LAKE HAVASU – The striper bite is fair to moderate with the best times being pre-dawn and into to the late evening dark hours. Best baits for the early morning and late evening bite are the White Rattle Traps and Bass Assassins with green tails. The glow in the dark 4-5 inch Bass Assassin green paddle tail swim baits are working well too.  During the daylight hours, slow troll anchovies with at least 2 ounces of weight. These rigs must come in contact with the bottom to be effective with the cooler water temperatures. 

The striped bass are generally more aggressive and feed more readily during the windy days. The use of live shad is producing good results too. The traditional snagging hook serves two purposes; one to snag the shad and two to recast out and catch the striper. If you have to touch the shad, then be sure to mask your scent with the shad formula spray scents.  If you’re getting short bites, then use this same product on the live baits and artificial baits as this leaves a strong aromatic trail that entices the fish to strike and hold the bait longer.
 
The largemouth and smallmouth bass bite is very slow right now. There have been some reports of some nice largemouth being caught off the docks at Mesquite Bay 1 and 2. These fish were caught using large lipless crankbaits in the colors of white and chartreuse shad.  The smallmouth will begin their transition stages of spawning as the weather begins to warm up. Look for these fish to move up from the deeper waters to about 8 to 10 feet.  The best colors for crankbaits or soft plastics for smallmouth bass are Crawdad shades and Chartreuse Whites. When the water temperatures reach 58-60 degrees these fish feed more actively and aggressively, and it’s “Game On!!” 

.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 – Water levels have been restored on the strip for the most part.  Local anglers report good fishing for sunfish using mealworms and a slip weight on the bottom. Bass fishing has been slow, but may start turning on in the next month or so depending on the weather. Catfish may start biting as well. Try live bait like bluegill or shad for flatheads. Channel cats will take night crawlers, chicken livers, and other stinky baits.

Beginning Feb. 9, Game and Fish will have stocked some nice rainbow trout in the ponds at La Paz County Park in support of the 29th annual Take a Kid Fishing event.  Everyone is invited to participate with registration beginning at 10 a.m. and fishing from 11a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  All bait and tackle will be available to borrow.

ALAMO LAKE – The Alamo Lake Cleanup is set up for Saturday, March 1 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  State Parks will waive camp fees 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. Those who would like to donate items for the raffle should also contact Kohnke.

This report courtesy Mark Knapp, Alamo Lake State Park: Well folks, you are not missing a lot out here. The lake has come up 14 feet in the last couple of weeks, and continues to look like a chocolate milkshake.  There are log jams floating all over the place.  The water temp is 52 degrees in the morning and fishing is pretty bad for the most part.  The exception is cat fishing.  A local from Salome, Butch, caught 19 nice sized catfish yesterday.  He went as far up the river channel as he could get by boat and used night crawlers for bait.  It’s going to take a couple of weeks for the lake to settle and the water temp to rise.  Once this happens, it going to be a great year of bass fishing.  We have had a few days in the 70s this week.  If we don’t get rain this week, then things will start to turn on real soon.  The lake level is at 1,124ish with releases of 40 cfs.  Hopefully I will have better news next week.  

Spring Outlook:

Alamo Lake:

The lake elevation continues to be good.  Largemouth bass are present in all sizes and fishing is expected to be good to excellent throughout the spring. It looks like most of the bass are in the protected slot with a fair number over the slot. Exactly what is going on with the crappie is unknown. The bite has not developed as usual but we anticipate fishing to be fair to good throughout the spring.

Channel catfish will be good to excellent this spring and throughout the summer. There are other fish present such as bluegill, redear sunfish and carp that are a lot of fun to catch.  All types of bait should work.

As the weather warms, shift from slowly working plastics in deeper water to crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwater lures for bass.

For channel catfish any of the prepared catfish baits as well as chicken livers, shrimp, and anything else you can think of should work. 

Both of the boat ramps are useable at this time and 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 good to excellent this spring. The size will range from 13 inches and up with an occasional fish greater than 5 pounds.  Striped bass will continue to be excellent for small fish (12-18 inches) with occasional fish over 3 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 good to excellent.  Flathead catfish fishing should be fair at the lower end of the lake (Bill Williams River Arm) through the spring. 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 warmer weather causes the bite to increase making crankbaits and topwater lures a good choice.  Also, spinner baits, jigs, cut fish, live shad, etc. should work depending on the species you are looking for.

Take precautions to make sure your boat and equipment is clean before leaving the water to make sure you don’t spread quagga mussels to other water by accident.    

Colorado River (Parker Strip Area):

It is expected to be good to excellent for smallmouth bass with fish over two pounds this spring.  In addition, redear sunfish should also be good to excellent in the pound plus sizes.  Channel and flathead catfish fishing will be fair to good in this section of the Colorado River as the weather warms up.

Take precautions to make sure your boat and equipment is clean before leaving the water to make sure you don’t spread quagga mussels to other water by accident.    

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

This area should be fair for both smallmouth bass (in the channel) up river from the I-10 Bridge 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 40 pounds.  The time for fishing for both species of catfish will be late spring and throughout the summer.  Generally speaking, when fishing for catfish the hotter the weather the better the fishing.

This section of the Colorado River all the way down to Yuma is where invasive species known as Giant Salvinia is located as well as quagga mussels.  If using a boat make, sure the boat, live wells, engines, and trailer is clean before leaving the area.  The last thing that we want to have happen is the movement of invasive species to other waters. 

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 good to excellent for flathead catfish with sizes over 40 pounds.  The best time will be late spring and on into the summer (the hotter the better).  The various backwaters will be good for largemouth bass and other sunfish (bluegill and redear).  Other species available in the main river are smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and striped bass.

This section of the Colorado River all the way down to Yuma is where invasive species known as Giant Salvinia is located as well as quagga mussels. If using a boat make, sure the boat, live wells, engines, and trailer is clean before leaving the area.  The last thing that we want to have happen is the movement of invasive species to other waters. 

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

This area is expected to be good to excellent 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.  Other sunfish such as bluegill and redear are also present in the various backwaters as well as an occasional striped bass will be caught in the backwaters and main river channel.

This section of the Colorado River all the way down to Yuma is where invasive species known as Giant Salvinia is located as well as quagga mussels. If using a boat make, sure the boat, live wells, engines, and trailer is clean before leaving the area. The last thing that we want to have happen is the movement of invasive species to other waters. 

Colorado River (between Laguna and Morelos dams):

This area will be good 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 are a must.  The lower end has had some dredging work done and the larger boat will be able to get on the river in that area.

This section of the Colorado River all the way down to Yuma is where invasive species known as Giant Salvinia is located as well as quagga mussels. If using a boat make, sure the boat, live wells, engines, and trailer is clean before leaving the area.  The last thing that we want to have happen is the movement of invasive species to other waters.

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).

Regional Hot Spots:

Alamo Lake will be the hot spot for largemouth bass and channel catfish. Since there appears to be more fish in the lake at the present time, I recommend keeping as many of the smaller bass as you can legally possess in order to try and reduce the population a little.

Next choice would be Lake Havasu for striped bass, Parker Strip for smallmouth bass and redear sunfish, and the Colorado River below Walter’s Camp for flathead catfish.  

If you need any additional information or additional don’t hesitate to contact the Yuma Regional office at (928) 341-4051 and I will be happy to accommodate you.