Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 267
Recently, small brush fires have started popping up around the valley. In late June, a five-acre brush fire exploded into a 2,500-acre wildfire in a matter of hours. This wildfire, now known as the Diamond Fire, borders McDowell Mountain Regional Park, which is managed by Maricopa County. " ... working closely with Scottsdale Fire Department, we evacuated and closed McDowell Mountain Regional Park to protect visitors and staff," said Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin, who represents... Full story
Not surprising that if you "know" the navigation rules on the waterway upon which you're boating, it's easy to spot those that don't. In fact, many boaters don't even know they exist, let alone what they are and that we are all legally responsible to know and understand them. Part of the reason there's confusion is that unless you've completed a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved boating safety education course or you've "heard" about the NAV Rules somewhe... Full story
Got fish? Gone fishin'. Go fish. All apply to Arizona and the angling opportunities offered in this state. Bass Junkyz, high school and college programs, Arizona Game & Fish Department are among the outstanding promoters of this family friendly sport. Whether you fish in community waters or head to the high country lakes, you can enjoy the time near and on the water. Fly fishing, striper fishing, trout fishing, bass fishing, blue gill fishing, catfish fishing-- whatever your preference, all are... Full story
Jerry Tate of JT's Arizona Hunting and Fishing specializes in fishing Lake Pleasant.He's on the water several days a week, and has a handful of good friends who also spend tons of time on Pleasant. Between them, they always seem to know exactly where and how to fish for any species in the lake. Action Is Fast And Furious "The great thing about fishing for white bass and stripers is that once you find them, the action is fast and furious," Tate says. This kind of fishing is perfect for kids, beca... Full story
It's The Best Fireworks Show in Town! Pleasant Harbor at Lake Pleasantand the City of Peoria will host the annual Celebrate America fireworks show on Monday, July 3, 2023. Pleasant Harbor is home to this annual firework show, as well as food trucks, free kids' activities, including water slide, bounce house and live concert featuring, Rock Lobster. Festivities begin at 5:00 p.m. with fireworks at 9:00 p.m. and activities running through 10:30 p.m. Presale parking admission through June 30th is... Full story
Pleasant Harbor Is Just Minutes Away Just forty-five minutes from downtown Phoenix, Pleasant Harbor, located on the southeastern shores of Lake Pleasant, serves as a one-stop recreation spot for lakeside fun. Pleasant Harbor, open 365 days a year and operating 24 hours a day, is the place to cool down as summer temperature rise. Do you want to rent a boat, show-off on water skis, wake board or lake surf? Jet Ski,kayak, paddle board or sail? Did we mention, Pleasant Harbor is home to the World's... Full story
June 20, 2023 Bass Junkyz, currently the longest brand identified Teams circuit in Arizona is growing again. The bass boat circuit has plans to launch two other fishing circuits spanning across Arizona over to storied bass fishing waters of Texas. "We see an opportunity to grow and to diversify our product over other angling platforms for competitive tournament environments; Kayak and PWC." (Greg Krueger) Kayak bass fishing has seen rapid growth over the past 15 years and is now has a place... Full story
There were 13 boating fatalities, 60 injuries, $1 million in damages last year. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is urging all who recreate on Arizona's waters to wear a life jacket, follow safety regulations and laws, as well as designate a sober operator. So far in 2023, three people have lost their lives boating in Arizona. In 2022, boating accidents claimed the lives of 13 people, injured 60 more, and caused $1 million in damages. "A life jacket does exactly what it says - it... Full story
Maricopa County's regional parks set May 1 as the start date for the annual fire ban (Maricopa County) – The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department initiated its annual fire ban on Monday, May 1, 2023. The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department's annual fire ban went into effect the same day. The department's annual fire ban dates align with the county's Air Quality Department burn activity regulations. Under these regulations, outdoor recreational fires are prohibited w... Full story
No, a lot country this September out at Lake Pleasant. Peoria Country Fest will feature everything from bull riding (the real deal) to rockin' music from four popular country bands: Justin Hitson & Southbound, Billy Shaw Jr Band, Ryan Bexley and Josh Roy. Grab your cowboy boots, bring the kids and celebrate your western heritage at this festive event. Camping might be just the ticket to round out the weekend; all the facilities are there at Lake Pleasant. And, speaking of camping, Maricopa... Full story
Pleasant Harbor at Lake Pleasant and the City of Peoria will host the Peoria Country Fest on Saturday, Oct. 8, featuring live country music from four popular country artists and live bull riding. The event also includes food trucks, a beer garden, and mechanical bull riding. The Peoria Country Fest runs from 2 p.m. – 10 p.m. Tickets are $30.00 per person and $10.00 for children, 12 and under. A limited number of VIP tickets are also available at $75.00 and include a meal, designated seating a... Full story
Big Fish And Big Money Can Come On Crankbaits When water temperatures start to go down and lake levels begin to rise, crankbait time is here again. Fish start moving up and getting a lot more active, and one of the best ways to find them is to start cranking around the same places you found them during the summer, but shallower.Long points that have good drop-offs to deeper water are prime early-fall areas. Fishing Legend Danny Westfall Re: Crankbaits Fishing crankbaits is easy, but still... Full story
Who's ready to enjoy a free night's stay in one of Maricopa County's regional parks? Starting October 1, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department is bringing back its popular Buy One, Get One camping promotion! The promotion allows park visitors who pay the camping fee for one night, or more, at a participating desert mountain county park to receive one night of equal or lesser value for free during that same stay. "This Buy One, Get One camping promotion allows our residents to... Full story
How many times do we use the phrase, "Take care" when signing off on texts and emails? We mean this, but it is often just a cursory comment. However, around water, whether boating, fishing, swimming, or just enjoying, the message needs to be powerful and at the fore of our thoughts. "Safety First" and "Take Care" are not just well wishes. They are life savers. And having pfds for all on board, including our precious pets, is paramount to doing just that: saving lives. That being said, having... Full story
Come To The Fun Side; Come To The Fun Slide H2 Whoa! the world's tallest floating waterslide has opened at Lake Pleasant. At a height of 34 feet "H2 Whoa!" and recently recorded by The Guinness Book of World Records as the Tallest Floating Waterslide, a major new water attraction called "H2 Whoa!" is now open at Lake Pleasant. This mammoth water slide features three launch ramps and a blob jump for even more outrageous thrills.... Website
Then the weather heats up and the fish quit chasing reaction baits, John Murray starts using a spoon, especially at Lake Pleasant. "Spoons will catch everything in the lake," says Murray, "including not just bass but stripers, whites, crappie, and even catfish." The beauty of spoons is that you can fish them on almost any structure. Murray likes white spoons, and he likes to have feathers on the hooks. For deep summer fishing, he usually chooses a jigging spoon like a Crippled Herring and... Website
This pontoon boat at Lake Pleasant displays a great combination: freedom to enjoy the outdoors and our waterways in particular. In the middle of June we celebrated Flag Day (June 14) and the birth of the U.S. Army (June 14, 1775). This month, of course, is Independence Day on July 4. All these are reminders of the good fortune we have to live in this country -- even with its flaws and shortcomings. The United States of America offers us opportunities to accomplish all we can be, and she needs... Full story
A Tribute From Margie and John Anderson We've known Marc for a long time and have done several stories with him. He was the kind of guy who would tell you the straight dope all the time, no matter what. I loved that about him. Marc was a heck of a stick, too – he'd take us to Pleasant or Bartlett and just flat out catch bass, talking the whole time. Entertaining is an understatement when it came to Marc! Fishing was just one side of him, though. Marc loved his family with his whole heart and h... Full story
Come to the fun side of Lake Pleasant. Pleasant Harbor is located on the southeastern shores of Lake Pleasant and is the lake closest entrance from Phoenix. For those wanting a weekend camping experience, both full hook-up campsites (electric, water, sewer and internet access), as well as dry camping spaces are available. Pleasant Harbor also features a full-service marina, including several boats ramps. The marina and campground are open 24/7, 365 days a year. Even on busy summer holiday... Website
John and I and Mochi went to Williams again this past week and I've got to tell you, it's one of our favorite places to get away in the summer. It can be a bit warm during the day, but since we spend most of our time in the woods, it's shady, breezy, and wonderful! Camping was amazing. There are plenty of places for dispersed camping along the main roads, so you don't need a 4x4 – although I would recommend high clearance. We have the Jeep, so we took some true 4x4 trails, and that's always a... Full story
Just forty-five minutes from downtown Phoenix, Pleasant Harbor, located on the southeastern shores of Lake Pleasant, serves as a one-stop recreation spot for lakeside fun. Pleasant Harbor is open 365 days a year and operates 24 hours a day. Do you want to rent a boat, show-off on water skis, wake board or lake surf? Jet Ski, kayak, paddle board or sail? Did we mention, Pleasant Harbor is home to the World's Largest Floating Waterslide - H2Whoa!? Another popular activity for all ages at Pleasant... Website
One of the best ways to catch summer bass on Lake Pleasant is with a Carolina rig. I remember back in the day when VanderKooi and his partner came to the scales with a 42-pound limit they caught on Carolina rigs! That's a 7-pound average! John Murray has some great tips for fishing Carolina rigs. He says Carolina rig fishing is simple. A large weight and a glass or plastic bead are strung onto the main line. The bead protects the knot from the heavy weight. A swivel is then tied to the end of... Website
Dive In! The "merry, merry month of May" brings us both the lighter side of taking selfies with mermaids and the more serious side of remembering our moms on Mothers' Day and loved ones lost on Memorial Day. Scuba Show 2022 in L.A. promises to be a family friendly event with many programs focused on the kids. However, there is lots for the adults too who are interested in scuba diving: products, programs, educational seminars and more. Also in this delightful, not-too-hot-yet month are the... Full story
Lake Pleasant Is Not 'Just Another Pretty Place' In addition to concerts, special events, fun activities and water sports, and great fishing, recreational boating is often the highlight of two local sailing clubs at Lake Pleasant. Check out Pleasant Harbor Marina and RV Resort. Welcome To The Arizona Yacht Club! Sailing is alive and well in the greater Phoenix area. Since our humble beginnings in 1958, AYC has continued to create the region's best sailing opportunities for its members and... Full story
As Scorpion Bay Marina continues to expand and diversify offerings, marina concessionaire Desert Troon Companies is pleased to announce it has enhanced its leadership team with the hire of Lynn Lovelady as Scorpion Bay's marina operations manager. Primary Point Of Contact Lovelady is an experienced marina manager who focuses on storage, regular rental boat projects, member services and other operational and human resources-related responsibilities at Scorpion Bay. She is the members' primary... Full story