Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Anglers who love to fish Roosevelt Lake located in central Arizona's Tonto National Forest have a future hope for the fishery -- monster bass. To help boost fishing opportunities at the 13,000-acre lake, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is partnering with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) through April to stock up to 500,000 fry of Florida-strain largemouth bass, which have been known to eventually attain sizes up to 20 pounds. The FWC will be donating the bass fry...
Lake level remains fairly constant with a slight drop to 3574 MSL. We hope spring runoff holds off for another few weeks as the Castle Rock Cut deepening project will continue until the last week of April. The best news is that the Cut will be deepened down to 3575 MSL, meaning that the lake only has to come up 5 feet or so from the present level to allow boats to take the shortcut. That will save much time, fuel and aggravation with rough water in the main channel detour. My guess is the cut... Full story
Now is the time to get the tackle box ready, grab the fishing rods, and explore northern Arizona for some spring fishing! A particularly warm and dry spring has arrived, and unfortunately it followed a mild winter. What does this mean for the fishing? It means that the Arizona Game and Fish Department is stocking northern Arizona lakes and anticipates that by late May or early June, as temperatures warm up and lake levels drop, water quality will diminish and conditions will be unsuitable for... Full story
April and October can be the best months of the year to fish in Arizona. The water temperatures are ideal for waves of spawns. Access to high country lakes has opened the way for lunker holdovers. The flathead frenzy hardly left. The buffet is laid out - bass are spawning, especially with the April full moon; crappie should be spawning; flathead catfish are making camera lenses struggle to keep fish in frame; trout are being stocked all across the high country and anglers are catching holdovers... Full story
The geographic center of Arizona is about 55 miles ESE of Prescott, and the closest town hall to that location is that of Camp Verde. There is a bronze plaque to that effect in Rezzonico Park, placed there by the Arizona Professional Land Surveyors. The park in on Montezuma Castle Highway in Camp Verde. In fact, there is a ton of stuff to see and do in and around Camp Verde, including Montezuma's Well, Montezuma's Castle, and Tuzigoot National Monument. If you like the outdoors, you will love... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz. - The Arizona Department of Transportation will open Highway 67 to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park on Thursday, May 15 by 8:00 am; and Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim, a Forever Resorts property, and Grand Canyon Trail Rides will commence their 2014 seasonal operations. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operations include lodging, groceries, camper services, food services and a service station. All concessioner facilities will open at 10:00 am with the exception of the...
(PHOENIX) – The future of recreational shooting in Arizona looks a little brighter after a successful fundraising event at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix on Saturday, April 12. The Arizona Game and Fish Department teamed up with TreadLightly! to sponsor the combination fun shoot and dinner party attended by nearly 200 people. Recreational shooting in Arizona came under increased scrutiny when the Sonoran Desert National Monument, one of the last parcels of public land open to r... Full story
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congress is moving forward quickly to revise the federal act that governs our nation’s marine resources. The sportfishing and boating industries, along with recreational saltwater anglers, are stepping up efforts to ensure that their economic, social and conservation priorities are well represented. As the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act reauthorization advances on Capitol Hill, Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris and Maverick Boats President Sco... Full story
Weather is warming and trees are budding in the high desert. It s time to start thinking about fishing and what to expect from Lake Powell in 2014. The lake has dipped to the lowest point since 2005 leaving brushy cover high and dry on the shoreline. Fortunately, there has been modest precipitation in the Colorado River drainage. When runoff starts, the lake should rise from the currently level of 3575 MSL back to 3600 MSL or perhaps a bit more. Also fortunately, the Castle Rock Cut is being... Full story
Tip Of The Week Spring bass fishing can be excellent, and there's one technique that can turn average bass days into exceptional ones. During the pre-spawn (generally water temperatures of less than 55 degrees), when targeting big, transitioning bass in the shallows, try dyeing your soft plastic bass lures orange. Water clarity is generally limited in our warm-water fisheries right now, and an orange tail can help trigger bass feeding on crawfish. During a spawn (when water temperatures are at... Full story
Country music star, award-winning TV host and former soldier Craig Morgan is venturing into a new kind of service in 2014, when he will serve as the honorary chairman for National Hunting and Fishing Day. Morgan is well known as an avid outdoorsman and also takes pride in serving others. He has made ten overseas tours to entertain our troops and received the 2006 USO Merit Award for his tireless support of our U.S. soldiers and their families. The Tennessee native is also host of the... Full story
Catfish stockings will be coming back to the core Community Fishing Program lakes and ponds in Tucson and Phoenix on Friday. Here are the core lakes and ponds: (Phoenix area) Surprise, Rio Vista Pond, Pioneer, Desert West, Alvord, Cortez, Steele I.S. Pond, Encanto, Papago Ponds, E. Hallman Pond, Riverview, Desert Breeze, Veterans Oasis; (Tucson area) Lakeside, Sahuarita, Kennedy, Silverbell, Copper Sky, Kiwanis, Water Ranch, Red Mountain, Chaparral. Channel catfish are best caught using a hook... Full story
A man calls home to his wife and says, "Honey, I have been asked to fly to Canada with my boss and several of his friends for fishing.. We'll be gone for a long weekend. This is a good opportunity for me to get that promotion I've been wanting so could you please pack enough clothes for a 3 day weekend.... And also would you get out my rod and tackle box from the attic? We're leaving at 4:30 pm from the office and I will swing by the house to pick my things up.. Oh! And please pack my new navy... Full story
Do blondes have more fun? Or, brunettes? Or,redheads? Actually, the answer is all of the above plus anyone else who knows that "boats are in"! Arizona's boating season is off to a fantastic start with the plethora of craft at the International Sportsmen's Expo and Arizona Boat Show, Feb. 20-23; at the Arizona Game & Fish Expo, March 29 and 30, and at the Lake Havasu Boat Show, April 11-13. Fishing boats too will ply the waters of Lake Pleasant at the upcoming Bill Luke Bass Days, March 14-16,... Full story
The 14th annual Arizona International Sportsmen's Exposition (ISE) will fill the University of Phoenix Stadium Feb. 20-23 with an expanded list of outdoor products. Open to the public, the expo will draw more than 15,000 attendees from the Valley and throughout Arizona. The expo will spotlight 300 companies: manufacturers and retailers; local, regional and international destinations; guides and outfitters; travel bureaus; enthusiast clubs and groups; and nonprofit organizations representing a wi... Full story
Bill Luke Bass Days is the Southwest's largest family fishing tournament and festival - held March 14, 15, 16 at Lake Pleasant. This year's is sure to be one of our biggest events! For the fishermen, we are featuring over $50,000 in cash prizes. For everyone, we will have a day and night time festival featuring a Cornhole Tournament, carnival rides, vendors, food, wildlife exhibits and live music. Tournament Prize List The prizes for this year's Bass Days Tournament are spectacular. This year's... Full story
Hello, anglers, It's a good time to round up some swim baits and Roboworms and head to the Phoenix area (if you aren't already there) to do some bassin'. High temperatures are beginning to rise back into the 70s. We're stocking rainbow trout into Canyon Lake, land of the lunkers. Avoid Canyon Lake if you want great catch rates, but for something to hang on the wall, come here and throw some big swim baits (that represent the stocked trout). Plus, the scenery is exceptional. Apache Lake is a grea... Full story
As the 2014 calendar, fills, outdoor enthusiasts have at least three Arizona exciting events ahead: The International Sportsmen's Expo, Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 20-23; Bill Luke Bass Days, Friday through Sunday, March 14-16, and the Arizona Game and Fish Outdoor Expo, Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30. Among these three favorite events, attendees will be treated to the best information on and products/service available for boating, camping, fishing, hunting, RVing, watersports, and... Full story
I started fishing off Cape Town, South Africa, when I was six years old, and haven't quit since. Emigrating to the United States in 1977, I was delighted to discover the excellent boating and fishing in Southern Calif. I presently reside in North San Diego County, which I consider "God's country" for weather, boating and fishing. I purchased Reel Busy new in 2007 and covered approximately 11,000 miles with 1,600 engine hours. (Suzuki's engines are good for 5,000-7,000 trouble-free hours, with pr... Full story
Dates: February 20-23, 2014 Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale, AZ 85305 Tickets: $12, Adults; Free, Youth and Children under 16; Free, Active Military with Military ID Parking: Free parking is included with paid admission. No pets, please. Features: Our 14th annual Sportsmen's Expo will include the Arizona Boat Show, hosted by the valley's top dealers. Show-goers will capture the best buys on boats for fishing and family fun, accessories and more. Plus, there... Full story
Bill Luke Bass Days is the Southwest's largest family fishing tournament and festival - held March 14, 15, 16 at Lake Pleasant. This year's is sure to be one of our biggest events! For the fishermen, we are featuring over $50,000 in cash prizes. For everyone, we will have a day and night time festival featuring a Cornhole Tournament, carnival rides, vendors, food, wildlife exhibits and live music. Tournament Prize List The prizes for this year's Bass Days Tournament are spectacular. This year's... 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
Current conditions at Lake Powell during 2013 were difficult for all fish populations because of declining lake levels resulting in habitat loss. Shoreline vegetation, which had been inundated in recent years, was desiccated in 2013. Loss of brushy habitat resulted in lower than normal production of bass, crappie and bluegills. Lack of brush also limited the survival of both gizzard and threadfin shad produced in 2013. Low forage made for difficult circumstances for adult fish of all species as... 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