Note: Some lakes ice-free, are open and accessible. Others might be ice-free but the roads are either covered in snow, or still closed. With the warming weather, the situation can sometimes change daily. As lakes become accessible, we will try to update to fishing report on the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov, although the e-mail report will only be sent out once a week. So keep checking back for the latest information.

WILLIAMS LAKES:
KAIBAB LAKE — Ice free. Stocked with 3,400 rainbow trout last week and the water temperature was 48F. Campground area is closed. Main parking lot and boat launch open for day use only.

CATARACT LAKE — Ice free and accessible. The water level has increased to the spillway. Campground is closed. Lake is open and accessible for fishing. No reports so far. Should be good. Let us know.

CITY RESERVOIR — Open. Water level is good. No reports.

DOGTOWN LAKE — Ice free. Accessible by four-wheel-drive only. Picnic area, main parking lot and boat launch are open for day use only.
Angler report:
Where:
Dogtown Lake
When:
03/20/08
Caught:
Nothing
Technique:
Fished from shore line with Power Bait, corn, & fake worms.
Comments:
You definitely need 4-wheel drive if you go in the next week. We had to 4 wheel thru at least 2 ft. of ice/snow in some areas. Too cold, too much snow yet.
Name:
Tom Martini

Where:
Dogtown
When:
03/15/08
Caught:
Nothing
Technique:
Fly-fishing, partner was using worms, power-bait, and spinners
Comments:
Osprey 3, fishermen 0. We fished most of the morning at Dogtown, I saw one riser, no strikes on any of the usual or unusual flies, my fishing partner had no luck as well, wind came up in the afternoon, I was home for supper.
Name:
Jared Payne

JD DAM — No report.

RUSSEL TANK – No reports.

SANTA FE — No reports.

WHITEHORSE LAKE — Campground is closed. Lake is probably not accessible yet.

FLAGSTAFF LAKES:
LOWER LAKE MARY — This is a trout-angling hot spot. This lake has now been stocked with 29,000 rainbow trout. Also, Upper Lake Mary is now flowing into Lower Lake Mary. Anglers are already catching lots of trout. This will likely be a high country trout fishing hot spot for the next several weeks, but don’t miss out on this seasonal treat. By the end of summer, this ephemeral lake may no longer be fishable. Once the season magic ends, it could turn back into a giant elk meadow, kind of like Cinderella’s carriage turning back into a pumpkin.

Angler report: I just would like to say ‘thanks’ for your articles in the Daily Sun. A thought I would offer: I went to Lower Lake Mary this past weekend (3-30-08) to try out a new fly rod, and had a blast catching/releasing the little stockers. I noted about a dozen other folks doing the same, however it looked like may were not fishing barbless, and appeared to be pretty rough on the little guys in the manner in how they got their hooks removed before they released them. Maybe in one of your upcoming articles you could address the importance of barbless hooks if a person intends to release their catch, and maybe mention the idea of pinching down the barbs for those that don’t realize the concept. Just a thought, and thanks for the good work – Larry Thomas

Editor’s note: Good points Larry. Also, if you can keep the trout in the water and minimize your handling of them, you will lesson any potential delayed mortality if you are catching-and-releasing. Try using long-nosed pliers (very long) or forceps and reach down, then with a flick of the wrist pop out the hook and release the trout. It takes a little practice, but with the possible catch rates at the Lower Lake, you might just become a master.

Angler report
Where:
Lower Lake Mary
When:
03/29/08
Caught:
nothing
Technique:
Power Bait (various types) small spoons and spinners
Comments:
not many people were catching anything. We fished for about 4 hours.
Where:
Lower Lake Mary
When:
03/20/08
Caught:
Rainbow Trout
Technique:
I was using a small silver spoon and a small gold Z-ray. With both lures I retrieved it very slow.
Comments:
The lake was just recently stocked with some decent size fish. The biggest I caught was over 12 inches and weighed a pound. It was fun just to go out and catch these little guys. The fish were also biting on Power Bait but I was having more success with the spoons. The key with the spoons is that it is retrieved very slow.
Name:
Walter Sprengeler, Jr.

UPPER LAKE MARY — Lake is full and about to overflow into the spillway. The big pike are biting. See the angler report below.

Angler report:
Where:
Upper Lake Mary
When:
03/15/08
Caught:
Northern Pike
Technique:
Anchovies on steel leaders with no weight and large catfish hooks.
Comments:
My fishing buddies and I have been sneaking in a little time around work to fish the freshly thawed/thawing upper lake. I caught pike to 28 inches, my neighbor, Bob Bax caught Pike to 31 ½ inches and my friend Brandon Baxter caught pike to 24 inches. We like to marvel at just what a scary, scary fish Pike are! There is a pre-hook set heart pounding that occurs knowing that you are hooking into an extraordinarily aggressive, toothy and unwary species! As a special tip, these fish were really vulnerable right after the ice began to melt (inhaling the chovies). Now, these fish are in a bite, hold-and-run pattern which means, if you intend to keep these fish, open your bail and WALK AWAY from your rod at the first sign of a bite. We have seen too many trigger happy fisherman slamming the hook way too early on these fish. Fish shallow with no weight! Despite minimalistic warnings for mercury, I have been hearing lots of confusion over the safety of consuming these water dragons out of Mary. Either way, we are eating our 8 oz portions! Best of luck! We got ours! We are hoping to see wiskerfish in the lower lake soon.
Name:
Danny Iberri-Shea

ASHURST LAKE — No reports.

FRANCIS SHORT POND – Has been stocked with trout. This is a great place to take kids.

KINNIKINICK LAKE — Road has not been opened yet. Stay tuned – things are changing rapidly with the warming weather.

MARSHALL LAKE — Road has not been opened yet.

OAK CREEK — Stocked with 1,350 rainbow trout last week and the water temperature was 49 degrees. Water is still running a little high from the runoff. Expect fishing to be good for rainbows, but slow for browns.

LONG LAKE — According to the Forest Service, the roads are now open. It has been stocked with some sub-catchable sized trout and is scheduled to be stocked again this Friday (March 28), but don’t have high expectations of catching carry-over rainbows – this lake had thick ice with snow on top. It likely had a fish kill, although circumstances did not allow us to confirm this before the first stocking occurred.

SOLDIERS & SOLDIERS ANNEX — No reports.

BEAVER CREEK — Scheduled for stocking this week. Did get a report from an angler three weeks ago who hiked up canyon and caught some nice holdover trout right as the flows were ramping up. Recent reports (below) were not very positive. We should stock it soon. Once this happens, we will change the online report.
WEST CLEAR CREEK — Scheduled for stocking this week. No recent reports.

STONEMAN LAKE — NO FISH. Does have some water, but not enough to be stocked.

MINGUS LAKE – Trout were stocked last on the week of Oct 15. Stocking should resume early in May. 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 – Scheduled to be stocked this week. Try using small spinners, worms, or Power Bait. Some anglers have reported catching limits, while others have not done as well. Trout were last stocked the week of March 3.

VERDE RIVER (throughout Verde Valley) – Trout were last stocked the week of March 17 and it is scheduled to be stocked the week of April 7. 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.
Angler report:
Where:
Upper Verde River
When:
03/21/08
Caught:
39 Rainbow Trout
Technique:
Fly fished a size 18 Copper John below an indicator and caught six on that. Caught 33 on a homemade bait. I attached the bait to the smallest hook I could find and attached a split shot 3 feet above it. I slowly reeled it in and had a strike every time.
Comments:
Great day of fishing even though the river was running a bit high.
Name:
Phillip Scott

LYNX LAKE — Rainbow trout were last stocked the week of March 10. The fishing should improve following this stocking. Some 7-inch brook trout were stocked the week of Feb 25. Look for the fishing to be fair to good following the stocking. 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 — Fain lake was stocked rainbow trout last week, the week of March 24. The fishing should be very good following the stocking. Use spinners or bright colored power bait. Shore fishing area may be limited, as sediment deposits have resulted from the rains.

Angler report:
Where:
Fain Park
When:
03/27/08
Caught:
Rainbow trout
Technique:
bobber, split shot & #12 long shank hook about 18-24 inches below the bobber with green speckled Power Bait
Comments:
tried salmon eggs, rainbow, red, & orange Power Bait green is the right color. Caught 3 in 15 min. all avg. 12 inches length
Name:
Colton Floyd
GOLDWATER LAKE — Trout were stocked on Friday, March 21. The fishing has been hit-or-miss. While there is no shortage of fish, most people report catching only one or two fish. Try using KastMasters. If that does not work, try using spinners, jigs, worms or rainbow Power Bait. Some days the fishing seems to be better than other days as well. Bluegills were stocked Feb 25.

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.