Central Waters Report

Arizona Game and Fish Department's Weekly Fishing Report

FISHING REPORT EDITOR:
Rory Aikens, (602) 789-3214

March 2, 2010

URBAN LAKES -- A couple anglers fished Kiwanis. They caught 2 bass and quite a few 14- to 16-inch trout.  They used a banjo minnow for one bass and a Texas-rigged dark colored lizard enticed the other bass and trout. 

Trout were stocked last week and will be stocked one more time during the week of March 8. The week of March 15th, Game and Fish will stock sunfish to give a boost to the Program pond and lake populations. The following week (March 22 - 27) we will stock catfish in all but the Payson Program waters.

Fishing for trout is good to excellent at most Urban Fishing Program waters. Anglers using scented dough baits (such as Power Bait), worms fished under a bobber, corn on the bottom, or small trout lures have been successful.

Anglers fishing with lighter tackle are having the best luck. Use 2-4 pound leaders, smaller hooks and minimal weight to greatly improve fishing success. 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 like Super Dupers are also working well for trout. Lake waters at Green Valley (Payson) and Lakeside (Tucson) are staying brown colored and murky with new runoff from recent storms-making fishing tough.

What the urban lakes provide residents.

In the midst of difficult economic times, participation in Arizona’s Urban Fishing Program has grown 8-10% for each of the past three years. Why? Simply put, Urban Fishing Program lakes and ponds offer a high-quality, affordable and convenient way to go fishing in town; representing excellent value. Celebrating it’s 25th anniversary this year, it is an award-winning, nationally recognized program. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is pleased to partner with 11 cities statewide to provide fishing recreation opportunities to city residents. Based on the motto,

“If people can’t get to the fish, we bring fish to the people,” the Urban Fishing Program provides:
* A family friendly outdoor opportunity that contributes to quality of life in the city.
* Over $6.4 million in direct expenditures per year to the Arizona economy by anglers.
* Excellent fishing for 58,000 people; 25% of them youth fishing for free.
* Over 500 fish stockings a year into 21 Urban Program lakes by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
* Annual stockings of 237,000 fish including trout, catfish, bluegill and bass.
* Quality, stocked fish that are good to eat and fun to catch.
* A relaxing, convenient and accessible opportunity in well-maintained park settings.
* A fun, safe and affordable way for city residents of all ages and abilities to fish.
* A positive, memorable way for friends and families to spend time together.

TEMPE TOWN LAKE -- Flows will vary from day-to-day depending on the water releases from Saguaro and Bartlett Lakes, but they will likely continue 24-7 for some time to come. Most fish  adapt well to such flows.

This can make it more challenging to fish this lake at times, but anglers will start being more successful when they adjust to the new fishing patterns -- fish it more like a river than a lake. Cast slightly up current and retrieve slowly. For bait anglers, the same applies -- as the current carries you bait downstream, adjust your line accordingly to keep in contact with the bait so you can feel a bite.

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 1694 ft (90% full)

Where: Lake Pleasant
When: 02/21/10
Caught: Striped Bass
Technique: Worms off the bottom
Comments: I was in Fireman’s Cove and the water was way up! Bring waders so you can hike far out in the water and cast past the shelf and hit deep water closer to the first buoy out there.
Name: Chris Sherrod.

But anglers have also reported largemouth bass full of eggs and staging for the spawn. Look for possible spawning bass in the sheltered spot of the shallow northern coves. Remember, this is only the leading edge -- the bass spawn will be spread out for months, but will likely hit a peak in early spring. Try Castle Creek, Humbug, Bass Bay, Goose Bay and Coles Bay.

An angler fished Pleasant this past weekend and said mid-lake had a few logs in it but most of the debris was in the coves. Water was turbid but still had 2 to 5 foot visibility in some areas. He didn’t catch anything using drop shots, jigs, spinners, anchovies and jerkbaits. 

Another angler did a bit better and caught a 4 pound largemouth full of eggs that was quickly released. Not sure what he used but he also caught some stripers with jigged KastMasters and trolled Rapalas while chasing shad boils around Castle Creek.

ROOSEVELT LAKE -- Lake Elevation is 2,150 ft (99 percent full). Tonto Creek runoff is 813 cfs while inflow from the Salt River is at 1,280 cfs. With the lake full, outflows or releases must approximate inflows from the Salt and Tonto, and high country snow melt and runoff has not even begun yet.

Anglers are picking up a slot here and there using spinner baits in relatively shallow water (6 to 10 feet). A fisherman noted a bass full of eggs with red fins, indicating some nest building is taking place. The temperature was 57 F. If you want to talk biologically, 57.9 to 59 F is when nest building occurs for the most part and full force spawning occurs when the nests are at or near 64 F. Keep in mind spawning will take place on different time lines depending on the temperature of coves and depths where spawning activity is occurring. Another thing to keep in mind is the bass don’t read the biological assessments so there are a few that does it their own way or they simply find warmer spots we aren’t aware of. 

Another couple anglers fished all day and one picked up a nice 3 pound largemouth bass at about 8 am then he caught another 2 pound bass a half hour later. The bite shut off after that. Water temps only attained 56oF mid day at the spot he checked. 

The second angler also caught a couple two pound bass – no details on lures that worked. 

One of our better known crappie anglers trolled the Tonto end for 5 hours and caught a slot bass and a nice looking crappie.  For you novice crappie anglers it helps to be aware that the crappie are pretty deep right now and if you troll for them get your jig down to their level, but don’t go below them.  They feed above or even to their line of sight.  They tend to be line shy so use light test, 4 pound is good.  They move out of the deep water to the shallows in temperatures between 60 and 65oF.  A temperature of 62oF is usually a very good time.  The males come into the shallows first then the females follow when the temps are about 64oF typically.  Use 1/32 oz and lighter tube or curly tail jigs.  You have to figure out the color they like, but I would start with blue-black chartreuse jigs or John Deere grubs.  You can always tow a live minnow using#8 or #6 Aberdeen hook with a small split shot above it about an inch. 

An angler fished in the rain and caught 3 overs and a slot using a white spinnerbait, lipless crankbait and a jig.

An experienced crappie fisherman trolled the Tonto end for 6 hours with no bites. If you find the warmer water (upper 50’s), fishing seem to be a little more gratifying.

Smallmouth anglers may want to focus on the rocky areas near the dam. Even those without boats should be able to get in on this bite if you can find a place to park and walk down. Try anything crayfish like from crankbaits to jigs or soft plastics. Even split-shot lizards can work great at times.

APACHE - Expect inflows and outflows from this lake from now through the rest of the spring. Pretty much, the inflows to Roosevelt will mimic the outflows, and the outflows here will mimic the inflows from Roosevelt.

Largemouth bass could be entering the spawn in the warmer sheltered  coves out of the direct cold current caused from inflows-outflows. However, you might want to try off the major points, or just inside them (fish waiting in ambush just out of the current) for hungry staging bass.

Lake elevation is 1,908 ft (94-percent full). 

A 10-pound 30.5 inch walleye was caught at Apache in late February.  So far this is a 2010 big fish of the year.  We only have a few entries so far this year, none in the catch-and-release category.  There is plenty of room for your big fish.  Those of you who like to catch yellow bass there are plenty of record size ones in Apache according to our surveys.  See the 2009 – 2010 fishing regulations page 36 for rules. 

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

CANYON LAKE - Expect inflows and outflows from this lake from now through the rest of the spring. Pretty much, the inflows to Roosevelt will mimic the outflows, so therefore the outflows here (and Apache and Saguaro) will typically mimic the inflows from Rosey.

Lake elevation is 1657 ft, which is 95 percent full.

A couple very experienced fishermen fished a morning at Canyon and landed one largemouth using a jerkbait. It was windy and the warmest temp they found was 53 degrees. Visibility was 4 feet and the water was a bit stained but pretty clear. They noted some trash and large logs around most of the bends up in the channel. They also saw a herd of bighorn sheep.

Another couple anglers noted the same temperature and was fishing with a drop shot and came up with a 5 pound channel catfish. It was 22 inches long.

Although the inflows and outflows will create a current, the main body of the lake will be indirectly affected. But the long narrow portion of the lake will now fish more like a river, albeit an awfully deep one. Those who figure out the bite pattern with these flows might just catch a new state record bass here, or maybe a giant walleye. Haven't heard of huge trout since the lake was lowered for work on the dam, but some no doubt hung on.

Tonto National Forest will be closing the Acacia day use area at Canyon Lake starting March 1 until April 30 for construction projects.

The parking lot at Acacia will be closed as well as all rest-room facilities, picnic tables and armadas. There will be no beach access to Acacia including the picnic area immediately adjacent to the east and all sites west of Acacia to Key Hole. Key Hole is also closed. The designated "no boating area" at Acacia will not be open to swimming.

For more information contact the Mesa Ranger District office at (480) 610-3300

SAGUARO LAKE - Pretty much, the inflows to Roosevelt will mimic the outflows, so therefore the outflows here (and Apache and Canyon) will typically mimic the inflows from Rosey.

Lake elevation 1,525 feet at 92-percent full.

The aforementioned experienced anglers also went to Saguaro. Lake hopping between Canyon and Saguaro does not necessarily pose as much risk of transporting aquatic nuisance species, such as golden alga or quagga mussels, because they lakes in essence share the same flow-through water. However, please don't hop from the Colorado River lakes or Lake Pleasant to the Salt chain lakes or vice versa.

Another thing to be aware of is Roosevelt Lake does not have golden algae although Apache, Canyon and Saguaro do so don't hop from a lower chain lake to Roosevelt either. If you have to hop, start out at Roosevelt then to Apache, Canyon or Saguaro. We don't want to spread golden algae to Roosevelt, Lake Pleasant or the Colorado River lakes or quagga muscles to the chain lakes.) By the way, the current is causing a flushing effect which means the lake won't be susceptible to golden alga blooms this season.

Now back to the report.Texas-rigged worms and craws enticed some interest in Saguaro. They also caught a bass with a hook in its mouth. They actually caught the braided line attached to the hook that was attached to the bass. I bet the bass was happy to get rid of the lure. Kudos to the fishermen who saved the bass - and you got a lure out of the deal!

One fisherman reported catching a couple yellow bass in the Shiprock area.

Look for bass to be staging for the spawn, and most likely on spawning beds in the more sheltered coves out of the direct current.

BARTLETT -- Lake elevation is 1,793 ft, which is 92-percdent full. Reservoir release is 2,000 cfs and inflows from Horseshoe are also at 2,000 cfs. Expect this inflow-outflow relationship to continue for the foreseeable runoff season. This will create a flow-through current that will in turn effect how predatory sport fish orient themselves while feeding, or more to the point, when ambushing bait fish or even gobbling up crayfish. They will feed facing into the current, or just out of the current waiting in ambush. Your trick is to ambush and ambushers. By the way, huge flathead catfish will do the same, but often hiding in deeper holes where the current will bring them breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Two anglers caught 5 largemouth bass on some main lake points after 10 a.m. Unfortunately the bite shut off around 2 p.m. Conditions were windy in the main lake but was a bit more calm in the riverine section.

No reports on crappie. Expect them to spawn in the more sheltered shallow coves this year, and keep the current in mind when deciding where to try for them. Current and crappie spawning beds don't always mix so well. Take a look at the Bartlett Lake map and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what coves will likely be the best to try.

HORSESHOE - Lake elevation is at 2,021 feet, 89-percent full. They are releasing water at 2000 cfs.. The road into Horseshoe is closed.

VERDE RIVER -- Verde River flow at Tangle was 1,500 cubic feet per second on Monday. Release from Bartlett Lake was 2000 cfs.

LOWER SALT RIVER -- Stewart Mtn. Dam (below Saguaro Lake) release is 4,250 cfs. Trout stockings have been suspended due to water turbidity.

CREEKS - No trout stockings until April. Should be a superior runoff year.

OTHER WAYS TO GET THE FISHING REPORT:
Internet Home Page - www.azgfd.com