Most higher elevation lakes are ice covered.

WILLIAMS LAKES:  
KAIBAB LAKE —  Campground area is closed.  Main parking lot and boat launch open for day use only. No reports on fishing. 

CATARACT LAKE — Campground is closed.  Lake is open for walk in fishing.

CITY RESERVOIR —  No reports. 

DOGTOWN LAKE — The picnic area, main parking lot and boat launch are open for day use only. 

JD DAM — No reports. 

RUSSEL TANK - No reports.

SANTA FE — No reports.

WHITEHORSE LAKE — No report from anglers.  Campground is closed.

FLAGSTAFF LAKES:
LOWER LAKE MARY — This lake now has some water again but is ice covered.

UPPER LAKE MARY — Lake is almost full, but iced over. No reports.

ASHURST LAKE — No reports.

FRANCIS SHORT POND – No reports.

KINNIKINICK LAKE — No reports.

MARSHALL LAKE — No reports.

OAK CREEK — Has not been stocked recently. Could be some decent fishing if you find the right spot.

LONG LAKE — No reports.

SOLDIERS & SOLDIERS ANNEX — No reports.

BEAVER CREEK — No recent reports. Had high flows last week – fishing could be slow.

WEST CLEAR CREEK — Expect turbid water from runoff. 

STONEMAN LAKE — NO FISH.

MINGUS LAKE –Trout were stocked last on the week of Oct 15.  Try bright-colored Power Bait like chartreuse, salmon eggs, or various spinners.  The gate is closed until the spring, but you can walk in and fish. 

Someone illegally stocked yellow bullhead into Mingus several years ago.  These fish compete directly with the trout and keep growth rates very low.  If you witness anyone, anywhere, moving fish like bass, bluegill, catfish and stocking them, please report it to our Operation Game Thief Hotline.  Illegal stockings cost YOU money!

DEAD HORSE STATE PARK – Trout were stocked last the week of Jan. 21 and are scheduled were stocked with 3,600 rainbow trout on Feb. 4.  Fishing should be very good.  Try using small spinners, worms, or Power Bait.
Some anglers have reported catching limits, while others have not done as well.

Catfish were stocked the week of Sept. 24, for Verde River Days festivities.  Several largemouth bass, including a 10-plus pounder have been caught this summer in the middle lagoon.  In-line spinners, plastic grubs, and small crankbaits have been the ticket. The bluegill fishing has been good using a salmon egg or small worm on a small bait hook below a bobber. The bluegills are plentiful in both the middle and lower lagoons, so between trout and catfish stockings try your luck with the bluegill. 

VERDE RIVER (throughout Verde Valley) – Stocked on Feb. 8 with rainbow trout and the water temperature was 48 degrees. The river flows had increased significantly recently but have diminished considerably.   Trout were stocked at all five sites.  Stocking sites are at Tuzigoot Bridge outside of Clarkdale, the bridge that leads to the Deadhorse State Park, at Deadhorse State Parks access point called the Jacks, at the White Bridge in Camp Verde, and at Bignotti Beach.  The department stocks trout in these waters from November through March, when the water temperature can support a trout fishery. Cold winter water temperatures keep the other game fish fairly inactive until about mid-March.

Tuzigoot Bridge (leading to Tuzigoot National Monument) has decent rainbow trout fishing early and late in the day. Most fishermen concentrate near the bridge, but the pools and currents downstream within 300 yards of the bridge hold lots of trout and do not see much fishing pressure. Small spoons such as Z-rays, Mepps and Panther Martin spinners, and Power Bait all work well.

Fly-fishermen seem to prefer fishing the Verde River between Riverfront Park and Dead Horse Ranch State Park in the town of Cottonwood. The trout aren’t too fussy about the type of fly/lure or presentation. The best success here has been first thing in the morning until about 10 a.m.

Bignotti Beach (between Cottonwood and Camp Verde, near Thousand Trails RV Park) has had decent fishing as well. Anglers tossing in-line spinners, small spoons, or fly-fishing with dark, gold-bead nymphs are doing best during mid-day, while fly-fishermen floating a variety of dry flies are having good success early and late in the day.

The White Bridge in Camp Verde (Highway 260 bridge over the Verde River) is an under-utilized trout fishery. A U.S. Forest Service picnic area above the river provides convenient parking and a short walk to the Verde River. Try fishing the riffles and pools upstream of the bridge. Mepps in-line spinners, small KastMaster spoons, and bright-colored Power Bait (fished on a treble hook above a sliding egg-sinker) have been the most productive offerings.

LYNX LAKE — Rainbow trout are scheduled to be stocked the week of Feb. 11.  Look for the fishing to be fair to good following the stocking.  Rainbows were last stocked the week of Nov. 5. 

Game and Fish Biologists installed PVC fish structures on Jan. 3.  These structures should protect small fishes from predation. 

Brook trout were stocked in September.  The brooks were in the 5-inch range, but hopefully they will be catchable size for the fishing in the spring.  Game and Fish stocked catfish the week of June 4. There were 200 pounds of bluegill stocked on March 29. Game and Fish biologists surveyed Lynx in May and found that the brook trout stocked in September 2006 were still present.

FAIN LAKE —Recent stocking for Fain have been cancelled due to the lake being frozen over.  Rainbows are scheduled to be stocked, the week of Feb. 11.  If Fain is still frozen over the stocking will be cancelled.

Prescott Valley Parks and Recreation held the annual Gold Fever Days at Fain Lake in mid October, were nearly all of the kids that participated in the fishing clinic caught fish.  Five-inch brook trout were stocked in Sept. 24 and rainbows were stocked Oct. 12 & 15.  Rainbows are scheduled to be stocked again the week of Dec 3.  Catfish were stocked on June 4.  There were 150 pounds of bluegill stocked on March 29. These fish were hand-sized and should be easily caught. Try using worms or mealworms on a bobber. Small spinners may work as well.

GOLDWATER LAKE — Trout are scheduled to be stocked the week of Feb. 11.   Look for the fishing to pick up almost immediately following the stocking.  Try using spinners, jigs, worms or rainbow Power Bait. If Goldwater is frozen over the stocking will be cancelled.

Game and Fish Biologists surveyed Goldwater during the middle of May last year and found the trout and sunfish plentiful. While the number of catfish and bass was low, the quality was exceptional. One 16-pound catfish was sampled and released. The bass averaged about 3.5 pounds. On March 29, 2007, there were 400 pounds of bluegill stocked. These fish were hand-sized and should be easily caught.  Try using worms or mealworms on a bobber.  Small spinners may work as well. If you fish Goldwater and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.