Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 476 - 500 of 617
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
Rainbow trout stockings have started and will continue all winter long at two-week intervals at all Urban Fishing waters. Trout range in size from 11-12 inches in length, with some fish up to 16 inches. Fishing is good-to-excellent for anglers using scented dough baits (such as Power Bait), worms or a salmon egg/marshmallow combo on the bottom. Small spinners such as Roostertails and Panther Martins, or spoons such as KastMasters and Super Dupers work well for trout. The morning bite is the best... Full story
Beginning Jan. 1, 2014 anglers fishing for salmon, steelhead or sturgeon in the Columbia River and its tributaries will be required to have a Columbia River Basin endorsement. See a map of the Basin and get more information. Trout are preparing for winter… …and are feeding aggressively. Fall fishing, where regulations and access permits, can be some of the best fishing of the year. See the Recreation Reports for updates and the latest conditions. 2014 licenses on sale – and they make great... Full story
The States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) has presented the Arizona Game and Fish Department with their annual Outstanding Project Award for the Pena Blanca Lake Boating Access Renovation project. SOBA Outstanding Project awards were given to agencies or organizations involved in boating-access projects that are of high quality, innovative, unique and economical. The Pena Blanca Lake project, completed entirely by Arizona Game and Fish Department in coordination with the Coronado... Full story
All over the country - well, at least in the Desert Southwest - fall is in full swing and recreational boaters and anglers are trying to squeeze in their last good day on the water. But when they do, boaters need to follow a safety playbook appropriate for this time of year. That's because boaters often let their guard down when safety becomes an even greater challenge. What makes fall boating safety so different? The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water explains: Beware Of... 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
During October we fished the same spots in the southern lake each week while checking current results for the fish report. Results ranged from superb early in the month to difficult after full moon. I am pleased to report that this report is right back at the top of the charts. Fishing success has recovered for striped bass that have been holding in the same locations all during last month. They have just responded differently on the various trips at the times that we fished there. Fishing... Full story
November promises to provide excellent fishing at Urban Fishing Program lakes. The lakes have been loaded with catfish all fall with one last stocking the week of Oct. 28 – Nov. 2. Coming soon is the first trout delivery for the winter season that begins on Nov. 15. Fishing for catfish, especially cats over 4 pounds, has been excellent following the last stocking that included a huge number of incentive-size fish. Every urban lake received some of the whoppers up to 7 pounds. Excited anglers h... Full story
Now that's it's early November, we're getting some wonderful northern pike fishing in Upper Lake Mary. Lake Mary, although water levels are low, is a viable fishing option - it also has walleye, yellow perch and largemouth bass. What's more, there are no boat motor restrictions. At the Mogollon Rim lakes, skim ice began to develop on cold nights along the shoreline of the higher elevation lakes, but has been melting off by mid-day. Trout Are 'Cool' Cooler temperatures are ideal for trout, and... Full story
The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) is seeking a talented and passionate individual, who is committed to fish and wildlife conservation, to join our Western team as the TRCP Arizona Field Representative. The successful applicant will participate as a member of the “TRCP Center for Western Lands” field team. TRCP’s Center for Western Lands primarily focuses on wildlife conservation policy and land use policy on public lands throughout the Western U.S. Field repre... Full story
American Sportfishing Association Alexandria, VA – November 14, 2013 - With much of the controversy surrounding federal management of saltwater recreational fishing centered in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation's Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard held a hearing to gather perspectives regarding the nation's federal fisheries management law. The hearing examined the progress and challenges fa... Full story
Alexandria, VA – November 7, 2013 - Two bills have been introduced in the U.S. Senate that includes numerous legislative measures beneficial to anglers and hunters across the nation. In large part they pick up the measures contained in the Sportsmen’s Act that failed to pass at the end of the 112th Congress. Sens. Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Thune (R-S.D.) introduced the first bill, S 1335, on July 18, 2013. Sen. Hagan (D-N.C.) introduced the Sportsmen’s and Public Outdoor Recreation Traditions Act... Full story
Alexandria, VA - November 18, 2013 - Last week, the National Park Service announced a supplemental General Management Plan (GMP) for Biscayne National Park that marks an important step towards balancing the need for public access while addressing resource concerns. The park's new preferred plan addresses many of the concerns from the recreational boating and fishing communities contained in the original 2011 GMP proposals. Located adjacent to Miami, Fla., Biscayne National Park is the largest... Full story
Beginning Jan. 1, 2014 anglers fishing for salmon, steelhead or sturgeon in the Columbia River and its tributaries will be required to have a Columbia River Basin endorsement. Trout are preparing for winter... ...and are feeding aggressively. Fall fishing, where regulations and access permits, can be some of the best fishing of the year. See the Recreation Reports for updates and the latest conditions. Coast elk hunting 2nd season Nov. 16-22 Good numbers of bulls should be available in all... Full story
Beginning Jan. 1, 2014 anglers fishing for salmon, steelhead or sturgeon in the Columbia River and its tributaries will be required to have a Columbia River Basin endorsement. See a map of the Basin and get more information. Trout are preparing for winter… …and are feeding aggressively. Fall fishing, where regulations and access permits, can be some of the best fishing of the year. See the Recreation Reports for updates and the latest conditions. Late season archery deer hunting underway Bow... Full story
Individual fish species are evenly divided and are holding caucuses to decide how best to move forward from this point. Adult stripers would like to open the gates and let more anglers come in so they can reap the rewards of anchovy chum falling from the boats in all the locations that have proven to be great feeding spots all summer long. They revel in the free food that comes to them without effort. Young stripers and smallmouth agree that finding plankton on their own without any assistance... Full story
Tip Of The Week When trout are more active. it's sometimes better to use lures rather than bait, especially inline spinners such as Mepps, Rooster Tails and the like. Casting spoons, such as KastMasters, can sometimes be downright lethal. Also try rainbow-colored Rapalas. The larger, more voracious trout will often feed on the smaller ones. The Reel Deal The window of sunlight that blasts our waters is increasingly short-lived, leading to the first hints of fall fishing conditions. First,... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission recently approved 12 amendments to Commission Order 40 (fish regulations) that are expected to conserve sport fish populations and simplify and streamline regulations.The amendments will take effect Jan. 1, 2014. One amendment of particular benefit to anglers is a change in the statewide possession limit to twice the daily bag limit, applying to all statewide and special-regulation seasons. The regulation will now give the angler the ability to continue fishi... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department's Local Sportsmen's Group Grant Program awarded 17 projects totaling $75,000 for hunter recruitment efforts in the state. The purpose of the grant program is to help local sportsmen's groups fund projects that promote wildlife conservation through hunter recruitment and retention. Eligible projects often include events like mentored, hands-on hunting for youngsters and their families. Incredible Response The program received 37 applications this cycle... Full story
All lakes were stocked again with channel catfish the week of Sept. 30 – Oct. 5. Fishing for catfish is good to excellent now that the fall stockings have resumed. The Sept. 19 stocking was loaded with incentive-size catfish in the 3-8 pound range. Mornings and evenings are the best times because catfish prefer to feed under dim or dark conditions. Top baits for catfish have been stink baits, shrimp and worms fished on the bottom in the deeper lake sections. Use smaller sinkers and 8-pound t... Full story
Many hunters, anglers and other outdoor recreationists have been wondering how the current federal government shutdown, which began Oct. 1, will impact their upcoming outings. Despite closures by federal land management agencies of their administrative offices and some controlled access points and facilities, there are numerous opportunities available to Arizonans for outdoor recreation. Please keep in mind that, with regard to federal lands, official information on closures is the responsibilit... Full story
Widespread rains across the state have helped drop lake water temperatures. Look for fish to get active once again, assuming this typical pattern holds true. We'll see. Lake Pleasant The top-water striper bite at Lake Pleasant is picking up. Get there at first light or you might miss the boils. Cover lots of water and look for birds or surface activity. Try top-water lures, jerkbaits and flies. (Zara Spook Juniors and buzzbaits tend to be successful this time of the year.) Roosevelt Lake The...
The way some anglers look at Arizona as a fishing destination has begun to change since April when “Flathead” Ed Wilcoxson landed the heaviest recorded fish in the state’s history. Word is getting out that The Grand Canyon State is home to many gargantuan flathead catfish. Wilcoxson — after photos of his 76.54-pound flathead catfish taken out of Bartlett Lake were shared on fishing forums and media outlets across the World Wide Web — has received phone calls from interested anglers as far away a... Full story
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN! -- Thomas Orozco, 14, of Union City, Calif., placed first in his age division at the International Game Fish Association Young Anglers Tournament held at Shelter Island Pier in San Diego this summer.Orozco caught and released kelp bass, sand bass, mackerel and California lizardfish during the three-hour tournament in which 150 kids ages 6-15 participated. This summer the young angler won the following three California tournaments: Berkeley Pier, Berkeley; Shelter Island... Full story
