La Paz County
Fishing Clinic

LAKE HAVASU — Lake Level 448.24

Report courtesy John Galbraith of Anglers Pro Shop
Lake Havasu City

Striped bass bite is fair with limits of medium size stripers coming on trolled cut anchovies rigged on a 2/0 hook, 3-4 ft. leader and a 1.5 to 3-ounce banana sinker or fish seeker used to keep the anchovy skipping on the bottom.  Bottom bouncers work well too.  Still some action during the dark hours of the morning using Stump Jumpers, Pointers and glow Sassy Shads around Thompson bay and south at Havasu Springs.

Smallmouth bass hitting red craw colored crankbaits and drop shotted curly-tail Robo Worms in oxblood or red craw colors fished in 8 to 20 feet of water.

Fishing report for courtesy Karen Coats, Sandpoint Bait and Tackle Shop: Water temperature in the Topock Gorge has dropped due to recent storms. Striper action has been weak but expected to shift into gear soon. Largemouth bass are being caught in the warmer waters of secluded bays. Power fishing a white swim bait attached to a white spinnerbait offers the best results. Chartreuse and white spinner baits, Red Bombers, and green and white swim baits in a striper color have also been working. Finesse fishing with motor oil colored plastic worms is not too bad either. Sizes are running between 2½ and 4 pounds.
ALAMO LAKE – If the winds stay away, this shallow bowl-like lake could heat up and become the state’s hot spot for bass and crappie. Be sure to put on plenty of Sun Screen.

The large crappie flotilla will likely be active in the huge flats on the eastern end of the lake where the Bill Williams River enters the lake. The recent storms caused a slight increase in the inflows, but probably not enough to impact the bite. For crappies, try live minnows, Road Runners and 1/16-ounce jigs.

You might even find some largemouth bass staging for the spawn – it’s possible this time of year.

Also try for the abundant channel catfish. Live minnows might just be the ticket for these bottom feeders. Channel catfish here will also feed in the threadfin shad, and anglers using crankbaits can sometimes find catfish surprises on the end of their lines.

The annual Alamo Lake clean up is 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 28 and the Arizona State Parks is waiving the camping and boat launch fees for those registered for this effort.

Participants are staying at the Cholla Campground and clean up boats will launch a the Cholla Launch Ramp as well. Please fee free to come and camp out on Friday night because the clean up will start at 8 a.m.

There will also be a dinner and door prices on Saturday evening following the clean up. It’s a lot of fun – come join us.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will operate a pontoon boat for collecting shoreline litter, and will also have a dump truck to haul away the trash.

For more information, contact Wildlife Manager Stewart Kohnke at (928- 684-3763 or (928) 342-0091.

The following report is courtesy Mark Knapp, Alamo Lake State Park: Well folks, all in all fishing is pretty good out here.  In the last couple of weeks we have been dodging storms so there really has not been allot to write about. The lake is on the rise as I write this.  It came up three tenths of a foot last night to bring the elevation to 1124.5 or some where close to it.  We have word that they (CORP) will start releasing at 1,126, which is a bummer, but out of our hands.    I have plenty to say on this but it’s better that I keep it to myself.

Anyway, bass fishing turned on early this year. You can catch bass in 1 to 15 feet of water throwing training wheels (crankbaits and spinnerbaits)  I’m still holding my own with Wolly hog tails and 4-inch lizards. Watermelon green is still the hot ticket.

Crappie fishing is decent.  It’s hard to miss the flotilla in the upper end of the lake.  If you’re new at this type of fishing, there’s a couple of things to consider. First off, everyone is trolling in the same direction and has about 30 to 40 feet of line out behind each boat. If you go plowing through the middle of everyone, then have the nerve to throw out a marker buoy once you catch a fish, and  tell everyone else to stay out of there, then be prepared to be verbally abused and then some.  This happened this last weekend out here.  You talk about some honked off fisherman.  Try to play nice out there. The crappies are in 20 feet of water right now.  Any color roadrunner jig with a minnow trailer will work fine.

Cat fishing is really good in the upper end of the lake.  If you get up where the river is flowing in and throw night crawlers or stink bait you should be able to boat 8 to 10 cat fish.  Shore fishing is still kinda slow. Both ramps are in operation at this time.  The lake level is at 1,124ish with releases of 40 cfs, but is subject to change any day now.  That’s all I got.  Mark
Angler reports:

Where:Alamo Lake
When:01/17/09
Caught:3 – 2lb – 3lb Largemouth Bass and more.
Technique:Drifted past north lake points approaching into the sun and into the breeze…15-20 feet of water…using smoke colored 6 in. Lizard by Zoom. Also hooked good numbers on a bluegill colored 6 in worm by Zoom.
Comments:Arrived on main spot at 10AM – off the lake by 2:30PM- too windy
Name:Jason Whitaker
Where:Alamo
When:01/02/09
Caught:Catfish
Technique:Worm on Red and Green Jig heads
Comments:My son and I got on the lake about 11 a.m. fished in a bay with no luck, we went to a tree at the mouth of the bay. Dropped the jig head with worm down into the tree. My son caught 17 and I caught 21 we missed about 20 they hit like Bluegil real light. All were 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 pound. We let them all go back to grow to 5 & 6 pounders
Name:Bob Zvara

Where:Alamo Lake state park
When:02/04/09
Caught:largemouth bass
Technique:Texas-rigged watermelon red baby brush hogs, black and shad colored lizards, spinner baits and buzz baits
Comments:Jaime Zachea and Dave Newsom of Las Vegas fished Wednesday the 4th and Thursday the 5th. Great weather before the front moved in. Caught 20 on Wednesday between them and 12 more for half a day on Thursday. Top water bite at dusk on Wednesday in the back of coves on white/silver buzz bait. All cookie cutters in the 1 to 2 pound range with a couple a little larger. Good winter fishing!
Name:Jaime Zachea
SOUTHWESTERN WATERS (Winter Outlook 2008-2009):

Winter Outlook 2009:

Alamo Lake:

The lake level rose six feet in December due to tremendous runoff that also filled the lake with nutrients. The lake elevation continues to be good, at 1120-1125 feet, and both the main and Cholla ramps will be usable.

Largemouth bass are present in all sizes and fishing is expected to be good to excellent throughout the winter.  Fall surveys showed a significant number of bass growing out of the slot, and there are many smaller fish below the slot.  Apparently we have had very good spawns the past two years, as there are plenty of young bass in the population.

Crappies are also doing OK and should be good throughout the winter.

There are an impressive number of channel catfish in Alamo Lake, especially in the upper portion of the lake.  Many of these are on the small side, but there are significant numbers in the 2 to 3-pound size range, as well as occasional individuals of 7 to 8 pounds, and larger.

There are other fish present such as bluegill, redear sunfish, tilapia and carp that are a lot of fun to catch.  During the fall surveys we noted an abundance of decent-sized redear sunfish, up to a pound. This species commonly reaches sizes of over two pounds, although we have not yet observed redear sunfish of this size in Alamo Lake.

All types of bait, plastics, spinnerbaits and topwater lures should work.  As the weather cools off, try slowly working plastics in deeper water for bass.  For channel catfish any of the prepared catfish baits will work, as well as chicken livers or your own secret concoctions.

Although the store at Alamo Lake is still closed at this point, the Alamo Lake State Park is planning on having it open by the first of the calendar year.  The store will be operated by the Park.

Gas, bait, ice and limited supplies and tackle will be available.  You should plan on bringing with you any supplies you will need, in case the store does not open as planned, or does not carry what you need.  If you run short of anything, you might be able to pick it up at the Wayside Inn in Wayside, or in Wenden. The certified scale is presently located at the Alamo Lake State Park office, but will likely be moved to the store (which is located in the same location as the old store), once that facility is open.

Lake Havasu & Topock Gorge:

Fishing for largemouth bass, as well as smallmouth bass, is 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 stripers, which will make it challenging to catch the larger fish.

Channel catfish as well as bluegill & 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 more slowly 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.   The Parker Strip is well known for its smallmouth bass fishing, especially in the area from the dam to several miles downstream.

The Parker Strip is also home to some really impressive, dinner-plate sized redear sunfish of two pounds or larger.  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 during that time period.

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. Bluegill 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 are common and flathead catfish over 20 pounds are 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 larger boats may 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 stretch, we recommend exercising extreme caution, avoiding nighttime use, or even staying away from the area altogether (Pilot Knob to Moreles Dam).
Regional Hot Spots:

Alamo Lake will be the hot spot for largemouth bass and channel catfish.  There are many fish in the lake at the present time (especially channel catfish), and keeping some to eat will not impact the population in the slightest, and will perhaps even enhance it.  Next choice would be Lake Havasu for striped bass, Lake Havasu and the Parker Strip for smallmouth bass, and Martinez Lake and Imperial Division backwaters for largemouth bass.   For the die-hard flathead catfish angler, large catfish can still be caught from Walter’s Camp down to Imperial Dam, although fishing likely won’t be as effective as in the warmer months.

If you need any additional information or assistance don’t hesitate to contact the Yuma Regional office at (928) 341-4052 and we will be happy to give you whatever information we have.