The low pressure last week really didn’t produce noticeable precipiation in most areas of the state, but by all accounts it provided some better fishing action (or at least more pleasent weather to fish). Unfortunately, we are back to a high pressure dome over the state again.

This is a great time to go for crayfish in the high country lakes – most lakes have way too many. Crayfish are easy and fun to catch, plus are superb eating. They are not native to the state, so please go out and catch and eat all you can to help the environment.

I am hearing great things out of night fishing at Saguaro Lake – lots of multiple-species bags (like last spring), but the bass are getting larger and more prevalent in the creel. Super to see.

This is the last quarter of the moon and after Wednesday night, the tail end of the Perseids meteor showers, and each day is almost two minutes shorter. But all in all these factors add up to a good time to go night fishing, even in the high mountain lakes.

Check out the Lake Powell Report. My friend Wayne Gusteaveson provides detailed striped fishing tips for right now that you can set your watch to.

There are some reports out of Mead talking about 100-striper nights using frozen anchovies. Long way to go some many of us, but sounds worth it. I really ejoy fishing Mead with its millions of years of geology exposed in layers of colorful sandstone, often in uplifted and topsy-turvy fashion like a giant child had had a temper tantrum and stomped around the landscrape.

I haven’t heard much from Mohave, other than the bighorn sheep watching in the Willow Beach Area has been phenomenal. One of our information guys, Zen Mocarski, got terrific photos this year of rams butting heads. I think he needs to take me out on the water to provide you folks a first-hand report.

The bighorns are still in the rut. It is possible to see bighorns bumping heads. It’s high wildlife drama. Great sound effects. Better than anything you’ll see on TV, even in high def on a big screen with Dolby surround sound. You’d be surprised at how bearable the extra dry heat is — it’s like a dry martini where you just waft the cork of the Vermouth across the top of the glass. Yet the water temps can be 50 degrees colder — your body can go into shock if you jump in the water. But that also means a ready source of cold water to scoop up in your hat or to cool (chill actually) your feet.

Haven’t heard much out of Bartlett recently, even though a friend fished there (where’ my report?).  But Bartlett is very high for this time of year, which is a blessing and sometimes a challenge. Often when the lakes is slowly going down, it acts as a catalyst for the late summper and early autumn topwater bite. With back-to-back high water years and associated good spawns, maybe it won’t matter as much this year having the fish more dispersed. We’ll have to wait and see. But I fully expect it to start turning on soon.

We are hearing lots of super success stories from Roosevelt, but others report not being able to dial in the action. This lake is so huge, with some much submerged vegetation, that it isn’t surprising. You could very easily be at the wrong spot at the wrong time and not hit the bite. Conversely, if you keep trying you are just as likely to hit the jack pot. Stay versatile and mobile to find the good bite my friends. It’s probably happening someplace on the lake, or at some depth.

Here’s a hoot — I got a call from an angler floating the Lower Salt River below Saguaro Lake who not only caught some nice bass, catfish and bluegill, but one nice 15-inch trout as well. With the higher than normal flows in the Salt this summer, could we possible get some holdover trout from last season’s stockings to fish this fall? Could be. It’s got my attention.

Not to get off the subject, well, maybe a little, but I am amazed at how many fat white-winged doves I am seeing, and having to avoid with my truck while passing any area with cured-on-the-stem grasses and other seed sources. If they stick around for the Sept. 1 dove opener, a lot of us will be walking around grinning ear to ear for some time. Normally, the larger adult white-winged doves head south right before the season gong sounds and we end up with mostly smaller ones, with lots of resident Mourning doves. Be sure to stock up on lots of low-base shotgun shells.

Okay, back to fishing. With most youngsters heading back to school, we typicaly see a significant drop off in fishing activity at the mountain lakes. So if you are looking to avoid the summer crowds, it might just be time to go. The Rim lakes are tough to beat (except Black Canyon), and the White Mountains are alluring.

Also, I heard that fishing really picked up at one of my favorites, Crescent Lake, this past weekend. Who knows if the bite will hold — last weekend’s much milder weather may have had something to do with increased fish activitiy there. Then again, maybe not. It’s certainly worth exploring. The worst that can happen is you have to drive 10 minutes away to Big Lake to catch some nice trout.

All in all, the wonderful snow pack in the high country this last winter, coupled with a superbly cool and wet June, really put us into summer looking good, despite the fact that it has been a relatively dry summer. We just need August to go out with a monsoon roar (without chasing the whitewings away). I don’t know if it is too late for the mushrooms or not, but I suspect it is.

The days are now almost two minutes shorter with each day that passes. So go out and catch some summer memories whilte they last, and get ready to experience autumn (oil up the .22 for squirrel hunting). Maybe I’ll see you out there.