SPRING CATFISH STOCKINGS BEGIN MARCH 19
The catfish season officially kicks off at all Urban Fishing Program lakes and ponds in the Phoenix and Tucson areas on Thursday, March 19 when all lakes will receive deliveries of 15-20 inch channel catfish.  Two large trucks will be used to bring 8,000 catfish to 19 waters throughout the day.  Warming spring temperatures signal the stocking changeover from trout to catfish.  Over 14,000 pounds of Arkansas farm raised catfish will be delivered and stocked into Urban Fishing Program lakes every two weeks from now through the end of June. Traditionally, when the Department switches fish suppliers from winter trout to spring catfish deliveries, anglers are given the specific day of stocking.  For all other catfish stockings, only the stocking week (Mon.-Sat.) is announced.  The usual baits such as worms, stink baits, and shrimp should work well for catching “Mr. Whiskers.”  Daily limits are four catfish per person at Urban Lakes or two catfish per person at Urban Ponds (note regulations and park signage for Lake and Pond designations).

BLUEGILL STOCKINGS COMING MARCH 23-28
Twice each year, the Department stocks 5-8 inch bluegill into all Urban Fishing Program waters to replenish this popular sport fish and offer some great fishing for young anglers.  A delivery of bluegill is scheduled the week of March 23-28.  Over 18,000 of the feisty, hard biting sunfish will be stocked at rates of 90-150 fish per acre.  Daily bag limits for sunfish (includes bluegill and hybrid sunfish) are 10 per day at Urban Lakes or 5 per day at Urban Ponds.

OUTDOOR EXPO FEATURES FAMILY FUN
Bring your family to the free Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo, a fun environment where the entire family can explore numerous activities and demonstrations that include live wildlife displays, camping, fishing, archery, hunting, shooting sports, wildlife conservation, rock climbing, off-highway vehicle riding and boating.  This two-day event will be held March 28-29 (Saturday to Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Ben Avery Shooting facility, in northwest Phoenix (Carefree Highway, ½ mile west of I-17 to Long Shot Lane).  A kids fishing tank will be full of sunfish ready to bite.  There’s something for everyone, and admission and parking are FREE!  For more information, call (623) 236-7241 or go to http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/showcase.shtml.

WATER RANCH LAKE HIT BY GOLDEN ALGAE, STOCKINGS HALTED
The troublesome golden alga has flared up for the first time in a year at Water Ranch Lake in Gilbert.  This microscopic alga secretes toxins that inhibit the ability of fish to take in oxygen and exchange water across their gills.  Dozens of fish, including trout, catfish, bass and bluegill have died in recent weeks from the golden alga bloom.  Water Ranch lake has received two algaecide treatments by Town of Gilbert lake consultants to control this tiny aquatic pest.  Fish stockings, including the March 19 catfish delivery, will not take place until tests confirm golden alga is fully under control.  Anglers are encouraged to fish at other, nearby lakes such as Red Mountain or Veterans Oasis where extra fish will be delivered through March.  For more information on golden alga, go to http://www.azgfd.gov/temp/golden_alga_faqs.shtml.

URBAN FISHING REPORT
The spring channel catfish stocking season begins on March 19 when 8,000 1.5-2 pound fish are stocked throughout the day into Urban waters.  Lakes will continue to be stocked with catfish every two weeks through June.  Best baits for the big cats are worms, stink baits and shrimp fished on the bottom.  Bluegill will be stocked in all Phoenix and Tucson area waters the week of March 23-28.  Best baits for the feisty, 5-8 inch bluegill are worms and mealworms fished under a small bobber.  Largemouth bass are continuing to move into the shallows for spawning.  Please exercise catch and release for spawning bass and remember the minimum keep-able size for bass is 13 inches. At Green Valley lakes (Payson) fishing is good to excellent for trout with trout stockings scheduled to continue at this higher elevation lake until mid May.

If you haven’t visited the Game and Fish website recently, you’ve been missing out on some great fishing stuff.  In addition to weekly fishing reports, stocking schedules, Big fish-of-the-year and state records, and newsletters there is much more to be found.  An interactive fishing map can be used to guide you to lakes and streams all over the state and let you know what you can catch there. The Fishing Blog provides a forum for interactive fish talk.  Fishing photos can be submitted to show off your latest catch or to brag on your kids.  A Send Comments section allows you to ask a department biologist a question or to simply submit your own fishing report on your last outing.  Don’t forget to check out the Outdoor Calendar for great ideas for things to do across Arizona.

Where: Chaparral
When: 03/13/09
Caught: Channel Cat
Technique: Raw bacon with 4 feet of line under the bobber.
Comments: Was fishing for about an hour and was able to hook a channel cat. Max 15 inches long maybe weighed a 1lb 1/2. Fished for about 2 hours total.
Name: Hopper

Where: Cortez Park
When: 03/16/09
Caught: 15 trout
Technique: hook w/ salmon eggs and bobber and powerbait
Comments: I’m 14 yrs old HA!
Name: Jordan Spinner

Where: Kiwanis
When: 03/15/07
Caught: 4 trout 4 catfish
Technique: worms for the cats and white power bait for the trout
Comments: the best spot is at the tip of the half bridge
Name: Travis

Where: Red mountain park
When: 03/15/09
Caught: 4 average rainbows and 5 nice bluegills
Technique: Weightless mealworms or salmon eggs threaded on a #10 hook.
Comments: Fish were going crazy for red. I saw a massive trout attack the red coloring on a Frys bag that was submerged in the water. fished from 5pm-7
Name: Martin Olsen

Where: Red mountain park
When: 03/13/09
Caught: 6 average rainbow trout
Technique: weightless mealworm or salmon eggs treaded on a #10 hook.
Comments: fished from 10:30am-1pm. fish were right on the shoreline
Name: Martin Olsen

Where: Green Valley Park in payson
When: 03/10/09
Caught: 13 MONSTER Rainbows, 2 bluegills and 3 crappies
Technique: Half of a night crawler, or meal worm threaded on a #10 hook under a bobber 2-3 feet.
Comments: Fished from 11am-4pm. Most trout were in the 14inch range. Largest was 16 inches.
Name: Martin Olsen

Where: Desert Breeze
When: 03/13/09
Caught: large rainbow trout
Technique: panther martin
Comments: Amazing panther martin does it again! this trout is the biggest I’ve ever caught in Arizona just over 4lbs. many witnesses
Name: Orlando P

Where: Chaparral
When: 03/11/09
Caught: Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Sunfish
Technique: Slow Lure-in with nightcrawlers
Comments: 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. nonstop biting
Name: Chris Petrocelli

Where: Papago Ponds lake 1
When: 03/11/09
Caught: Catfish
Technique: Worms on the bottom.
Comments: She was keeper. I didn’t measure it but I would guess she was about 24 inches, put up a huge fight. It looked more like a flathead catfish than a channel catfish though. She had a huge mouth with a flat tail fin. Maybe somebody illegally stocked it? Or maybe it was just an odd looking channel.

Where: Rio Vista
When: 03/06/09
Caught: Rainbow Trout
Technique: Minnows
Comments: Caught one of those large 2 Lb “Bonus” fish stocked from the Expo. Grandchildren had a ball!
Name: Barry Hoffman

Where: Chaparral
When: 03/07/09
Caught: Nothing
Technique: Spinner Baits, plastic grubs, worms, flukes
Comments: I fished Saturday and Sunday morning for bass to no avail. I hooked one small bass on a spinner but he jumped and got off. The bass are still sleeping or I just don’t have the patience to fish my plastics slow enough. Too much vegetation to drag lures on the bottom.
Name: Phil T

Where: surprise
When: 03/07/09
Caught: 5 rainbow trout
Technique: White power eggs.
Comments: Trout are strange right at 7 the trout hit good for 15 to 20 minutes then nothing. After that you might catch 1 or two more all day but that’s trout for ya.
Name: Brandon Ryer

Where: Chaparral Lake
When: 03/01/09
Caught: Nice channel cat
Technique: cheese flavored catfish bait from Wal-Mart fished on the bottom with a large wait under a size 8 treble hook
Comments: Just left the bait on the bottom at the front of the north end and the fish nearly pulled my rod in the water!
Name: Steve

Where: Papago park pond #3
When: 03/03/09
Caught: 18 largemouth just under 4 lbs. and two 7″ bluegills
Technique: Fished on beds with chartreuse colored 1/4 ounce rabbit hair jig. Fished on beds. Worms for bluegills.
Comments: Bass were in the pre-spawn mode. I would enter the bass into the big fish of the year contest but I only had one witness. I will submit photo.
Name: Martin Olsen

Where: Chappell Lake
When: 03/03/09
Caught: one 3 pound Largemouth bass
Technique: Worms
Comments: Finally, caught one! Didn’t think they were in there. A foot off the bottom. I’ll bring my buddy Walt with me next time!!!
Name: Paul

Where: Papago Pond # 2
When: 02/28/09
Caught: Catfish
Technique: Trout Power Bait, Took 4 tries to catch this 18 inch monster. Put up a really good fight, and put back in the pond so someone else could have fun like I did. Guy in Pond 3 caught a huge Carp which also put up a good fight.
Name: Blue44

TEMPE TOWN LAKE

You can try the usual methods for the rainbows (baits like powerbait, nightcrawlers, mealworms or try spinners and spoons such as panther martins, kastmasters…)  Remember no gas motors are allowed (electric trolling motors are) and you must have a boating permit, which can be obtained at the Town Lake operations center.

Where: Tempe Town Lake
When: 03/12/09
Caught: Striped Bass
Technique: Spinner Bait
Comments: What are stripers doing in this lake?
Name: Tom

**Probably yellow bass not stripers.

Where: Tempe Town Lake
When: 03/08/09
Caught: 7 Pound Largemouth Bass
Technique: Rooster Tail – slow retrieval
Comments: This was around 11:15 AM. The bass seem to be moving closer to the shore around this time of day. She was SO FAT and filled with eggs. We got her back in the water safely so she can produce some more lunkers in TTL. Good times!
Name: BG Davison and Luke Brye

Where: Tempe Town Lake
When: 02/20/09
Caught: 30+Yellow bass and 25+Blue gill
Technique: Small piece of night crawler on a #10 hook on the bottom. Under rural bridge ASU side.
Comments: Kept: one 10″ yellow bass, four 7″ bluegill and 8″ one bluegill/yellow bass mix looking fish (shaped like a yellow bass but colored like a bluegill). All others were under my keep size.
Name: Martin Olsen

Where: Tempe Town Lake
When: 02/28/09
Caught: 1 catfish
Technique: hotdogs and doughballs originally used for carp
Comments: Slow all day, little nibbles here and there, but nothing to get excited about. Nonetheless had a great day fishing at T.T.L.
Name: Tim Y.

Where: Tempe Town Lake
When: 02/24/09
Caught: Nothing
Technique: Berkley worms, Berkley gulp minnows, various jigs and crankbaits.
Comments: Nothing was biting on my line. Was fishing from about 4PM to 7PM. Didn’t see anyone around me reeling anything in either.
Name: Hopper

Where: Tempe Town Lake
When: 02/24/09
Caught: 1 largemouth
Technique: Sinking/countdown Rapala…rainbow trout pattern cd-7…yearling large mouth about 11am yo-yo lure off the bottom bout 10ft from wall then bite was slow, talk w/ a guy with a big carp on corn also east of Scottsdale rd east of as stadium…not bad but no trout
Name: Eric ”yeti” b

You can fish around the marina area and catch some dinks or search for some structure, that’s what one angler did and found a nice pocket of 3+ pound bass.  He flipping worms and t-rigged imitation crayfish in overhanging trees and did pretty well.  The larger fish are there, but you need to think like a bass and find the structure.
LAKE PLEASANT – Water elevation is 1690 ft, which is 87% full.

A couple anglers caught 4 largemouth bass using dropshot and jigs in the northern coves.  All fish looked healthy and were released.

Where: Agua Fria branch
When: 03/15/09
Caught: channel catfish
Technique: trolled dead bluegill from kayak
Comments: Dead cow in the water. Does that make the fish unsafe? Does that make Peoria’s water supply unsafe?
Name: Dave Collins

Where: Lake Pleasant
When: 03/15/09
Caught: zero
Technique: minnows, from boat humbug bay
Comments: Not a thing biting, only one other boat had 3 fish from all day fishing, not a sole gave a report of any fish
Name: r graves

Where: Lake Pleasant
When: 03/11/09
Caught: Bunch of BAD attitudes
Technique: I did catch a 3lb LM at 0600 on a chatter bait
Comments: Must have been the full moon. I had people cutting me off all day while I was casting along a bank. One (I’ll say older) fella came in so close, that if I would have waited another second I would have coasted into him. I asked what his problem was, and he said that he was “tired of young punks with high dollar fishing boats taking all the fish” I asked him how old he thought I was and he said it didn’t matter; anyone younger than him was a punk. I asked him when he was born, he told me…..and I almost fell out of my boat…..it turns out I was 2 years old when he was born.

Where: Saguaro Lake
When: 03/03/09
Caught: bluegills
Technique: nightcrawlers and bobbers from shore
Comments: The bluegills were not that big, but we got more than enough for a good meal.
Name: Perry Gillis

Where: Lake Pleasant
When: 03/03/09
Caught: nothing
Technique: Snowbirds gone fishing 16 times since Nov. Been one of worst experiences to date. Much better in past years.
Name: James Sanberg

ROOSEVELT LAKE – Lake Elevation is 2151 ft (100% full).

Tonto Creek runoff is at 83 cfs while inflow from the Salt River is at 1360 cfs.

A couple anglers fished for largemouth and cranks, blades and jerks didn’t cut it, but 6 inch pink worms enticed a few.  In all these anglers caught around 16 fish 2 unders, 2 overs and the rest were slots.  There are lots of submerged trees covered with slimy moss.

Another couple fishermen caught a couple bass on drop shot and despite the chance of snags on submerged trees and saguaros they tried throwing cranks.  Good call, and they caught 9 for the day including a 12 inch smallmouth.  They went out the following morning and the topwater bite was on.  After that shut down Texas rigged smallie beaver reaction bait was the ticket in among the submerged trees.  Total for that day was 11 and water temp was 65..

Where: Roosevelt
When: 03/14/09
Caught: 21 Largemouth
Technique: White spinner bait, willow leaf, slow rolling main channel casting to trees in the Salt end 20 feet, water temp was 58.
Comments: Most of the fish were in the upper end of the slot with a few overs and unders.
Name: Jim Lindquist

Where: Roosevelt lake
When: 03/14/09
Caught: 2 bass over 17″
Technique: We started off early morning about 5am using top water fifth cast for my buddy he got an 18″ 4lb bass after that nothing till 9 am I got a 17 1/2″ largemouth off of a Texas rigged Yamamoto cut tail and nothing after that.
Comments: I think there was a huge tournament cause about 6-7 we seen about 40 boats going up the river towards schoolhouse. I’m going to wait till the water gets a little warmer before I go again but had a good time the next day at Saguaro lake.
Name: Matthew burch

Where: Roosevelt
When: 03/14/09
Caught: large mouth
Technique: Top water, Sammys
Comments: caught 6 overs around mid day in shallow water

Where: Roosevelt lake
When: 03/13/09
Caught: Caught 10 largemouth bass (2 over the slot). 34 crappies (1.5 to 2.5lbs.) and 3 yellow bass.
Technique: Trolling 1/8oz. jigs (white and chartreuse). 2/3rds of the fish were caught on white. trolling speed .9 to 1mph.
Comments: Fished the salt river arm from sun up to sun down. Fished in 25 to 35 feet just off the banks. Trolling depth appr. 12 feet.
Name: chipper

Where: Roosevelt
When: 03/04/09
Caught: Largemouth
Technique: Shallow water jerkbait
Comments: Boated 48 bass and one crappie today. Far and away my best day ever. Caught some big fat females full of eggs.
Name: Dan Hynes

Where: Roosevelt
When: 03/10/09
Caught: morning
Technique: 60 slot bass caught, including 10 whoppers over 4 lbs. Try casting chartreuse Bucktail Mepps spinners with XL treble hooks into heavy cover!! As soon as you feel a tug, set the hook hard and hold on for dear life! Also try polywogs under a bobber.
Comments: Tonto arm of Roosevelt.
Name: Polly Wog

APACHE – Lake elevation is 1913 ft (99% full).

Water Temp taken at the surface on 3-12-09 was 56 degrees.

Smallmouth are being caught off shore and some towards the dam closer to Roosevelt.  Largemouth and bluegill are also starting to wake up.  Bluegill are biting near the marina and shallow coves.  Use a worm under a bobber to catch the bluegill.  Try your largemouth fishing near overhanging vegetation and reeds.  Carolina rig with a roboworm will entice a bite if you are at the right spot.  Catfish are taking worms and smelly bait in the coves.  There is usually at least one lunker catfish per cove.  Don’t forget smallmouth bass like the rocky substrate.
A Challenge to Anglers -

There are so many fish in the lake, people are seeing them on their fish finders but catching them is proving to be difficult.  Find out what the fish will bite and you will have an awesome fishing experience.  Thousands of trout were stocked in that lake, so swimbaits ought to do pretty well.  Yellow bass are taking live worms (pieces will work just as good).  They also like kastmasters, the blue and silver seem to be a yellow bass favorite this year.  They like the points where the substrate drops off.  This lake has good smallmouth habitat and they like to hang where the runoff hits the lake.  Largemouth will take advantage of the feast coming down the washes as well – don’t forget largemouth like the overhanging vegetation.  Catfish are taking worms, hotdogs and just about anything else.  It’s a little chilly for them so give yourself an advantage and find them on the fish finder.
CANYON – Lake elevation is 1659 ft, which is 98% full.

Where: Canyon Lake
When: 03/12/09
Caught: 4 largemouth , 1 rainbow, 1 sunfish
Technique: Saw no one was catching fish but I was the terminator! You get what you pay for …buy a 6 dollar RAPALA…UNLESS YOU WANT YOUR KID TO CRY FROM BOREDOM… First, got a rainbow and a largemouth in the morningish 10-11am…then moved spots to a nice quiet cove and it got hot! 3 bass and a sunfish in about 10 minutes, all released, biggest was 2 lbs and change on my scale others were a bit smaller size…also water level is way up…I’ll be back…what’s the slot on these bass I want to have a fish fry next week? haha
Name: “yettit”

Where: Canyon Lake
When: 03/11/09
Caught: 7 Largemouth
Technique: Caught one LM on Chrome/black back medium diver. Six LM on dropshot-4 inch Roboworms.
Comments:
Found BIG bass on beds in one to two feet of water. Smallest bed bass just over two pounds, largest over five pounds. All fish were released.
Name: John

Anglers were catching bluegill on worms.  One angler caught 4 largemouth bass on jigs near Boulder Creek and he said they were all about 5 pounds.

SAGUARO – Lake elevation 1528 feet at 98% full.

Where: Saguaro
When: 03/19/09
Caught: Bluegill, bass slow yet
Technique: various
Comments: Bass are just starting to bed, left them alone. Not much happening with the staging bass yet, loads of saucer size bluegill though
Name: anonymous

Where: Saguaro
When: 03/15/09
Caught: 12-Large Mouth, 3-Trout, 1-Yellow Bass
Technique: Night Crawlers w/ Weedless Hook & Medium Split-Shot
Comments: Fished from 9:30 – 12:30. Started w/ small rattle-trap that had no luck, then switched to night crawlers and the fun began! All fish were healthy; most bass were in the slot. The bite never actually stopped, but the lake just got a little too busy. All fish were released. Great time to go right now…
Name: Mike

Where: Saguaro lake
When: 03/15/09
Caught: 1 yearling bass 20 bluegill and 1 yellow bass!
Technique: I used a blue and silver Kastmaster from the time I got there til the time I left second cast I got the bass then bluegill there was no reason to change baits.
Comments: Fished Butcher Jones dock and couldn’t keep the blue gill off my hook I was only there for 2 hours and got all those fish. This lake is amazing to take the kids to.
Name: Matthew Burch

Where: Saguaro Lake
When: 03/03/09
Caught: bluegills
Technique: nightcrawlers and bobbers from shore
Comments: The bluegills were not that big, but we got more than enough for a good meal.
Name: Perry Gillis

Some anglers caught around 30 largemouth bass using 7 inch roboworms on Texas and Carolina Riggs next to aquatic vegetation near the Meadows, Snags and Mesquite Flats.  Drop shot technique was also working in deeper water.  Use your fish finder to give yourself a fighting chance for the drop shot bite.  The jerkbait bite was also productive in the early morning along the same vegetated areas.

Where: Saguaro
When: 03/06/09
Caught: 1 Trout
Technique: We tried everything…The trout hit only when the lure stopped moving.
Name: Lance

Where: Saguaro Lake Butcher Jones
When: 03/07/09
Caught: 100 bluegills
Technique: Drop shot with mealworms (5to9in)
Comments: caught around 8 to 11
Name: Moses Haskins

BARTLETT – Lake elevation is 1792 ft, which is 91% full.  Reservoir release is 100 cfs.

Where: Bartlett
When: 03/12/09
Caught: 32 crappie
Technique: Slow trolling with katlin bbc grubs on 1/16 oz jig head in 10 to 15 feet of water near submerged trees.
Comments: A Ranger told us on Thursday to expect the water levels to rise on foot a day.
Name: Rocky Anselmo

Where: Bartlett Lake
When: 03/08/09
Caught: Largemouth
Technique: Jigging real real slow off points (crawdad imitation)
Comments: Fished from shore lost a few jigs but caught 12 bass 1-3 pound range with 2 pushing 4pounds.Tony
Name: Tony Major

Where: Bartlett
When: 03/08/09
Caught: Nothing
Technique: Senkos, Robo Worms, Crawdad Imitations, Crankbaits, Spinners, Top Water etc etc
Comments: Threw everything but the kitchen sink at them. Water temp still too cold, air temp too cold that day as well. Fish are still very lethargic. Wait for warmer temps to kick the fish into gear.
Name: Ryan

Where: Bartlett Lake
When: 03/09/09
Caught: 2 Largemouth Bass, 1 Channel Catfish
Technique: Swimming Curltail Jigs
Comments: Bass and Catfish were nice and healthy. All over 3lbs. (all released, was searching for Crappie). One healthy Otter sighting. (didn’t know we had them here).
Name: dt

Where: Bartlett
When: 03/06/09
Caught: 3 bluegill and 3 channel catfish
Technique: Nightcrawlers and chicken livers.
Comments: All the fish were pretty small and were released but when the catfish hit, they hit hard.
Name: Ashley, Chris, Ralph and Mary

Anglers are catching bass and crappie in the riverine portion of the lake.

HORSESHOE – Lake elevation is at 2005 feet, 58% full.  They are releasing water at 1650 cfs.

VERDE RIVER  – Verde River flow at Tangle is 367 cubic feet per second.  Release from Bartlett Lake is 100 cfs.

SALT RIVER –

Salt River into Roosevelt is 1360 cfs, and Salt River Canyon is 1320 cfs.  They are releasing 1200 cfs out of Stewart Mountain dam from Saguaro.
With the higher flow be careful wading out and Desert Sportsman recommends using egg patterns, scuds and small red midges for the fly fishermen.

LOWER SALT RIVER (below Saguaro Lake) Stewart Dam release is 1200cfs.

Where: Lower Salt River at Blue Point Bridge
When: 03/14/09
Caught: 3 Largemouth Bass
Technique: Night Crawlwers on 4lb. test with single split shot. I let the bait drift downstream and slowly retrieved it accross the bottom.
Comments: The Bass were not very big, the largest being 12 inches but had a great time fighting them on the light tackle.
Name: Bardsley

Where: Lower Salt River
When: 03/13/09
Caught: 24 trout/released
Technique: spinners
Comments: Fish slow.  Trout need a lot of time to examine lure before striking.
Name: John LeFevere

CREEKS – According to Arizona Fly Fishing the creeks are a bit high and not too muddy yet.

Haigler Creek –  No new report

Canyon Creek – According to Arizona Fly Fishing excellent fishing at Canyon Creek; use semi seal leach patterns and fish closer to the bottom.

Tonto Creek – Accessible and try dry fly dropper rig with size 14 to 16 bead head nymph according to Desert Sportsman.

Christopher Creek – Accessible and try dry dropper rig with size 14 to 16 bead head nymph.

East Verde – No new report

Workman Creek – No new report

HORSETHIEF BASIN LAKE – No new report