Northern Arizona Lakes

Arizona Game and Fish Department's Weekly Fishing Report

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

March 2, 2010

Note:  Recent snow has made the higher elevation trout lakes in the Flagstaff and Williams areas either inaccessible or ice-covered, or likely both. Fishing is viable in the Verde Valley and Prescott areas.

WILLIAMS LAKES:

KAIBAB LAKE - Campground area is closed.
CATARACT LAKE - Campgrounds are closed.
CITY RESERVOIR -   Road is closed.
DOGTOWN LAKE - Road and Campground area is closed.
JD DAM - Road is closed.
RUSSEL TANK - Road is closed
SANTA FE - Lake is full.
WHITEHORSE LAKE - Road is closed

FLAGSTAFF LAKES:

LOWER LAKE MARY -  No fish, but lots of snow.
UPPER LAKE MARY - Expect snow and ice.
ASHURST LAKE -  Road is closed due to snow.
FRANCIS SHORT POND – Frozen.
KINNIKINICK LAKE - Road is closed due to snow.
MARSHALL LAKE -  No fish. Inaccessible. However, due to good snow pack, this lake should have more water in it this spring.
LONG LAKE - Road is closed.
SOLDIERS & SOLDIERS ANNEX - Road is closed
STONEMAN LAKE - NO FISH

VERDE VALLEY

OAK CREEK -- Not scheduled to be stocked until the first week of March.

Angler report:
Fished along oak creek for five days,north and south of Page Springs Hatchery.  Caught two 5in brown trout on olive dry fly and bead-head copper john, Feb 17 in Lo Lo Mai resort section of oak creek. Landed a 10.75in catfish in the same fishing spot on Feb 19 with a rainbow trout fry jig,  but he was fairly skinny for a catfish of that length (possibly sick?).  Locals have been telling me of an ecoli problem in the slide rock area of oak creek, which is upstream of the places I was fishing. Also hooked into, my first ever smallmouth bass downstream of Page Springs Hatchery! Wow! What a fight!!! I have never seen a fish put up so much of a struggle before! Sadly,  he was such a good fighter that he threw the hook before I ever got to touch him. But I at least got to see and fight my first smallmouth bass! He was caught using a Gizit watermelon/salted tube with an 1/8th ounce rattlehead tube jig. Although, I will be back to claim that smallmouth on another day when the weather isn't so wet and cold.

Robert Cochrane

WET BEAVER CREEK -- No reports. Will not be stocked with trout again until mid March.

DEAD HORSE STATE PARK – Trout were last stocked the week of Feb. 15.   They are scheduled to be stocked again next week, the week of March 8.  Trout can be easily caught on Power Bait, corn, or spinners.  Many anglers prefer to make their own homemade dough baits.  They typically consist of flour, vegetable oil, and garlic powder.  Many anglers have their own secret ingredients that they believe works better than anybody else’s.

Catfish were stocked for the Verde River days in September 21;  1500 lbs of catfish were split between the two lagoons. 

VERDE RIVER (throughout Verde Valley) – Trout are scheduled to be stocked this week, the week of March 1.  Look for the trout to be schooled up at the stocking sites.  Stocking sites are at Tuzigoot Bridge outside of Clarkdale, The bridge that leads to the Dead Horse State Park, at Dead Horse State Parks access point called the Jacks, at the White Bridge in Camp Verde, and at Bignotti Beach.

West Clear Creek -- Not scheduled for stocking until mid March.

PRESCOTT AREA LAKES

FAIN LAKE - Trout were stocked last week, the week of Feb. 8. Bright colored Power Bait will be your best bet.   Bluegill were stocked on June 15 and again the week of June 20.  Catfish were stocked the week of June 15.

GOLDWATER LAKE - Trout are scheduled to be stocked were stocked in mid February.  .

As of last Saturday, the boat launch was not accessible for stocking. The fishing pressure has been low as well as fishing success.  About 25percent of the anglers are successful in catching at least one fish.

The fish that are being caught are larger than the usual stocked fish.  Power Bait and salmon eggs have been the best for trout.

Both bass and catfish were stocked the week of June 22. Bass were stocked on June 10. The bass are being stocked to give a boost to a dwindling population in the lake and to reduce the excessive number of crayfish. Please practice catch and release with the bass, while the population gets re-established.

Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Goldwater on Sept. 15, 2009 and found bass and catfish populations to be much improved over last year. The number of green sunfish was greatly reduced.  The bass had a successful spawn this year. If you fish Goldwater and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

Granite Basin –The bass and bluegill are not biting.  Look for the fishing to pick up in the spring when the water warms.   If you fish Granite Basin and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

LYNX LAKE - Scheduled to be stocked this week for the second time this season. Fishing might be good -- let us know how you do.

MINGUS LAKE –Trout were last stocked the week of Oct. 19. This was the last scheduled stocking until the spring. While the gate is closed you can still walk in. The best bait is usually orange, pink, or white Power Bait, fished on the bottom with a treble hook and an egg sinker.

Someone illegally stocked yellow bullhead into Mingus several years ago. These fish compete directly with the trout and keep growth rates very low.  If you witness anyone, anywhere, moving fish like bass, bluegill, catfish and stocking them, please report it to our Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-352-0700.  Illegal stockings cost YOU money!

WATSON – The fishing has slowed down as the water temperature has fallen. Large numbers of small crappie are in Watson, but I have not heard about people catching them.

Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Watson last fall and found the bass,  sunfish, and bullhead to be plentiful. Crappies were also doing well. Look for the crappie fishing to pick up in a year or two. If you fish Watson and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR – The fishing is slow due to cold  water temperatures.

If you fish Willow and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

OTHER WAYS TO GET THE FISHING REPORT:
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