountain Rehabilitation Center.
So if you can't go fishing, at least come see us at the Outdoor Expo in Glendale. Good luck, maybe I'll see you out there.
Fishing News
Volunteers go fishing for trash to clean up an Arizona angling hot spot
PHOENIX -- Arizona Game and Fish Department experts predict Alamo Lake will be one of this year's hottest fishing spots in Arizona. The problem is, it needs to be cleaned up. The solution? Come join volunteers and Arizona Game and Fish Department employees to clean up the shoreline and the Alamo Wildlife Area.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is holding its 13th annual Alamo Lake Cleanup March 3 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. In the past 12 years, volunteers have picked up over 26 dump trucks full of trash around Alamo Lake.
"Volunteers have removed everything from a kitchen sink, to an old truck frame including the engine block," says Alamo Lake wildlife manager Stewart Kohnke. "This is a great opportunity to give something back to a lake that so many local people enjoy."
The department will provide boats and trash bags for those who do not have them. The Alamo State Park will waive camp and launch fees for participants staying at the Cholla Campground Group Use Area. Registration begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 2 and runs through March 3 at the group use area.
By Rory Aikens, AZGFD
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