Northeastern Arizona (White Mountains)

Arizona Game and Fish Department's Weekly Fishing Report

FISHING 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 - Don Mitchell, (520) 388-4451
Mesa Region - Richard Wiggins, (481) 324-3544

May 19, 2009

Note: All forest roads are open. State Highway 273 on the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest is now open from Sunrise to Big Lake. State Highway 261 has been opened by ADOT and vehicles can now reach Big Lake and Crescent Lake.

BECKER LAKE - Fishing is fair. The lake is nearly full, but not spilling.  Water temperature was 58 F. Becker is open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and a 2 trout bag limit. Try lures such as Super Dupers, spinners (Panther Martin and Rooster Tails), rainbow colored Z-Rays, and small spoons such as KastMasters.

Try flies such as Peacock ladies, wooly worms and wooly buggers in brown, black or gray, semi-seal leeches, Prince Nymphs, Zug bugs, Pheasant tails, Hares ears, small scuds, and midges. The lake is open to electric trolling motors or up to 10 hp. gas motors. There is a fishing pier located on the northwest shoreline of the lake.    
   
BIG LAKE - Fishing is good for rainbow trout but is fair to good for cutthroats and just fair for brook trout.

Some anglers are catching limits, others are catching-and-releasing impressive numbers of trout while using float tubes, kayaks or boats.

There are Apache trout in Big Lake, but no recent reports of anglers catching them. Rainbow trout should either be staging for the spawn, or exhibiting spawning behavior.
Try worms, Power Bait, corn, and salmon eggs, lures such as spinners (Mepps, Rooster Tail, Panther Martin), Super Dupers, Z-Rays, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, and nymphs in black, brown, or green.

The lake is ice-free and has come up approximately two feet from last fall, but still two feet below spill.  from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation boundary to Crescent Lake is also open.
The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors. The store is open and has boats for rent.

Bring along your binoculars – anglers report seeing lots of wildlife right now. Wild turkey are in the rut, so you might even hear gobbling or see bearded gobblers sparing right now. It’s a great time to be in the woods.

Angler reports:

Rory;

Big Lake is hot!  Four Sedona Fishing & Poker Club members, 3 days, over 100 trout caught and released on Rapalas in Perch and silver / black colors.  Big fish caught at River Reservoir (Greer), a 6-pound German Brown on a perch Rapala. 
Wildlife active and everywhere, be aware. I'm really a turkey nut, so my favorite part was being woken up each morning by the beautiful spring sound of gobbling toms.  We do this several times a year; troll / cast in kayaks, and loving it.

Mark Simmons

Colten Smithson: My dad and brother went to Big Lake and caught around 30 fish using KastMasters. 
Parker Smithson: My dad, brother and I fished Big Lake using Salmon eggs off the bottom and caught two 14-inch cutthroats and a 14-inch Rainbow.

Where: big lake
When: 04/21/09
Caught: limit of trout for wife and I
Technique: trolling the small Rebel crawdads with orange bellies and green backs
Comments: caught three 16" German browns & 2 16" rainbows
Name:merkel, john

CARNERO LAKE - Fishing is good. Forest Roads 118 and 117A are open. Trout have survived through the winter, based on winter limnological surveys and netting surveys. Rainbow trout are 14-15 inches.  Carnero is open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and a 2 trout bag and possession limit.

Try small lures such as Super Dupers, Z-Rays, and spinners (Mepps, Panther Martin and Rooster Tail), and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, scud patterns, prince nymphs, zug bugs, hares ear nymphs, and peacock ladies. Also try small nymphs in black, brown, green or gray colors. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.        

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR - Fishing is fair to good. Try fishing with a bobber, split shot and worms near rocky shoreline areas for sunfish, bullheads, and bass.

Try worms, Power Bait, Salmon eggs, and lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps), Z-Rays, crank baits, spinner baits, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, Yeager buggers, and peacock ladies. There are no motor restrictions on Clear Creek Reservoir. Recent netting revealed lots of carp, a few small sunfish, catfish, and bass. 

CONCHO LAKE - Fishing is fair to good. The lake will be stocked this week with catchable size rainbow trout. The boat ramp is usable for small boats or float tubes.

The boat ramp is usable for small boats or float tubes. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, and small nymphs. Concho is open to electric trolling motors or up to 10 hp. gas motors.   

CRESCENT LAKE - Fishing is fair to good. State Highway 261 from Eager/Springerville is open to vehicles.  Highway 273 from Sunrise to Crescent is also open.  The lake is ice-free and the lake level has come up significantly from last fall; it is now two feet below full. The lake has been liberally stocked with catchable size rainbow and brook trout. Anglers have been catching brook trout.  Recent netting revealed 15-inch brook trout and no rainbow trout.  The store is closed. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors.
    
FOOL HOLLOW LAKE - Fishing is fair to good. The lake has been stocked with catchable size rainbow trout. The lake level is full and all boat ramps are usable. Anglers have been catching trout, channel catfish, and walleyes on lures and night crawlers.

Try worms, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, spoons, rubber lead head jigs, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms and wooly buggers, and semi-seal leeches. Try fishing off rocky areas and around fishing piers. Black crappies tend to congregate around the fishing piers during April and May. Try small crappie jigs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp gas motors.

GREER LAKES - Fishing is good. The Greer lakes are full.  Roads are open to the lakes. Bunch and Tunnel  Reservoirs will be stocked this week with catchable size rainbow trout.

Try worms, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-Rays, spoons, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, and small nymphs.

Bunch Reservoir is open to electric trolling motors only, Tunnel Reservoir is open to electric trolling motors only, and River Reservoir is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors.

Note: Hoyer Campground near Greer, AZ, a very popular site on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests will be closed for renovations the next couple of months.  Construction activities are underway and the site could reopen by the first of July.

HULSEY LAKE - Fishing is good.  Forest roads to the lake are open.  The lake is full.  Anglers are catching trout on yellow Power Bait, night crawlers, small spinners, and flies.
Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, small lures such as spinners (Mepps, Panther Martin, and Rooster Tail), small spoons such as Super Dupers, KastMasters, and Z-Rays, and flies such as peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and wooly worms. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.

LEE VALLEY RESERVOIR - Accessible. Fishing is fair to good. The lake was stocked last week with catchable size Apache trout. The Forest road to Lee Valley Lake is open.  State Highways 261 and 273 are open.

Try lures such as spinners (Mepps, Rooster tail, and Panther Martin), small spoons such as Super Dupers and Z-Rays, and flies such as peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, hares ear, scud patterns, and wooly worms.

Lee Valley Lake is open to artificial lure and fly only, a two- trout bag and possession limit, and a 12 inch minimum length limit on all fish. No bait fishing is allowed. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.

LUNA LAKE - Fishing is good. Anglers have been catching a trout on night crawlers and Power Bait. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps spinners, small spoons like KastMasters and Super Dupers, and flies such as wooly worms and wooly buggers, peacock ladies, Zug bugs, Prince Nymphs, and brown Montana stones. The store is open. Luna is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors.

Angler report:

David Hartman: We caught 30 fish before noon at Luna Lake.  No record breakers but about half of the fish we caught were in the 15"-16" range - always fun on an ultralight rod.  Mostly rainbows with a few cutthroats.  We were trolling with Panther Martin spinners and KastMasters.  The fish were very active and hungry.  Almost all of the fish we caught hit very hard and most were jumping a foot or two out of the water.  They put on a really good show.

LYMAN LAKE - Fishing is fair. Anglers have been catching channel catfish on worms, hot dogs, and stink baits and bass on worms and lures during warm weather days. Try worms, Power Bait, catfish stink baits, and lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps), crankbaits, and Rapalas.

Try fishing lures along rocky areas for bass and walleye. The Lyman Lake recreation area is managed by Lyman Lake State Park and camping is available. There are also cabins for rent. There is fish consumption advisory here, 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 open.    

NELSON RESERVOIR - The lake is full and has stopped spilling and Nelson will be stocked this week with catchable size rainbow trout. Fishing is poor to fair. The lake is full.  Fishing bag limits have changed back to the statewide bag and possession limit of six trout from April 1 through Aug. 31. The boat ramps at the eastern part of the lake and at the dam are usable. Try worms, Power Bait, lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, Mepps), small spoons such as KastMasters and Super Dupers, jigs, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, and zug bugs. Nelson Reservoir is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp gas motors.  

RAINBOW LAKE - Fishing is fair. The lake will be stocked with catchable size rainbow trout last week and will be stocked again the week of May 11. The lake is ice-free, and nearly full. The boat ramp is usable. Try worms, Power Bait, lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps) spoons (Super Dupers, Daredevils), and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, and peacock ladies. Rainbow Lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp gas motors.

SCOTTS RESERVOIR - Fishing is fair to good. The lake has been stocked with catchable size rainbow trout. Anglers have been catching trout on corn and Power Bait. The lake is full and spilling.

Try worms, Power Bait, corn, and salmon eggs, lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps), spoons such as Super Dupers, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, Prince nymphs, and Zug bugs. Scott Reservoir is open to electric trolling motors only. 

Where: Creek that empties into Scotts Reservoir
When: 04/30/09
Caught: 6 Sunfish 1 Rainbow 1 Largemouth Bass
Technique: Night Crawler pieces and red and white rubber jig.
Comments: I fished from 6:30 a.m. until noon. I am smoking them today to have fish tacos tomorrow. I lost quite a bit of equipment since there are rocks, branches etc. Worth it though!
Name: Dodie Hall

SHOW LOW LAKE - Fishing is fair to good. The lake is full. The lake was stocked recently with catchable size rainbow trout. The boat ramp is usable.  Anglers have been catching rainbow trout on worms. A few bass are being caught on lures.

Anglers have been catching rainbow trout on worms. A few bass are being caught on lures. Try worms, Power Bait, lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps), spoons such as Super Dupers, rubber lead head jigs, Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, prince nymphs, peacock ladies and brown Montana Stones. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp gas motors. The store is open. 

WOODLAND LAKE - The lake was stocked with more than 5,000 catchable size rainbow trout last week. Fishing is should be fair to good. New regulations went into effect at Woodland Lake on Jan. 1, reducing the daily bag and possession limit to four trout. The The lake is full and the boat ramp is usable. 

Anglers are doing well on night crawlers fished off the bottom near the dam, from the fishing pier, and on the north shoreline.  Boat anglers are also doing well in the south cove, which is difficult to fish from the shore.
Try worms. Power Bait, corn, and salmon eggs, lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps), spoons such as Super Dupers, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, Prince Nymphs, and Zug bugs. Woodland Lake is open to electric trolling motors only.      

WHITE MOUNTAIN STREAMS:
Streams are ice-free, clear and have moderate flows. All Forest roads are open. 

WEST FORK BLACK RIVER - Fishing is fair to good.   All Forest roads are open to the Black River.  The stream is clear and has moderate flows. This picturesque stream will be stocked weekly with native Apache trout from now through the end of summer.

Try worms, Power Bait, corn, and salmon eggs, small spinners such as Mepps, Rooster Tails, and Panther Martins, small spoons (KastMaster, Z-rays, and Super Dupers), Rapalas and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers and small weighted nymphs. The stocking season is scheduled to begin in early May.   

EAST FORK BLACK RIVER - Fishing is fair to good.  All Forest roads are open to the Black River.  The stream is clear and has moderate flows. The stream will be stocked this week with catchable size Apache trout.

Try drifting worms, Power Bait, corn, and salmon eggs through pools or casting small lures such as spinners (Mepps, Panther Martin, Rooster Tail), small spoons (KastMaster, Z-Rays, and Super Dupers), Rapalas and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers and small weighted nymphs. The stocking season will begin in early May.

SHEEP’S CROSSING - Highway 273 is open to Sheeps Crossing. Fishing is fair to good. Try worms, corn, salmon eggs, and Power Bait, small lures such as spinners (Mepps, Rooster tail, and Panther Martin), and flies such as wooly worms, and small nymphs.

LITTLE COLORADO RIVER GREER - Fishing is poor to fair. The stream is clear and flows are moderate.  Try drifting worms, Power Bait, corn, and salmon eggs or casting small lures or flies through deep pools Try worms, Power Bait, corn, and salmon eggs, small lures such as spinners (Mepps, Panther Martin, Rooster Tail), small spoons (KastMaster, Z-Rays, and Super Dupers), Rapalas and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers and small weighted nymphs.  The stocking season will begin in early May.

SILVER CREEK - Fishing is fair. Silver Creek has been stocked with catchable size Apache trout and rainbow trout. The creek is clear.  Silver Creek on the Arizona Game and Fish Department property is open to bait, lures or flies, with a bag and possession limit of six trout from April 1 through Sept. 30. The upper section is closed to fishing.

Try small lures such as Mepps, Rooster Tails, and Panther Martin spinners. Fly-fishers may want to try wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, shrimp patterns, midge patterns, and small bead head nymphs. Also try fishing night crawlers off the bottom of pools or along undercut banks or vegetation.

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