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
20,
2009
LAKE
HAVASU - Lake Level 447.68. Striped bass
bite improving during the morning hours using blue/white 3/8
to 3/4 Stump jumpers with 4" hyper
tails cast or trolled in the early twilight hours. After sunup
switch to trolled anchovies with fish seekers or 2 oz. banana
sinkers. Still fishing cut sardines or anchovies producing numbers
of small limits throughout the Windsor basin south to Black Rock.
Smallmouth bass hitting red 8 to 14ft diving crankbaits, wacky
rigged finesse worms in oxblood, junebug or red craw colors with
a 1/4 oz. drop sinker fished near rocky or gravel bottomed shorelines
where bass are preparing to spawn in 4 to 15 ft of water.
This report was provided by
John Galbraith of Anglers Pro Shop
Lake Havasu City
Report Provided by: www.HavasuFishing.com.
The warmer weather has heated up the water and fishing is
greatly improving for almost all species.
Post spawn bass are biting well using lipless
crankbaits and jerk baits.
Smallmouth have also been biting on jerk baits
and a few have also been reported on nightcrawlers.
Catfish are being reported all over the lake using
anchovies. Redear and little smallmouth can be caught around the
docks using nightcrawlers or mealworms on a bobber. Only a few
small striper in the 10-12" range have been reported.
Sandpoint Fish Report for May 14, courtesy Karen Coats, Sandpoint
Bait and Tackle Shop. This last week we have had guest in the park
go out at night and sit in coves and catch catfish; 14 of the big
guys at 10 to 15 pounds. The guest were using night crawlers and
chicken livers.
Dale from Laughlin NV got two 4-pound smallmouth, one 5-pound
smallmouth and three 3-pound largemouth on topwater from Windsor
to Sandpoint.
The
bluegills are on the nest right now and are being caught using
meal worms and night crawlers.
ALAMO
LAKE - No new reports. Fishing should be good for bass,
crappie and channel catfish.
With a waning quarter moon this weekend, this should be a good
time to fish at night for crappie, largemouth bass and catfish.
Angler reports:
Rocky
Priddy: Fished 5/16/09 from 7:20 PM to 1:45 AM.
Caught 50 bass and 32 crappies. Fished in main lake tied to tree...used
minnows on a slip bobber 12 feet down in 30 feet of water. Largest
crappie was 2 lbs and largest bass was 2 lbs.
Matt
G.: Lake is on fire -- Went out 5/13 pulled out 30 lmb biggest
4#. Any cove is a guaranty hot spot mostly on south End of lake
in clearer waters. Caught most on Swim baits and poppers
Lake
Havasu & Topock Gorge:
Fishing for largemouth bass, as well as smallmouth bass, is expected
to be fair. The size will range from 13 inches and up with an occasional
fish greater than 4 pounds.
Striped bass will continue to be excellent for small fish (12-18
inches) with occasional fish over 8 pounds.
The lake is also full of smaller stripers, which will make it challenging
to catch the larger fish.
Channel catfish as well as bluegill & redear sunfish will
be fair to good. Flathead catfish fishing should be fair at the
lower end of the lake (Bill Williams River Arm) through the fall.
Sizes of flathead catfish can reach as high as 40 pounds. When
fishing for them select the interior points in the coves and the
areas where artificial structure has been placed.
Colorado River (Parker Strip Area): Smallmouth bass with fish over two pounds in size are expected
to be fair this winter. 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 larger. Channel and flathead
catfish are always fair in this section of the Colorado River.
Below the dam, striper fishing should also be fair, using live
shad or anchovies this winter.
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.
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.
The best time for fishing for both species of catfish will be in
the evening to midnight. 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. Bluegills 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 altogether
(Pilot Knob to Moreles Dam).
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 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, although fishing likely won’t
be as effective as in the warmer months.
If you need any additional information or assistance don't hesitate
to contact the Yuma Regional office at (928) 341-4052 and we will
be happy to give you whatever information we have.
OTHER
WAYS TO GET THE FISHING REPORT:
Internet Home Page www.azgfd.com
Recorded Public Call-In Line (602) 789-3701
