NOTE: Some streams are still flowing moderately high, although peak runoff is now over and water flows are coming down. All lakes are now ice-free.

State Highway 261 is open to Big Lake and Crescent Lake, as well as most main Forest roads, including the road to Reservation Lake on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. 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, seven days a week and will remain closed until the road construction project is complete.

BECKER LAKE – The water temperature on May 4 was 63 degrees and the pH was 8.8. Fish deep and slow. Fishing is fair to good, especially for larger holdover trout. Has been stocked with subcatchable size rainbow trout (6-8 inches) and there are plenty of larger hold-over trout as well. The lake is ice free and almost full. The boat ramp is accessible. The lake is open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and a two-trout limit. 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 lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors. The water is clear. The water temperature last week was 54 degrees.

BIG LAKE – ACCESSIBLE. Fishing is great. This is the place for wild-like resident trout (not stockers). It has rainbows, cutthroats, brooks and Apaches.

The water temperature on May 1 was 51 degrees and the pH was 7.9.

Main access roads are open, including Highway 261 from eager/Springerville. 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. Fishing is good. The lake is up about 3 feet from last year, but still 3.4 feet below spill. All boat ramps accessible, however, Railroad Cove may still be fairly shallow for launching larger boats. Anglers have been catching rainbow and brook trout on worms and salmon eggs. 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 Yeager buggers. The lake is open to electric trolling motors or up to 10 hp. gas motors.

Where:Big Lake
When:05/03/08
Caught: Rainbow and Brook trout
Technique: Worms sliding sinker 20-40 feet from shore
Comments: 4 of us cuaght 9 in 2 hours before the wind blew us out
Name: Dan Stewart

Where:Big Lake
When:05/03/08
Caught: 4 trout
Technique:any kind of power bait
Comments:The boaters need to use more edict They seem to not care about other fishermen on the bank. Fishing not to fair to the kids fishing on the banks!
Name:M. L.

Where:Big Lake
When:04/26/08
Caught: Brook Trout
Technique:Worms and secret sauce
Comments: Was a very tough day. Wind was blowing very hard most of the day. My son Joseph managed to catch his first two brook trout though, which was great. Wind settled for a few hours around mid day, that was when the bites began. Wind started up again, fish shut off. Noticed several people catching when wind died. Not much happening when wind was up. But any day at Big Lake is a great one in my book.
Name:Joe Guin
Where:Big Lake
When:04/26/08
Caught: trout
Technique:trolling cowbells with worms
Comments:The bite is outstanding. Went out Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon, caught and released 65 rainbows and brownies. Almost all are last stocked of last season and only 10-12 inches, but lots of fun to catch.
Name: Danny

Where:Big Lake
When:04/17/08
Caught:
TroutTechnique:
Power Bait (Orange)
Comments:Fishing was great got out there on the first day the lake was open and spent all weekend there. Fishing was good using orange power bait rainbow power bait and worms. Most trout were good size.
Name:Daniel Lopez

CARNERO LAKE – All main access roads to the lake are now open, including 117, 117A and 118. Recent gill netting surveys have confirmed a winterkill in Carnero. No trout were caught in two nets set over night. There is a chance a few trout may have survived, however, these will be rare if any at all. The lake will be stocked with catchable size rainbow trout next week.

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR – Fishing is poor to fair. The lake is full and spilling. The lake will be stocked as soon as the lake stops spilling. 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 woolly worms or wooly buggers, and peacock ladies. There are no motor restrictions on Clear Creek Reservoir.

CONCHO LAKE – Fishing is fair. The lake is about 2 feet low but the boat ramp is accessible. The lake has been stocked with two loads of catchable size rainbow trout in early April. Spring surveys have also 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. 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 and the water temperature was 58 degrees.

CRESCENT LAKE – There was a winter kill, but this productive lake was stocked with rainbows last week and is scheduled for another stocking this week.

Highway 261 to Big and Crescent Lakes is open. Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation is still closed due to continuing road construction.

The lake has come up about 1.5 feet from last year, but is still about 2 feet low. The only boat ramp accessible is the south boat ramp because of construction on roads leading to the dam area and the other two ramps.

Recent surveys on April 25 confirmed a winterkill, although a few trout did survive. One rainbow trout was caught in two gill-nets set overnight. The lake will be stocked with catchable size brook trout this week. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, Yeager buggers, and small nymphs like prince and zug bugs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors or up to 10 hp. gas motors. The water temperature last week was 49 degrees and the lake has come up about 1.5 feet from last year. The only boat ramp accessible is the south boat ramp.

FOOL HOLLOW LAKE – Fishing is fair. The lake is full and all boat ramps are usable for larger boats. The water clarity is turbid. The lake was stocked last week with catchable size rainbow trout. It is scheduled to be stocked again next week, (April 5-9). 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.

Where:Fools Hollow
When:04/19/08
Caught:nothing
Technique:drifting worms and stink baits, tryed for cats,walleye,small mouth and thru spinners for northern pike wind was real bad
Name:roger may
Where:fools hollow lake
When:04/24/08
Caught:20# flathead catfish
Technique:worm and bobber
Comments:just after dark also i have landed 2 other cats in the 10# range in the last 2weeks
Name:charlie kelley

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 structure such as rocks, tree stumps, and fishing piers. 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. The water temperature last week was 58 degrees.

GREER LAKES — Fishing is fair to good. River, Tunnel and Bunch reservoirs are all full, and all boat ramps are accessible. Bunch and Tunnel were stocked with catchable size rainbow trout in early and mid April, and River Reservoir was last stocked with catchable size rainbow trout last week. Boat anglers at River Reservoir have been catching brown trout on Rapalas. Anglers are catching rainbow trout on worms at Bunch and River Reservoir.

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. The water temperature last week at Bunch and Tunnel Reservoirs was 48 degrees and 56 degrees at River Reservoir.

HULSEY LAKE – Fishing is good. The lake has been stocked with rainbow trout. The lake is full and slightly 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. The water temperature last week was 53 degrees.

LEE VALLEY RESERVOIR – The roads to Lee Valley Lake are still closed. Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation is still closed due to continuing road construction and is closed just north of the junction of Highway 273 and Highway 261. Lee Valley Lake probably has some ice cover, although it should be considered unsafe.

LUNA LAKE – - Fishing is fair. The lake is full, slightly spilling and the boat ramp is accessible. Spring 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 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. The water temperature last week was 50 degrees.

Where:Luna
When:05/04/08
Caught:Rainbow
Technique:Worm casting and retreiving behind a bobber
Comments:Cuaght 5 lb rainbow
Name:Dan Stewart
Where:luna lake
When:04/25/08
Caught:19 inch rainbow
Technique:z-ray with a fly on a 20-inch leader. It took the fly
Comments:Fishing was slow, but that one fish made the trip. The bald eagles flying over the water for an easy meal was quite a sight.
Name:brett

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 8 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, crankbaits, 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 fair. It has not been stocked yet. The lake is full and spilling. Nelson Reservoir will be stocked with catchable size 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. The water temperature last week was 50 degrees.

RAINBOW LAKE – Fishing is fair. The water temperature was 61 degrees on May 4 and the pH was 8.9. Rainbow Lake has been stocked with catchable size rainbow trout in early and mid April. The lake is full and the boat ramp is accessible. Spring 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. The water temperature last week was 59 degrees.

Where:Rainbow lake
When: 05/03/08
Caught:Pike-trout
Technique:trolling crankbaits and jerkbaits you just have to deal with the weeds
Comments:What a day took 2 kids 8 yr old and 16 yr old fishing and we got the pike and the rainbows fighting the wind we still managed 8 pike and 7 trout. 1 rainbow went 3 lbs and 1 pike hit 4 lbs the rest all were around stocker size for trout and pike average was 2 lbs..
Name:roger may

SCOTTS RESERVOIR – Fishing is fair to good. The water temperature on May 4 was 58 degrees and the pH was 7.9. The lake was stocked with catchable size rainbow trout in mid April. Anglers have been catching trout, bass, and channel catfish on worms. The lake is full, spilling and the boat ramp is accessible.

Where:Scotts res
When:04/16/08
Caught:Catfish
Technique:Night crawler,dead shad
Comments:lost a real nice big cat at shore really sucked will hit it again this week
Name:roger may
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 clear. The water temperature last week was 56 degrees.

SHOW LOW LAKE – Fishing is fair. The lake was stocked with catchable size rainbow trout last week. This lake has lots of large walleye and may even contain a new state record lurking in its depths.

The lake is ice-free and about 7 feet below spilling. The boat ramp is accessible. Try worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, rubber 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 slightly turbid. The water temperature last week was 52 degrees.

WOODLAND LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. The lake was stocked with catchable size in mid April. The lake is full and spilling. Try worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs, lures such as spinners, Super Dupers, and small spoons, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and Hares ears nymphs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only. Recent surveys revealed nice sized largemouth bass (average size, 14 inches), and 1 channel catfish (21 inches). The water is clear. The water temperature last week was 59 degrees.
WHITE MOUNTAIN STREAMS:

West Fork Black River – The stream is flowing high and fast. Main Forest roads are open to the West Fork. The campground area will be stocked with catchable size Apache trout next week. Wild brown trout are also present in the lower portion of the river. In the campground area, Try worms, salmon eggs, small lures such as spinners, and flies such as Peacock ladies, woolly worms, small nymphs like Hares ear, Pheasant tails, Zug bugs, Prince nymphs, and caddis imitations. The upper portion of the river, upstream of the confluence with Hayground Creek and including the Forest Road 116 crossing, is open to artificial lures and flies only, with catch and release regulations. Water temperatures were 54 degrees on May 1.

East Fork Black River – The stream flow is lower than the West Fork, fairly clear, and fishable. Main Forest roads are open. The East Fork will be stocked this week with catchable size Apache trout. Wild brown trout are present year around. Try worms, salmon eggs, small lures such as spinners, and flies such as Peacock ladies, woolly worms, small nymphs like hares ear, Pheasant tails, Zug bugs, Prince nymphs, and caddis imitations. Water temperatures were 60 degrees on May 1.

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.

Little Colorado River Greer – The stream is flowing somewhat high, however, is running fairly clear. The LCR in Greer will be stocked this week with catchable size Apache trout. Try worms, salmon eggs, small lures such as spinners, and flies such as Peacock ladies, woolly worms, small nymphs like hares ear, Pheasant tails, Zug bugs, Prince nymphs, and caddis imitations. Water temperatures were 47 to 48 degrees on May 1.
Silver Creek – Fishing is fair to good. The stream is clear and has been stocked this week with catchable size Apache trout. 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.