NORTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
Note: Most higher elevation lakes are ice covered. There is lots of snow pack. Most lakes should fill and spill.

WILLIAMS LAKES:
KAIBAB LAKE — Campground area is closed. Main parking lot and boat launch open for day use only.

CATARACT LAKE — Campground is closed.

CITY RESERVOIR — No reports.

DOGTOWN LAKE — No reports.

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. Plus, Upper Lake Mary is all the way up to the spillway, even before the runoff season. This lake should catch some decent water this year and will most likely be stocked.

UPPER LAKE MARY — Lake is 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.

Where:
Oak Creek Canyon
When:
03/08/08
Caught:
Trout
Technique
Power Bait, salmon eggs, spinners, jigs.
Comments
We fished all the way from Cave Springs Campground to Call O the Wild. Then from Banjo Bills to Slide Rock. Only caught 2 trout all day. The schedule said stocking was suppose to happen last week, but I should have read the report before we left. I guess the stocking didn’t happen. Rumor is it is suppose to happen on Monday. We will be back up there on Monday, and next Saturday.
Name:
Mike McBeath Jr

LONG LAKE — No reports.

SOLDIERS & SOLDIERS ANNEX — No reports.

BEAVER CREEK — No recent reports.

WEST CLEAR CREEK — No reports.

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 –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) – Trout were stocked last week, the week of March. 3. The river flows had increased significantly recently but have diminished considerably. While the flows have diminished they are still considerably higher than normal, making fishing a little more difficult. On Saturday March 8th Camp Verde Parks and Recreation and Arizona Game and Fish provided a fishing clinic at the white bridge. While success was limited, all participants seemed to enjoy themselves.

Stocking sites are at Tuzigoot Bridge outside of Clarkdale, the bridge that leads to the Dead Horse State Park, at Dead Horse 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 were last stocked the week of Feb. 11 and are scheduled to be stocked again this week, the week of March 10. Some 7-inch brook trout were stocked the week of Feb 25. Look for the fishing to be fair to good following the stocking and the ice melting.

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.

Angler report:
Where:
Lynx lake
When:
03/11/08
Caught:
trout
Technique:
Red Panther martin
Comments:
I began fishing for trout with worms, and after 1 hour I had not caught anything. A fisherman I met was catching fish on a red Panhter Martin, and he had an extra one and gave it to me and told me to try it. Within 20 minutes, I had my limit of trout, all exceeding 12 in. If the person who gave this lure to use reads this report, thank you very much. He left before I could get his name.
Name:
Ray Strom

FAIN LAKE —Fain lake was stocked with both rainbow trout and brook trout on Feb. 25 and is scheduled to be stocked with rainbows this week (March 10). The fishing should be very good following the stocking. Rainbows are scheduled to be stocked again next week. Use spinners or bright colored power bait. Shore fishing area may be limited as sediment deposits have resulted from the rains.

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 were 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. Bluegills were stocked last week (Feb 25). Rainbow trout are scheduled to be stocked again the week of March 17.

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.