First, sorry for last week’s fishing report glitches: one was a computer glitch, cyber ghost or whatever. The other was a combination computer issue and a glitch in the aging gray substance between my ears while running around getting things underway for the ISE Show. Sorry, I’ll try to make up for it this week (or maybe Mother Nature will).

The true headline should read: THEY ARE CATCHING CRAPPIES AT ROOSEVELT and BARTLETT, plus Alamo is coming alive!!! For all you crappie anglers, the wait is over, you can now quit reading this report, grab your ultra lights and go.

For all the rest of you, I found out during last weekend’s International Sportsmen’s Exposition that they have been catching bass on beds at Martinez Lake (backwater of the Colorado River near Yuma) for at least two weeks now. It was a well kept secret, until now.

Every year, Martinez vies with Alamo for the earliest spawn. Lots of nutrient-loaded runoff and a rising lake level took Alamo out of the early-bird equation this year. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Alamo is picking up daily and could be on fire by the time you read this. Keep in mind there are no recreational boaters there: no marina/no gas = no hassles, just a pure fishing lake that will have decent quail hunting opportunities around it this fall.

But don’t sweat it. If you favorite bass lake isn’t rockin’ n’ rollin’ with the pre-spawn or spawn yet, it soon will be. It’s spring. It’s warm. Procreation is in the air (or water as the case may be). The spring equinox (first day of spring) is March 19 (I’ll be on vacation). Once we hit the equinox, days will be increasingly longer than the nights. Plus, the nights will get warmer. We will soar into prime lake temperatures soon, at least in our desert impoundments.

Also, this coming week the full moon is also March 21. Lunar cycles do impact fish behavior. The full moon could spur the spawn from a walk to a gallop (you can tell I watched the mounted cowboy action shooters last weekend).

Even if we get a little weather this weekend, give it a day or two (if necessary) and fishing will get good again.

Okay, on to Lees Ferry. The experimental flow event was conducted last week. Guess what? Not only did the flows not negatively impact the fishing (just like we predicted), THE BITE IS ON at the Ferry. Trout are aggressively feeding on the available banquet just as those in the real know had predicted. Don’t waste time, get there before it ends.

Back on the bass scene: I talked with three top tournament anglers who said they couldn’t find a bass in the shallows at Lake Pleasant, but then I talked to two energetic young anglers who followed advice and left their bass boats to explore the shallow water in the backs of the northern coves during one of our more calm afternoons: They caught-and-released around five bass – per hour. One was a fat, egg-dripping 6-pound female that pounced on an orange curly tail with a red skirt. It may have been gosh attire even for a gill able country girl, but apparently it looked edible.

By the way, don’t forget that Pleasant now has an abundance of invasive quagga mussels. Be sure to drain the water from your boat’s bilge and livewell, clean the hull and dry the boat before leaving. Also, please let five days lapse before putting your boat on another one of our priceless fisheries. It can take quagga mussels (or their larvae) up to five days to die once out of water. A single adult quagga can produce up to 10,000 larvae in a single breeding cycle. Let our nice dry Arizona air desiccate them thoroughly.

Bass anglers at Bartlett report lots of bass action on everything from spinnerbaits and crankbaits to jigs and drop shots. The bite is on. Don’t forget your Forest Service day use pass (no, they don’t sell them at the lake anymore).

The smallmouth bass are spawning at Havasu and the Walleye are spawning at Powell. Either of those two Colorado River lakes will provide you a thrilling spring experience. Havasu is beautiful and attracts lots of collegians on spring break. Powell has some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet, and in fact, was the site where the Hollywood crowd filmed the original “Planet of the Apes,” “Maverick” and a host of other noted feature films.

Now for the high county prospects: Lots of snowpack equates to lots of runoff. Runoff can create turbid conditions at some of our wonderful trout lakes in the pines (and conifers). We might not see good fishing conditions for a few weeks, but this is shaping up to be a great trout season – the lakes are full, Full, FULL, or soon will be. Hopefully, a lot of the mountain lakes will be accessible in early April. Keep watching this report.

Fisheries Chief Kirk Young and I will be doing talks about what anglers can expect this year during the department’s Outdoor Expo 2008 on March 29-30 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. This fun hands-on outdoor show is really growing. Come on out and talk to us. We will also have a fun kids fishing pond again. It’s like an outdoor amusement park – it will take you a full day to do everything.

Tempe Town Lake is scheduled to be stocked with trout this week for finish out the winter trout season. It is worth a try.

For all of you anglers who desire a little extra water thrill, this is the time for a white-water rafting trip down the Salt River. There are plenty of commercial rafting companies. Just do a Google search. The water you raft today may be the water you fish tomorrow (at least at Roosevelt). So go get acquainted early.

Go catch a memory. Maybe I’ll see you out there.