Arizona Lake Fishing

After a long summer and hundreds of anglers throwing in spinners, the bass get wise and a jig could be just enough to land that big one. Swimming a jig takes a little fineness and technique to get the presentation just right for a strike but after reading this post you’ll be casting it in like a pro.

The key to swimming a jig for a big bite is all about presentation and how to attract a bite. You want to pay attention to color, the bite (if you’re getting any), your retrieval speed and most importantly setting the hook.

Jig Swimming Tips: Pay attention to the bite.

1. If the bass is inhaling the jig, make no adjustments and keep hauling them in.
2. If they seem to be just nipping at the end of the jig, make a change with your trailer. It’s possible you could be getting the wrong action from your jig.
3. If they are following your jig but not striking, make a complete change in color. If you’re using a dark jig, switch to a bright color with a flash.

Jig Swimming Tips: Pay attention to presentation.

1. Hold your rod tip at about 10 o’clock.
2. Vary your speeds by dropping and ripping through cover.
3. Be sure to set the hook properly. Once you feel that bass on your line give it a good rip back and set the hook before he even knows what hit him. Make it one smooth motion.

Spinners can be used to catch bass in just about any weather or water temp or time of year. Tournaments can be won fishing a spinner. They’re a great lure for spring and fall when the bass are feeding heavily as well as in winter when the water is cold. You can also fish them in the warmer waters of summer and just buzz them by the fish to entice them to bite.

It’s a good idea to keep several spinners in your box and keep spare blades and skirts on hand so you can test the waters and see what’s biting. But the go-to spinner in my box is always a 3/8th ounce spinnerbait with a #5 willowleaf and #3 Colorado blade. Have one of each in gold and silver. A chartreuse and white skirt and a 3″ white curly tail trailer.

Spinners in Warm Water

Warm water, at and above 60 degrees, means fast retrievals. When the water is warm, run the bait just under the surface fairly quickly until the blade just brakes the water. Then slow down and let the skirt flare.

When the water is warmer, and the feeding is slower, speed up your retrieval and try for reaction strikes by buzzing it right by the bass and letting it brake the water’s surface.

Spinners in Cool Waters

Cool waters, bellow 60 degrees, you want to slow it down. Use a heavier spinner, around 1/2 once. Get heavier and slower as the water gets colder. The added weight will allow you to fish deeper and slower.

Tips for Using Spinners

1. The clearness of the water will tell how quickly to run your lure. In clearer waters you can run it fairly fast but slow it down in murky waters.
2. Try bigger blades. Up to a #7 blade has caught fish and was a popular method a few years ago and still catches fish.
3. Try different colors of skirts and trailers if the fish aren’t biting.
4. Attach the lure with a clip and swivel to allow for quick and easy changing.

Spinners are one of my favorite lures. They are easy to use, easy to fish and you almost never lose a fish on one. The big hook seems to keep them on the hook effectively.

Nice sized catfish (1-4 pounds) are being caught at Tempe Town Lake along with some small bass.

For best results: For catfish try chicken liver on a bobber, worms and/or corn. if you’re going for the bass, try a spinner bait in the evening. White, in particluar, seems to be working well.

The last stocking of rainbow trout at Fain Lake took place on May 12 so fishing should pick up. Some areas are doing better than others so if you’re not having any luck try another spot. Look for clear water and use spinners or bright colored power bait.

Brook trout was also stocked in February.

Trout fishing is good to excellent at Green Valley Lakes in Payson. Reports are saying there are some nice 1 – 3 pound rainbows available.

For trout try Power Bait, worms and salmon eggs.

Go for the largemouth bass with spinner bait, spoons or try plastics with a drop shot. The bass are actively in their spring spawn period and are aggressive and biting. AZ Game and Fish are asking that we practice catch and release during the spawn.

Bluegills are also in their spring spawn.

This is a great lake for kids and beginning anglers.

Trout stockings will take place through mid May.

Tempe Town Lake fishing is good.

Largemouth bass are in spring spawn and are hitting on spinner bait.

For best results: Go to the east side of the lake and fish by structure. Look for shad boils. Use spinner bait, white/white trailer or green or plastics on drop shot.

Catfish are also biting. Use worms for best results.

Reports say that one angler brought in 17 largemouth bass using Senkos and spinner baits.

The largemouths aren’t the only fish biting right now. The catfish and bluegills are also excellent.

For channel catfish try shrimp, hot dogs, or worms and fish off the bottom.

The latest stocking included 15 – 20 inch catfish and are restocked every 2 weeks.

November 15, trout season officially begins.

To get ready AZ Game and Fish will be stocking all urban fishing areas in Phoenix and Tucson with 11 to 12 inch trout. Each area will get 80 to 100 trout per lake acre. Fish will be stocked every 2 weeks for the next 4 months.

Prepare your tackle for the up coming trout season:

• small spinners
• small spoons
• scented dough balls
• worms
• salmon eggs
• 2 to 6 pound line
• small hooks (size 10)
• small weights

Daily bag limits for urban fishing lakes is 4 per licensed person and 2 for unlicensed kids under age 14. At urban fishing ponds the limit is 2 per licensed person and 1 for unlicensed kids under 14.

Fishing is fair but the lake is weedy.

Try small spinners, jigs, spoons and flies such as woolly worms, peacock ladies, prince nymphs and zug bugs.

There is a 2 trout limit.

You must use barbless hooks. No bait allowed.

There is no boat ramp and boats must be electric trolling motors only.

Fishing is fair to good. Woods Canyon was stocked heavily this summer with rainbow trout.

The lake is nearly full and will be stocked again this week.

Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, prince nymphs, and zug bugs. For trolling try cowbells, lures or flies with worms.

The lake is open to trolling motors only. The lake store is open and boat rentals are available.