Arizona Lake Fishing

What is a Ford Fender?

The image above is a Ford Fender (top) and various blade options (bottom). A Ford Fender is a fishing lure for a popular fishing technique called trolling. Trolling is a fun, easy and effective technique that is suitable for all ages. Trolling is a great way to introduce youngsters to fishing but is also a a tried and true technique that experienced anglers enjoy using.

What is Trolling?

Trolling requires a boat, a motor or oars (a means to move the boat forward), fishing rod and real, a blade string (Ford Fender or other trolling lure) and a lure. The troll and lure are attached to your fishing line and is then let out behind your moving boat. The amount of line let out depends on the size of the troll and how deep you want to fish. The slower the boat the deeper the troll goes.

Trolling is typically used in a freshwater body such as a lake or impoundment and is used to catch trout.

How a Trolling Lure Works

As you troll the lake, the blades will attract fish both with the flash of light reflecting off the blades and the vibrating sounds from the spinning of the blade. Fish will follow the flash and sound to the source, spot the trailing lure and go after it.

Choosing the Right Trolling Lure?

Trolling is most effective in deep, murky water or on an overcast day. When trolling you want to stay in the middle layer of water which will be from 15 to 50 feet down in most lakes. The middle layer has a lot of dissolved oxygen and forage fish (food for the fish we want to catch).

The size and shape of the blade is important because it determines how fast the blade will rotate and any particular sound vibrations it will make during trolling. A round blade will swing slow and wide from the shaft of the troll. A narrow blade will spin fast and close to the shaft. Narrow blades are best suited for fast trolling where larger blades are used for slower trolling.

The color and number of blades is also important. For example, a larger troll with several blades is best used for deep trolling or in murky water. Clear water or depths of only 10 to 20 feet require fewer, smaller blades. A nickel finish works best on bright days or in clear water. Brass and copper finishes are best suited for murky, deep water. A brass, 50/50 brass-nickel or copper finishes for overcast days.

Rigging a Trolling Lure

The troll itself consists of a rudder (red plastic shown in the image above), blades, a shaft (the cable that runs the troll) and a swivel. The rudder is at the front of the troll and prevents any line twist. The blades should swing freely on the cable to attract fish. The swivel is used to tie on a leader and a lure. The leader is usually between 12 and 18 inches but some anglers have used leaders that range up to 5 or 6 feet.

© Arizona Lake Fishing | Get a Daily Fishing Report Follow Us on Twitter

Lake Powell has risen 45 feet this year providing an optimal habitat for all it’s aquatic life. Food is abundant, shelter is easily found and the angler is left a little frustrated. This season the fish are fat and happy and are less likely to strike a bait when their stomachs are full.

If you’re lucky to find a striper boil, you will probably leave for the day with you full catch in hand. However, most of us aren’t quite as lucky. But not all is lost and Lake Powell is still one of the best freshwater fishing lakes in Arizona.

Lake Powell fishing tips

• Trolling is working great for anglers down around the inflows where abundant shad are hanging out.
• You can also get out to the Hite or San Juan and use a diving lure down to about 20 feet.
• Early morning use surface lures around shad schools. During the day try drop shots at about 25 feet.
• If you’re shad looking lure is not working, try a bright colored lure like a fire tiger crankbait. This might trigger the striper into striking out of frustration.

We can expect 2009 fishing season to be excellent as the fish continue to eat to their fill and live relatively safe in all the new shelter created by the rising waters.

© Arizona Lake Fishing | Get a Daily Fishing Report Follow Us on Twitter

Willow Springs Lake was stocked last week so we can expect the action to go up a little. The lake has gone down about 3 feet but fishing is fair to good.

Willow Springs offers an angler a full day of fishing. In the early morning you can fish for trout which have been active until about 10 am at a water depth of about 15 feet. Try worms, power bait, salmon eggs or lures like z-rays and spinners. At mid-morning you can troll the lake with a cowbell and relax. Early afternoon is the best time to fish for bass and crappie. And in the evening, trout will be active again.

Fly anglers use peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers or black nymphs.

For best results: Troll with a down rigger at about 2mph at 35-40 feet in the old creek channel.

© Arizona Lake Fishing | Get a Daily Fishing Report Follow Us on Twitter

Woods Canyon Lake is down about 2 feet and the fishing is fair to good. The boat ramp is still accessible even with the loss of water.

Night crawlers are what’s working out on the water this summer. You can expect to see 10-15 inch rainbows.

The trout have been active at about 10 feet at early morning and late evening.

For best results: Get out early and troll with a KastMaster or a PantherMartin. Trolling a cowbell with a worm is also working well.

© Arizona Lake Fishing | Get a Daily Fishing Report Follow Us on Twitter

Black Canyon Lake is almost full, the boat ramp is accessible and the fishing is fair.

Green and yellow power bait seems to be working well for most anglers, on shore or in a boat. You can also try, salmon eggs, spinners, or wooly buggers.

For best results: Get out on the water at first light. Troll with a cowbell and a worm on the hook.

© Arizona Lake Fishing | Get a Daily Fishing Report Follow Us on Twitter

The road is open at Willow Springs Lake and the lake is full. The boat launch accessible and Willow Springs Lake allows only electric trolling motors and/or 10 hp gas motors.

The lake has been stocked with nice sized trout and anglers are catching them on lures. Trout have also been active at the surface down to 15 feet. Try worms, power bait and salmon eggs on a small hook. For lures try z-rays, spinners and rapalas. For flies try wooly worms, wooly bugers, peacock ladies and prince nymphs.

For best results try trolling with a lure.

© Arizona Lake Fishing | Get a Daily Fishing Report Follow Us on Twitter

After a long winter, Blue Ridge is open and accessible. The lake is also full and spilling over.

This lake is best accessed with a boat as there is very little shore to launch your line. However, there are a few great fishing holes deep into the lake where you can tie up your boat and do a little shore fishing. Blue Ridge is a popular lake for float tubes, kayaks, and canoes.

Trout fishing is picking up. Expect larger hold-over trout.

For best results try trolling with spinners or fishing off shore with corn, worms or power bait.

© Arizona Lake Fishing | Get a Daily Fishing Report Follow Us on Twitter

Woods Canyon is stocked weekly with catchable size rainbow trout.

Anglers are catching hold-over trout around 1.5 pounds. The trout have also been active at the surface down to 10 feet. Try worms, power bait, and salmon eggs. For lures try spinners like z-rays, super dupers and small spoons. For fly fishing try wooly buggers, peacock ladies, and nymphs.

For best results try blown up worms fishing from the bottom. Trolling with a KastMaster or Panther Martin is working as well.

© Arizona Lake Fishing | Get a Daily Fishing Report Follow Us on Twitter

trolling motor – A small electric fishing motor, typically mounted on the bow, which is used as secondary means of propulsion for positioning or maneuvering a boat quietly in fishing areas.

© Arizona Lake Fishing | Get a Daily Fishing Report Follow Us on Twitter

trolling – Towing a lure or several lures behind a boat. When a fish is caught on the trolled lure, the boat is typically stopped and the fish is reeled in.

© Arizona Lake Fishing | Get a Daily Fishing Report Follow Us on Twitter