White Mountains
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State Highway 261 will be open on May 1 to Big Lake and Crescent Lake, as well as most interior Forest roads. The remaining snow seems to be melting fast, although snow drifts are still blocking some mountain roads in the higher elevations. Streams are flowing high. Higher elevation lakes have some ice-cover. Lower elevation lakes are ice-free. State Highway 273 on the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest is undergoing reconstruction and realignment and the following closures are in effect. State Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation boundary to Crescent Lake is closed to all traffic, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will remain closed until the road construction project is complete. BECKER LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. It has slowed down quite a bit from last week, however, the lake was stocked with catchable size rainbow trout (8-10 inches). The lake is ice free and almost full. Try small lures such as Super Dupers, spinners, and Z-rays. Fly-fishers have been catching 10- to 18-inch rainbow trout. Try small nymphs such as zebra midges, scuds, pheasant tails, zug bugs, prince nymphs, wooly worms and wooly buggers, dragon fly patterns, peacock ladies, and brown Montana stone nymphs. The boat ramp is accessible. The lake is open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and a 2 trout limit. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors. The water is clear. BIG LAKE – The road to Big Lake is still closed. State Highway 261 from Eager is still closed due to snow drifts, however, it may open on May 1. State Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation boundary to Crescent Lake is closed 24-hours a day, 7-days a week and will remain closed until the road construction project is completed. CARNERO LAKE – Forest roads 117 and 117A to Carnero Lake are still inaccessible, due to snowdrifts, but should be opening soon. Forest road 118 and the northern portion of 117A are open, however, Forest Road 117B to Carnero Lake still has drifts. The lake is now ice-free but the lake likely winterkilled, so there is little incentive for anglers to attempt to reach the lake until a stocking truck can get in to it. Limnology surveys have indicated there was very little dissolved oxygen under the ice during January and February. Some improvement in dissolved oxygen levels was noticed in March but the lake had likely winterkilled by then. CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR – Fishing is poor to fair. The lake is full and spilling. The lake will not be stocked with trout until the flows over the spillway come down. The east side boat ramp is accessible and the best ramp to use. The north boat ramp (steep hill) may have soft sand and would be difficult to launch a boat. Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, and lures such as spinners, Z-rays, crankbaits, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies. There are no motor restrictions on Clear Creek Reservoir. CONCHO LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. The lake is ice-free and full. The boat ramp is accessible. Recent surveys revealed carryover rainbow trout ranging from 12-16 inches, with an average length of 13 inches. These carryover trout are smaller than usual, likely due to illegally stocked carp that are now established in the lake and impacting benthic invertebrates. The lake was recently stocked with catchable size rainbow trout. Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, and Super Dupers, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, peacock ladies, and small nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors. The water is clear. CRESCENT LAKE – The roads to Crescent Lake are still closed. Highway 261 from Eager is closed due to snowdrifts, however, it may open on May 1. Fishing will likely be poor due to a probable fish kill. Limnological surveys in March indicated there was very little dissolved oxygen under the ice and the lake has likely winterkilled. The lake will be restocked with catchable rainbow and brook trout, and subcatchable rainbow trout, once the roads open and the lake can be surveyed to determine if any fish survived in the lake. Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation is still closed due to continuing road construction. FOOL HOLLOW LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. The lake was stocked with catchable size rainbow trout last week. Bass anglers have been catching smallmouth and largemouth bass on lures. Shore anglers are catching rainbow trout on worms and Power Bait in the southwest area of the lake. Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, crankbaits, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers. Fish around structures such as rocks, tree stumps, and fishing piers. The lake is ice-free and full. The water clarity is clearing up. All boat ramps are accessible. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors. Recent surveys revealed good numbers of walleyes (average size, 23 inches), a few large northern pike (average size, 30 inches), a couple of big smallmouth bass (4.5 pounders), some largemouth bass (average size, 17 inches), trout (average size, 10 inches), and small black crappies and sunfish. GREER LAKES – fishing is fair. River, Tunnel and Bunch reservoirs are all ice-free and full. All three reservoirs will be stocked this week. Boat anglers at River Reservoir have been catching brown trout on Rapalas. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, and small nymphs. Bunch and Tunnel Reservoir are open to electric trolling motors only. River Reservoir is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp gas motors. HULSEY LAKE – Fishing is poor since the lake has not been stocked yet. Forest road 56 is open and clear to the lake. The lake is full, and spilling. Hulsey Lake is a short hike in fishery. Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, and lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and flies such as wooly worms, wooly buggers, peacock ladies, and small nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only. The water is clear. LEE VALLEY RESERVOIR – The roads to Lee Valley Lake are still closed. Highway 261 from Eager is closed due to snowdrifts. Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation is still closed due to continuing road construction. Lee Valley Lake probably has some ice cover, although it should be considered unsafe. LUNA LAKE – Fishing is fair. The lake is ice-free, full, and spilling. The boat ramp is accessible. Recent surveys revealed low numbers of large trout in the lake. The rainbow trout averaged 17 inches and the cutthroat trout averaged 15 inches. The lake was stocked with subcatchable (4-6 inch) and catchable size rainbow trout last week. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, and nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp gas motors. LYMAN LAKE – Fishing is fair. The lake level has come up quite a bit, catching a lot of water with snowmelt runoff, and is only 10 feet below spill. The water is turbid. Anglers have been catching channel catfish on worms and stink baits. Try worms, Power Bait, catfish stink baits, and lures such as spinners, crank baits, and Rapalas. The Lyman Lake recreation area is managed by Lyman Lake State Park and camping is available. There are also some new cabins for rent. There is fish consumption advisory here, so check with the State Parks Office at the lake for details. Also contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Region 1 Office at (928) 367-4281. There are no motor restrictions on Lyman Lake. NELSON RESERVOIR – Fishing is poor to fair. The lake is full, ice free, and spilling. The lake will be stocked with catchable rainbow trout when the lake stops spilling over the dam. The two boat ramps are accessible. Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, Super Dupers, Z-Rays, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors. RAINBOW LAKE – Fishing is fair. The lake is ice free and nearly full. The boat ramp is accessible. Rainbow was stocked last week with catchable size rainbow trout and will be stocked again this week. Recent surveys revealed lots of northern pike (mostly 1-5pounders but included 2 over 20 pounds), bullheads, a fair number of largemouth bass (1-5 pounds), and some large bluegills (1 pound). Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as Z-Rays, spinners, crank baits, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors. The water is clear. SCOTTS RESERVOIR – Fishing is fair to good. Anglers have been catching trout, bass, and channel catfish on worms. The lake was stocked last week with catchable size rainbow trout. The lake is full, ice-free, and spilling. The boat ramp is accessible. Try worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs, lures such as Super Dupers, Z-rays, spinners, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, peacock ladies, and prince nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only. Recent surveys revealed good numbers of rainbow trout (average size, 11 inches), fair number of largemouth bass (average size, 12 inches), and some nice sized channel catfish (average size, 25 inches). The lake is open to electric trolling motors only. The water is slightly turbid. SHOW LOW LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. The lake was stocked last week with catchable size rainbow trout. The lake is ice-free and about 6 feet below spilling. The boat ramp is accessible. Try worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, lead head jigs, crankbaits, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors. Recent surveys revealed good numbers of large walleyes (average size, 23 inches), including two 12-pounders, good numbers of rainbow trout (average size 14 inches), largemouth bass (average size 14 inches), and small black crappie. The water is clearing up. Where:Show Low Lake
West Fork Black River – The stream is flowing high. Forest Road 26 is open from Hwy 191 to Buffalo Crossing and Forest Road 25 is likely open to the West Fork campground area. Snowdrifts are still blocking other Forest Roads. Highway 261 and 273 are closed. The West Fork is scheduled to be stocked in the first week of May, if the water conditions are suitable. East Fork Black River – The stream is flowing high. Forest Road 26 is open from Hwy 191 to Buffalo Crossing. Snowdrifts are still blocking other Forest Roads. Highway 261 and 273 are closed. The East Fork is scheduled to be stocked in the first week of May, if the water conditions are suitable. Sheep’s Crossing – Highway 273 is closed for the year due to road construction and an area closure is still in effect around Sheeps Crossing, including snowmobiles. Little Colorado River Greer – Fishing is poor. The stream is flowing high due to spring runoff and has not been stocked yet. The LCR in Greer is scheduled to be stocked in the first week of May, if the water conditions are suitable. Silver Creek – Fishing is fair. The stream is clear and will be stocked the week of May 1. Silver Creek on the Arizona Game and Fish Department property is now open to bait fishing and statewide fishing regulations are in effect until September 30. The upper section is closed to fishing. Try small lures such as Mepps, Rooster tails, and Panther Martin spinners. Fly-fishers may want to try woolly worms, woolly buggers, peacock ladies, Prince nymphs, Zug bugs, shrimp patterns, midge patterns, and small bead head nymphs. Try small dry flies such as Adams, Parachute Adams, midge and caddis fly patterns. Bait fishermen should try worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs. |