September 29th, 2008
ACCESS 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.
Angler report:
BECKER LAKE — Fishing is good. The lake is down about four feet but the boat ramp is accessible.
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 off the bottom along weed beds and retrieve your fly slowly. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors. This lake is artificial
lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and with a two-trout limit.
BIG LAKE – Fishing is generally good for rainbow trout, fair for cutthroat trout, and poor for brook and Apache trout. With the shorter, cooler nights, fishing for
all species can take off any time.
This lake was stocked with 20,000 sub-catchable sized fish the first week of September.
Jenca said great fall bite for shallow-feeing trout should be just around the corner. He added that the lake level is way up right now and might be the highest it has
been in a lot of years (but it isn’t full yet).
This fishery has rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout and native Apache trout. Big Lake is 450 surface acres and sits at 9,000 feet in elevation. Despite its
size and depth, cold night temperatures at this altitude can cool down the water and prompt the trout to feed aggressively.
Anglers have been catching rainbow and brook trout on worms, Power Bait (yellow) and salmon eggs. Boat anglers are doing well using cowbells with an attached
worm, lure or fly. Also try lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps), Z-rays, Super Dupers, spoons, and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock
ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, semi-seal leeches, and Yeager buggers, prince nymphs, and zug bugs. The store is open and there are boat rentals here. The
launch ramps are in the water, but Railroad Cove may still be fairly shallow for launching larger boats.
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.
CARNERO LAKE - Fishing is good, but the lake is very weedy. The weeds along the shoreline are very thick. Pontoon boats, kayaks, small boats or canoes than
can skim over weeds work best. Anglers using float tubes are having difficulty getting out to open water.
Try fishing open water areas. As summer progresses, weeds will become a problem for anglers. 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.
CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR - Fishing is fair to good for warm water 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 very poor. The lake is extremely low and weedy. There is practically no water at the boat ramp. 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.
CRESCENT LAKE - Fishing is fair to good. This shallow lake can cool down rapidly and turn on at any time.
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 only boat ramp accessible is the south boat ramp because of construction on roads leading to the dam area and the other two ramps.
FOOL HOLLOW LAKE - Fishing is fair to good and will be stocked this week with trout. The lake is down about two feet and the boat ramps are accessible. For
kids, try fishing one of the fishing piers for bluegills. Use a small piece of night crawler on a small hook and small to no weight straight down 1-3 feet under the
fishing pier. Kids have been catching bluegill and crappie using this technique.
Fool Hollow Lake has been stocked with sub catchable and catchable (1.5-2 pound) channel catfish.
Anglers have been catching smallmouth and largemouth bass, plus walleyes on lures (crankbaits, plastic jigs with attached worms, and Rapalas) at the dam and along
the east arm of the lake. Try fishing around structures such as rocks, trees, stumps, and fishing piers.
Walleye fishing can really pick up at night during the fall.
Shore anglers are catching rainbow trout on worms and Power Bait (chartreuse green and pumpkin colors) in the southwest area of the lake. Channel catfish are
being caught on worms and stink baits. Bluegills and black crappies have been caught around the fishing piers on worms and small flies.
GREER LAKES — Fishing is fair. All reservoirs are very low. Tunnel Reservoir’s boat ramp is still accessible but the lake is very low. Do not attempt to launch a
trailered boat at Bunch and River Reservoir because of the concrete lip pad at the end of the concrete boat ramp.
Anglers are catching rainbow trout on worms and Power Bait (green and yellow) 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 poor. 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. During the hot summer months, try fishing early in the morning and late in the evening.
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.
LUNA LAKE - Fishing is fair to good. The lake is down about 15 inches and the boat ramp is accessible. The store and marina has closed down for the season.
Boat and shore anglers have been catching a few trout on Panther Martin spinners, yellow Crick hopper lures, Power Bait and worms.
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.
Report from Bob Claborne: Week ending 08/08/08: Fishing fair to good in early mornings. Trout in the 12- to 18-inch range on lures from shore at the dam area.
Good results with spinners and spoons with yellow and gold colors. Consult Luna Lake Yacht Club proprietor for lure recommendations.
LYMAN LAKE - Fishing is fair to good for catfish. The water is turbid. Anglers have been catching channel catfish on worms and stink baits and largemouth bass
on lures.
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 poor to fair. Use the boat ramp near the dam, as the ramp at the upper end of the lake will put boaters into thick weeds. 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, prince
nymphs, zug bugs, and peacock ladies. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors. During the hot summer months, try fishing
early in the morning and late in the evening. There is an algae bloom present in the lake.
RAINBOW LAKE - Fishing is poor to fair.
Improvements to the parking area at the boat ramp are scheduled this summer and will require a short closure (2-3 days) during the construction. Signs and
notices will be posted when the construction dates are set.
Sub catchable and catchable (1.5-2 pound) channel catfish were stocked in early June. The lake is down about 1.5 feet and the boat ramp is accessible. As summer
progresses, weeds will become a problem.
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.
Anglers are catching bullheads on night crawlers from the fishing pier.
The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10hp. gas motors.
SCOTTS RESERVOIR - Fishing is fair. The lake is nearly full and the boat ramp is accessible. Anglers have been catching trout, bass, and channel catfish on
worms.
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.
SHOW LOW LAKE - Fishing is fair to good. This lake should have been stocked with catchable size rainbow trout. The lake is about 18.4 feet to accommodate
bridge construction over Show Low Creek, but the boat ramp is still accessible. Show Low Lake has been stocked with catchable size rainbow trout and sub
catchable size channel catfish.
Boat anglers have been catching trout and walleyes trolling cowbells with and attached worms, lures, and flies. 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.
WOODLAND LAKE - Fishing is poor. The water temperature was 75 degrees and the pH was 8.99. The lake is full and the boat ramp is accessible. Weeds are
present along the shoreline. 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.
Angler Report
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 is stocked with catchable size Apache trout each 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. 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 poor to fair. Silver Creek 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.
All Information supplied by Arizona Fish and Game
Area Fishing Report
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