Northeastern Arizona (White Mountains)

Arizona Game and Fish Department's Weekly Fishing Report

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

March 2, 2010

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

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

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

CARNERO LAKE - Forest Roads 117 and 117A are inaccessible to vehicles due to snow. Snowmobiles are allowed. Always check ice thickness before ice-fishing on the lake.

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR - No reports. The lake is ice-free. Try fishing worms, lures such as spinners (Mepps, Panther Martin, and Rooster Tail), Crankbaits, spoons (Z-rays, KastMasters, and Super Dupers), and Rapalas.

CONCHO LAKE - The lake now has a fair amount of water, but fishing is poor. The lake is ice-free.  There are private property owners on the northwest side of the lake and they have closed that portion of the shoreline to public access.

CRESCENT LAKE - Highways 261 and 273 to Big and Crescent Lakes are closed to vehicles.  Snowmobile access is allowed.  he lake is ice-covered. Ice thickness is 30 inches.

FOOL HOLLOW LAKE - Fool Hollow Lake is ice-free. The amount of ice-cover can change rapidly with changes in daily weather patterns. Fishing is fair. Boat ramps are accessible. Walleyes are being caught on lures and bait (night crawlers). Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as Rapalas, crankbaits, lead head jigs, spinners (Mepps, Panther Martin, and Rooster Tail), and spoons (KastMasters, Super Dupers, and Z-rays), and flies such as wooly worms and wooly buggers.  The lake is open to electric trolling motors and up to 10 hp. gas motors.

GREER LAKES - All Greer Lakes are ice-covered.  Check ice thickness before ice-fishing on the lake.  The spur road from highway 373 to the Greer lakes is snow packed and inaccessible to vehicles.  There is a short section on the spur road that allows limited parking and ice fishermen will have to walk from there.  Snowmobile access is allowed.

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

LEE VALLEY RESERVOIR - Highways 261 and 273 are closed to vehicles. Snowmobiles are allowed. The lake is ice-covered.  Always check ice thickness before ice-fishing on the lake.

LUNA LAKE - The lake is ice-covered. Check ice thickness before ice-fishing on the lake. The road to the lake has been plowed. Try ice-fishing near the dam with jigs or small spoons with an attached worm.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Try small lures such as Mepps, Rooster tails, and Panther Martin spinners, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, shrimp patterns, midge patterns, and small bead head nymphs. If trout are rising try Adams, midges, and caddis fly patterns in sizes 16, 18, and 20.

WHITE MOUNTAIN STREAMS

Highways 261 and 273 are closed to vehicles for the winter.  Most forest roads are inaccessible.  Snowmobiles are allowed.  Streams are mostly ice-covered.

SILVER CREEK -- Fishing is fair. Silver Creek on Arizona Game and Fish Department property is currently open to artificial lures and flies only, barbless hooks, and catch-and-release fishing from Oct. 1 through March 30. The upper section is open to fishing.

Try small lures such as Mepps, Rooster Tails, and Panther Martin spinners, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zugbugs, shrimp patterns, midge patterns, and small beadhead nymphs. If trout are rising on the surface, try Adams, midges and caddis fly patterns in sizes 16, 18, and 20.

OTHER WAYS TO GET THE FISHING REPORT:
Internet Home Page www.azgfd.com
Recorded Public Call-In Line (602) 789-3701