This Arizona fishing report focuses on the waters managed by Arizona State Parks and Trails. Typically, the tactics and trends discussed here can be used by anglers throughout the state to enjoy an elevated fishing experience in a variety of Arizona waters. The specific fishing information found here will change seasonally so check back often to enjoy fishing success regardless of when you've planned your visit.

Visit the spring bass fishing page and get helpful Arizona spring bass fishing tips from our partners Fishin48. They cover pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn techniques, bait selection, and the best locations you can catch Arizona bass right now, and every spring.

If you would like to share your fishing success or information about your tactics, please email us at socialmedia@azstateparks.gov or tag us on social @azstateparks. 

 

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January 2024 Lyman Lake Fishing Report

1/19/2024 Report by: Park Ranger Donna Hartell

Fishing has slowed down and shore access is becoming limited by ice forming around the lake. Despite frigid temps and ice, some anglers are still experiencing success with Lyman’s walleye and channel catfish. Most of the walleye are being caught near the dam in 25 feet of water on Chatterbaits and lipless crank baits fished near underwater structure. The channel catfish are biting best on nightcrawlers or anchovies fished on a slip sinker rig like this one. 

December 2023 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

12/16/2023 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Striper fishing remains good near schools of shad off the CA side of the main basin from Havasu Landing Casino south to the chalk cliffs. Trolling, casting, or jigging tailspinners, blade baits and spoons near shad schools during early morning and late afternoon hours has been the most productive tactic for numbers of fish. Live shad, however, are producing quality sized stripers from 2 to 4lbs. Use a 4' throw net (the largest legal size) or a snag hook to catch shad to use as live bait.

Smallmouth bass are biting good on shad colored jerkbaits like the Staysee 90 or white/shad pattern Ratl Traps.

Unless you can locate them down deep in their winter schools with sonar, fishing for redear sunfish has been slow. Begin your search in 25 to 40ft of water off main lake points.

November 2023 Alamo Lake Fishing Report

11/12/2023 Report by: Park Manager Drew Collett

The late season crappie bite is on at Alamo Lake! Fish are being caught all night under lights and into the early morning hours on minnows and jigs. After the lake stratified over the weekend, the schools have moved up in the water column to about 10 feet from 30 feet of water making them more accessible throughout the lake. 

Alamo Lake bass are being caught on Senkos and Chatterbaits the same color as the dragonflies that are on the lake surface. The best time to catch them is 12 to 4 pm after the water warms up a bit. Lake levels are still high at just 5 feet below full pool, so there’s plenty of room on the lake to catch lifelong fishing memories! 

November 2023 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

11/02/2023 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master
 

Striper fishing is great right now at Lake Havasu if you’re able to locate schools of their favorite food, shad. If you’re using a boat, an electronic fish finder will come in handy…but what if you don’t have a boat and still want to take advantage of the great striper action at Havasu? 

Scan the lake looking for birds feeding on shad near the lake surface, chances are the stripers are actively feeding just below. Get as close as you can and cast a 3.8 Keitech plastic swimbait, a 3/4 oz Rat-L-Trap (in Silverado color), or a jerkbait like the Pointer 128 (in Chartreuse shad) near the action. Even if you don’t get your lure right in the middle of the feeding frenzy there will still be feeding fish on the periphery.  Focus your search around Bill Williams/Havasu Springs, the Chalk Cliffs, and the areas near Lake Havasu State Park.

If you’re into bait fishing, try catching your own! Since shad are schooled up in the cooler water, they’re easy to catch with a throw net. Check the fishing regulations on AZGFD.com to learn the legalities of this productive bait collecting technique before your trip.  

The largemouth fishing is also good right now at Havasu. Try small white or shad colored jerkbaits like the Pointer 100 or Rapala X-Rap. For smallmouth, try brown or red crawdad colored crankbaits in 8-15 feet of water. 

 

October 2023 Lyman Lake Fishing Report

10/24/2023 Report by: Park Ranger Donna Hartell

It might be cooling down up there, but the fishing has been HOT at Lyman Lake State Park! Anglers are having success with both walleye and channel catfish. Chatterbaits have accounted for a majority of the recent walleye, and your standard catfish offerings like nightcrawler, shrimp, anchovies, and prepared stink baits are landing a good number of high country catfish for patient anglers. Some of the better spots can be accessed by boats, although our main cove right by the park entrance has been producing a lot of fish for shore anglers. 

September 2023 Alamo Lake Fishing Report

09/12/2023 Report by: Park Manager Drew Collett

Night fishing for Alamo Lake bass is working well with lots of decent fish being caught on jigs and drop-shot setups. Multiple reports have come in regarding Brush Hogs and Robo Worms as “go to” night baits right now at Alamo. The pre-dawn topwater bite is going strong here but dies off after the sun is up. Switch to soft plastics around deeper cover after the topwater action falls off.

Channel catfish are being caught on a regular basis at Alamo and anglers are experiencing success with a variety of baits. Shrimp, anchovies, nightcrawlers, and prepared “stink” baits are all catching fish. Alamo has a lot of great shoreline spots so you don’t need a boat to take advantage of awesome catfish angling here! Find a spot along shore and set up. If they’re not biting, move down the shoreline and try a different bait. Repeat as many times as necessary until you find the fish. 

July 2023 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

07/06/2023 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Average water temp 79 degrees

The Striper Bite seems to be fair in the morning hours from 6am to 8am, specifically from the mouth of the river south to Calif Bay. Boils have been happening on and off during this time. Try trolling Ratl Traps, soft swim baits, or shallow running minnow plugs in areas where water birds like Grebes are gathering over schools of shad.

The Havasu catfish bite seems to be good during the evening hours in bays where the grass isn't too thick. Live Bluegills, Cut Mackerel, and anchovies are working well now, but it might be a good idea to throw out some extra chum to attract the cats from longer distances.

Smallmouth and Largemouth bass are hitting Poppers, Buzzbaits, and super spooks in the early AM hours. Try fishing the outside edges of shallow weedmats. Carolina Rigged Plastics like Brush hogs, curly tail power worms, and Senkos are working well over submerged weed beds in 8 to 15ft of water. A 3/8 to 1/2oz weight with 10 or 12lbs test should do the trick. Try adding a glass bead between the swivel and sinker to attract the bass in lower visibility water.

Good luck out there!

June 2023 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

06/12/2023 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

The Lake Havasu striper bite has been good lately, especially in the morning between 5am-730am. Try Lucky Craft Pointer 128/158s or Bill Lewis Ratl Traps in the north end of the main basin all the way south to Black Rock and California Bay. If you're into cut bait fishing, anchovies or sardines have been productive lately as well.

Anglers have been catching big channel and flathead catfish by using sunfish or bluegills in the 2.5" to 4" range as bait. Try a Carolina rig with 3/4 to 1oz. sinkers with 12 to 15lb test and a 24 to 36" leader for best results.

If you're interested in world-class redear fishing, try using nightcrawlers around submerged grass beds. Some quality fish over 2lbs have been caught here recently. Have fun and happy fishing!

June 2023 Alamo Lake Fishing Report

06/08/2023 Report by: Park Manager Drew Collett

The bass fishing at Alamo is currently good and most fish are being caught on spinner baits and lipless cranks, or drop shotting a Baby Brush Hog or worms in pumpkin or motor oil with red, silver, or blue specks.

Channel Catfish are being caught with nightcrawlers and dough bait rigged with a bobber or just off the bottom of the lake.   

Crappie fishing has been a mixed bag. The daytime crappie bite has picked up and successful anglers are using roadrunners with live minnows attached. The night bite has been good under green lights using live minnows. The park store has minnows for sale until they run out. They will be restocked in October for the fall bite. Please call the park at(928)669-2088 to check availability before your trip. 

April 2023 Dead Horse Ranch Fishing Report

04/26/2023 Report by: Park Manager George Christianson

This month, the Arizona Game and Fish Department stocked the Dead Horse Ranch lagoons with over 2,000 pounds of channel catfish. Traditional catfish baits like hot dogs, nightcrawlers, uncooked shrimp, and prepared stink baits are working well fished on the bottom. Try using a swivel and barrel sinker so the fish don't feel resistance when they pick up the bait. This gives them a chance to position the hook correctly for a good hook set!  

Bass have moved into their spawning areas and can be seen from shore in beds or patrolling the shorelines. Anglers report that squarebill crankbaits, spinner baits, and plastic worms on a dropshot rig are currently the best options for Dead Horse Ranch bass. Please practice catch and release during the spawn to ensure this renewable resource continues to thrive for you and future generations.

April 2023 Fool Hollow Lake Fishing Report

04/26/2023 Report by: Assistant Park Manager Frances Frei

The Arizona Game and Fish Department recently stocked 8,000 juvenile (2”-4”) channel catfish at Fool Hollow Lake. We’re hopeful that many of these young fish will grow big and healthy in this fertile environment over the next few years, resulting in even more angler opportunity at Fool Hollow in the future. If you hook one of these little guys, please be gentle with them while removing the hook and quickly release them unharmed.

Summer trout stocking has begun at Fool Hollow Lake! The Arizona Game and Fish Department recently stocked this scenic high-country lake with a full load of healthy rainbow trout. AZGFD will continue monthly trout stockings at Fool Hollow Lake through August.

April 2023 Alamo Lake Fishing Report

04/26/2023 Report by: Park Manager Drew Collett

The bass fishing is pretty hot right now at Alamo and anglers are reporting both quality and quantity! The largest Alamo Lake bass reported this week was a 4.5-lb female from the river end, although fish of up to six pounds have been caught here recently. Try white or chartreuse spinnerbaits in the river or north lake coves.

Alamo crappie are hit or miss, although the anglers that find them are doing very well. Electronics really help to locate crappie. When you find them, try white or yellow crappie jigs or minnows.

A 14.1 pound channel catfish was caught this week by a lucky Alamo Lake angler! Standard catfish baits like nightcrawler, chicken liver, and prepared stick baits are all producing good results from shore or a boat.    

Bowfishing for tilapia at Alamo is picking up and the fish are generally pretty shallow. 

April 2023 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

04/26/2023 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Average daytime water temp is 68 degrees.

The Lake Havasu stripers have been very cooperative with anglers using topwater baits close to gravel bottomed shorelines. Good stripers in the three to six pound range are also biting shallow running minnow style lures while trolling. For anyone that prefers bait, try anchovies or sardines on the bottom from 20 to 45 feet of water in the old river channel.

Fishing for both channel and flathead catfish has been excellent during the evening hours into the dark of night. Standard catfish baits like nightcrawlers, liver, and raw shrimp, and stink baits are working well for the channel catfish. For flatheads, try live sunfish or bluegills from 2.5” to 4” long on a Carolina rig with ¾ to 1 ounce sinkers.

Two pound plus redear sunfish are being caught on a regular basis in and around spawning reefs. Try mini jigs or nightcrawlers at varying depths until you find the fish. Then replicate.

The smallmouth bass bite is excellent right now with topwater wake style baits or medium sized poppers being the go-to baits. The first couple hours of the day are currently your best bet for the best topwater action.

April 2023 Roper Lake/Dankworth Pond Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 04/24/2023

Channel Catfish were stocked for the first time this season at both Roper (1,000 pounds) and Dankworth (500 pounds)! Try Chicken liver, night crawlers, and manufactured stink baits fished on the bottom with a sliding weight. Pull up a chair and catch dinner…These catfish are absolutely delicious fried, and/or in fish tacos.

The bass spawn is still going strong with and plenty of nesting fish are still being spotted close to shore. Bass anglers report success with green colored lizards and plastic crawls fished close to the shoreline, in spawning beds, or up against the cattails. Please practice catch and release during the spawn to ensure this quality fishery stays that way.

There are still plenty of trout leftover from the last stocking of the year in march. Anglers are catching fish early and late in the day with small spinners or Power Bait.

February 2023 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

02/17/2023 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Daytime striper fishing has been a little rough lately, but anglers are reporting some success from 6am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm from the mouth of the river to Black Rock Cove. according to angler reports, Sassy shads, Keitech swimbaits, Pointer 128s, and live shad seem to be the most productive baits for Lake Havasu stripers right now. Try some artificial scent on your lures if you’re not getting any bites. Sometimes the fish need a little more incentive to strike. Mornings or evenings with foul weather and windy conditions may offer the best chance at aggressive strikes, but please use caution and your judgement before boating on the windy lake.

The smallmouth bass fishing at Lake Havasu has been fair to good during late morning through afternoon hours. Try casting 8-15ft diving crankbaits, deadsticking dropshotted Roboworms, or Lv500/Rat L Trap style lipless cranks around primary and secondary points where schooling smallmouth move up to chase shad or feed on crawdads. Smallmouth bass move frequently so it may be necessary to cover some water before finding where they are concentrated. There is an amazing population of smallmouth bass in Lake Havasu. Keep at it and don’t give up…You just might hook the bass of your life on the next cast!

February 2023 Roper Lake/Dankworth Pond Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 01/06/2022

Roper Lake & Dankworth Pond- Trout season is going strong in Southern Arizona and anglers have been catching limits at both Roper Lake and Dankworth Pond. The AZGFD continues to stock big and beautiful rainbow trout in these scenic locations that sit in the cool shadows of Mt. Graham near Safford. Some anglers have reported that green and garlic Powerbait fished on the bottom of either lake is working well, and others tell park staff that small spinners like Rooster Tails and Panther Martins are the ticket to their limits. Either way, this is a great time of year to visit this scenic part of the state and we’re forecasting plenty of sunshine and rainbows through March…

Bass fishing has been very slow but will heat up with the spring temps at both locations as the fish begin to spawn next month.

December 2022 Alamo Lake Fishing Report

12/05/2022 Report by: Park Manager Drew Collett

The black crappie are starting to school up in 12’-25' of water. Anglers are reporting success when using minnows on roadrunners with dark bodies and green or white heads. A few largemouth bass are being caught late in the day, but most have been lethargic when it comes to chasing after lures so a finesse approach like dropshotting might be your best bet currently for Alamo Lake bass. Regardless…A bad day fishing at Alamo is better than any day at work!

No current catfish or tilapia reports.

November 2022 Lake Havasu Fishing Report 

11/17/2022 Angler Reports

Striper fishing has been getting better by the day with lots of smaller fish available around Site 6 and larger fish closer to Parker Dam. Anglers have reported using swimsuits with varied success, and anchovies have accounted for a number of Havasu stripers recently as well, particularly from shore! Tip: Look for seagulls diving for schools of shad just below the surface and focus your attention there for potentially actively feeding stripers.

Topwater frogs and are still producing largemouth on a regular basis. But if you’re not getting bit with a frog, try casting a Rat L Trap or slow down with a drop shot presentation.

November 2022 Alamo Lake Fishing Report

11/17/2022 Report by: Park Manager Drew Collett

It’s currently feast or famine when targeting Alamo’s bass population. The bass are schooled up so it makes finding them difficult, but when you do, it could be an awesome day on the water! When you catch a fish on structure, slow down and focus there for more schooled up fish. Electronics can help you out big time when looking for a school as well. Nonetheless, most bass anglers are reporting slow fishing conditions here.

Crappie are being found in 15' to 25' of water but not in great numbers. Roadrunner lures and minnows are currently responsible for most of the crappie being caught.

September 2022 Alamo Lake Fishing Report

09/02/2022 Report by: Park Manager Drew Collett

The topwater bass fishing is awesome right now at Alamo Lake! Whopper floppers and frogs seem to be the go to lures, but anglers are reporting success with a variety of topwater presentations. With water stained from runoff, most anglers are reporting “white/green frogs” as the most productive choice. The best fishing has been at the east end of the lake at sunup, however bass can be caught throughout the day. Lipless cranks like Rat-L-Traps have accounted for a fair share of Alamo bass recently as well.

Catfish angling is slow.

Crappie fishing is fair at night under lights. Minnows will be available at the park store by the end of September.

09/15/2022 Alamo Lake Update

The top water bite is still on fire all day and many anglers have been catching (and releasing) 10-25 bass per day!

Alamo Lake catfish are finally picking up a bit in the early morning and at sundown.

Crappie fishing getting better under lights at night.

August 2022 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

08/25/2022 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Average Daytime Water Temp 79 degrees

Stained water conditions from monsoon runoff has slowed the striper bite considerably, but fish are still available for anglers that put in the work, and get a little lucky! Try fishing from Lake Havasu State Park south to the California Bay/Thompson area with cut anchovies on the bottom. Some boils have been reported.

This is a great reminder to pay attention to barometric pressure when a planning fishing trip. Post front conditions (rising barometer) usually mean it will be a tough bite for a few days. Conversely, the pre-front conditions before a storm (falling barometer) can translate to great fishing! During this time of year it’s best to focus your effort on the deeper fish (15-22 feet deep) because they are affected less than shallow fish by barometric pressure.

The murky conditions have reduced a normally much larger strike zone to less than 12” so try to retrieve lures slower than normal to give the fish a chance to hone in and strike it. “Deadstick” the bait longer on each cast. Flipping baits like Senkos, Sweet Beavers and Chigger Craws, are great choices right now at Havasu under these conditions.  

August 2022 Alamo Lake Fishing Report

08/08/2022 Report by: Park Manager Drew Collett

Alamo Lake has been experiencing “mini monsoons” on a regular basis and as a result, the fishing has been sporadic. Nevertheless, when it’s good, it’s really good! The morning bass bite has been great, and anglers are hooking into some plus size fish! Six largemouth over six-pounds have been reported in the last week from areas near the Cholla Launch Ramp.

According to the anglers we surveyed at the lake, the morning largemouth bite has been decent by the dam from gray light until 630 am. Around 10 am they pick back up and are actively biting a variety of baits. Drop shot mini creature baits, baitfish colored lipless crank baits and Chatterbaits were mentioned as the most productive currently for Alamo Lake bass. There are few reports from the river side of the lake.

Crappie fishing has been decent the last two weeks. Most of the larger fish have been caught at night using light bars off the side of the boat. Catfish are being caught regularly from shore using nightcrawlers. They aren’t very deep right now…Use a bobber to keep your worm just above the lake bottom.

We are currently out of bait at the park store and should be replenished around the middle of the month. Minnows will be available October 1.  

Our Partners at Fishin48 have been having catching a bunch of Alamo bass on frog style lures. Check out their tips for using this awesome bait and incorporate it into your bass fishing bag of tricks during your next Alamo Lake trip!

April 2022 Alamo Lake Fishing Report

04/07/2022 Report by: Park Ranger Matt Ogden

Bass are in the shallows and biting well on a variety of baits. White Chatterbaits, shad colored squarebill crankbaits, jerk baits, and soft plastics are all currently working on the Alamo Lake bass. Look for fish on beds or amid the lake’s ample cover. Change up your presentation and lure choice until you’re catching them…then repeat! 

The catfish have also moved up and are very accessible from shore. Successful anglers have been using live minnows, shad, or night crawlers to entice Alamo’s channel and yellow bullhead catfish. 

Pro Tip: The best catfish anglers are always the most patient. 

The crappie are turning on and most anglers have had the best recent success close to shallow submerged trees, jigging with a minnow hooked like a trailer. 

February 2022 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

02/18/2022 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Average Daytime water Temp is about 55 degrees.

The daytime striper bite is tough right now, but anglers are finding active fish during twilight hours, and after dark. Most of the successful reports are coming from the mouth of the river south to Black Rock cove. Green tailed Bass Assassins, Pointer 100 and 128’s and live shad seem to be the best bait choices currently.

Lake Havasu’s smallmouth bass have been somewhat cooperative, but successful anglers are covering a lot of water to catch them. Work primary and secondary points where schooling smallies move up to chase shad or feed on crawdads. Try 5-15ft diving jerkbaits, deadsticking dropshotted True Image worms, or Rat-L-Trap lipless cranks. 

January 2022 Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 01/06/2022

Bass have been actively feeding early and late in the day in and around the cattails that line the lake. Anglers throwing dark Chatterbaits and medium diving crank baits along the cattails are enticing quite a few hungry bass to strike. During the middle of the day, Roper Lake bass anglers are doing well drop shotting deeper water.

The crappie have been active as well and anglers are picking up some fish on white or chartreuse jigs. 

Unstable water quality perimeters have delayed trout stocking in Roper Lake this year. The Arizona Game and Fish Department continues to monitor the situation and will stock trout when the water stabilizes. 

Dankworth Pond

Trout fishing is excellent here! Garlic scented Power Bait fished on a slip sinker rig on the bottom, or nightcrawlers floated under a bobber with about 18” leader seem to be the “hot” setups right now.  

The sunfish and bluegill at Dankworth are readily biting nightcrawlers as well and are often caught incidentally when targeting trout. 

December 2021 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

12/18/2021 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Average Daytime water temp 62 degrees.

The striper fishing at Lake Havasu has been good! Most shad are congregating on the California side, in the main basin area, near Chalk Cliffs. So, naturally the stripers will be there too! Find the shad, then White 3/4 & 1oz Rat L Traps, or soft body swimbaits rigged on a 3/8 to 3/4oz jig head. Early/Mid AM hours have been best. Midday boils producing 3 to 5lb stripers near the Chalk Cliffs were reported during the last week as well.

Lake Havasu’s other bass are also hitting fairly well right now. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass are hitting square bill cranks in shad or craw colors, in shallow coves with rock or gravel shorelines.

December 2021 Alamo Lake Fishing Report

12/01/2021 Report by: Park Ranger Matt Ogden

The bass fishing hasn't been great, but there are still fish to be caught by patient, knowledgable anglers. The Alamo Lake bass have been hanging out in deep water where most success has come from drop shot or Texas-rigged presentations. Some bass are being caught on jerk baits, but mostly with soft plastics out deep.

There have been quite a few crappie hanging around the buoy line suspended at 15-30 feet. Jigs or minnows are currently your best bet to catch Alamo Lake crappie. Some anglers have also had success by trolling small crank baits.

The Alamo Lake catfish are biting pretty well for anglers on shore or from a boat and seem to currently prefer night crawlers or anchovies. Some catfish anglers are catching fish on shrimp, hot dogs, and prepared stink baits as well. 

November 2021 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

11/18/2021 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Average daytime water temp 68 degrees

The stripers have been chasing shad around the North Windsor Basin area in the early morning and late afternoon hours. Look for seagulls diving for the schools of shad just below the surface. Good locations to find shad/stripers last week were the Chalk Cliffs, Mesquite Bay 2 & the mouth of the river. Your likelihood of finding fish is dependent on your ability to locate schools so if you’re not having luck in one of the aforementioned areas, try a different one. The fish are out there.

Havasu’s largemouth bass have been hitting pretty well on breezy days on white or chartreuse colored spinnerbaits, or shad colored Rat-L-Traps. Deep diving shad colored crankbaits (8-15ft) are working well around rocks or gravel/rock shorelines for smallmouth in areas they are chasing baitfish.

November 2021 Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 11/18/2021

Due to low water levels and marginal water quality, Roper Lake trout stockings will be delayed. Dankworth Pond is receiving trout as scheduled.

Water levels are low and seems to be affecting the quality of fishing. Generally, the anglers reporting success this month are fishing from watercraft. There have been multiple reports of 4-6-pound largemouth bass caught while dropshotting deeper water. Red or green jigs have accounted for some decent bass lately as well.

Use night crawlers or mealworms from the floating piers for eager sunfish and bluegill.  

No catfish reports.

Dankworth Pond

Anglers will be happy to know that the overgrown cattails were mowed down and the shoreline has been trimmed in anticipation of Trout Stockings.  After the first stocking, anglers are reporting success with spinners, garlic scented Powerbait, and small marshmallows fished on light line in the 4–6-pound range. Mornings have been best. Night Crawlers or Mealworms are recommended for sunfish or bluegill anglers.  The Bass fishing has been slow here.

October 2021 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

10/01/2021 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Average Daytime water Temp 78 degrees

The afternoon striper bite is great from Lake Havasu State Park State south to California and Thompson Bays. Anglers are catching stripers on diving baits like Rat-L-Traps (in white), Sassy Shads, Pointer 128/158s and some topwater lures like Chug Bugs, Sammy’s and Super Spooks. Bait anglers are catching stripers at 30 to 45 ft depths after 9am and through the late afternoon hours. We’re getting some reports of morning boils of large stripers from 6am to 9am.

October is considered the peak month for BIG cats at Lake Havasu! Both species are feeding heavily before the lake cools off for winter. The channel catfish bite is excellent and they currently prefer cut mackerel or squid in the evenings and after dark. The Havasu flathead cats are biting well too! Try small to med size bluegills or redear sunfish from 6pm to 2am…Then hold on for the ride!

Largemouth bass fishing is currently pretty good at Havasu! Try flipping or pitching jigs with craw trailers like the chigger craw, Senkos and tubes in tulles and weed line edges in 1 to 4 ft of water.

The Havasu smallmouth bass are biting well around gravel flats and rocky outcroppings on green pumpkin Hula Grubs with a 3/8 or 1/2oz football head and exposed hook. Smallies usually bite these jigs as they fall so be ready and keep the slack out of your line as the jig descends.

October 2021 Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 10/01/2021

The topwater bass bite is awesome right now! They are really going after dragonflies and can be seen leaping out of the water regularly throughout the day to gulp one down. Anglers are catching fish on a variety of topwater lures that resemble dragonflies or frogs. Other bass anglers have reported success with Texas-rigged worms in green or blue.

Some catfish are finally showing up on a regular basis. Fishing from the piers after dark is your best bet with nightcrawlers, anchovies, shrimp, or other common catfish offerings. Carp fishing is really good for anglers using dough balls or corn fished on the bottom. Bluegill and sunfish are being caught regularly with small bright colored jigs around structure, or mealworms under a bobber.

Dankworth Pond

There aren’t a lot of reports coming in from bass anglers at Dankworth. Try topwater presentations, or weedless lures because the underwater vegetation is still super thick.

Bluegill and sunfish angling is HOT right now! Nightcrawlers or mealworms are your best bet. No reports from carp or catfish anglers.

September 2021 Alamo Lake Fishing Report

09/03/2021 Report by: Park Ranger Matt Ogden

Bass fishing has slowed down a little but anglers have still been catching bass on top water baits and crankbaits while chasing boils and fishing off points. Anglers are reporting decent action while using drop shot and creature baits in about 15-20 feet of water.

The crappie report has slowed to a near halt. Anglers have reported catching crappie on crank baits down around 15-30 feet of water above brush line. Catfishing is still good from shore at night using a variety of standard catfish baits like worms, shrimp, anchovies, and prepared stink baits.

September 2021 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

09/02/2021 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Average daytime water temp 79 degrees

Fishing for striped bass is fair. Concentrate on boils of 1-3-pound stripers chasing shad in the morning and late afternoon hours. Trolling Super Spooks, Sassy Shads and Rat-L-Traps in white or chrome/blue working best. Black Rock cove north to the entrance to the river has been the best place to search for the boils.

 The channel catfish bite is excellent! Numerous cats are being caught on cut mackerel and shrimp off deeper points and coves in 15 to 35 ft of water.

Smallmouth bass are biting very well on Hula grubs in Green Pumpkin rigged on 3/8oz football jigs fished around rocky points and gravel shorelines in 6 to 15ft of water. Topwater Poppers, Sammys and Buzzbaits also working well for both smallmouth and largemouth over gravel flats and submerged weed beds in the morning and late afternoon hours.

September 2021 Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 09/02/2021

The bass fishing isn’t quite as hot as it was a month ago, but there are still enough fish willing to bite to keep anglers happy! Soft plastics fished in and around the cattails in green or dark blue seem to be the go-to technique for most successful anglers. Some anglers have also reported success using nightcrawlers.

The night carp bite is still pretty good for anglers using dough ball, corn, or bread.

The bluegill bite has slowed some, but mealworm or nightcrawler presentations off the fishing piers are still picking up fish. Try various depths until you find where the fish are hanging out and concentrate your effort there.

The catfish bite is slow. One angler reported a decent bite from the north fishing pier on nightcrawlers just after dark.

Dankworth Pond

Underwater vegetation is really thick and the water is crystal clear. Bluegill and sunfish seem to be everywhere and biting mealworms and nightcrawlers very readily.

Anglers have reported some success catching largemouth bass on weedless plastic swimbaits. There also seems to be a topwater bite each morning. One angler reported high catch rates while using a Texas-rigged watermelon crawfish fished in and around the underwater vegetation.

Carp are biting corn at night.

No catfish reports.

August 2021 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

08/02/2021 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

 

 

The striper bite has been fair. Small to mid-sized stripers are chasing schools of shad in the mornings. Look for boils and cast shad style baits such as a Pointer 128/158, White Rat-L-Traps, Poppers, or spook style topwater lures no longer than 6" long. These tactics have been productive recently in and around the south side of the island, south to Havasu Palms.

Smallmouth bass have been cooperative for anglers and biting well on green pumpkin colored hula grubs rigged on a 3/8 oz or 1/2 oz football jig fished around rocky banks in 6 to 18ft of water.

Havasu’s largemouth bass are biting best on tubes and Senkos rigged as light as possible, fished around tule/cattail shade pockets during sunny times of the day. The bait must have a very slow rate of fall to give bass time to take it. Bronzeye and popper topwater frogs are working well just before sunset.

Pro Tip: Rig topwater frogs with braided 20 to 50 lb. line on a medium heavy to heavy action 7ft rod. A strong hookset is required to catch bass using this technique. Cast the frogs around the base of cattails and tules.

A good number of quality 5-pound plus channel catfish are being caught with cut baits like anchovies or mackerel fished on the bottom. Catfish come up to shallower areas at night to feed and can be caught from shore with regularity.

July 2021 Fool Hollow Lake Fishing Report

Report by Arizona State Parks and Trails Staff 07/30/2021 

The walleye bite has picked up at Fool Hollow Lake and anglers have noticed increased catch rates from boat and from shore. Successful anglers have been using a variety of baits and methods to catch Fool Hollow walleye, although trolling crankbaits (at a reported 2mph) or fan casting them from shore has been the most popular option lately to catch fish. Generally, in clear water more natural-colored baits like crawdad or bluegill work best, whereas chartreuse or fire tiger-colored cranks work better when the water is stained. Try a variety of colors, depths, and retrieve speed until you find what the fish prefer on any given day.

Anglers are also catching walleye with 4” beaver tails fished very slowly.

Dylan Mosher (see photo) recently caught a very nice Fool Hollow Lake walleye on a Texas rigged green crawdad.

 

July 2021 Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 07/19/2021

The bass fishing at Roper Lake is super-hot right now! An above-average number of quality bass are being caught including a recent 26” giant estimated over 10 pounds! Mostly, fish in the 2-4-pound range are keeping anglers busy and responding to a variety of baits and tactics. Dropshotting (various natural-colored worms) seems to be the go-to for most successful anglers. Some of them also reported a good spinnerbait bite early in the morning before they switched focus to dropshotting.

Plenty of sunfish and bluegill are being caught on nightcrawlers or small jigs.

Carp fishing is still good after dark with worms or dough baits fished on the bottom.

Dankworth Pond

Bass fishing has been much slower at Dankworth. One angler reported catching a few bass on the north side of the pond “finessing a green worm.” Anglers serious about catching bass should go to nearby Roper Lake.

Plenty of sunfish and bluegill are being caught on nightcrawlers or small jigs.

Carp fishing is still good after dark with worms or dough baits fished on the bottom.

No catfish reports.

July 2021 Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 07/06/2021

Bass fishing is good at Roper Lake and successful anglers are dropshotting green or purple worms for bass in the 1-4-pound range. One angler pulled a 6-pound largemouth from the reeds while using a brown 3/8 oz weedless jig.   

No catfish reports.

Sunfish and bluegill are being caught regularly with nightcrawlers by the floating piers. Either use a bobber with an 18” leader or let the worm slowly sink on it’s own without weights for a deeper, more natural presentation for larger fish. 

Carp fishing has been excellent with anglers using homemade dough baits consisting of cornmeal mixed with jello landing carp in excess of 20lbs.

Dankworth Pond

Bass fishing is decent. An angler fishing from his kayak reported catching several largemouth in the 1-5-pound range using a rubber frog.

Plenty of sunfish and bluegill can be caught here from the shoreline using mealworms and nightcrawlers. 

No reports of any catfish being caught. 

* Cattails were cut along the north bank this past week. The west bank is to be cut in the coming weeks.

July 2021 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

07/02/2021 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

A decent striper bite is being reported in the mornings from the mouth of the river and south to California Bay. Anglers are experiencing some boil action from 6am-8am. Try Ratl Traps or Pointer 128/158 minnow plugs in areas where grebes are congregating over schools of shad.  

The catfish bite has been excellent during the evenings in bays where the grass isn’t too thick. Live bluegills, cut mackerel, and anchovies have been working well. Be sure to throw out extra chum to attract cats from longer distances.

The topwater bite has been very good in the morning hours. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are both hitting on poppers, Super Spooks, and buzzbaits. Work your topwater presentation along the outside edged of floating weed mats. As the day progresses, change focus to submerged weed beds (8-15 feet) with Carolina rigged plastics like Brush Hogs, curly tail Power Worms, and Senkos. Add a glass bead between the swivel and sinker to attract bass in lower visibility water.

June 2021 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

06/02/2021 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Lake Level 448.95 and Average Daytime Water Temp 78 Degrees

The striper bite has been good and anglers are experiencing some exciting morning topwater action from about 5:00 am-7:30 am. Currently the fish can be found in good numbers from the North end of the Main Basin, south to Black Rock/California Bay. LuckyCraft Pointer 128/158s or pencil poppers are working well. Trolling & Casting have been effective. Anglers using cut bait like anchovies or sardines are catching fish too but this method is producing smaller limits than using artificial lures.

Evening/night fishing for bigger channel and flathead catfish has been excellent. Best time is 7:00 pm to 2:00 am. Use live sunfish or bluegills from 2.5" to 4" long rigged on a Carolina rig with 3/4 to 1oz. sinkers and 12 to 15lb test with a 24 to 36" leader. Then hold on for the ride!

Redear fishing with nightcrawlers around submerged grass beds is producing some quality fish over 2lbs. Lake Havasu’s giant redear sunfish could be caught at any time and records are being broken on a regular basis. Will you catch the new world-record sunfish at Lake Havasu?

June 2021 Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 06/02/2021

The bass fishing at Roper Lake is still very good for 2-4-pound fish! Shore and boat anglers have both been most successful during mid-morning and evening hours with dark colored Texas rigged worms. Dark plastic worms are also working for anglers using a dropshot rig.   

The catfish bite is finally picking up and reports of double-digit flathead catfish have started coming in! Recently an angler caught a 15-pound flathead on the east side while fishing at night with nightcrawlers.

The bluegill and crappie are biting nightcrawlers from the floating piers. Either try a bobber with two-foot leader or suspend your bait straight down.

May 2021 Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 05/17/2021

Bass anglers are still doing well at Roper by catching a number of fish in the 1-4 pound range. Try dropshot rigged plastic worms or chatterbaits in green or watermelon.

Carp anglers have had plenty of luck with homemade dough balls and have caught fish in excess of 13 pounds!

A few reports are starting to come from successful catfish anglers who have been using nightcrawlers from shore.

Plenty of sunfish are being caught off the floating piers with nightcrawlers.

Dankworth Pond

Bass fishing has been a little slower here and we suggest trying your luck at Roper for a better chance with the bass.

Surprisingly, there are still anglers reporting that they are successfully catching trout with PowerBait. No reports of catfish being caught.

Plenty of sunfish and bluegill are being caught from both shore and floating pier with nightcrawlers and mealworms.

May 2021 Alamo Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger Matt Ogden

Fishing is good at Alamo again this month!

Bass are biting on top water baits early morning and evening. They are also being caught on spinner baits, jerk baits, crank baits and always on plastics in the brush.

Crappie have been caught by trolling small crank baits and jigs with minnows. Fish 15-20 feet down near brush lines.

We're catching catfish close to shore as they come in to spawn. Night crawlers and live shad suspended under bobbers has been working well.

For shore fishing you can use any of these methods. You can also try sinking night crawlers and wait for the fish to bite. Try a dropshot rig. Remember it's called fishing, not catching!

April 2021 Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 04/020/2021

Roper Lake largemouth bass are still keeping anglers pretty busy! Most fish are being caught on plastic worms dropshotted near the cattails or chatterbaits fished near shore. Some trout are still being caught although stockings have ceased for the year. Successful anglers are using inline spinners, spoons or worms and marshmallows. Sunfish and bluegill are being caught off the floating piers with nightcrawlers.  

At Dankworth Pond, a few trout are still being picked up with PowerBait but most anglers have already switched their focus to bass and sunfish. Bass in the 1-3-pound range have been biting crankbaits, dropshotted worms, and one angler reported decent success on Dankworth bass with nightcrawlers. Bluegill and sunfish are being caught here with small jigs and nightcrawlers.

April 2021 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

04/02/2021 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Lake Level 448.10 and average Daytime water temp 65 degrees

Lake Havasu stripers are currently in pre-spawn mode and will spawn mid-April thru most of May. Target main channel areas either in the main lake, or north in the area from Gorilla hole to Devil’s Elbow. Right now, stripers are hitting shallow running lures and topwater baits like the Pointer 128,158s, Super Spooks and Pencil Poppers in the morning during the first hour of light or so. Shad spawn is active first thing in the morning. Find stripers over shallow flats as they corral spawning shad against the bank. Later in the day switch off to cut anchovies fished on the bottom in 28 to 35ft of water from the main Winsor Basin north to the mouth of the river.

The redear sunfish bite is good! Large redears are still deep in the main lake (6-20ft), or you can find them in shallow areas like backwaters off the river current to the south of Blankenship Bend. Nightcrawlers fished under a split shot and slip bobber work best because you can adjust the depth from 1ft to  30ft.

Largemouth bass are becoming more aggressive and starting to hit topwater poppers, frogs and Senkos fished near cattails.

On clear sunny days, anglers are finding smallmouth with dropshotted Roboworms in desert craw and bold bluegill rigged on 8lb test with a 3/16oz dropshot weight. Heavier line and more weight will reduce the number of bites you get so keep it light and catch more fish!

April 2021 Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 04/02/2021

Bass fishing is pretty hot right now at Roper Lake!  Anglers are catching bass in the 3-5-pound range from boats and from the shore. If you like fishing with live bait, nightcrawlers are working well near shore. Dropshot presentations are still very productive for anglers who prefer using lures.

Please practice catch and release this time of year on medium to large sized bass. During the spring spawn they are tending eggs and guarding them from attacks by predators. If bass are released gently they will find their way back to their nests and continue to raise your future memories!

Trout from previous stockings are still being caught on garlic scented Power Bait and small Mepps or Rooster Tail type spinners at both Roper and Dankworth ponds. The larger fish are still coming from Dankworth.

Bluegill fishing is hot right now and anglers are catching quite a few of these delicious panfish at both Roper and Dankworth. Nightcrawlers fished under a bobber or small jigs seem to be the ticket at both locations.

No reports of catfish at either location but the action for these bottom-dwellers will heat up soon! Summer night fishing typically produces some decent fish for patient anglers using a variety of baits like liver, shrimp, or prepared dough baits.  

March 2021 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

03/18/2021 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Average daytime water temp 62 degrees

Smallmouth are on beds spawning now. Smallmouth bass typically spawn a little deeper than their largemouth cousins, but sight fishing (with polarized sunglasses) is still possible in clear water areas on days with little to no wind. Use small craw jigs, Gitzits and and short leader dropshot rigs when bed fishing smallmouth at Lake Havasu.

Lake Havasu largemouth are biting on dropshotted worms in oxblood or Junebug with a chartreuse tip. The spinnerbait bite is good upriver on points where cattails turn into backwater channels.

The striper bite will be picking up very soon at south end of the lake as the shad spawn. Early morning topwater presentations close to the bank will be your best bet. Shad spawn at night against the bank, then disperse as the sun comes up. Stripers move in on them at first light to corral the shad against the shore for an easy meal. For midday fishing, try cut anchovies on bottom in areas where the water color is clear or greenish, but avoid bays where water is stained or dirty.

A few 2lb redear sunfish being caught deep (10 to 20ft) on live nightcrawlers around artificial habitats. Lake Havasu is home to some very large sunfish and these hard fighters are also excellent table fare!  

March 2021 Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 03/13/2021

Roper Lake

Trout Fishing has been exceptional and many anglers have been limiting out on a regular basis. Garlic scented Power Bait and small spinners have accounted for a majority of the fish.

Bass fishing is picking up and anglers have been catching bass in the 2-3-pound range by dropshotting in 6-10-feet of water. We anticipate the bass fishing to heat up consistently as they prepare for their annual spawn when water temps reach 60-62 degrees.

Nightcrawlers and meal worms fished under a bobber are being used by anglers targeting sunfish and bluegill near shore. Some trout are also being picked up with these baits as well.

Dankworth Pond

Trout fishing isn’t quite as hot here as it is at Roper, but anglers are picking up some trout with garlic scented Power Bait or nightcrawlers. According to the trout delivery personnel, there were fewer trout stocked in Dankworth, but the average size is larger compared to the trout delivered to Roper.

Bass are becoming more active at Dankworth, and the sunfish are hitting with regularity. Watch lake temps to hit the bass spawn here just right when the water temps are 60-62 degrees.

 

February 2021 Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 02/22/2021

Trout fishing has been pretty good at Roper Lake and Dankworth pond. Garlic scented Power Bait fished on the bottom or nightcrawlers under a bobber are your best bets in the mornings and mid-late afternoons. A few albino rainbow trout are still showing up at Dankworth but standard rainbows comprise most of the catch at both locations.

Bass fishing is still a little slow but will pick up drastically in the next several weeks as the water temp rises and the fish begin to spawn. One angler reported that the Roper Lake largemouth bass are currently schooling at 15-feet. When water temps reach 60-62 degrees, look for bass in shallow water guarding their nests. Pro tip: Polarized sunglasses really help see through the glare! Please practice catch and release during the spawn to ensure this fishery continues to produce big, healthy bass for the foreseeable future.

Fishing for sunfish, bluegill, and catfish is still a little slow but some fish are being picked up by persistent anglers.

February 2021 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

02/16/2021 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Average daytime water temp has been running about 54-56 degrees.

The daytime Striper bite is still a little tough unless anglers are focusing their effort on twilight hours. The best times to fish from shore have been 6am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm. Evenings or mornings with foul weather and/or windy conditions have been best. A vast majority of stripers have been coming from mouth of the river and south to Black Rock cove. Green tailed Bass Assassins, pointer 100,128s and live shad have accounted for most of these fish. Pro tip: Artificial scent is important when the fishing is tough…Sometimes the fish need a little extra incentive to draw an aggressive strike.

The smallmouth bass bite has been fair to good during late morning through afternoon hours. Try using 8-15-ft diving crankbaits, dead-sticking dropshotted Roboworms or Lv500 and Rat-L-Trap style lipless cranks. Focus around primary and secondary points where schooling smallies move up to chase shad or feed on crawdads. Smallmouth bass move frequently and you may have to cover several miles of shoreline to find them plus the spawn is coming up quick and really good times are just ahead! There is a great population of smallmouth in Havasu so don't give up, keep casting, and have fun.

January 2021 Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 01/15/2021

Trout fishing is still considered good and very few anglers are leaving Roper or Dankworth Ponds without catching fish. The albino trout have been a nice addition and visitors seem to really like catching them. Garlic scented prepared dough baits like Berkley Power Bait and nightcrawler seem to be working well. Small spinners like Rooster Tails and Panther Martins have also been responsible for recent angling success. 

Bass fishing has been slow but keep in mind this relatively small lake warms up quickly in the spring and they should spawn sooner than larger lakes in Arizona. Great bass fishing is just around the corner. 

January 2021 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

01/03/2021 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Average daytime water temp 56 degrees

Striper fishing remains good near schools of shad. Recently large schools of shad have been congregating at the south end of the lake near Havasu Springs and Site 6. The most productive striper lures have been Bass Assassin or Keitech swimbaits rigged on a lead jighead, or Alabama Rigs with TWO hooks (AZGFD Regulation). Troll or cast near shad schools during early morning hours. Fishing with live shad as bait is still producing quality sized stripers from 2.5 to 12-pounds. Use a 4' throw net (the largest legal size) or a snag hook to catch shad to use as live bait.

Anglers using shad or red colored swimbaits and crankbaits have been successful with Havasu’s smallmouth bass.

Redear sunfish are schooling in deeper water in 25 to 40ft of water off main lake points.

December 2020 Alamo Lake Fishing Report

12/26/2020 Report By: Tai Au- Professional bass angler

Bass aren’t as easy to catch in the winter, but anglers can usually coax a few Alamo Lake largemouths into biting any time of year. Dropshotting shad imitations off main lake points might be your best bet over the next month or so. Right now, the bass schooled up deep and anglers have had some success with spoons, deep diving cranks, Yamamoto hula grub on a 3/4 oz head, and Alabama rigs.

Crappie fishing is HOT right now! If you’re willing to join the large groups of boats exploiting giant schools of slabs, crappie jigs in white, chartreuse, and pink or minnows should put some tasty white fillets in your boat!

December 2020 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

12/13/2020 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Lake Level 447.31

Average daytime water temp 58 degrees

Striper fishing remains good near schools of shad if you can find them. The largest shad schools have been at the entrance to the Bill Williams refuge and Site 6. Productive striper lures are currently the bass assassin or Keitech swimbait rigged on a lead jighead. Try trolling or casting Pointer jerkbaits size (100, 128 and 158) near schools of shad during early morning hours. If you’re into live bait fishing for stripers, live shad are producing quality sized stripers from 3 to 10lbs! Use a 4' throw net (the largest legal size) or a snag hook to catch shad and cast near active schools.

Smallmouth bass are hitting Shad colored jerkbaits like the Staysee 90, or white/shad pattern Rat-L-Traps. The redear sunfish bite is slow unless you can locate the deep winter schools with sonar in 25 to 40ft of water off main lake points.

Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 12/13/2020

Rainbow trout fishing at Roper Lake has been excellent! Night Crawlers fished under a bobber and bottom rigged Power Bait have both been producing limits of delicious rainbow trout. Anglers that like using artificial baits have been successful with in-line spinners like Rooster tails and Panther Martins and Kastmasters. Bass fishing is still pretty slow but the monster fish are out there hunting fresh, hatchery raised rainbow trout. Try life-size rainbow trout swimbaits fished along the reeds for monster bass ready to ambush their next meal. Very few reports of success from catfish anglers since most have switched to rainbow trout.

The Dankworth pond fishing report is pretty much identical to the Roper Lake report above with the added benefit of an active sunfish bite. Sunfish are being caught regularly with bobber-rigged worms near the floating pier.

Fall 2020 Arizona Fishing Report

By: Tai Au- Professional bass angler

All too often, folks ask what's working at a certain lake, although from experience I’ve learned what works today, may not work tomorrow.  By paying attention to current conditions it will be much easier to understand the seasonal changes that result in hook ups. For example, if the wind was blowing yesterday and a spinnerbait was working, but it's calm today…a spinnerbait might not work. 

Right now, we're heading into fall and during the next several months bass will feed heavily on shad. In the back of coves, you may also see them feeding on dragonflies or bluegills.  On rocky banks, you may have a few looking for crawfish to eat. They can be both deep or shallow, using rocks or wood for cover, cruising open water, or hanging out in submerged grass.  Take your pick on how you want to catch them.

Upon arriving at the lake, assess the conditions to determine what you should throw in a particular situation. Start by selecting a lure you can fish efficiently with.  For instance, if a certain lure gets snagged too much, you probably should throw something else. If you’re spending too much time freeing up snags, you aren’t fishing effectively.

If you find an area with shad, try throwing shad imitating lures. Crankbaits, jerkbaits, GFunk Rig, rip baits, spinnerbaits, chatterbait, spook, popper, etc. Current wind conditions may limit your lure selection. I don't typically like throwing reaction baits in super clear water with no wind. Sure, it'll get a few bites but, in my experience, it's not ideal.

My intent is to have you start thinking about current conditions and situations and assess them before throwing random lures. Over time, you’ll learn what lures to pick and how to fish in different conditions, and then adapt with the seasonal changes. Have fun learning how to catch them using new techniques and don’t be afraid to try new things.  Looking back, that was one of the most exciting things when I was learning about bass fishing. Have fun and good luck out there!

November 2020 Lake Havasu Fishing Report

11/25/2020 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Lake Level 448.54

Average daytime water temp 68 degrees

Stripers have been chasing shad around the north Windsor basin in the early morning and late afternoon hours. Look for seagulls diving on the schools of shad coming to the surface. Other good locations this week are the Chalk cliffs, Mesquite Bay 2, and the mouth of the river.

Largemouth bass are hitting white or chartreuse colored spinnerbaits and shad colored rattle traps on breezy days. Smallmouth anglers have been successful using deep diving shad colored crankbaits around rocks in 8-15 feet of water or gravel/rock shorelines where the smallmouth are chasing baitfish.

11/16/2020 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Lake Level 448.10

Average daytime water temp 63 degrees

Striper fishing continues to be good if you can locate the shad. Latest shad reports are coming in from around the Bill Williams buoy line, Chalk Cliffs, and the mouth of the river. 1-2oz spoons, Pointer 100s & 128/158s in Chartreuse Shad, and 1oz white Ratl Traps have been producing quality fish. Troll or cast near shad schools during morning or later afternoon hours, although mornings have been best. Live shad are producing stripers over 3lbs. Use a 4' throw net (the largest legal size) or a snag hook to catch shad to use as live bait.

Largemouth bass are hitting on shad colored deep diving cranks and 2 hook Alabama rigs.

Crawdad colored crankbaits and jerkbaits are working well around rocks or gravel/rock shorelines where smallmouth are hunting crawdads.

11/02/2020 Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Lake Level 448.05

Average daytime water temp 68 degrees

Striper fishing is currently good if you can locate the schools of shad. Schools of shad and the striped bass hunting them have recently been reported around Bill Williams/Havasu Springs, North Winsor and Chalk Cliffs. A variety of lures are putting Lake Havasu stripers in the boat, try Green tailed Shad assassins, Pointer 128, 158s in Chartreuse Shad or a 1oz Ratl trap in “Silverado.” Currently anglers are finding quality fish by trolling or casting near shad schools during early AM and PM hours. Live shad as bait are producing plenty of quality sized stripers over 3lbs. Use a 4' throw net (the largest legal size) or a snag hook to catch shad to use as live bait.

Largemouth bass are providing plenty of action on small white or shad colored jerkbaits like the Pointer 78 or 100.

For smallmouth bass, try deep diving brown or red crawdad colored crankbaits (8-15ft) around rocks or gravel/rock shorelines where smallmouth are actively hunting crawdads.

Roper Lake Fishing Report

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 11/24/2020

Trout fishing has been very good here and many anglers are catching their six fish limits. Garlic flavored dough baits fished on the bottom and small inline spinners are both currently working well for the hungry rainbows.

Bass fishing has been slow but this is the time of year outsized fish are typically caught on trout imitation baits. Some of the big Roper Lake largemouths are actively feeding on stocked rainbow trout. Try working an imitation lure parallel to the tules to draw a big fish from its ambush spot.   

Bluegills and sunfish are still being caught on nightcrawlers fished under a bobber. Catfishing has been slow.

Arizona Fishing Report- October 22, 2020

By: Tai Au- Professional bass angler

Alamo Lake

Largemouth Bass

The topwater bite is HOT right now for hungry bass exploiting large populations of shad up on the flats towards the river end. Anglers are currently having a field day with Pop-R and walking baits. Shad imitation cranks like RatlTraps are also working well to get a reaction from feeding bass.

In the main lake area, bass can be found from shallow to deep water as they transition into a fall pattern. Large numbers of bass are staging off of secondary points corralling shad into backs of coves. Keitech soft baits and other soft shad imitation lures are working well on these main lake bass. Some anglers are reporting great days on weightless Senkos in a variety of colors like Natural Shad, Baby Bass, and Green Pumpkin. If you’re into jigs, try a Hula Grub in the colors mentioned above in trees and off points. Bass have recently been seen feeding on dragonflies in the backs of coves.

Catfish and Carp

Shore anglers are picking up quite a few catfish on Carolina rigs with hot dogs or fresh shrimp fished between 10 and 20 feet deep. Hard-fighting carp are being caught on the standard offerings like corn and dough balls. 

Lake Havasu

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass anglers should still be focusing on cover. The lake still has grass available and these areas are great for locating fish hanging out in the cover. Throw hollow frog imitation baits, buzz baits, or flukes near cover. 

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth are hanging out off of main lake points in areas of sand or gravel substrate. Anglers are having success fishing Neko rigs with a 4” Senko. If you haven’t tried a Neko rig yet, you really should! Bass love the falling action of this essentially weighted version of the wacky rig. 

Roper Lake Fishing Report (Including Dankworth Pond)

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 10/01/2020

Southern Arizona’s fishing hotspot Roper Lake has started to slow down a bit as the water temps continue to drop. Bass anglers have had some luck recently on 1-3-pound fish with brighter colored worms and grubs fished along the reeds. Shad imitation lures have also been producing a few fish. Sunfish are still very active and available for anglers fishing with meal worms or nightcrawlers by the floating piers. Some big carp in the 10-pound range have been caught recently on corn and homemade dough bait fished on the bottom.

At Dankworth Lake, diving crankbaits and plastic worms fished slow are picking up a few bass. The increased underwater vegetation might be frustrating for anglers, but those that stick with it end up with some nice Dankworth bass; especially flipping into the cattails lining the shore. Per usual, the sunfish are cooperative here with the standard offerings and catfishing has slowed to a near halt.

Rainbow trout will be stocked in November and will give Roper/Dankworth Lake anglers another option during their visit. PowerBait fished on the bottom, salmon eggs undr a bobber, and a variety of in-line spinners usually work pretty well for fish in these gorgeous southern Arizona lakes.

Summer 2020 Report

Lake Havasu Fishing Report

September 2020

Report By: John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master

Striped Bass action is decent and observant anglers can find boils of stripers chasing shad in the morning and late afternoon. Trolling super spooks, sassy shads and white or Chrome/blue Rattle Traps is currently your best bet. Search for boils from Black Rock & Calif. Bay north to the river entrance.

The channel catfish bite is excellent right now and numerous cats are being caught on cut mackerel or squid off deeper points and coves in 15 to 35 ft of water.

Smallmouth bass are keeping anglers busy! Try throwing Smoke Sparkle or Green Pumpkin Hula grubs rigged on a 3/8oz football jig fished around rocky points and gravel shorelines in 6 to 15ft of water. The topwater bite is on too! Poppers, Sammys, and Buzzbaits are working well for both smallmouth and largemouth over gravel flats and submerged weedbeds in the morning and late afternoon.

Lake Havasu Fishing

Patagonia Lake Fishing Report

September 2020

Patagonia Elite Series tournament anglers did well on some solid fish during a recent contest at Patagonia Lake. The biggest fish was a 5.69-pound largemouth, although several in the four-pound range were also caught. Successful anglers used a variety of methods to bring fish to the boat including flipping into the tules and dropshotting Robo Worms. A number of fish were also caught with different types of topwater baits!

August 2020

The Patagonia Elite Anglers tournament this month was met with hot weather and killer bass fishing. Most teams weighed in a limit of fish and the average fish caught was 2.36 pounds. Successful anglers were using a variety of lures including worms on dropshot rigs, spinnerbaits, and Texas rigged creature was baits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 2020

Bluegill fishing is hot right now! The fish are still on their beds and displaying spawning behavior. The water is currently clear so you should be able to see them in the shallow water near shore. Try using mealworms or earthworms fished without a weight for best results. An angler recently reported catching and releasing nearly 100 bluegills during an early June trip…This is a great time of year to get kids hooked on fishing! Plan a trip to Patagonia, and start building new outdoor memories! 

Bass fishing at Patagonia has been tough. The spawn is over and the fish are currently transitioning from their spring to summer patterns. Successful anglers are reporting the best times to fish are earl in the morning, and late in the evening. Flipping Texas-rigged creature baits into the tule pockets, dropshotting worms near the bank, and throwing wacky-rigged Senkos seem to be the go-to methods right now. 

Patgonia Lake Fishing

Alamo Lake Fishing Report

Alamo Lake is a great place to escape the crowds that can be experienced at other lakes. Bass fishing was recently on fire, but has subsided a bit. Fishing for bass is still considered fair. The bass are congregating off of points in the main lake area, and near submerged trees that provide shade. Flukes, Texas-rigged creature baits are working the best for Alamo bass right now. Reports of both quality and quantity have been coming in from anglers focusing on topwater presentations while using lures like hollow belly frogs and walking baits. Rattletraps have also been working well while searching for fish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even though the bass and crappie get most the glory at this Sonoran Desert lake, Alamo has a great catfish population as well! Try worms, fresh shrimp, or hot dogs rigged weightless (or a small weight when windy) for best results. You really don’t have to cast far from shore to get in on some great catfish action at Alamo! 

Alamo Lake Fishing

Parker Strip Fishing Report

The lower Colorado River accessed from Buckskin Mountain and River Island State Parks offers some of the BEST smallmouth bass fishing in Arizona! Try small swimbaits like the Keitech Fat Impact rigged on a ball head jig, a weightless 4-inch Senko, or dropshot worms near shore. The smallmouth bass here don’t get a ton of pressure and there are some really nice sized fish currently being caught. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parker Strip Fishing

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 7/28/2020

Bass fishing at both Roper Lake and Dankworth Pond has been phenomenal recently. Anglers have regularly reported catching largemouth in the 5-7-pound range from boat and shore. Bait anglers are doing well with nightcrawlers. Artificial lures like soft plastics, floating jerkbaits, and bluegill imitation baits are accounting for a large majority of Roper bass. An angler reported using a green plastic worm wacky rigged to catch a really nice 7lb bass off the floating pier by the boat launch!

Carp anglers are reporting success with corn in the evenings.

Sunfish are still active and most success has come with worms or small plastic jigs close to shore.

Catfishing has been slow.

Report by Park Ranger, Michael DeLeon 7/14/2020

At Roper Lake, Bluegill and other sunfish have been active early in the day. Anglers are doing well with worms and small jigs. Bass fishing has been slow from shore but boat anglers are doing well by fishing crankbaits slowly along the cattails.

Dankworth pond just down the road from Roper is experiencing some HOT topwater action for bass. Poppers and frog imitation baits are triggering strikes for anglers. Bluegills are biting near the piers with worms or meal worms fished below a bobber.

Catfishing has been slow at both parks.

Roper Lake Fishing

Dead Horse Ranch Fishing Report

08/20/2020

Catfish were stocked last week and there's still plenty of eager fish available to anglers! Standard catfish offerings like hot dogs, nightcrawlers, uncooked shrimp, and prepared dough baits are working well fished on the bottom. Try using a swivel and barrel sinker so the fish don't feel resistance when they pick up the bait. This gives them a chance to position the hook correctly for a good hook set! 

Bass fishing has been slow, but a few anglers are picking up fish with small crankbaits fished near structure. Bluegills are biting on meal worms and earthworms fished about 18"-24" under a bobber.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dead Horse Fishing

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