FISHING
REPORT EDITOR:
Rory
Aikens, (602) 789-3214
March
2,
2010
HAVASU -- Fishing slowed durng the storms, but
should pick up again, especially for smallmouth bass.
SandPoint Fishing Report courtesy Karen Coats:
Water temp is 57
November monthly big fish winners are
Striper: Joe Egan 6.7
Bass: Carl Koontz 5.9
Cat: Leonard Post 25.14
December monthly big fish
Lunker: Carl Koontz 5.3
Bass: Jim Haremza 4
Striper: Rick Spitler 6.3
Catfish: Pauline Dey 9.5
January monthly big fish
Lunker: Carl Koontz 11.5
Striper: Carl Koontz 11.5
Bass: Jim Farnam 3.12
Catfish: Leonard Post 6.13
February monthly big fish
Lunker: Carl Koontz 11.5
Striper: Leonard Post 6.12
Bass: Fred Tedesco 4.10
Catfish: Cathy Pingel 11.11
Carp: Jack Leggett 20.7
ALAMO LAKE – Well folks, this is going to be short and sweet. Lately
every time I look at a clock and think I have time to get this done another day
goes by. Bass fishing is really starting to turn on. The bass are hiding in
the brush in very shallow water. That means there in pre spawn mode.
Try throwing spinnerbaits and swim baits right up on the shore line and slowly
work the baits. You will see the bass come right out of the brush and hammer
it. It's a blast. If your not into throwing training wheels then tie on a giant
brush hog or beaver tail and flip right up in the log jams. Better use at least
15 to 20 pound test line.
No good reports on crappie fishing. I think the average is about 2 a day.
Cat fishing has slowed down in the river channel. But the rains the last couple
of days might turn them on again.
Cholla Ramp is still closed. From what were getting there planning on releasing
3,000 cfs starting Sunday march 7 till Tuesday March 9. Were also pushing for
them to keep releasing water till we can get Cholla Ramp open again.
The Game and Fish Dept is having there annual clean up this Saturday March 6. The
parks is waving the camp fee's if you camp in the group use area. Registration
starts Friday night at 6 p.m. at the group use area. Stew will be there to get
you signed in. He will also feed everyone a steak dinner for helping out. I
was joking with him yesterday about being able to cook the perfect steak after
all these years. No pressure Stew! Any way come on out. It's a lot of fun. Let's
see, the lake level is at 1135 with releases of 40 cfs. The main ramp works just
fine. Remember to put your stuff away. Once again the staff at the park really
wants to say thanx for your support. Stay on them folks, your voices are being
heard. That's all I got. Mark
Regional Outlook
Alamo Lake:
While largemouth bass are present in all sizes, fisheries surveys in the spring
indicated that there seem to be an unusually high proportion of bass within the
protected slot limit (you are allowed to take one bass in the protected 13-16
inch slot). Hopefully fisheries surveys in the fall will reveal that these fish
have grown beyond 16 inches. Regardless, bass fishing should begin to pick up
when the weather cools a bit, and is expected to be good to excellent throughout
the fall. All types of bait, plastics, spinner baits and top-water lures should
work. As the weather cools off, try slowly working plastics in deeper water.
There is a very robust population of channel catfish in Alamo Lake that are probably
under-fished. AGFD conducted hoop-netting surveys in June, and netted and released
over 400 catfish, up to about 7 pounds, with plenty in the 2 to 4 pound size.
The best concentrations of channel catfish seem to be found along the upper two
thirds of the shoreline, on the western side of the lake. For channel catfish
any of the prepared catfish baits will work, as well as chicken livers or your
own secret concoctions.
There are other fish present such as bluegill, redear sunfish, tilapia and carp
that are a lot of fun to catch. More decent-sized bluegills and redear sunfish,
up to about a pound, have been showing up in recent surveys, a trend we hope
continues. When Alamo Lake was first impounded, it was widely known as the place
to go for sunfish. Sunfish can be caught on a variety of baits and lures. They
are particularly susceptible to fly-fishing, and are very enjoyable when caught
on light fly-fishing tackle.
Lake Havasu & Topock Gorge: Fishing for largemouth bass, as well as smallmouth bass, is expected to be good
to excellent. Sizes will range from 13 inches and up, with an occasional fish
in the 4-6 pound range. Every year, smallmouth bass are becoming more and more
numerous in Lake Havasu and upriver. Bass tournaments now often experience nearly
a 50/50 ratio of smallmouth to largemouth bass.
Striped bass fishing last summer indicates a rebounding shad population, and
striper “boils” on schools of shad were more common. Most striped bass in Lake
Havasu tend toward the small side (12-18 inches) but occasional fish over 8 pounds
are not uncommon. During the annual striper derby held last May, the number of
stripers caught was down significantly, but more large fish were weighed in than
usual, including 31, 28, 24 and 15-lb fish. Channel catfish as well as bluegill
and redear sunfish fishing should be fair to good. Flathead catfish fishing should
be fair at the lower end of the lake throughout the fall. Flathead catfish can
reach 40 pounds or better in the lower portion of the lake. To find them, select
the interior points in the coves and the areas where artificial structure has
been placed.
The cooler weather causes the bite to slow down, so it is important to work your
lures more slowly, and in deeper water. Put away your topwater lures and switch
to plastics, crank baits, spinner baits, jigs, etc.
Colorado River (Parker Strip Area): Smallmouth bass, with fish
over two pounds in size are expected. In addition, redear sunfish should also
be fair in the pound-plus sizes. The Parker Strip is well known for its smallmouth
bass fishing, especially in the area from the dam to several miles downstream.
The Parker Strip is also home to some really impressive, dinner-plate sized redear
sunfish of two pounds or better. Channel and flathead catfish fishing is always
fair in this section of the Colorado River. Below the dam, striper fishing may
pick up this fall, using live shad or anchovies.
Colorado River (between Palo Verde Diversion Dam and Walter's Camp):
This area should be fair for both smallmouth bass (in the channel) and largemouth
bass (in the backwaters) throughout the entire area. Channel and flathead catfish
are always fair to good in this section of the Colorado River. Most of the flathead
catfish will be in the 2 to 5 pound size range, with an occasional fish over
30 pounds. The time for fishing for both species of catfish is in the evening
to midnight. As the weather warms, so will the cat-fishing action.
Colorado River (between Walter's Camp and Picacho State Park): This section of the Colorado River is relatively remote and can only be accessed
by boat from either end. Fishing is expected to be fair to good for flathead
catfish with sizes over 40 pounds. Largemouth bass and bluegill are also present
in the various backwaters and slack water areas. Other species available in the
main river are smallmouth bass and striped bass.
Colorado River (between Picacho State Park and Imperial Dam):
This area is expected to be fair to good for largemouth bass, channel catfish,
and flathead catfish. Bass and channel catfish in excess of 5 pounds are present
along with flathead catfish as large as 40 pounds, or larger. Bluegill are also
present in the various backwaters and an occasional striped bass will be caught
in the main river channel.
Colorado River (between Laguna and Morelos dams):
This area will be fair for largemouth bass and flathead catfish. Bass in excess
of 5 pounds are common and flathead catfish over 20 pounds are a good bet. In
this area accessibility to the river is dependent on the amount of water being
released. Usually shallow draft boats work the best. The lower end has had some
dredging work done and larger boats may be able to get on the river in that area.
With the increase in border issues and illegal activity on the lower end of this
stretch, we recommend exercising extreme caution, avoiding nighttime use, or
even staying away from the area between Pilot Knob to Moreles Dam, altogether.
Regional Hot Spots:
Alamo Lake will be the hot spot for largemouth bass and channel catfish. There
are many fish in the lake at the present time (especially channel catfish), and
keeping some to eat will not impact the population in the slightest, and will
perhaps even enhance it. Next choice would be Lake Havasu for striped bass, Lake
Havasu and the Parker Strip for smallmouth bass and sunfish, and Martinez Lake
and Imperial Division backwaters for largemouth bass. For the die-hard flathead
catfish angler, large catfish can still be caught from Walter’s Camp down to
Imperial Dam and fishing will continue to improve as the weather warms.
If you need any additional information or assistance don't hesitate to contact
the Yuma Regional office at (928) 342-0091 and we will be happy to give you whatever
information we have.
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