CHEVELON LAKE – Fishing has really started to turn on lately for rainbows and it sounds like the brown trout fishing is starting to get better.

Brown trout should be staging at the mouth of Chevelon Creek. Brown trout typically spawn in November. Try big streamers such as brown, black or green wooly buggers, Yeager buggers, muddler minnows, and semi-seal leeches

This lake was stocked with 20,000 sub-catchable rainbow trout three weeks ago. Even though anglers may hook into some of those now, those smaller stockers are really aimed it providing future fishing opportunities. This not is a put-and-take lake.

This is a hike-in lake via a steep slope. There is not a lot of shore access. It is best fished from a float tube, inflatable or canoe. The lake is open to artificial lure and flies only, trout between 10 and 14 inches may not be possessed, and the bag limit is six trout.  Try lures such as Z-rays, Super Dupers, spinners, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and other small nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors.

Where:Chevelon Lake
When:09/28/08
Caught:German Brown trout
Technique:1/4oz green with yellow dot Rooster tail
Comments:St. Thomas Troop 340 on a overnight hike in from Rd.119 what a beautiful experience. My son Ethan caught a Beautiful brown on Sunday Morning at 5:45am.
Name:Michael Guerrero

BEAR CANYON LAKE - Fishing is good. It has been recently stocked and there is little fishing pressure. This is a hike-in lack down short but steep and winding paths. There is pretty good shore access. This deep canyon lake is great for those with float tubes. Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and Rapalas and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, Yeager buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, hares ear and pheasant tail nymphs.  The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.

Where:Chevelon and Bear Canyon Lake
When:09/16/08
Caught:6 Trout
Technique:Fly fishing from a canoe.
Comments:I fished Chevelon from 7:30 a.m. til 4 p.m. and fought hard winds with very little fish sign. Mostly blind casting. Caught one 14-inch rainbow. Made it to Bear Canyon for the magic hour before dark and the surface bite was on. The fish were hitting and diving hard. Then it was too dark to see. Thanks for all the fun.
Name:Todd DeAngelis

BLACK CANYON LAKE – Fishing is good. The lake is full and it has been recently stocked. Angling pressure has not been great, but the reports we get indicate that the ones fishing are typically doing well.
Boat anglers have been catching trout on green and yellow Power Bait. Also try trolling cowbells with an attached worm, lure or fly. The best bite is at first and last light. Boat anglers have been catching trout on green and yellow Power Bait.
Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, or flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms and wooly buggers, and Yeager buggers.

BLUE RIDGE — This deeper canyon lake should be doing well. This long, narrow lake in a steep canyon has rainbows and browns. It is best fished from a boat, canoe, float tube and the like. There isn’t much viable shore access for anglers.

Where:Blue Ridge Res.
When:09/29/08
Caught:Rainbow Trout
Technique:Worms
Comments:Trolling lures was non-productive. Fishing a drifting worm in the coves caught 4 trout; 2 nice ones. Seems to still be the dog days of summer as the top layer of water on the lake was just slightly cool.
Name:Phil Morris

Where:Blue Ridge Res.
When:09/22/08
Caught:Rainbow Trout
Technique:Tried trolling with Z-rays, 1 fish caught. Caught 6 on worms just letting it drift in the shadows in coves from a small boat. Others catching decent fish/numbers on Power Bait
Comments:One of the nicest days ever on that lake. No wind.
Name:Phil Morris

KNOLL LAKE — We aren’t hearing much from anglers right now, but this lake has been consistently good all season and should get even better as we transition from summer to autumn conditions. This is also a great lake to hear bugling bull elk this time of year.

Where:Knoll Lake
When:10/02/08
Caught:Rainbow Trout
Technique:Yellow Grasshopper lure
Comments:Lake is low, about 4 feet lower than the bottom of the boat ramp. You’ll need to move rocks if you want to back all the way into the water. Caught a few rainbows in 1 hour just before sunset; released them all. Trolling slowly from our canoe. Lost the trailer license plate on the road in. Road starts off great, but once you pass Bear Canyon Lake turn off the road gets progressively worse and narrower. A few miles after the Bear Canyon turnoff is a spectacular place to pull off and see phenomenal views of the rim.
Name:Tracy and Brian

WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE – The catching has slow down a little here, even though the trout seem to be feeding heavily on insects at the surface. Use flies, even with spinning outfits, might be the ticket here.

When the trout are active at the surface, fly-fishers may want to try dry flies such as Adams, parachute Adams, and midge patterns in sizes 16-20. Spin anglers should try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as Z-rays, spinners, and Rapalas.

This is one of the largest lakes along the Mogollon Rim. As the nights get cooler than the water, you will often be treated to a fall mist on the water – bring your camera, especially at sunrise.

Anglers have been catching trout using cowbells with attached worms, lures, and flies. Trout have been active at the surface down to 15 feet during early morning and evening hours.
The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors.

This lake also has largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and small crappie. The best fishing for these warmer water species is in the early afternoons after the trout bite typically slows to nothing.

Where:Willow Springs Lake
When:10/03/08
Caught:Rainbow Trout
Technique:Grasshopper lures. Yellow worked OK, Green and Yellow worked great.
Comments:Out from noon till 7pm. Caught fish all day with the majority being towards sunset. Trolling slowly from our canoe. The wind was terrible. Brought home 5 nice sized trout for dinner, hooked into 20 more, just couldn’t get them into the boat. BRING YOUR DIP NET! Crayfish trap was empty after a 7-hour soak; must be too cold now. When cleaning your catch from one of the more popular lakes (Willow Springs, Woods Canyon, etc) be careful of little brass treble hooks in their gullet. Overall, one of our better days fishing on the Rim.
Name:Tracy and Brian

WOODS CANYON - Fishing is good for rainbow trout. Trout are feeding on insects at the surface off-and-on throughout the day.

The lake is full. The boat ramp is accessible.

Boat anglers are catching trout by trolling KastMasters and Panther Martins. Also try trolling cowbells with attached worms, lures, and flies. Trout have been active at the surface down to 10 feet early in the morning and late in the evening.

By the way, this lake has plentiful crayfish — bring along a bucket and get a passel of crayfish to augment your trout dinner and turn your camping adventure into a five-star dining experience.

Trout have been active at the surface down to 10 feet early in the morning and late in the evening. When the trout are active at the surface, fly-fishers may want to try dry flies such as Adams, parachute Adams, and midge patterns in sizes 16-20.

For rainbows, try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, small spoons (Super Dupers, and Z-rays), and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms and wooly buggers, Yeager buggers, Peacock ladies, and nymphs in black, brown, or green colors.  The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.

Where:woods canyon
When:09/29/08
Caught:trout
Technique:Trolling cowbells with night crawlers. cricket hoppers, and Rooster Tails in 1/8oz.
Comments:caught some very nice fish between 7:00a.m. and about noon. Most were about 14″ to 17″ fat and healthy.
Name:Frankie

Where:woods cayon lake
When:09/24/08
Caught:trout
Technique:Ultra lights with Little Cleo’s
Comments:Got there at 8 a.m. and had our limit by 10 a.m. Had a few 1.5 pounders.
Name: Scott elliott