NOTE: 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 from the Fort Apache Indian Reservation boundary to Crescent Lake, which 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, but is best at first and last light.  The lake is a little lower now but 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. Fish deep and slow.
The water temperature on May 4 was 63 degrees and the pH was 8.8.  The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors.

BIG LAKE – Fishing is fair to good. There is some decent action while fishing from shore at first and last light, but the best action during the day is from a boat. There are boat rentals here.

By the way, Big Lake is not stocked during spring and summer – it is stocked in the fall with a couple hundred thousand fingerling trout. The trout you catch here are close to being wild. On any given day, Big Lake can be the best trout lake in the state. There is a store and boat rentals available and some of the prettiest scenery in Arizona.
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, Power Bait, and salmon eggs. Also try lures such as spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, spoons, and Rapalas, and flies such as Peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, and Yeager buggers, prince nymphs, and zug bugs.  The lake is open to electric trolling motors or up to 10 hp. gas motors.)

Where: Big Lake, AZ
When: 06/18/08
Caught: Rainbow Trout
Technique: Cow Bells trolling on lake in boat. Use worms.
Comments: Within 1 hour limited out. Threw back 3 total. It was warm out too.
Name: Daniel Hutchison

Where: Big Lake
When: 06/14/08
Caught: Rainbows and brook trout
Technique: Live night crawlers and rainbow Power Bait
Comments: Caught 12 trout in 3 hrs off shoreline primarily with night crawlers rigged with light line thru a slip sinker. Thanks for the free fishing day. Any way you could come up with a free gas day?
Name: Ken Stirn

Where:Big Lake / East Fork Black River
When:05/28/08
Caught:Rainbows, Browns Cutthroats, & Apaches
Technique:Worms & Power Bait
Comments:Fished both areas over 5 days, and SLAYED ‘em. Wife caught a beautiful 3 pound Rainbow from Big Lake Dam. Wind was tough to deal with. Caught & released over 50 on the River, and kept our limit last day. Nice diverse stringer full of all species from both places!!! Plenty of smiles to go around! Nice to see some snow on the lake this late in the year, last time I saw that I was a kid.
Name:Mike & Becky Parks

CARNERO LAKE – Fishing is fair for stocker rainbows. Carnero Lake experienced a winter kill, however the lake was re-stocked in April and May.

The lake is open to lure and flies only, barbless hooks, and a two-trout bag limit. Try small lures such as spinners and spoons (Super Dupers and Z-rays), and flies such as wooly worms, peacock ladies, small nymphs such as hares ear, pheasant tails, prince nymphs, zug bugs, damsel fly and dragon fly nymph patterns, and midge patterns. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only .

Where: Canero Lake
When: 06/12/08
Caught: Lot’s of Rainbows,larger than stockers in the 2# rnge
Technique: Mostly spinners of any kind.
Comments: Took our Boy Scout Troop on a fishing activity. This lake did not dissappoint. Between 7 of us we caught 150-175 fish in  two days.Even caught some on a yellow crappie jig with a spinner.
Name: GW

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR - Fishing is fair. The lake was stocked with catchable size rainbow trout in mid-May.  Fishing for warmwater fish such as bass, sunfish and catfish should also be picking up. The east side boat ramp is accessible and the only ramp to use. The old boat ramp is blocked off and no longer usable.
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 was stocked with 2 loads of catchable size rainbow trout in early April and another load in the first week of May. 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 – Fishing is fair for stockers.  Crescent Lake experienced a winter kill; however the lake has been restocked.
Highway 261 to Big and Crescent Lakes is open. Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation is open to Forest road 87 but is closed beyond the 273/87 junction to Crescent Lake 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, due to continuing road construction.
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 to good for trout and bass, with some nice-sized walleye being caught. Walleye are light sensitive, so the best times to fish for them are at first light, last light or at night. The lake is full and all boat ramps are usable for larger boats.  The water clarity is still turbid.

The lake was stocked has been stocked with catchable size rainbow trout.

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 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.  The best fishing is at first and last light. Night fishing is also a viable alternative.

River reservoir is down about eight feet, Bunch and Tunnel Reservoirs are down about  seven feet. All boat ramps are accessible.

All three reservoirs were stocked last week with catchable size rainbow trout. Boat anglers at River Reservoir have been catching some nice sized brown trout. Anglers are catching rainbow trout on worms at Bunch, Tunnel, 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.

HULSEY LAKE - Fishing is fair.  During the hot summer months, try fishing early in the morning and late in the evening. The water temperature last week was 65 degrees and there is an algae bloom present in the lake.

Try worms fished deep under a bobber or on the bottom.  Hulsey Lake is open to electric trolling motors only, but small boats would have to be carried down the short hiking trail to the lake.

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 good. The lake level is down about 13 inches. The lake is full and the boat ramp is accessible. The lake has been stocked with catchable size rainbow.

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 Lake
When:05/31/08
Caught:4 lb 19 inch rainbow trout
Technique:night crawler
Name:Tim Polanco

LYMAN LAKE - Fishing is fair to good for catfish. The lake level has come up quite a bit, catching a lot of water with snowmelt runoff.  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 to good.  The lake was stocked with catchable size rainbow trout in May.  Use the boat ramp near the dam, as the ramp at the upper end of the lake will put boaters into thick weeds.

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.  Sub catchable and catchable (1.5-2 pound) channel catfish were stocked in early June. The lake is full and the boat ramp is accessible.
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.

SCOTTS RESERVOIR - Fishing is fair to good.  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 to good. The lake is down quite a bit to accommodate bridge construction over Show Low Creek downstream in Show Low, but the boat ramp is still accessible. Show Low Lake has been stocked with catchable size rainbow trout and sub catchable size channel catfish.

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.

Where: Show Low Lake
When: 06/21/08
Caught: 21″ 1.75 LBS Rainbow trout
Technique: Fishing with a Walleye jig and a night crawler
Comments: We caught our limit by 8:30 a.m. To bad the city messed up by lowering the lake way too much. It would have been a great year for fishing the lake this year.
Name: Chris Wilmann
Where:Show Low lake
When:06/03/08
Caught:walleye
Technique:Trolling crankbaits
Comments:At 6 pm hooked into 11-pound walleye 30 inches long 17.5 girth on 6-pound test light weight spinning reel was new record for me on walleye
Name:Roger May

WOODLAND LAKE - Fishing is fair to good.  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:
Fishing is good. The West Fork was stocked at the campground with catchable size Apache trout last week and will be stocked again this 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, wooly 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.

East Fork Black River: Fishing is good. The East Fork was stocked with catchable size Apache trout last week and will be stocked again this week.

Wild brown trout are also present throughout the river. 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.

Sheep’s Crossing: Highway 273 is closed for the year due to road construction and an area closure is still in effect around Sheep Crossing, 24 hours and 7 days a week.

Little Colorado River Greer: Fishing is good. The LCR in Greer was stocked with catchable size Apache trout last week and will be stocked again this week. 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.

Silver Creek: Fishing is fair to good. The stream is clear and will be 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 Sept. 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 wooly worms, wooly 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.