Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Adapted From An Article By Rudri Bhatt Patel For Visit Arizona In Arizona, there are so many opportunities to get out on the water-from the lakes of the Mogollon Rim to the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Here are ten of the top spots to canoe and kayak. 1. Lake Pleasant, Morristown Lake Pleasant, located 45 minutes northwest of Phoenix, is a favorite venue for those on paddle craft. Canyons and cliffs rise over the six-mile lake, islands dot the middle of it and slot canyons hide on the... Full story
Director's Orders (list of waters with aquatic invasive species) updated to include Tonto Creek; Tonto Creek Hatchery closed to public. PAYSON, Ariz. - The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has confirmed the presence of New Zealand mudsnails, an aquatic invasive species (AIS), in upper Tonto Creek approximately 2.5 miles downstream of Tonto Creek Hatchery. AZGFD continues to conduct surveys in the area to determine the extent of infestation. Tonto Creek Hatchery will remain closed to the... Full story
Precaution Taken After Invasive Mudsnails Detected In Creek 2.5 Miles Downstream Of Hatchery The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has confirmed the presence of New Zealand mudsnails, an aquatic invasive species, in Tonto Creek approximately 2.5 miles downstream of Tonto Creek Hatchery. AZGFD continues to conduct surveys in the area to determine the extent of infestation. Beginning June 22, the Tonto Creek Hatchery was closed to the public. This will provide the department with time to en... Full story
Anglers and others recreating in Canyon Creek are now required to clean, drain, dry and decontaminate their equipment after each visit The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has added Canyon Creek to its list of "Aquatic Invasive Species Affected Waters" (also known as Director's Order 2) after recently confirming the presence of invasive New Zealand mudsnails in lower Canyon Creek about 3 miles downstream of Canyon Creek Fish Hatchery. Director's Orders are authorized by ARS §17-255.01... Full story
From Visit Arizona.com Horseshoe Bend attracts 2 million visitors every year and is one of the most photographed sites in northern Arizona. Here, we walk you through need-to-know details for how to travel to this spectacular place as well as tips on how to engage more meaningfully with the destination. Formed when the Colorado River looped around an impassable sandstone escarpment, Horseshoe Bend is one of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area's more famous highlights. Not an easy feat,... Full story
On Sunday, Dec. 1 the National Park Service's Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center near Lees Ferry closed for the season. The Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center will re-open next spring. The Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center is located on Highway 89A on the west side of Navajo Bridge, near Lees Ferry, Ariz.... Full story
Christmas Bird Count For Kids December 14 The second annual Glen Canyon Christmas Bird Count for Kids will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Lees Ferry Boat Launch Ramp (8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time). Lees Ferry is located 42 miles from Page, Arizona via Highway 89 south and Highway 89A west. This event is made possible by the Glen Canyon Conservancy. For over a century, thousands of volunteers take part in the National Audubon Society's Annual Christmas Bird Count, the... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz. - On Friday, September 7 at approximately 11:00 A.M., a Canyoneers commercial river trip was preparing for day hike at Clear Creek (RM 85), when a 65 year old female passenger went into the river while disembarking. The woman's husband Mike Howard, 67, jumped into the river to assist her. They both swam through Clear Creek Rapid, before she was rescued by the river trip. Howard, of Simi Valley, CA, was last seen in Clear Creek Rapid and is described as 6' tall and weighing... Full story
As a New Year begins, [it is interesting] to review where the Lees Ferry fishery has been in the past few years - and where it's headed. Fall 2013 Decline In the fall of 2013, there was a decline in the trout population due to much lower- than-normal water flows and warmer-than-normal water temperatures from Glen Canyon Dam. The lower water flows were part of the Experimental High Flow Event and the warmer water was a result of Lake Powell water levels' being low due to drought. This was the... Full story
Wear a life jacket when fishing from a boat in cold water - it could save your life, plus here are some good catching tips to snag a keeper this fall/winter. Nearly one-third of Arizona's boaters say fishing is their favorite activity to do while boating, and for many, fall is an ideal time of year to go out in search of that state record bass (or trout or catfish or ...). But, as the weather cools down, so does the water temperature. The U.S. Coast Guard reports that cold-water immersion and hy... Full story
On Jan. 10, more than 200 college students representing 13 countries will revitalize one of the most important historic sites on the Colorado River as part of an education and service-based collaboration between the U.S. Department of State's Community College Initiative Program and the National Park Service. International Exchange Program The U.S. Department of State's CCI Program is an international exchange program, administered by Northern Virginia Community College on behalf of the Communit... Full story
In Arizona, winter doesn't have to mean sending boats and rods and reels into hibernation. While outdoor recreation opportunities across many U.S. states shut down during the season of freeze, Arizona rolls on with trout stockings and water temperatures just warm enough to convince fish to bite during the holidays. Although fishing tends to slow a tad this time of the year, there are some spots that are winter-friendly. Here, then, are the Arizona Game and Fish Department's top-five fishing... Full story
These memorable destinations are enough to fill a lifetime of "bucket lists". As we celebrate the centennial of the National Parks Service, many will be visiting national sites throughout the country. A good place to start is here at home as Arizona has over two dozen of these spectacular destinations within the state. National Monuments In Arizona Canyon De Chelly Chinle, Ariz. For nearly 5,000 years, people have lived in these canyons - longer than anyone has lived uninterrupted anywhere on... Full story
While my focus and much of Hunting And Angling Heritage Workshop Group’s (HAHWG’s) effort is on recruitment and retention. There are other groups fighting the good fight at a higher level. I got an email from Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation’s President Jim Unmacht (they also do the license plate grant program many of us have used) that listed the concerns, threats and challenges for sportsmen on a landscape scale. And, I said to him, some of us work with kids, others work with legis... Full story
In Arizona, winter doesn't have to mean sending boats and rods and reels into hibernation. While outdoor recreation opportunities across many U.S. states shut down during the season of freeze, Arizona rolls on with trout stockings and water temperatures just warm enough to convince fish to bite during the holidays. Although fishing tends to slow a tad this time of the year, there are some spots that are winter-friendly. Here, then, in no particular order, are the Arizona Game and Fish Department... Full story
PAGE, AZ – The National Park Service (NPS) has received numerous inquiries from local residents and park visitors regarding the effects of the Gold King Mine spill on waters within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The incident is being managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Current information on the spill is available at www.EPA.gov/GoldKingMine. Contaminated wastewater from the Gold King Mine has not reached Lake Powell or the San Juan River within Glen Canyon. “We have not... Full story
The U.S. Department of the Interior triggered a "high-flow release" at Glen Canyon Dam beginning Nov. 10 and lasting four days. The release was part of a long-term strategy that was announced in May 2012 by former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to meet water and power needs, as well as to allow better conservation of sediment downstream and to better address the important resources in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam. Benefit To Downstream Resources The high-flow release, which... Full story
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area staff continue to monitor park waters to determine the distribution of quagga mussels. Quagga mussels were recently identified in sampling locations between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry. Mussel larvae (veligers) are passing through the Glen Canyon Dam and low numbers of adult mussels have been confirmed in the Glen Canyon stretch of the river. Managers and research staff remain hopeful that the river current and sediment in the water below the Paria River... Full story
Tip Of The Week Try Apache Lake for something different. Here, crappie and walleye are other tasty options. Fish some of Apache's heavy breaks where shallow water quickly becomes deep. It has really become a tremendous largemouth bass fishery. There are also plentiful yellow bass, which are a lot of fun to catch on light tackle. Apache Lake also has a healthy herd of bighorns. So be sure to take a camera - this is one of our most photogenic lakes. The Reel Deal Summer is hot and sticky and... Full story
Tip Of The Week Greer Derby The Business Council of Greer is sponsoring a $10,000 Fishing Derby until Oct. 31. Catch one of 50 tagged fish in the three Greer Lakes and bring one into the Lazy Trout Market to exchange for a hat. On Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. at The Lazy Trout Market, a tag will be drawn and it must match the winning number sent by OddsOnPromotions to win the $10,000. Registration is not necessary before catching the tagged fish. If there is no $10,000 winner, a $250 first and $100 second... Full story
Recent Fish Ratings • Upriver: 6 to 7.5 • Walk-In: 7 • Spin-Fishing: 7.5 Key: 1 = Go fish somewhere else 10 = Rent a helicopter and get here now! Recent People Ratings • Crowd Rating: Upriver: 2 weekdays to 3 on weekends • Walk In: 2 during the week and 3 on the weekends Key: 1 = Sleep late and fish where you want. 10 = Very crowded, get up early ******************************************************************* Fly Fishing Up-River Summer weather and the corresponding higher water flows hav... Full story
By Nick Walter, AZGFD Hello, anglers, Get ready for more winter trout stockings; they began Jan. 13 in the Verde River (Clarkdale to Camp Verde), Fain Lake, the Lower Salt River, Saguaro Lake, Patagonia Lake, Pena Blanca Lake, Fortuna Pond and Redondo Pond. See our nifty Fish&Boat Arizona map for finding the state's best fishing and boating spots. In addition to an incredible turnout for the kickoff fishing clinic and trout stocking at Pioneer Lake in Peoria, we received some great anglers... Full story
Preventing the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in Arizona waters starts with Arizona boat owners and anglers. To protect Arizona lakes, rivers and streams from the devastating effects of invasive species, Arizona Game and Fish laws require boaters and anglers to be good stewards by cleaning, draining and drying their boats and pulling the boat plug when leaving an AIS-affected lake. Failure to do so may result in a citation for the boat owner and possible fines. Clean, Drain, Dry Game... Full story
Keep in mind that here in Arizona, there is plenty of year-round fishing. Bass and other sport fish may not be as active, but they are still catchable. In many cases; it's a matter of slowing down your presentation and going to smaller baits. Some pro anglers, on the other hand, have been known to not only slow down their presentations, but also upsize their offerings to make it worthwhile for big bass to dine. The Reel Deal It's winter trout and crappie time. First, The Trout There are rainbow... Full story
Recent Fish Rating Upriver: 3.5 to 6 Walk-In: 3.5 to 6 Spin-Fishing: 5 to 7.5 Key: 1 = Go fish somewhere else 10 = Rent a helicopter and get here Crowd Rating Upriver: 1-2 No Crowds during the week and 2 on the weekends Walk In: 1 during the week and 2 on the weekends Key: 1 = Sleep late and fish where you want. 10 = Very crowded, get up early. About The HFE Since Nov.1, water flows have fluctuated between 5,500 to 8,000-cfs daily as part of the upcoming experimental high-flow event. On Nov. 11... Full story