LAKE HAVASU — Lake Level 448.24

Fishing was extremely slow this week. Water temps remain 59-61 degrees. A few stripers are still being taken in 20-40 ft. of water on anchovies with lots of chumming in the Havasu Springs area. Catfish up to 10lbs. have been reported this week on cut anchovies. The bass are on the beds but not many have been reported this week. Even the panfish was slow this week though they can still be caught around the boat and fishing docks using mealworms or crawler on a bobber.

Report provided by www.HavasuFishing.com

ALAMO LAKE – Report courtesy Mark Knapp, Alamo Lake State Park: Well folks, it’s been awhile since I had a chance to write a report.  Between this place being a zoo and doing night shifts trying to catch the boneheads that ripped people off here a few weeks ago I find that I can only be in three places at the same time.

Although I still have not caught these guys, I got some information as to what and when I’m looking for.   They made there way through the park a few weeks ago and stole a couple of generators and fishing stuff.  Times are changing so keep your stuff locked up.  Out of sight out of mind.   I pulled  a night shift earlier this week.  Around 4:30 in the morning  I was sitting in a strategic location and trying to keep myself awake when I heard noises not far away.  As every hair on my body stood up I got out of the truck and headed very quietly towards the noise.   There was not much for a moon so I could not see anything.  As all the “what if’s”  flooded my mind  I made my way forward.  When I got to where I thought the noise was coming from I turned on my flashlight and yelled out  “let me see your hands!”  At the same time a wild burrow looked up at me and started snorting and baying.  Scared the living crap out me, and the burrow.  A was more than a little shaken up as I got back in the truck, but needless to say wide awake.  So far I have managed to honk off burrows, deer, rabbits, fox’s and a couple of rattle snakes, but, no bad guys.

O.K., fishing is pretty good.  The crappies are hit-and-miss.  Some anglers are catching 15 to 20 and others are lucky to catch one.  The last two weeks have been nothing but high winds and that does not help the crappie fishing much.  I have had anglers come in and say there’s a good night bite going on the upper end of the lake.  There finding coves, anchoring right in the middle and throwing out crappie lights.  The bite starts around 9ish and goes till around midnight.  There calling for more winds this week with a chance of rain so by the time you read this it might change a little.

Bass fishing is really good. Anglers are reporting a decent top water bite right at dawn.    I broke down and threw some training wheels  (spinner baits) yesterday and picked up a couple of overs in the back of coves. The evening bite is killer.  I quit counting bass at 20 last night. Everything turned on around 5:30 and went till dark.  I  started with a wolly hog tail, but really did good with a 4 inch watermelon red flake lizard.  That’s my go to bait, and it has worked great when all else fails.  Brush hogs will do the trick too.

Catfishing is good.  An angler stopped by a few hours ago and said he caught 6, most in the 4-pound range.  He was using night crawlers and working the back of coves.  Shore fishing is o.k. at best.

The lake level is at 1125 with releases of 40 cfs.  Both ramps are in operation. We’re starting to get it together on the store and have a variety of stuff.  Stop in a check it out.  It’s time to remember sun block and bug spray.  That’s all I got for now.  Mark

Where:Alamo
When:03/18/09
Caught:bass and crappie
Technique:trolling road runners with minnow.
Comments:Fished hard for two days. 2 crappie and 4 bass in 2 days. Nobody was doing much good. weather was warm. not too many people on lake but camp areas were full. Crappie bite was dead as two of my friends went Sat. and they only caught 2 bass. They are both pro bass fishermen. Will go back in a couple of weeks and should do a lot better.
Name:Phil Sanders

Where:Alamo Lake
When:03/11/09
Caught:33 crappie, 5 bass
Technique:1/16 oz roadrunner, trolling with a 2″ plastic minnow
Comments:following a cold front, but fishing was great. I last fished Alamo in 2001
Name:Bill Houck

Where: Alamo
When: 03/11/09
Caught: Bass
Technique: Spinnerbait
Comments: They are in a pre-spawn pattern. Water temp 60/62. Most came in 9 to 13 ft of water. They were not tight on the cover.
Name: Lawrence Mooneyham

Where: Alamo
When: 03/08/09
Caught: Largemouth
Technique: Spinners and watermelon seed brush hogs
Comments: 0700 – 1000 caught 12 on spinners. Made a quick trip back to the jeep (forgot the coffee) went across from Cholla Ramp and fished coves and points caught em every where we went, from 1 1/2 lbs to 3 1/2 lbs. My buddy Dave topped it off with two 4 pounders and a 6 lb Toad, one of the 4’s was the last fish of the day. Best day of fishin for both of us, ended up boating well over 20 Lmb each and missed at least 10-15, lost count around 10 each. Too many and way too much fun to worry about counting. All fish after 1000 were on brush hogs and 10-15 ft deep. Next week Rosey.
Name: J. Anderson, Dave Pence

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.
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.