Tip Of The Week
Jim Goughnour of Rim Country Custom Rods is reminding anglers that with the new moon phase approaching, anglers who enjoy fishing before daylight or after sunset should verify the weather conditions before launching and check for updates while fishing during these particularly dark nights.
There are several mobile phone apps available with live weather conditions and emergency weather information. Monsoon storms can happen suddenly and without much warning.
The Reel Deal
Top picks at press time are Saguaro Lake for largemouth bass, or one of our stocked streams in the White Mountains region for trout, including Silver Creek, East Fork of the Black River, Little Colorado River in Greer or Show Low Creek just downstream of Show Low Lake.
Fishing in these streams should be good because of better water quality — as long as the flows are not high due to monsoon rains.
Don’t forget to try the Dead Horse State Park lagoons near Cottonwood. A big largemouth bass was caught there during August.
Surface water temperatures in desert impoundments are about as hot as they get — up to the high-80s at Bartlett Lake. But they are trending downward into the low-80s at Roosevelt Lake.
Many bass have been rising to the surface for shad, but neither stays there for long, quickly dipping into a cooler, more comfortable zone (bass prefer 75-80 degrees).
Take The NHF Day Challenge, Win Prizes
National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day), an annual celebration of hunters and anglers, features a new twist this year. Richard Childress, NASCAR legend and honorary chair for NHF Day, is asking hunters and anglers to participate in the new NHF Day Challenge by taking someone hunting, fishing or target shooting.
By pledging to introduce someone to the outdoors between now and NHF Day on Saturday, Sept. 23, participants will be eligible to win a Richard Childress Racing VIP race weekend package or the Ultimate Outdoor Experience in America’s Conservation Capital from Big Cedar Lodge and Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium.
To get involved in the NHF Day Challenge, visit NHFDay.org or call 417-225-1162.
Catch Of The Week
Send your fishing reports and photos to BFishing@AZGFD.gov — one will be selected as Catch of the Week.
Shane V.’s daughter (pictured) caught her first catch. “It was awesome!” Shane said. “The kids even pulled enough crawfish out of there to have a little crawfish boil that evening as well. Good times. Shore fishing, we caught quite a few rainbows fishing worms on a Santee rig to keep the bait away from the crawfish. It was a proud day.”
Stocking Reports
By late August, AZGFD will have stocked the following (sign up for I Support Wildlife for real-time and confirmed stocking reports):
Rainbow Trout
Show Low Creek, Silver Creek, East Fork Black River, Oak Creek, Little Colorado River-Greer, Canyon Creek, East Verde River, Haigler Creek, Tonto Creek, Willow Springs Lake, Woods Canyon Lake, Ashurst Lake, Rose Canyon Lake.
Catfish
Catfish return to Community waters in late September.
Previous, Recent Stockings
Rainbow Trout
East Verde River, East Fork Black River, Silver Creek, Woods Canyon Lake, Willow Springs Lake, Tonto Creek, Haigler Creek, Show Low Creek, Bear Canyon Lake, Fool Hollow Lake, Show Low Lake, Silver Creek, Dogtown Reservoir, Canyon Creek.
Save Time; Buy Online
Grab a license online (that helps conserve all species of wildlife, not to mention provides funding that goes back into fishing opportunities) and go.
