Rory’s Tips
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Most of my tips are incorporated into the Father’s Day story below. Here are a few more from anglers.
Try Fool Hollow and Show Low lakes for smallmouth bass and even walleye (see the pics). These two wonderful mountain lakes also have trout and largemouth bass. Both are within the City limits of Show Low, but scenically, they are like most other beautiful high country fisheries. Fool Hollow is a state park, and even has hot showers for campers (that’s a big wow in my book of adventures).
Check out the report from Lake Mead. The night fishing is going bonkers. Check out the pics from Don Martin.
Knoll Lake is a dream. Fishing the Greer Lakes or the Little Colorado River meandering through Greer is a relaxing delight. Hulsey Lake perched on the side of Escudilla is a quaint fishing experience, then be sure to head up to Terry Flats for one of the highest points in Arizona where you can take your car, than test your lungs ever further with a hike up through a aspen shrouded trail to the fire lookout. I have often seen blue grouse on this hike, along with golden eagles, kestrels, wild turkey and elk. The view is spectacular — you can all of the White Moutains and much of western New Mexico.
If you have children, get some butterfly nets (or plastic shopping bags liberally poked with small holes to let the air through) to catch grasshoppers for bait. Nylons stretched over a forked stick are another viable option.
It as astounding to watch wiggling hoppers be gobbled up by a trout hiding in the shady depths. Hoppers will work well at the lakes, but can be devastating along small quick-running streams. At places like Black River, you might even entice a ferocious smallmouth bass into charging.
My biggest tips is DON’T FORGET you camera, and be sure to either post your pictures on our Fishing Blog, or send them directly to me at raikens@azgfd.govfor posting on our Web site. By the way, feel free to join me on Facebook or Twitter — I have become more cyber connected. We can swap fishing stories.
So go catch some memories. Maybe I’ll see you out there.
Hi Rory,
if i am going lake fishing do i really need a boat>?
if i am fishing onshore will the chance be less >?
i am newbie in lake fish so wher should i start >?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Hopefully your received my e-mailed response, but I will add this as well for others. No, you don’t need a boat to catch fish in Arizona, but at the larger impoundments, it can sure help.
However, most trout anglers in the high country don’t use boats. You can fit a boat on our wonderful mountain streams. And I have had shore anglers absolutely out fish me in my bass boat while targeting catfish, carp and bluegill.
Personally, I love being on the water in a boat. But there are times when I also park the bass boat in a secluded cove at times and walk along the shoreline for the best bite.