LAKE HAVASU – The decreasing water temperature and feeding activity of the striped bass has been impacted by the north winter winds that have been passing through Lake Havasu recently. The shad are still active however and very predominate in some areas of the lake and remains the choice of food for the stripers. Snag hooks and netting of shad are easily obtained during the night hours in the marinas under the lights and around the docks at Havasu Springs and Site Six. The shad during the windy days can be found on the shorelines that the wind is blowing into where the plankton that the shad feed on concentrate. Try fishing these banks and coves at a depth of 10-12 feet using diving jerk baits such as the glass ghost and purple ghost Pointer and Rapala with white feather trailers.
 
The largemouth and smallmouth bass bite is slow. There have been some 3- to 4-pound smallmouth caught off the point at site six with live shad and white/shad colored lipless crankbaits.  The largemouth bite however is extremely slow and tedious.  Their feeding habits slow and their metabolism drops off as the water gets colder.  On the average, they only feed every third or fourth day. Slow-rolling white double bladed spinnerbaits on rocky slanted ledged points and over deeper water fish habits are catching a few quality bass.  Drop shotting or bottom fishing painfully slow with Purple/Brown Huddleston crawdads working; be sure to use a craw scent attractant to entice the slow feeding largemouth. 

Important notice:  Quagga mussels have been found in Lake Havasu so proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please move to the parking lot, DRAIN your live-wells and bilge where the water does not return to the lake. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, INSPECT your watercraft and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.

PARKER STRIP – The annual winter drawdown began Sunday Jan. 9 and is scheduled to last thru Jan. 19.  During this time, access to the river will be limited.  Some shore fishing should be available upriver near River Island State Park and other narrower stretches.  Fish should be concentrated in the deeper pools.  Bass may not be biting but stripers are hitting on live shad and bluegills.  This stretch also provides opportunities for channel cats, which hit on most bait (night crawlers, chicken livers, stink baits, etc.) and a few flatheads, who prefer live bait like goldfish and bluegill.  This stretch of river is also home to monster redear in the 1- to 1.5-pound size.  Mealworms work well for these but expect them to really start biting in March.

ALAMO LAKE – Both the Big Sandy and the Santa Maria have had good runoff flows during early December and again the second week of January, making the upper end extremely turbid. This has helped the lake level and the nutrient loading here. The suspended nutrients, which catch the sunlight and can help warm the water, could possibly set this lake up for an early spawn. That is, unless more storms and runoff change the equation. The crappie bite should kick into gear any time now, but hasn’t yet. This is also a great area to see shorebirds and waterfowl.

The following report is courtesy Mark Knapp, Alamo Lake State Park. Well folks, the good news is that we got about a foot of water in the lake after last week’s rains.  Well, that’s about it as far as the good news goes.  The upper end of the lake looks like a chocolate milkshake, which does not help the crappie fishing at all.  I’ve only heard of one crappie being caught in the last few days. Cat fishing is still fair. Anglers are catching them in the upper end of the lake where the river has been flowing in. The cat fish stay in the current and will eat about anything including mice.  I’m sure if you head up there armed with some night crawlers or shrimp  you will catch a couple of nice sized cats.   Bass fishing is still pretty slow. Arizona anglers had a 15-boat tournament here this weekend.  On day one, Chad Tysick caught a 6.37-pound bass, and his partner Moe Loukli caught a 5.84-pound bass.  Things were looking pretty good. On day two everyone I talked to at the weigh in was shaking there heads and saying fishing was  terrible. The club president, Robert Cazares, sumed it up with ,”Just plain awful.”   I believe Chad won the tournament with a winning weight of 9 pounds.  The other few fish that were caught were all slot fish or smaller.  Although most of the fish were caught using jigs, the word on the ramp was that the toads were caught on white spinnerbaits and crankbaits.  The Arizona Angler’s Bass Club is  family oriented, and are looking for new members. They really like to get kids involved in fishing.  So if you and your family are just getting into fishing and boating, you might want to give Robert a call at (602)  368-9040 for details about joining there club.  My 5-year-old grandson gives shore fishing a thumbs down.  Even though he’s fairly new at fishing, I do have to agree with him on this. You know it’s bad when your grandson, who thinks I’m his personal quide, wants a refund!  The lake level is at 1111 with releases of 25 cfs. Both ramps are still in operation at this time.

The Alamo Lake Cleanup is set up for Saturday March 1st.  State parks will waive camp fee’s for those that stay in the group use area.   For all the details contact Stewart Kohnke, wildlife manager at ( 928) 684-3763 or (928) 342- 0091. 

Well, after going for a quad ride the other day I feel compelled to cover a few items you really should have with you when heading out.  Water, snacks, rope, basic first aid kit, cell phone, and if nothing else, a couple of cans of fix a flat. I really want to dive the point home, “Have with you” is the key here. I  was up  at the gauging station, checking out the rivers when I realized my back tire was going flat. As I dug threw my pack it occurred to me that I had taken those items out and put them in my shed so they would not rot during the summer.  I did make it home without ruining the tire. At the same time, this could have turned into a reel bummer. I’ve walked home more than once from a quad ride and am here to tell yeah, it’s no fun. That’s it for this week.

Outlook:

Alamo Lake:

Largemouth bass are present in all sizes and fishing is expected to be excellent to slow down throughout the winter. It looks like most bass will be entering the protected slot some time during the winter. Crappies are also doing OK and should be good throughout the winter.  Channel catfish continue to look good and fishing should be good also. There are other fish present such as bluegill, redear sunfish and carp that are a lot of fun to catch this winter.  All types of bait should work right now and as the weather cools off a shift to slowly working plastics in deeper water for bass could improve your catch.  For channel catfish any of the prepared catfish baits as well as chicken livers and anything else you can think of should work. 

Both of the boat ramps are useable at this time but if the lake elevation continues to decline launching may become a problem. The store at the lake is still closed so you need to bring everything with you. If you run short of anything you might be able to pick it up at the Wayside Inn or in Wenden. The certified scale that was located at the store is now located at the Alamo State Park Office and the park office also has live bait for the crappie fishermen.

Lake Havasu & Topock Gorge:

Largemouth bass, as well as smallmouth bass are expected to be fair. The size will range from 13 inches and up with an occasional fish greater than 4 pounds.  Striped bass will continue to be excellent for small fish (12-18 inches) with occasional fish over 8 pounds.  The lake is also full of smaller striper that will make it challenging to catch the larger fish.  Channel catfish as well as bluegill and redear sunfish will be fair to good. Flathead catfish fishing should be fair at the lower end of the lake (Bill Williams River Arm) through the fall. Sizes of flathead catfish can reach as high as 40 pounds. When fishing for them select the interior points in the coves and the areas where artificial structure has been placed.

The cooler weather causes the bite to slow down so it is important to work your lures slower and in deeper water.  Put away your topwater lures and switch to plastics, crank baits, spinner baits, jigs, cut fish, live shad, etc.  

Colorado River (Parker Strip Area):

Smallmouth bass with fish over two pounds in size are expected to be fair this winter.  In addition, redear sunfish should also be fair in the pound plus sizes. Channel and flathead catfish are always fair in this section of the Colorado River.  Below the dam, striper fishing should also be fair using live shad or anchovies this winter.

This stretch of the river will be low during the month of January so access will be limited.  The good news is that the fish will be concentrated.

Colorado River (between Palo Verde Diversion Dam and Walter’s Camp):

This area should be fair for both smallmouth bass (in the channel) and largemouth bass (in the backwaters) throughout the entire area. Channel and flathead catfish are always fair to good in this section of the Colorado River. Most of the flathead catfish will be in the 2 to 5 pound size range with an occasional fish over 30 pounds. The time for fishing for both species of catfish is in the evening to midnight.  

Colorado River (between Walter’s Camp and Picacho State Park):

This section of the Colorado River is relatively remote and can only be accessed by boat from either end. Fishing is expected to be fair to good for flathead catfish with sizes over 40 pounds. The best time for fishing for both species of catfish will be in the evening to midnight.  Largemouth bass and bluegill are also present in the various backwaters and slack water areas. Other species available in the main river are smallmouth bass, and striped bass.

Colorado River (between Picacho State Park and Imperial Dam):

This area is expected to be fair to good for largemouth bass, channel catfish, and flathead catfish. Bass and channel catfish in excess of 5 pounds are present along with flathead catfish as large as 40 pounds. Bluegills are also present in the various backwaters and an occasional striped bass will be caught in the main river channel.

Colorado River (between Laguna and Morelos dams):

This area will be fair for largemouth bass and flathead catfish. Bass in excess of 5 pounds is common and flathead catfish over 20 pounds is a good bet. In this area accessibility to the river is dependent on the amount of water being released. Usually shallow draft boats work the best. The lower end has had some dredging work done and the larger boat will be able to get on the river in that area.

With the increase in border issues and illegal activity on the lower end of this area I would away from that area (Pilot Knob to Moreles Dam).