Northeastern Arizona (White Mountains)

Arizona Game and Fish Department's Weekly Fishing Report

FISHING REPORT EDITOR:
Rory Aikens, (602) 789-3214

Regional editors:
Pinetop Region - Richard Dreyer, (928) 367-4281
Flagstaff Region - Chuck Benedict, (928) 774-5045
Kingman Region - Andy Clark, (928) 692-7700
Yuma Region - Brad Jacobsen (928) 342-4051
Tucson Region - Don Mitchell, (520) 388-4451
Mesa Region - Richard Wiggins, (481) 324-3544

December 18, 2008

Note: Due to recent snow, there may be many lakes that are not accessible. Please check road conditions before venturing out.

Most high mountain lakes as well as streams are ice covered. Ice should be considered unsafe at this time of year.

State Highway 261 is closed to Big Lake and Crescent Lake.

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 is open only to Forest Road 87, but is closed south of the junction of Forest roads 273/87 to Crescent Lake, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will remain closed until the road construction project is complete.

BECKER LAKE - Fishing is fair. The lake is ice-free. 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 (Panther Martin, Rooster tail, and Mepps), KastMasters (gold or silver), and Z-rays. Try small nymphs such as zebra midges, scuds, pheasant tails, hares ear, zug bugs, prince nymphs, wooly worms and wooly buggers, brown and gray semi-seal leeches. dragonfly patterns, peacock ladies, and brown Montana stone nymphs. ish off the bottom along weed beds and retrieve your fly slowly.

The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors. There is a new fishing pier with a handicap walkway located at the northwestern part of the lake

BIG LAKE - The roads are closed to this lake. The lake is ice-covered. Unsafe ice conditions. State Highway 261 from Eager/Springerville is closed. State Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation boundary to the junction of Forest roads 273/87 is open but is closed beyond the junction of Forest road 273/87to Crescent Lake 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will remain closed until the road construction project is completed. The store is closed for the winter.

CARNERO LAKE - The lake is ice-covered. Unsafe ice conditions.

CLEAR CREEK RESERVOIR - Fishing for warm water fish such as bass, sunfish and catfish is poor to fair. Try fishing with a bobber, split shot and worms near rocky shoreline areas for sunfish and bass. The old boat ramp has been re-opened. The new boat ramp near the dam is blocked off because of very low water levels and thick weeds near this ramp.

Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, and lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster tail, and Mepps), Z-rays, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, Yeager buggers, and peacock ladies.

There are no motor restrictions on Clear Creek Reservoir. The gate on the north side of the lake is usually closed during the winter months, while the road on the south side of the lake is open.

CONCHO LAKE - Fishing is very poor. The lake is extremely low and weedy, and there is practically no water at the boat ramp. If you choose to fish at Concho Lake, target the small areas of open water between the weeds off the dam. The rest of the lake is not fishable.

CRESCENT LAKE - Roads are closed. The lake is ice-covered. Expect unsafe ice conditions. State Highway 261 from Eager/Springerville to Crescent-Big Lakes is closed. State Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation is open to Forest road 87 but is closed beyond the Forest road 273/87 junction to Crescent Lake 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, due to continuing road construction.

FOOL HOLLOW LAKE - Fishing is poor to fair. Ice is forming along the edges of the lake. The boat ramps are accessible. Anglers have been catching a few smallmouth, largemouth bass, and walleyes on lures (crankbaits jigs with attached worms, and Rapalas) at the dam and along the east arm of the lake.

Trout fishing has been poor. The stocking season has ended and no trout are being stocked.

Channel catfish have been caught on worms, hot dogs, and stink baits. Bluegills and black crappies have been caught around the fishing piers and around rocks and tree structure on worms and small flies.

Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster tail, and Mepps), Z-rays, Super Dupers, crankbaits, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, semi-seal leeches, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and pheasant tails. Fish around structure such as rocks, trees, stumps, and fishing piers. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors.

GREER LAKES - The Greer lakes are ice-covered. Expect unsafe ice conditions.

HULSEY LAKE - The lake is ice-covered. Expect unsafe ice conditions.

LEE VALLEY RESERVOIR - The roads to Lee Valley Lake are closed. The lake is ice-covered. State Highway 261 from Eager/Springerville to Crescent-Big Lakes is closed. Highway 273 from the Forest and Fort Apache Indian Reservation to Forest road 87 is open but is closed beyond the Forest road 273/87 junction road to Crescent Lake 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, due to continuing road construction.

LUNA LAKE - Fishing is fair. The lake was still ice-free as of Dec. 14, before the storms hit. The lake level is about 24 inches below the spillway. The boat ramp is accessible. Try fishing near the dam. Try worms, salmon eggs, Power Bait, lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster tail, and Mepps), Z-rays, Super Dupers, and Rapalas, and flies such as peacock ladies, wooly worms, wooly buggers, Yeager buggers, semi-seal leeches, prince nymphs, and zug bugs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp gas motors. The store is closed for the winter.

LYMAN LAKE - Fishing is poor to fair. Anglers have been catching channel catfish on hot dogs, worms and stink baits. A few largemouth bass and walleyes are being caught on lures around rocky shorelines. Try Rapalas and jigs with chartreuse or oil colored Mister Twister plastic worms.

Try worms, Power Bait, catfish stink baits, and lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps), 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. The store is closed for the winter.

NELSON RESERVOIR - Fishing is poor to fair. The lake may be ice-covered. Expect unsafe ice conditions. Fishing bag limits are now unlimited for rainbow and brown trout from Sept. 1 through March 31.

The main boat ramp by the dam is accessible. 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 (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps), Super Dupers, Z-Rays, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, semi-seal leeches, prince nymphs, zug bugs, and peacock ladies. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors.

RAINBOW LAKE - Fishing is poor to fair. The lake is full. The boat ramp is accessible. There are still some thick weeds in parts of the lake. Try worms, Power Bait, salmon eggs, lures such as Z-rays, spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tails, and Mepps), crankbaits, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, peacock ladies, and small nymphs for trout. Try fishing night crawlers off the bottom for bullheads and channel catfish from the fishing pier. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors.

SCOTTS RESERVOIR - Fishing is fair. The lake is full and the boat ramp is accessible. Try worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs, lures such as Super Dupers, Z-Rays, spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, and Mepps), and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, Yeager buggers, semi-seal leeches, peacock ladies, prince nymphs, and zug bugs. The lake is open to electric trolling motors only.

SHOW LOW LAKE - Fishing is fair. The lake is about 15-20 feet low but the boat ramp is still accessible. There is a new fishing pier located west of the boat ramp and another across the lake by the dam. Boat anglers have been catching trout and walleyes trolling cowbells with an attached worm, lure, or fly.

Try worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs, lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster tail, and Mepps), rubber (chartreuse green and oil colored) lead head jigs, crank baits, and Rapalas, and flies such as wooly worms or wooly buggers, black, brown or green semi-seal leeches, peacock ladies, and beadhead nymphs. Troll the above mentioned lures early in the morning and late in the evening along rocky shoreline areas for walleyes. The lake is open to electric trolling motors and/or up to 10 hp. gas motors.

WOODLAND LAKE: Fishing is poor. The lake is full and spilling and the boat ramp is accessible. Weeds are still present along the shoreline areas of the lake. Try worms, Power Bait, and salmon eggs, lures such as spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster tail, and Mepps), 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.

WHITE MOUNTAIN STREAMS - Ice is forming on some headwater streams since nighttime temperatures are cold. Lower elevation streams have some ice-cover but have been opening up late morning on warm weather days.

WEST FORK BLACK RIVER - Forest roads are closed to the Black River. Ice is present on the stream. The stocking season has ended and no trout are being stocked.

EAST FORK BLACK RIVER - Forest roads are closed to the Black River. Ice is present on the stream. The stocking season has ended and no trout are being stocked.

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 - The stream has some ice, along the shoreline areas during morning hours, but may open up on warm weather days. The stocking season has ended and no trout are being stocked.

SILVER CREEK - Fishing is fair. Silver Creek does not ice over during the winter because it is a spring creek with a more constant water temperature. Nice sized Apache and rainbow trout were stocked in October at Silver Creek. This creek on the Arizona Game and Fish Department property is open to artificial lure and fly only, barbless hooks, and catch-and-release only. The upper section is open to fishing. The catch-and-release season is from Oct. 1 through March 31.

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.

OTHER WAYS TO GET THE FISHING REPORT:
Internet Home Page www.azgfd.com
Recorded Public Call-In Line (602) 789-3701