Northeastern Arizona (White Mountains)

Arizona Game and Fish Department's Fishing Report

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

Janauary 26, 2012

Recommended Waters to Fish

Several lower elevation lakes have open water, including Fool Hollow Lake, Show Low Lake, Rainbow Lake and Scott Reservoir in the Pinetop and Show Low area, and Nelson Reservoir and Becker Lake in the Springerville area.  Silver Creek is also ice-free.  Becker Lake and Silver Creek are catch-and-release special regulation only waters.

Trout Stocking Schedule

No trout are stocked in the White Mountains or Rim Lakes during the winter, but will resume in April 2012

WHITE MOUNTAINS LAKES
Note: Highways 261 and 273 are closed to vehicle access for the winter.  Snowmobiles are allowed. The higher elevation lakes are ice-covered. Check ice thickness before venturing out on the ice.

BECKER LAKE –Fishing is fair. The lake is currently ice-free. Try fishing along weed beds with small nymphs and midges. Becker Lake is catch and release only, with artificial lures and flies only with single barbless hooks.

BIG LAKE – Not accessible. Highways 261 and 273 are closed for the winter.  Snowmobiles are allowed. The lake is ice-covered. Check ice thickness before venturing out on the ice.

CARNERO LAKE – Not accessible. Forest Roads 117 and 117A are snow-packed.  Snowmobiles are allowed. The lake is ice-covered.

CONCHO LAKE – Fishing is poor. Water levels are low, and the lake is covered with weeds.

CRESCENT LAKE – Not accessible.  Highways 261 and 273 are closed to vehicle access for the winter.  Snowmobiles are allowed.  The lake is ice-covered.  Check ice thickness before venturing out on the ice.

FOOL HOLLOW LAKE –Fishing is fair.  The lake is currently ice-free.  One angler reported catching bluegills on jigs off the fishing piers and another angler caught a 16-inch holdover rainbow trout last week.

GREER LAKES – These lakes are ice-covered.  River Reservoir has some open water, indicating that the ice on the Greer lakes is thin and not safe to walk on.

HULSEY LAKE – The lake was drained immediately following the Wallow Fire to help reduce expected flooding off Escudilla Mountain.

LEE VALLEY LAKE – Not accessible.  Highways 261 and 273 are closed to vehicle access for the winter.  Snowmobiles are allowed.  The lake is ice-covered.  Check ice thickness before venturing out on the ice.

LUNA LAKE –The lake is ice-covered.  Unsafe ice.  Check ice thickness before venturing out on the ice.

LYMAN LAKE – Lyman Lake State Park is now closed to public entry for the winter and will re-open during the summer of 2012.

NELSON RESERVOIR – Fishing is fair.  The lake is currently ice-free.

RAINBOW LAKE – Fishing is poor.  The lake is currently mostly ice-free.

SCOTT RESERVOIR – Fishing is fair.  The lake is currently mostly ice-free. 

SHOW LOW LAKE – Fishing is fair.  The lake is currently mostly ice-free, but may still have some ice in portions of the lake.  The boat ramp and nearest fishing pier were in open water when last checked.  The road over the dam to the far fishing pier is closed for the winter.

WOODLAND LAKE – The lake is partially ice-covered.  Unsafe ice.

WHITE MOUNTAIN STREAMS
Note: Highways 261 and 273 are closed to vehicle access for the winter.  Snowmobiles are allowed.  Main Forest roads are snow-packed.

EAST FORK of the BLACK RIVER – Not accessible.  The river is snow-packed and ice-covered.

WEST FORK of the BLACK RIVER – Not accessible.  The river is snow-packed and ice-covered. 

BLACK RIVER – Not accessible.  The river is snow-packed and ice-covered.

LITTLE COLORADO RIVER IN GREER – The river flowing through Greer is currently ice free and accessible, but fishing is likely slow.  Trout were last stocked in September 2011, but plenty of wild brown trout are present.  The river banks are snow packed.

SHEEPS CROSSING – Not accessible.  Highway 273 is closed to vehicles.  The river is snow-packed and ice-covered. 

SILVER CREEK – Fishing is fair to good.  Silver Creek is a spring-fed creek and does not ice over during the winter.  From October 1 through March 31, Silver Creek is open to artificial lures and flies only, barbless hooks, and catch-and-release fishing only.  The upper section is open to angling, but the hatchery area is always closed to fishing (it is well signed).  Try small nymphs, large white or black streamers.

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