Mogollon Rim and White Mountains Angler Report

Transcription

1 Mogollon Rim and White Mountains Angler Report Becker Lake, Monday, Nov. 6 Blain O.: Becker Lake fished well last week though the water was cold (50- degrees F at the surface). Fish were scattered everywhere but the action was better over weed beds in 4-8 feet of water, with some fish seen rolling in shallower water. Everything worked: buggers and assorted streamers fished off a slow-sinking line, and nymphs fished off an indicator and floating line. All fish were strong and healthy, ranged from 16 to 22 (about 1-1/2 to 4 lbs), and fed in spurts where two or three fish would come one after the other, then no action for minutes. (Updated Oct. 31; Editor Mike Lopez, ) Recommended Waters to Fish Fishing is good at Show Low Creek meadows at the Show Low Bluff trailhead and Patterson Ponds, which were both stocked with rainbow trout 2 weeks ago, but will be excellent after both are stocked again this week. Brown trout are still active at the Greer Lakes, Chevelon Lake, and the East Fork Black River. Overall trout fishing is good at Big Lake, Carnero Lake, Luna Lake,

2 Woods Canyon Lake, and Show Low Lake.! MOGOLLON RIM LAKES BEAR CANYON LAKE Fishing is good. Rainbow trout were last stocked in late August. Try PowerBait and nightcrawlers. Water temperatures are optimum for trout activity throughout the lake. BLACK CANYON LAKE Fishing is fair. The lake was stocked last in June. There is still a bit of an algae bloom. The lake is 6 feet below spill and the new boat ramp is still fully functional. CHEVELON LAKE Fishing is fair for stocked rainbows and wild brown trout. The brown trout should be active and can be caught with Z-rays, Kastmasters, or black streamers. Water

3 temperatures are optimum for trout activity throughout the lake. Chevelon Lake is a hike-in lake with a two trout limit and artificial fly/lure only regulations. WILLOW SPRINGS LAKE Fishing is fair for rainbow trout and tiger trout. Try PowerBait, worms, Kastmasters, or Panther Martin spinners for rainbows, and lures or flies for tiger trout. Water temperatures are optimum for trout activity throughout the lake. WOODS CANYON LAKE Fishing is good for rainbow trout and fair for tiger trout. Try PowerBait, worms, Kastmasters, or Panther Martin spinners for rainbows, and lures or flies for tiger trout. Water temperatures are optimum for trout activity throughout the lake. PINETOP/SHOW LOW LAKES FOOL HOLLOW LAKE Fishing is fair for stocked (12 +) rainbow trout. Supercatchable rainbows (12 +) were last stocked in late August and there are still a few around. Water temperatures are optimum for trout activity throughout the lake. The fishing piers and platforms are accessible. RAINBOW LAKE Fishing is poor for trout, but fair for sunfish and bullheads. The lake level is very low and the weeds are thick in the shallow areas. The fishing pier is not very useful, since it is very shallow off the end of the pier. SCOTT RESERVOIR Fishing is poor to fair. The lake level is extremely low and turbid due to irrigation releases. Can t launch boats from the boat ramp. Try fishing from the shore with chicken livers on the bottom for catfish. SHOW LOW LAKE Fishing is fair for stocked (12 +) rainbow trout. Supercatchable size (12 +) rainbow trout were last stocked in late August and there are still a few around. Water temperatures are optimum for trout activity throughout the lake. WOODLAND LAKE Fishing is poor. Fish were last stocked in late-may and there are likely few left. The lake is low and weedy. The fishing dock is accessible. PATTERSON PONDS Fishing is good to excellent for trout! Rainbow trout were stocked two weeks ago in the upper pond and will be stocked again this week. Channel catfish were last stocked at the end of September. A regular fishing license or a community fishing license is required to fish here. The pond daily bag limits in community fishing waters (2 trout; 2 catfish; 5 sunfish) apply. Please use good catch and release methods if you are releasing fish. WHITE MOUNTAIN LAKES BECKER LAKE Fishing is fair. Becker Lake is open to catch-and-release only for trout, artificial fly and lure only; single barbless hooks only. No bait. No trout may be kept. BIG LAKE Fishing is good for lots of small rainbows, with some larger cutthroats. Try flyfishing or lures for cutthroat trout, including crayfish imitations. Brook trout may still be spawning in the shallows. CARNERO LAKE Fishing is good for rainbow trout and fair for tiger trout. A recent fish survey found a lot of rainbow trout, with the largest topping out at 19, and several tiger trout up to 16. The lake is a little low and weedy around the shorelines, but the middle is mostly open water. A pontoon, canoe, or kayak (something that glides over the surface weeds) is best, but a small boat could work by lifting it off and on your trailer, then paddling over the

4 shoreline weeds out to the open water. The rainbows were feeding aggressively on midges on the surface in late evening. CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR Fishing is poor for trout, but fair for sunfish and bullheads. Sunfish can be caught on a size 12 hook with a small piece of worm, in rocky or weedy areas, or black bullhead on the bottom with a size 6 hook and a half or full worm. CONCHO LAKE Fishing is poor. Trout were last stocked in April and likely few are left. The lake is low. CRESCENT LAKE Fishing is fair. The water quality has improved significantly since the summer, but still has somewhat of an algae bloom. Rainbow and brook trout should be active. GREER LAKES (River; Tunnel; Bunch) Fishing is fair at River, Tunnel, and Bunch reservoirs. The wild brown trout are active and can be caught on lures or dark streamers. Lake levels are still low but coming up slowly as these irrigation reservoirs are filled during the fall and winter. All 3 lakes are turbid. The boat ramps are not usable at River and Tunnel, but may be okay at Bunch. HULSEY LAKE Fishing is fair for rainbow trout. Trout stocked earlier in the year are active in the cooler water. LEE VALLEY LAKE Fishing is poor. A recent fish survey found that some Arctic grayling still exist in the lake, but very few, all measuring just over 13 inches. LUNA LAKE Fishing is good. Although there is still a strong algae bloom, the fishing has picked up with cooler water temperatures. Anglers are reporting catching lots of inch rainbow and cutthroat trout, and an occasional large cutthroat. LYMAN LAKE Lyman Lake State Park is open. Fishing is fair for carp and catfish. Use corn or night crawlers for carp and chicken liver for catfish. NELSON RESERVOIR Fishing is fair. The current regulation is unlimited bag limit for trout (Sept 1 through March 31). The lake is full. WHITE MOUNTAIN STREAMS EAST FORK of the BLACK RIVER Fishing is fair for stocked rainbows and wild brown trout. Rainbow trout were last stocked just before Labor Day weekend, but some may still be present. Wild brown trout are active. LITTLE COLORADO RIVER in GREER Fishing is fair for stocked rainbows and wild brown trout. Rainbow trout were last stocked just before Labor Day weekend, but some may still be present. Wild brown trout are active. There is some skim ice on the pools in early morning. SHOW LOW CREEK TAILWATER Fishing is poor. The creek just below the Show Low Lake dam was last stocked just before Labor Day weekend and most of the fish are likely caught out. SHOW LOW CREEK MEADOWS (COMMUNITY FISHING WATER) Fishing is good to excellent at this new Community Fishing Water located at the Show Low Bluff trailhead in Show Low. This fishery is a cooperative endeavor by the City of Show Low and Arizona Game and Fish Department to provide fishing opportunities close to home for kids and families. Bait can be used, but daily bag limits are 2 trout, 2 catfish, 1 bass (minimum size 13 ) and 5 sunfish.

5 It was stocked with rainbow trout two weeks ago in the Show Low meadow from the Bluff trail upstream to the Hampton Inn, and will be stocked again this week. SILVER CREEK Fishing is good. Seasonal Catch-and-Release regulations (with artificial lure and fly only with single barbless hooks) are in effect and will continue through March 31. All trout must be released immediately and please use proper catch-and-release techniques to ensure the trout survive after swimming away. The upper section is now open. SHEEPS CROSSING/West Fork LCR Fishing is poor and this stream was not stocked this year.