FISHING
REPORT EDITOR:
Rory
Aikens, (602) 789-3214
July
28,
2010
LAKE
POWELL-Courtesy Wayneswords.com, July 21. Lake elevation:
3,638. Water temp: 82-89 F. Lake elevation has stabilized and
water temperature is at its peak for the summer. It was 84 degrees
this morning at sunrise. These factors allow sport fish to settle
into a pattern without responding to water level changes. Occasional
monsoon cloud bursts are taken in stride without lasting impact.
The water is warmer
than most fish prefer, sending most deeper during the heat of the
day. Young shad take advantage of this and hang out at the surface
hoping for separation from lake predators. Striped bass hang out
at cooler depth strata but "look up" for a chance at an easy
meal from the tiny bait fish. Stripers rise quickly as a group surround
shad, eat quickly and then go back to cooler water. Sometimes the whole
process takes a few seconds. At other times a bigger shad school makes
it worth working up a sweat to eat more fish and the boil may continue
for a few minutes.
Catching fish focused entirely on eating three-quarter inch long larval
shad is challenging, especially when predators have to dive quickly
for personal comfort. Here are some tricks to even the playing field
a bit until shad have time to grow large enough to be bigger targets.
When a boil is observed try to determine direction of travel so the
boat can be in position to cast when fish resurface. The most vulnerable
time for slurping stripers is the first time they break surface in
attack. Almost any lure cast to a fish as it breaks surface will be
eaten.
More likely the boat will be in casting range when the school is headed
for deep water. Follow the diving fish with a small diving lure like
a Lucky Craft pointer or rattletrap. The most versatile lure is one
that will descend quickly to the fish holding depth. Spoons and swim
baits can be fished on top, at mid depth and in the deeper cool zone.
Vary speed of retrieve until it is apparent that fish want it fast
or slow. That speed preference seems to change throughout the day.
Catching slurpers is challenging. This activity is found lake wide
and seeing slurps morning and evening is assured. Boiling fish are
found more often uplake when cooler water is closer to the surface
because of the recent heavy runoff. Best boils and highest catches
are coming from Good Hope bay to Hite.
Don't forget bass with all the surface striper chasing going on. Casting
a plastic grub in smoke or watermelon color at fist light in the morning
is almost a sure thing. Again the northern lake is best.
Ten-inch smallmouth are ever present over the length of the lake.
Little bass and sunfish provide great sport for kids learning how to
fish. Take some time out form water sports to teach a youngster the
joy of fishing. He or she will be forever grateful. Small hooks and
live worms are all that is needed. The same goes for catfish. Fish
cats in the evening at supper time and bass in the early morning or
under the shade of the houseboat. Can it be that easy? Try it and see.
LEES FERRY -- Courtesy Lees Ferry Anglers.
Fly Fishing: Fishing is really good, and these fish are looking VERY
healthy. The cicadas are starting to get extremely thick upriver, yet
still somehow the fish aren’t quite keying on them exclusively. There
are certain spots though where the bite is definitely getting hot but
it’s just not spread to the whole river.
The past few days the fish counts have been very large. There are a
few tricks to this bite but, if you know how to fish the cicada hatch
you are sure to have a great time.
I would also like to mention that drifting with a longer leader and
a heavy nymphing rig has been extremely productive. And again, certain
areas are better than others so move around a bit. And remember you
will need extra shot to get it down in the zone.
This year the hatch is much thicker than we have ever seen, and is
sure to improve over the next few weeks. So, if you were thinking of
fishing the ferry NOW is the time. Tight lines T
Walk in: This area has been fishing very well.
Report by: Chris Smith
It seems that the fish in the walk-in are finally starting to get settled
into the high flows. In the mornings you can still get out to the gravel
bar and the fishing off the far side of that has been great. They are
hitting the Juan Worm like it’s candy and me and many other’s are using
double Juan rigs (tan and brown seem to be the hot colors). Of course
as the flows come up below the bar is the ticket as all the food gets
washed out of there. Once again just be careful as the flows come up
and pick the shallower spots to get back (right below the top of the
boulder field is usually a good bet). Finally the walkin is getting
a bit more crowds too which is nice to see (and there’s still plenty
of room to fish and grab a good spot), too few people have been enjoying
the excellent fishing. A lot of bigger fish seemed to have moved in
as well and I’m consistently catching 15”-17” fish.
Tight Lines,
Chris
Spin Fishing: Was reported as great this weekend, the lure of choice
is still the Panther Martin in gold and black.
Anglers are also using large glo bugs, and bouncing them off the bottom.
The jig has been a fun one too, seems the black ones are working best
when the cast is toward the shore. T
If you have some news you would like to report about fishing lees
ferry, the walk-in section or up river please e-mail your report to: anglers@leesferry.com Attn.
Lees Ferry Fishing Report
LAKE
MEAD - The current water level is around 1,088 feet above
msl. Dropping lake levels have slowed this week. Striper fishing
has been mixed but anglers have been having success at night under
lights. Several reports of larger striped bass over the normal
2-pounds have been coming in. This size is still the predominate
size along with the half to one-pounders, but fish in the 5-7 pound
range are showing up. Cut anchovies are still the bait of choice.
Check the moon phases before you go. Dark nights work best when
fishing under light. Fish in 50 plus feet of water to find the
larger fish. If you can locate the shad, the stripers are not
far behind. Trolling usually works best in areas were shad are
found and best done in the early mornings and evenings.
Launching conditions at South Cove will remain fair. The concrete
ramp the National Park Service completed last year is two lanes with
cones marking the edges. Use caution not to go off the sides of the
metal extensions at either side. National Park Service is working to
keep the ramp open. Temple Bar Launch Ramp is two lanes. Launching
conditions in general are better at Temple Bar than South Cove.
Important notice: With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in
Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical
to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry
your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your
engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible
mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These
may be young mussels that can be hard to see.
LAKE
MOHAVE – The lake level is around 642 feet above msl. No new
reports from Mohave. The bass bite has been fair. One angler reported
catching many bass including a 5lb largemouth and a 3 lb smallmouth.
Trolling with anchovies in 30-50ft has been producing some stripers,
while catfish are on the bottom. While the number of stripers in Mohave
has been decreasing, the quality of the fish caught has increased.
The night time bite has begun to pick up. Submersible lights fished
during the new moon is an effective way to catch stripers. Cut anchovies
usually work the best. The last new moon was 7/11/10.
Biologists from both Arizona Game and Fish Department and Nevada Division
of Wildlife with the help of volunteers, National Park Service and
Bureau of Reclamation personnel have continued to install fish habitat
in Carp Cove, Box Cove and Shoshone. Fish habitat consists of PVC
structures, wood pallet structures, tamarisk bundles, and some Christmas
trees. The largemouth, smallmouth, bluegill and catfish are really
utilizing the new structures. Additional habitat will be added at several
locations over the next two years. These structures are fish magnets.
There is a wheelchair accessible fishing pier just south of the main
launch ramp at Katherine's Landing. If you fish Mohave and are having
luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so
I can share your successes with others.
Important notice: With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in
Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical
to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry
your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your
engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible
mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These
may be young mussels that can be hard to see.
WILLOW
BEACH – Trout fishing has been good on Fridays. Trout are
stocked every Friday with 3,000 13” rainbow trout. Most anglers are
having success with power bait, salmon peach was the one most effective.
While access has been more difficult than normal during the ongoing
construction, parking around the fishing pier has remained good.
Some indications that the large stripers are beginning to move into
the Willow beach area. The striper fishing usually is at its best
when the air temp reaches 115 or better. This week is forecast to
be in that range, so get out with your big trout imitation lures and
try for the big ones!
Important notice: With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in
Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical
to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry
your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your
engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible
mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These
may be young mussels that can be hard to see. If you fish Willow beach
and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so
I can share your successes with others.
TOPOCK
MARSH – The catfish are biting and can be caught on spam, chicken
gizzards, and anchovies. Sizes have been running between 2 and 11
lbs.
Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Topock the first week in February.
Bass, crappie and catfish populations continue to do well.
You can access the marsh by boat at the North Dike, Catfish Paradise,
and Five-Mile Landing. All three also provide plenty of area for shoreline
fishing too. For more information on the marsh, contact the Havasu
National Wildlife Refuge at (760) 326-3853 or go to http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/havasu/index.html.
Important notice: With the discovery of invasive quagga mussels in
Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical
to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry
your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your
engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible
mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These
may be young mussels that can be hard to see.
COLORADO
RIVER BELOW DAVIS DAM – While angler use has been low, the
ones who are fishing are doing fairly well. We all know the catfish
are on the bite. Although not as rotund as the nine pound one taken
in the marsh, average sizes are hitting the 3-pound mark. Even though
limits of striped bass are not the norm these days with largemouth
and smallmouth bass catches added to the mix, success is high. Sizes
of the few stripers taken over the past couple of weeks have been between
½- and 4-pounds. Largemouth size has been a pound and under, while
the smallmouth are averaging 1- to 2-pounds. Night crawlers, anchovy
and curly tails continue to be the bait de jour. A 10-pound carp was
caught and released– unsurprisingly.
Rainbow trout are stocked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service monthly
during the winter. The last scheduled stocking was March 16th. Stocking
will resume in October. The fish are stocked in two locations; Davis
Camp and near The Riverside. Trout fishing at the stocking sites is
great immediately following the stockings, then the fish move out and
you need to find them. Rainbow trout are located throughout the river
below Davis dam, but anglers typically report catching trout on the
Arizona side across from the Riverside, off the shore of Davis Camp
and in the big bend area. This year we have received multiple reports
of larger holdover trout being caught. Remember to fish for trout,
you need a trout stamp on Class A and Lifetime fishing licenses.
Water levels on the river fluctuate, so be careful. You can check the
Bureau of Reclamation Web site for flow predictions http://www.usbr.gov/lc/riverops.html before
you go. If you fish the river below Davis Dam 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:
Internet Home Page www.azgfd.com