Arizona Lake Fishing

Rainbow trout stockings will take place on Thursday Nov. 13 at all Urban Fishing Program wasters.Stockings will continue every 2 weeks until March 2009. All urban lakes were also recently stocked with bluegill which are a feisty little fighters.

This punch of new life into the urban waters should make fishing full of action and hungry, biting fish. The trout action is really good in the Green Valley lakes in Payson.

Best results:

Urban trout anglers – use scented dough balls such as the infamous Power Bait. The tried and true worm will also work. If you prefer to fish with artificial lures, a small trout lure works best.

If you’re going after those feisty bluegills try mealworms, corn and doughballs. Fish your bait below a small bobber.

Lake Mohave water level is down but fishing is still good.

Bass and bluegill are on the bite. Try drop shot with plastics at about 25 feet for the bass. Bluegill will go after the “tried-and-true” worm on a hook.

You will find bass hanging out around the artificial fish habitats installed by the game and fish. They are at depths of 10-15 feet of water. Also look for submerged trees, bushes and shrub.

Canyon Lake is looking good right now at 89% capacity.

For the best fishing at Canyon Lake go out to the Boulder Recreation area and fish off the pier. Here you will find a fishing pond within the lake where boats are not allowed. You an catch bluegill, largemouth bass, walleye and channel catfish.

The bass are hitting on plastic worms like Robo Worms on a drop shot. Look for overhanging vegetation.

The walleye prefer a chunk of night crawler on a jig. They also hang out near the steep, shaded submerged rocks.

The bluegills are in the back coves and are biting on worms.

The catfish are hitting the plastic worms as well but also try their favorites like hot dogs and chicken liver.

Rainbow Lake is down about 1.5 feet and the boat ramp is accessible. The fishing is fair but the last stocking of catfish was in June.

Anglers are catching bluegill, smallmouth bass, and bullhead catfish.

Reports say the bullhead cats are being caught around the fishing pier. Use wheat bread dough balls or night crawlers.

Bluegills are going for the green wooly bugger.

Smallmouth bass are being caught off the dock with a brown fly.

Weeds are beginning to become a problem since the days are warming up.

Rainbow Lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or 10hp gas motors only.

Saguaro Lake elevation is 1520 feet and is 91% full.

Anglers are reporting the fishing at Saguaro Lake is ok to good to great, some have caught up to 60 fish in just 7 hours. Even shore fisherman are having luck catching largemouth bass and catfish.

The best fishing wholes are: For shore fishing- Butcher Jones, Keyhole, and near Ramp 2 are showing promise. Other spots are Eagle’s Grotto, Skunks Wash, and the Meadows.

For best results: Get out on the water early. Use Kastmasters, and plastic worms on a jig head fishing off the bottom.

Canyon Lake elevation is around 1650 feet and is 94% full.

Great fishing is still coming from Canyon Lake with anglers reporting that fish are lively and healthy. Bluegill, bass and catfish are all biting and if your lucky, maybe a rainbow trout will be on the end of your line.

Some of the top spots for boats are: Beer Can Point, Beaver Landing, Mormon Flat, the mouth of First Water and LaBarge Cove near the bridge. If you’re shore fishing try the Boulder recreation area, Acacia picnic site, Teddy Bear Point, Mormon Flat and Beaver Landing.

Get out in the mornings, the bite seems to be over by noon.

For best results: Head over to Beer Can Point, Beaver Landing or Teddy Bear Point with your boat and a 1/8 oz. Kastmaster on your line. If you’re shore fishing go to Acacia picnic site with worms on a bobber.

Bartlett Lake has an elevation of 1789 ft making it 87% full.

Anglers are reporting that fishing is good out at Bartlett Lake. The largemouth bass are biting on crank baits, and drop shot with plastics. Bluegills are biting mealworms, crickets or small portions of earthworms on a small hook with a bobber.

For best results: To catch largemouth, try fishing the points at about 20 feet of water. Using the drop shot with plastics seems to be working best. For the bluegills, try shore fishing around rocky areas. They seem to be more aggressive in these areas. Live bait seems to be working best but if you’re not a fan of live bait, try 1/32 oz or smaller jigs, grubs or spinnerbaits.

Bluegill, crappie and bass are all biting at Green Valley lakes in Payson. Cooler waters from the many monsoons this summer have kept the fish active and biting.

For best results: Small jigs and worms on a bobber seems to be working for many urban anglers.

Trout were stocked on the 18th and the bite has picked up. With 13 – 14 inch trout being caught, you have a good chance catching a nice sized fish.

Try using a KastMaster or power bait on a hook with a bobber. Best time to get the bite is early morning and in the evening.

Bluegill are also plentiful. Try small worms on a small hook.

Trout fishing has slowed some. The best bet is to use corm kernels on a split shot sinker with about 3 feet under the bobber. Power bait is also working fished off the bottom with an egg sinker.

Largemouth bass fishing is fair but has picked up a little. Try small plastic jigs or worms. Small spinners are also working in deep cover.

Bluegills are hot right now but they are small. Same with the crappie. So it’s a good opportunity to get your kids out and teach them a few fishing techniques.

For the smaller fish try a #8 hook with a small piece of worm under a bobber about 2 – 3 feet.

Catfish will be stocked again in first week of June.