September 26, 2013
Updated reports: Note: If you have a fishing report or good fishing pictures to share (JPEG), send them to our "Been Fishing" site at BFishing@azgfd.gov.
ROOSEVELT LAKE - Lake elevation is 2,098 feet, 45-percent full. Sept. 21 report from James Goughnour of Rim Country Custom Rods. Good morning Rim Country Anglers - The water level in Roosevelt Lake this week remained at 45 percent full this past week. The Salt River flow decreased dramatically this down from 2000 CFPS to 900 CFPS. The good news is, this is still 300 percent of its rate for this time of year.
The Tonto Creek flow slowed to 10 CFPS this past week. The water temperature is in the low-80s in the morning, increasing to the mid-80s in the afternoon. Bass fishing was called “good” to “very good” this past week. Early morning bites can be exciting on crankbaits or top water.
As the water cools more, bass will disperse, but reports are stating that they are still schooled up around main lake points or humps near the shoreline. For the second week in a row, reports from the Salt end of the lake were better than those from the Tonto end and we're all sure this is due to the higher inflow of fresh water.
The crappie bite was called “very good” this past week. It’s been a long time since I've hear reports of 20-plus crappie being caught in a morning, but this week I got two of these great reports. Experienced crappie anglers are using a vertical technique and fishing in 23-32 feet of water and always in brush or trees. The Lil' Fishy bait, made by the Creme Bait Company, was reported highly successful this past week.
Tonto Creek, Willow Springs and Woods Canyon Lakes will be receiving their last trout stockings this week, but don't let that stop you from enjoying some of the best trout fishing of the year. The crowds are gone, the temperatures are perfect, and on many days, you can have the entire stream to yourself.
One more secret for Rim Country Anglers. There is a new bait just hitting the market and feedback from trial runs by several local angler’s reports it is a fantastic bass-catching bait. It’s called a Spider Bait and was designed and is being made right here in Payson.
It’s a redesign of the Alabama rig, and it is legal to use here in Arizona. Most anglers know that Ariz. has some special restrictions on the Alabama rig related to the number of hooks, blades, etc., so this new spider bait is an exciting change. You can call 928-978-3518 to learn more this new and exciting Arizona legal bait.
Have a great week of fishing and I hope see you on the water.
SAGUARO LAKE - Lake elevation is 1,526 feet (95 percent full). Skyler Clark, fishing manager at the Mesa-based Sportsman’s Warehouse, said hot spots for largemouth bass have been where the majority of shad boils have been: at Bagley Flats into the river. The bite has been somewhat current oriented as well. When more water is released, more current seems to get the fish active. The transition into a good reaction bite has begun, and the main bait this time of the year for bass is a jerkbait. Look for shad boils, although the presence of boils can be hit and miss on a given day. If boils disappear around midday, fish in 30-plus feet with spoons and Alabama rigs.
Angler’s report -- Jim F. at Saguaro: My wife and I did an overnight campout at Saguaro Thursday and Friday.
Between the harvest moon, the nice temperatures and the great bass bite, this was our best outing ever. After setting up camp Thursday morning we used crankbaits across from the snags and caught a nice handful.
My wife hooked into one that broke her line after a good fight. At twilight I fished from the shore and caught several more using crank baits. Just as the light was fading I switched to a top water frog and it got clobbered about 3 feet from shore. The thing broke my line in less than 5 seconds. Darn! I fished from the shore at first light Friday morning and caught a few more using a Zara Spook, including a nice 3.5 pounder. The bite is just crazy good right now, so I encourage folks to get out there and get some. (You may want to use something heavier than the 10-pound line we were using, though!)
CANYON LAKE - Lake elevation is 1,659 feet (97-percent full). Clark said many anglers have reported little success using dropshots. Instead, first thing in the morning, angler can spot shad boils and throw jerk baits and small swim baits. Like Saguaro, anglers can draw reaction strikes using jerk baits, crankbaits and, at certain times, spinner baits and top-water baits can really come into play. The jerk bait is the main bait.
Matching the hatch can be particularly crucial. Use small baits, such as a small swim bait on a 1/4-ounce jighead.
BARTLETT LAKE – Lake elevation is 1,796 feet, 98 % full. Gary Senft, a Bass Pro at Bass Pro Shops, said shad have started migrating to the backs of coves, where bass are chasing. Senft also heard the top-water bite is excellent just before dark, from about 5-6:30 p.m.
This is the tail end of the prime flathead catfish season, but there are anglers who fish Bartlett all winter long for these huge voracious fish. Try live bluegill or small carp as bait. Look for the deeper holes, especially uplake where there is a little current.
For bluegills, try the backs of rocky coves using night crawlers or meal worms on light tackle. Also look for large rafts of bluegill, especially up in the narrows. When you find them, small spinners, crappie jigs and worms can get you lots of fish to fry.
LAKE PLEASANT – Senft said stripers are heading into coves. Anglers can have a blast targeting stripers, as well as white and black bass, in coves. Humbug reportedly has been a hot spot.
Previously, Brian Senick of the Hook-Up Outfitters said the striper bite has been consistent. The key is getting on the water for striper boils at first light -- if you have lights, try being on the water just before first light, which has been at about 5:10 a.m. Throw topwater lures, jerkbaits or flies. Anglers had been catching dinks, but now are getting into some decent 14- to 18-inch stripers. Once the sun comes up, fish cut anchovies in 40-60 feet of water for stripers and, for a hit-and-miss largemouth bass bite, go to dropshots and Texas-rigged plastic worms. The top-water striper bite should continue to improve until the first cold snap.
Angler’s report -- Derrick F. sent some proof along with his report that striper fishing on Lake Pleasant is getting going: Night time angler Derrick F. with fished Lake Pleasant from 8-11 p.m. with his wingman catching over 100 striper in the 14-18 inch range, fishing humps in 35 feet of water with deeper water nearby. Used frozen anchovies and a powerful submersible light. On Wednesday, Franks reported that he continues to catch an average of 75 striper per night fishing in an average of 50 feet of water with near deep water. The lowering water temperature is bringing bigger striper into action at night.
APACHE LAKE - Lake elevation is 1,907 feet (92 percent full). Water temperature 80-81 degrees. Senft said anglers have been doing well on dropshots and Texas rigs in the colors that have typically been successful – red crawler and morning dawn. Brush hogs also have been successful. Senft has caught the majority of his largemouth bass in 15-30 feet of water. Sometimes he found a shallow crankbait bite. Senft this weekend recommends starting with a crankbait because of cooler morning temperatures that drive the fish into shallow waters.
Previous reports:
URBAN WATERS – See the latest Urban Fishing Bulletin here.
Angler’s report -- Richard J. fished Chaparral Lake and had little luck, but nearly reeled in a lunker. For bait, he reported using shrimp, smoked sausage, hot dogs, worms, dough baits, attractants and dip bait. He fished early in the morning and reported one hook up that lasted for 8 minutes, but he tightened his drag too tight and the fish broke off 10 feet from shore. The reel has a maximum drag of 16 pounds and he had new 12-pound line. “Seemed to be straight-line pull no matter which way it was headed,” he said.
TEMPE TOWN LAKE – Anglers are catching glass carp, largemouth bass, crappie and even some rainbow trout. The best bite has been in the early morning. Top baits have been salmon eggs and worms (worms being the best), fished not far from the shoreline.
LOWER SALT RIVER (below Saguaro Lake) – Reports indicate the river is excellent for suckers, but not so much for trout. Try night crawlers, small spinners, KastMasters and flies in this unique desert river trout fishery. You might be able to catch some bass or sunfish in the deeper holes. Good time for tubing the Salt -- take along a fishing rod.
HORSESHOE LAKE - Lake elevation is 1,951 feet, 0-percent full. Salt River Project tends to use Horseshoe as a flood retention reservoir, but steadily releases the water downstream into Bartlett Lake.
CREEKS BELOW THE MOGOLLON RIM – Weekly stockings into the trout streams have ended for most streams.
Tonto Creek Hatchery
Stocking report
Sept. 15-21
Tonto Creek (61 degrees) 450 rainbow trout
Woods Canyon Lake 1,190 rainbow trout
OTHER
WAYS TO GET THE FISHING REPORT:
Internet Home Page - www.azgfd.com
