Note: Northern Pike have been illegally stocked in Francis Short. If you catch a Northern Pike at Francis Short Pond please REMOVE IT FROM THE POND.

WILLIAMS LAKES:
KAIBAB LAKE Campground area is open. Main parking lot and boat launch open for day use only. Some trout are being caught. Scheduled to be stocked this week.
Where: Kaibab Lake
When: 05/03/08
Caught: Rainbow Trout
Technique: Multi Colored Power Bait with glitter 24 inches up from the bottom.
Comments: My wife and I caught the 7 trout in four and a half hours. My wife had not been fishing since she was a child.
Name: Wesley Peacock

CATARACT LAKE — Campground is open. Lake is open for walk in fishing. Some fish being caught on flies and worms. Recently stocked.

CITY RESERVOIR — Road is open. Lake is full. Recently stocked.

DOGTOWN LAKE — Campground area is open. No Report Some browns are being caught on lures. Recently stocked.

JD DAM — Road is open.

RUSSEL TANK - Recently stocked.

Where:
Russel Tank
When:05/03/08
Caught:Rainbow Trout
Technique:Power bait and spinners.
Comments:Average 10 inch, limit out within an hour. Locals were doing just as good. I will be headed back up there for the second opening day for Spring Turkey, if I can’t seal the deal with Mr. Tom I’ll just catch some trout.
Name:Gilbert

SANTA FE — Lake is full. Anglers are catching trout and yellow perch. Recently stocked.

WHITEHORSE LAKE — No report from anglers. Campground area is open. Lake is open for walk in fishing. Lake is full. Recently stocked.
FLAGSTAFF LAKES:
LOWER LAKE MARY — This is still a trout-catching hot spot. A total of 28,000 trout have been stocked into the lake fishing is fair to good depending on the wind.
Angler report
Where:Lower Lake Mary
When:
05/13/08
Caught:Rainbow Trout
Technique:Using brown and black flies with a fly bobber.
Comments:I went down to the lake the day after that storm front went through and it snowed. I was not sure what I was going to catch but when I got to the lake I thought it was raining. Turns out it was all the trout eating the little gnats that were on the surface. I fished for about 2 and half hours and caught over 100 fish. I was just having fun. The sizes ranged from 8″ to over 12″. This is the hot spot in the northern lakes. One more thing more: bring bug spray.
Name:Walter Sprengeler, Jr.
Where: Lower Lake Mary
When:05/03/08
Caught: Trout — 8″ - 1′-2″
Technique:1/8-1/4 oz spoons as well as Power Bait
Comments: The bite was on for a good hour or so, died for 30 minutes and was on again (Like this throughout the day)
Name: Josh

UPPER LAKE MARY — This is still a northern pike hot spot. The lake is full. Some anglers have reported catching huge northern pike on frozen anchovies fished with little or no weight on steel leaders.

Where:Upper Lake Mary
When:05/14/08
Caught:Northern Pike
Technique:Was using silver spinners and spoons.
Comments:I was fishing up by the dam and was not sure if I was going to catch anyting. Turns out I landed a few of these monsters. It was fun.
Name:Walter Sprengeler, Jr.

Where:Lake Mary
When:05/05/08
Caught:Northern Pike
Technique:Trolling Rapalas. Brought in 4 nice Pike all over 2′ in length. Windy conditions and cool but beautiful. Lake Mary has been consistent for one fish an hour minimum this Spring.
Name:Jeff
ASHURST LAKE — The lake is full. Some larger hold-over trout are being caught. Recently stocked. The road is open. Some trout anglers are catching northern pike.

Where:Ashurst lake
When:05/10/08
Caught:caught limit of trout. one big rainbow. big enough for two.
Technique:used worms with a floater. size eight hook.
Comments:they start biting the first five minutes. it up to you when to hook’em
Name:Ryan Becenti
Where: Ashurst Lake
When: 04/05/08
Caught: trout
Technique: rainbow KastMaster, trolling
Comments: The fishing is slow but patience will be rewarded. There are some huge hold-overs
Name: Corey Myers

FRANCIS SHORT POND – Has been recently stocked. Fishing was fair to good for trout on flies or Power Bait. Catfish are being caught on night crawlers. Please remove all pike caught to save stocked trout for the anglers!!!

KINNIKINICK LAKE — Road Open. Recently stocked…
Where: Kinnickinick
When 05/04/08
Caught: Rainbows
Technique: Night crawlers, grubs, small brown Power Bait worms with chartreuse eggs in front of the worms, eagle claw double hook assembly.
Comments: Caught 9 pan fries and put them back to grow. Hooked a 8 + lb.
Name: Thom Rogers

MARSHALL LAKE — Recently stocked.

OAK CREEK — Stocked weekly. Fishing is slow for browns, but okay for rainbows.

Where:oak creek
When:05/09/08
Caught:rainbow trout
Technique:pink eggs
Comments:
aught 13 in 30 minutes lost 3 and kept my limit
Name:dwight gower
Where: Oak Creek
When: 05/04/08
Caught: 1 tiny stocker
Technique: Flies, nymphs
Comments: Walked nearly all of the hot pools up the creek (above Slide Rock) didn’t see any of the stocked trout. Most likely b/c it was the weekend.
Name: Nathan

Where: Oak Creek, Don Hoe’s cabins
when: 04/26/08
Caught: 1 Rainbow trout and wife caught 1 bow
Technique: Fly-fishing, tried Bead headed Copper John, Simi Seal Leach and Hopper.
Comments: Water was crystal clear but kinda low. Large slow pools with lots of fish, but didn’t catch any in the pools. Caught 10-inch rainbow in riffle using Simi Seal.
Name:Lonnie Nordby

Where:Oak Creek
When:04/16/08
Caught:Rainbow trout, brown trout
Technique:Different colored Power Baits and salmon eggs.
Comments:The rainbows were plentiful in places where they were stocked (when you could find them). We caught a few brown trout and caught our limits of rainbows.
Name:Mike McBeath

Where:Oak Creek Canyon
When:04/19/08
Caught:Rainbow Trout
Technique:Spin casting rooster tails
Comments:Fished below slide rock up to the bridge and into the park. Fishing was slow, water is still a bit high. Caught one rainbow just above the bridge in the park. Maybe the fish have not made it to below the bridge as of yet.
Name:Bradley Mihalik

LONG LAKE — Stocked this week. Lake is open. Water level is good. Lake has been stocked with 4,300 trout. Some nice fish are being caught near the ditch. Two anglers report catching limits of trout from their boat but were challenged by windy conditions at times.

SOLDIERS & SOLDIERS ANNEX — Lakes are open. No report.

BEAVER CREEK — Recently stocked – no reports.
Where:Beaver Creek
When:04/10/08
Caught:Rainbow Trout & Bass
Technique:Night Crawlers no weight
Comments:Fished from the Bridge at the Camp Ground all the way up north to the Southwest Academy and only found a pocket of 8 Stocker Trout & 4 dead Trout and very few Bass. Water is clear. I would recommend that you try your luck south of the Bridge/Red Rock Ranger Station. Because we were unable to locate the 900+ Recently stocked Trout, north of the bridge!
Name:Jesse F.

WEST CLEAR CREEK — Recently stocked. No report.

STONEMAN LAKE — Low water. NO FISH.

MINGUS LAKE – The seasonal gate across the access road is open. Rainbow trout are being stocked every two weeks. Mingus was stocked on May 12. The best bait has been white Power Bait, fished on the bottom with a treble hook and an egg sinker. Several 6-fish limits of trout were caught this way. Fishermen using night crawlers under a bobber are also having some success.

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 fishing success has slowed since the last seasonal fish stockings April 1. The best bait has been kernels of canned corn with a split-shot sinker, fished about 3 feet under a bobber. Power Bait fished on the bottom with an egg sinker is also catching a few trout. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Try using small plastic jigs, plastic worms, or small spinnerbaits near deeper cover.

The largemouth bite has picked up, so try throwing plastic worms or lizards. Bluegills are very abundant, but most are small. This is a great opportunity to teach kids how to fish. Try using a #8 hook with a small piece of worm under a bobber and you should have success. While the crappie numbers are up a little, most are small. Look for the crappie fishing to be good late this year or next year. Catfish are scheduled to be stocked the week of June 9th.

VERDE RIVER (throughout Verde Valley) – Trout fishing success is waning since the last seasonal fish stockings occurred March 17. A few rainbows are still being taken near Riverfront Park in Cottonwood on night crawlers and dry flies. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Best bet is throughout the Camp Verde reach using small plastic jigs and in-line spinners. Channel catfish action is starting to pick up in the Verde Valley. Most success on catfish is by using night crawlers and chicken liver after dusk.

LYNX LAKE — Rainbow trout were last stocked April 14 and are scheduled to be stocked again the week of May 12. The fishing should improve following this stocking. Some 7-inch brook trout were stocked the week of Feb 25. 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 with rainbow trout May 12. While some were doing very well others were not. Try to fish were the water is clearer. Use spinners or bright colored power bait. Fain lake was stocked with brook trout on Feb. 25.

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.

GOLDWATER LAKE — Trout were stocked on the May 18. One angler reported catching a 13- and 14-inch trout in two hours of fishing. While there is no shortage of fish, most people report catching only one or two fish. Fishing should really pick up following the stocking this week. Try using KastMasters. If that does not work you may try worms or Power Bait. Early in the morning and in the evening the bite may be a little better. Some days the fishing seems to be better than other days as well. Bluegills were stocked Feb 25. Game and Fish biologists weighed a 22-pound channel catfish that was caught at Goldwater in March.

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.

Where:Goldwater lake
When:04/23/08
Caught:trout- limit
Technique:Panther Martin lures worked great. Power bait was also working.
Comments:The weather was beautiful, and the fishing was great.
Name:Andrew Samsill