Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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The Japanese have a term "Shinrinyoku" that literally means "forest therapy". They know that getting outdoors soothes your soul and relaxes your mind. It is really good for kids to get outdoors and be able to run and play and explore nature – and yes, even get really dirty. My dad started taking me camping and hunting when I was very young, and I always love the feeling that you get when you leave the city behind. To this day, it lifts my spirits to get out where there are no buildings in v... Full story
You can still get to Apache Lake – you just have to go to Roosevelt Lake and drive south from there. Right now the Apache Trail is still washed out, but access to the lake from the north is still possible. You may not remember the name Casey Iwai – he was a youngster who was quite a stick back in the day. He even fished the Bassmaster trail for a year and was featured on their television coverage. He had a great reputation in the tournament circles in Arizona as well. Casey is now a doctor, but... 
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Nitro and Bass Pro Shops pro Matt Shura has been fishing bass tournaments since he was just a kid, and in fact, he held the state record for largemouth bass for some time a few years back. If you go to the fishing seminars at the Mesa Bass Pro Shop store, you've seen him there and probably heard some great bass fishing tips from him. Rig It Straight Matt took us to Saguaro in March and showed us how to fish one of his favorite early spring baits – the Reaction Innovations Little Dipper. This bai... Full story
There are two big outdoor events in Arizona this month, plus two fantastic new holsters I wanted to tell you about. Also, dove seasons, quail season, and waterfowl seasons may all be over, but that doesn't mean you can't still do some great bird hunting. Read on for details! Alien Gear Grip Tuck Holster This holster is different from the other Alien Gear holsters in a couple of ways – it's designed to fit an entire class of firearms instead of a single model like their hard polymer holsters, a... Full story
This is a huge year for Dylan with tournaments and marriage ahead. We wish him well. February can be a tough month at Bartlett. The water isn't warm yet, but it's coming, and a degree or two a day can put the bass in pre-spawn mode. This time of year, Dylan Maxon reaches for a big spinnerbait to get a limit at Bartlett. Dylan is a long-time tournament bass fisherman with some great sponsors – Signature Gates and Welding (the owner is another great fisherman – Kevin Finley), Irod Fishing Rod... Full story
Location: Lake Havasu State Park, 699 London Bridge Rd. WON BASS and title sponsors Bass Cat Boats and Mercury Motors present the 2nd AZ Open at Lake Havasu. The Lake Havasu fishery has been on the rise for many years with the growing population of small mouth bass and a stable population of large mouth bass just waiting to be caught. Location: Lake Havasu State Park, Windsor 4, 171 London Bridge Rd. The Weekend Warrior Bass Series is designed for beginner or average non-professional anglers. An... Full story
This will be the last regular fish report from Lake Powell this year. We have been fall sampling, and when we finish sampling, there will be reports to update everyone about what the fish are up to in this most unusual year. Weather was cold in the springtime and continued into the summer, moisture was above normal, and runoff was strong bringing the lake up 53 feet. Something happened during this strange weather period that the fish really liked. Shad reproduction was unprecedented. Bass and... Full story
I saw a great meme the other day: It said, "Quit saying I'm hard to buy for – you know where the gun store is!". Made me laugh and also made me realize that gift-giving season is almost upon us. If you've got a shooter or two on your list, here are some ideas from stocking stuffer to splurge. SSP Eyewear SSP Eyewear is known for great shooting glasses, and their newest offering is the Methow Kit with six different interchangeable lenses plus the ability to accept an adapter for prescription l... Full story
AZ Lakes, AZ Pros: Daniel Pecotte At RooseveltDaniel Pecotte of Holbrook has been fishing for bass Roosevelt for many years, and he says that winter is the trickiest time – it's harder to get them to eat. The fish move out deeper and school up, so when you find them you usually find a bunch, but since their metabolism is so slow in the winter, they don't attack a lure the way they might in the summer. Pay Attention To find them pay attention to areas where they don't have to go far to feed, s... Website
The National Fish Habitat Through Partnership Act Was Included In This Conservation Legislation Alexandria, Va. – December 17, 2019 – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) passed bipartisan conservation legislation that includes several wins for the recreational fishing industry, such as authorization of key national and regional fisheries programs and protections for traditional fishing tackle. America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act (S. 3051) was intro... Full story
Lake Powell weather is delightful with a warm, calm autumn weather. Air temperature is holding in the mid 70s during the day and in the 50s at night. Water temperature is holding in the mid 60s, which is the ideal fishing temperature for the springtime spawning period. Sport fish are still in vacation mode as they quietly attack one of the thousands of shad balls still swimming on the surface. Not much has changed during this unusual fishing year. Adult Stripers Adult stripers are still swimming... Full story
An old friend of ours, Tony Gaillombardo, has been fishing since he was five years old. He hosted Fishing Arizona, a local television show, for a year, and pro-staffer for Mepps and Mister Twister for many years. He's got an extensive collection of antique lures, and although he specializes in bass fishing, he also fishes for trout, catfish, sunfish, and even crawdads. He took us up to Bartlett one fall and we caught a ton of fish. As soon as the water starts to cool off in the fall, bass move... Website
Kayak fishing is a growing sport and it's easy to see why. Kayaks are nimble, less expensive than most motorized boats and provide access to places even the best casts from land just can't reach. The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation confirms that kayaks are the most popular type of boat for Americans to own and that the number of people participating in kayak fishing has gone up in the past six years. But those who love the sport say kayak fishing is more than just a quick and less... Website
These Are Recommended As Summer Temps Continue Into Fall - By Nick Walter For AZGFD Sun sweats, triple-digit fidgets, dog days - they seem to make most outdoors lovers crave cool times in the high country. Some of the best family camping and fishing options include waters with stocked or self-sustaining fish, quality camping amenities, and striking scenery. Those factors were used by AZGFD fishing report editors and regional staff to determine this list. Be sure to check the latest fire... Full story
Quality of life is measured by amount of time spent fishing. As I returned from vacation, we had an assignment to catch 60 striped bass for the annual disease re-certification, to ensure that Lake Powell fish do not have any viruses that might destabilize the fishery. We must collect the fish on the same day that they are certified. Hot weather had really slowed down fishing in August, but I checked recent fish reports and found that small stripers (8-12 inches) recently boiled in Warm Creek.... Full story
Apache Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Arizona, and because the road is not paved, Apache rarely gets crowded, even in summer. Fishing can be awesome here, with largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, trout, yellow bass, catfish, carp, sunfish and crappies all represented. From the main marina west to Horse Mesa Dam the shoreline is mostly steep and rocky. Several good-sized coves cut into the shoreline, though, and provide plenty of good shallow-water fishing at this end, too. Right... Full story
New Teacher Workshop Just Announced Join educators from the Arizona Game and Fish Department as we explore the science, management and recreation of Arizona's aquatic communities. In this two-day workshop, which conveniently occurs during Fall Break for many teachers, you will learn how macroinvertebrates can be an indicator for stream health, visit a fish hatchery, try your hand at fly fishing and so much more. Participants will receive access to numerous resources and activities for their... Full story
If you go to the Mesa Bass Pro Shops bass seminars, you've probably seen Jerry Weston. If not, get out there and meet a bunch of Arizona bass pros! Jerry was kind enough to take us out to Bartlett Lake one morning and show us how he puts fish in the boat during these dog days. GOOD CATCH! - Ron Flewellen's kids show off their striper catch. The water temperature was in the high 80's right from the get-go, but it was cloudy and the barometer was falling, so Weston opted for a reaction bait first... Website
The bass tells this story well. It will be the target of some veterans and their pro-angler partners. Hopefully, all will enjoy this very special event that combines community involvement with gratitude to all our veterans for their service to our country. All this is encapsulated in an upcoming event that honors and remembers an outstanding man, a vet himself, and an avid fisherman. Read on to learn the details of the Ivan Nelson Veterans Fishing Classic on Sunday, Aug.25. To all participants... Full story
Sun sweats, triple-digit fidgets, dog days -- they seem to make most outdoors lovers crave cool times in the high country. Some of the best family camping and fishing options include waters with stocked or self-sustaining fish, quality camping amenities, and striking scenery. Those factors were used by AZGFD fishing report editors and regional staff to determine this list. Be sure to check the latest fire restrictions. It's a good idea to reserve a campground in advance if possible, but if... Full story
Years ago, pro bass angler Gregg Warne took us out to Roosevelt for some night fishing one August and taught us how to fish a football head jig at night. A football head jig is just what it sounds like – the lead is shaped like a football and they are usually pretty heavy. We usually fish a one-ounce jig at night, and everyone calls them “one-tonners”. On the beefy hook, you rig a Yamamoto Hula Grub, which is a soft plastic bait with a skirt at the top that snugs up against the jighead, a chubb... Website
We went to Bullfrog recently to complete a work assignment, which was to collect 200 surface-feeding striped bass. These captured fish are destined to be brood fish used to create hybrid stripers. We chose the date months ago, based on previous fish reports, which indicated slurping stripers would begin feeding on the surface during the first week of June. The report strategy worked great as we caught 100 surface-feeding (slurping) stripers from dawn until 10 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday.... Full story
Young anglers ages 6 through 15 are invited to compete in the 17th Annual Young Anglers' Tournament Saturday, August 10th at the Shelter Island Pier, located at 1776 Shelter Island Drive. Anglers of all levels of experience (or no experience) are welcome. The tournament is free to all participants. No fishing licenses are required. The tournament will feature a points system to allow for catch and release. Winners - one in each age category between six and 15 - will be determined by adding up... Full story
Years ago, pro bass angler Gregg Warne took us out to Roosevelt for some night fishing one August and taught us how to fish a football head jig at night. A football head jig is just what it sounds like – the lead is shaped like a football and they are usually pretty heavy. We usually fish a one-ounce jig at night, and everyone calls them "one-tonners". On the beefy hook, you rig a Yamamoto Hula Grub, which is a soft plastic bait with a skirt at the top that snugs up against the jighead, a c... Website
Publisher's Note - Margie mentions Wide World of Maps later in this article. Wide World of Maps has maintained a mini-store at Lookout Mountain Outdoors. With the retirement of the owner of Lookout Mountain, Wide World of Maps will expand at this location. You may visit https://maps4u.com/, or call 602/279-2323 for information. Please tell them Jim and Carol sent you. Thank you. A Change In Plans Turns Into A Great Road Trip Sometimes plans don't work out. We had planned to go on an ROV ride wit... Full story
