URBAN LAKES – The new 2009 Urban Fishing Program booklets are now available from Game and Fish Department offices and all authorized license dealers. All Urban waters will receive incentive stockings the week of Jan. 5-10.  These fish include many trout from 13-18 inches with some even over 4 pounds.  On average one in every four trout will be over 13 inches with the remaining fish ranging from 11-12 inches. Fishing is good to excellent for anglers using scented dough baits (such as Power Bait), worms or corn.  Small spinners such as Rooster Tails and Panther Martins, or spoons such as KastMasters and Super Dupers work well for trout in the early morning.  Patience is the key, as the trout bite sporadically throughout the day.  Fishing for catfish, bass and bluegill is poor due to colder water temperatures that slow down the activity of these warm water species.  Trout fishing is good to excellent at Green Valley lakes in Payson with Power Bait, worms and small spinners working best.

TEMPE TOWN LAKE – Game and Fish stocked rainbows last week, so the fishing should be good. Plus, yet another low pressure system this weekend should keep the trout biting. Trout can be readily caught using Power Bait on slip sinkers or under a bobber. Worms are always good bait for just about everything in the lake.  Some anglers have been catching limits using corn. Sometimes a bobber is the way to go for the trout other times they like to pluck the worms from a catfish rig.  Be flexible…they are. Andrew, a Been Fishing reporter, caught a small largemouth and a channel catfish using worms under a bobber.  He had lots of bites but had difficulty hooking the fish. Another Been Fishing reporter, Brandin, caught three bass, one bluegill another sunfish and two yellow bass.  He used a white swim bait for the bass and the rest were caught on a worm under a bobber.

Angler report:

Where: tempe town lake
When: 01/03/09
Caught: 4 trout/ 3 big carp
Technique: corn off the bottom
Comments: it was quick to catch the trout, first the carp hit and the fight was on good fight carp was about 10-15 lbs and it was fun. then the trout hit and thats what i came for.
Name: pat
Email: kingp7@hotmail.com

LAKE PLEASANT – Water elevation is 1,660 ft, which is 58-percent full and rising. The Agua Fria River was running high last week, providing some nutrient loading. The current will likely attract stripers even though we are a couple of months – a least – from the spawning time. Don’t forget that there is a bald eagle nesting closure on the Agua Fria and the access road off Table Mesa Road is closed. Try working the open section of the Agua Fria and target the submerged river channel – that is where you will likely locate the huge schools of stripers and whites. For all those who enjoy seeing lots of shorebirds, such as snowy egrets, try in the Humbug Creek area. This area can also be a striper haven and might even hold for nice crappies as well.

ROOSEVELT LAKE – Lake Elevation is 2143 ft (90-percent full). Tonto Creek runoff was at 213 cfs on Jan. 2 while inflow from the Salt River was at 807 cfs. Both the Salt River and Tonto Creek ramped up to spring-like slows last week. These type of flows in winter are slow down the largemouth bass and crappie bite, but can sometimes get the smallmouth bass bite going. However, once things settle down, expect to start finding winter crappie either in open water (large schools that look like upside-down Christmas trees on the graph), or hovering over deep submerged trees and brush. Crappie anglers may have to adjust to the new terrific conditions with lots of submerged brush and trees – crappie love wood. Expect lots of floating debris in both ends of the lake. Increased turbidity this time of year could significantly slow down the bite, but will pay dividends in fish productivity later. With any luck, we will have a decent January crappie bite, although additional storms could alter that possibility.

APACHE - Lake elevation is 1907 ft (93-percent full). Over 4,000 smallmouth bass stocked in Apache Lake two weeks ago.  The smallies were in great condition.  Mostly in the 5-7 inch range and there were a few 9-10 inch bass mixed in with a bunch of 4 inch ones.  Thanks to the United Arizona Angler Foundation, which helped purchase and stock these fish.  Game and Fish tagged the fish so as to discern them from other smallmouth bass previously stocked. An experienced angler caught a 1.5 lb largemouth on a jerk bait in 10 minutes of fishing while waiting for the stocking truck to arrive. Don’t forget that, effective in 2009, there will be a slot limit for Apache Lake bass.

CANYON LAKE – Lake elevation is 1,657 ft, which is 94-percent full. When it rains, the steep sides of Canyon Lake often become a paradise of waterfalls. Fly fishermen are doing well at Boulder Recreation area using semi seal leeches and give wooly buggers a try.  This tidbit from AZ Fly Fishing. An angler fished from first light to about 12:30 and used 6 inch swimbaits and had pretty good luck catching bass, one was a 3 pounder.  A white 4 inch grub hooked to a 1/16 oz darter jig head worked well for some smaller bass. Another angler fished about the same timeframe and caught 8 largemouth bass, 3 yellow bass and a smallmouth bass.  All were below 14 inches.  He stated deep reaction baits worked well for him. Don’t forget that, effective in 2009, there will be a slot limit for Canyon Lake bass.

Angler report:

Where: Canyon Lake
When: 01/01/09
Caught: Trout, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill
Technique: Worm on the bottom
Comments: Caught trout limit Thursday and Friday within a couple hours between 8-10, after that, the bit completely shut down. Also caught 1lb largemouth, and few blugill using a work on the bottom. Fished right from the campsite.
Name: Chad
Email: chadtysick@hotmail.com

SAGUARO LAKE – Lake elevation 1524 feet at 91-percent full. A couple anglers had a fantastic day (34 fish in 3 hours) on the lake despite some rain.  If shad are boiling, top water lures are the ticket.  Once the boils disappear try throwing jerkbait towards shore.  Good fishing grounds include the divider reef area, the snags and around Butcher Jones. Another couple anglers caught 16 largemouth bass 3 hours using a variety of techniques including dropshot, jerkbait, Carolina rigs and flipping worms. For you fly fishermen, Butcher Jones is fishing well for trout with Prince nymphs about 35 yards out. Wooly buggers are also worth trying. This info from our friends at AZ Fly Fishing. Don’t forget that for 2009 and beyond, there will be a slot limit for Saguaro Lake bass.

Angler Report:

Where: Saguaro Lake
When: 01/09/09
Caught: bass
Technique: noodleing
Comments: good fishing
Name: rgbnsfgbn
Email: adufgadgfouia@aol.com

BARTLETT LAKE – Lake elevation is 1,757 ft, which is 49-percent full. Flows popped up last week down the Verde – keep a watch out for possible floating debris. Reservoir release was 112 cfs on Jan. 2. Fish are being caught along the walls using a variety of jigs; pumpkin green and watermelon are enticing the bite for some. Anglers are boating a few fish with cranks and drop shot technique but fishing was slow according to a few fishermen last weekend.  Weather was a quite nippy as well. White spinner baits are reported as working well.  Another well informed angler suggests throwing white fat free fingerling shad cranks or similar lures in the shallows.  Be sure to hit the rocks at the bottom to entice the bite.  Other good choices include c-rigged or t-rigged twin tailed skirted lures or smallie beavers in the shallow rocks in less than 15 feet of water in a variety of coves. 

HORSESHOE LAKE — Lake elevation is at 1,957 feet, 5-percent full. 

VERDE RIVER — Flows at Tangle Creek were around 450 cubic feet per second on Jan. 2, higher last week. Expect to find the upper end of the lake a little turbid, with a fair amount of floating debris.

LOWER SALT RIVER (below confluence with Verde River) – SRP was releasing 186 cfs from Saguaro Lake and 112 cfs from Bartlett this week. There were more than 1,500 trout stocked last week in the Phon Du. Sutton and Granite Reef areas.

CREEKS — With the snowfall and runoff, the waters could be murky and access will likely be tough.

• Haigler Creek – Access could be tough.
• Canyon Creek – Access could be tough.
• Tonto Creek – Access could be tough.
• Christopher Creek – No reports.
• East Verde – No reports
• Workman Creek – No reports.

HORSETHIEF BASIN LAKE – Probably not worth driving to just for fishing, but it might be worth a visit if you are prowling the Bradshaw Mountains and want to wet a line for some small sunfish or bass.