Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 76 - 100 of 262
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
The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department initiated its annual fire ban at the first of May. “Given the abundance of rain we’ve received this year, we’ve had an outstanding wildflower season. Unfortunately, as the blooms and brush die off and dry out, the parks are left with dangerous levels of fuel loads on the ground that can ignite a wildfire with just a small spark. As a land manager, we believe the decision to implement sooner rather than later is the responsible thing to do to... Full story
Nesting Efforts End At Lake Pleasant Eagles' nest is now empty after four attempts to produce hatchling. For the past four months, viewers have been treated to round-the-clock glimpses of a pair of nesting bald eagles through a live-streaming camera installed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). Now there's not much to see but an empty nest made of twisted twigs and branches on the side of a sheer cliff above Lake Pleasant, a disappointing sign that any hope of the birds producing a... Full story
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
Action: Anglers may not retain sockeye salmon as part of their daily limit in the Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers. Effective date: May 6, 2019 until further notice. Species affected: Sockeye salmon. Location: Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers. Reason for action: Sockeye salmon returns to Lake Pleasant, and to other coastal waters were very low in 2018 and are expected to be low in 2019. This action will increase the number of sockeye returning to spawn in Lake Pleasant. Additional information: Lake... Full story
Life jacket exchange events kick off Safe Boating Week on Saturday, May 18 PHOENIX - Safe Boating Week is on the horizon and the Arizona Game and Fish Department will kick off the national campaign locally with multiple life jacket exchange events at area lakes Saturday, May 18. Now in its 11th year, the Life Jacket Exchange program allows people with an old, worn out life jacket to swap it for a new one (while supplies last). Last year, the department's Boating Safety Education program... Full story
Thanks again to Bob Brown of Media Direction for the featured photo. The "cover girl" for this issue shows the form for fun in the water as the weather warms. Yes, it's boating season again in the Southwest, and the Lake Havasu Boat Show is the place to be to get a head start on what's new in craft and accessories this year. But wait; there's more! At Lake Pleasant, the second annual Lanterns at the Lake event is just around the corner. It's a beautiful and meaningful time to launch memories,... Full story
Prescott Soon To Have Four The City of Prescott currently has three recreational reservoirs, Upper Goldwater, Watson, and Willow Lakes. The City is planning on opening Lower Goldwater Lake for recreational activities in either 2019 or 2020. Upper Goldwater Lake was created when the dam was built in 1932 by the City of Prescott. The lakes maximum storage capacity is 700 acre feet. In the 1970s, with State Lake Improvement Funds, initial improvements were made and the lake was opened. In 2014,... Full story
The camera is set, zoomed in and ready to broadcast the day-to-day life of a pair of bald eagles hoping to raise a family inside their nest at Lake Pleasant Regional Park. In mid-December, the Arizona Game and Fish Department - in partnership with Salt River Project, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department, Arizona State Land Department and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation - began live-streaming from the camera perched near the bald eagle nest on Lake Pleasant. Watch Eagle Cam Footage "We... Full story
Outdoor recreationists, pilots and drone operators asked to avoid bald eagle nest areas. Arizona's bald eagle breeding season is on the horizon and multiple public land and water areas will be closed to protect the majestic animals and ensure even more young eagles take to the skies this spring. Highly Successful Program Each year as part of its highly successful program to conserve and protect bald eagles in the state, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) asks outdoor recreationists, ai... Full story
On my Topo Maps app, this place is shown by a dark square and the name "Fort Tule", designation site. It is north of Lake Pleasant off Cow Creek Road, and from the T-intersection where Castle Hot Springs Road turns sharp left in front of the entrance to the Castle Creek launch ramp at Lake Pleasant, it's a little over 16 miles one way. It took us about four hours to get there, but that's because we keep stopping to walk around all the time. It took us about 2-1/2 hours to get back to the truck... Full story
We thank Rory Aikens, formerly with the Arizona Game & Fish Department as their fishing "go-to-guy", for the beautiful photo he has provided. It's of Big Lake in Arizona (at an elevation of 9,000 feet). The fall hues in the northern areas of the state are truly magical, and especially for those in the lower parts of Arizona that seldom show the change in leaves, a trip just to view the remarkable colors is definitely worth the travel time. And, for those from other parts of the country (e.g., Ne... Full story
KINGMAN, Ariz. — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will be conducting an off-highway vehicle (OHV) sobriety checkpoint from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 13 along Castle Hot Springs Road north of Lake Pleasant. The purpose of the checkpoint is to detect and deter violations of Arizona’s laws regarding the operation of OHVs while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A few OHV safety tips: Never operate an OHV while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Helmets are required by law for riders und... Full story
Pleasant Harbor Christmas Lanterns event is scheduled for December 1. After sundown on Saturday, Dec. 1, friends, family and thousands of event goers will come together to share personal thoughts, wishes, goals and participate in a new holiday tradition as they set free lanterns on the southeastern shores of Lake Pleasant. A long-standing tradition, the lighting of (biodegradable) lanterns is a way of marking milestones, offering up wishes and goals, while celebrating in a festive, picturesque... Full story
I've known Rob Vanderkooi for decades and he's one of the best bass fishermen I know. He's also a heck of a good hunter. Rob guides for The Arizona Fishing Guides now, so if you want to learn some great techniques and have a super good time, call them and set up a day fishing with him. Carolina Rigs Come To Mind One thing I always think of when Vanderkooi comes to mind is Carolina Rigs. I'll never forget when he and his partner brought a 42-pound 6-fish limit to the scales in an All Star tournam... Full story
Pleasant Harbor and Evofit, will be hosting the 1st Annual Pleasant Harbor Dam Cancer! 5K Run/Walk at Lake Pleasant on Saturday, Oct. 13. The race will take place on the New Waddell Dam which is 4,700 feet long and 440 feet high. Construction of the current Lake Pleasant Dam, begun in 1984, was completed in 1994. Never open to the public, runners will have a unique vantage point running high above the lake's surface. Details Tickets for the Dam Cancer! 5K Run/Walk are $46.00 and available... Full story
Beginning October 1, Maricopa County's Parks and Recreation Department will bring back the popular Buy One, Get One camping promotion! The promotion allows park visitors who pay the camping fee for one night, or more, at a desert mountain county park to receive one night of equal or lesser value for free during that same stay. "The Board takes a lot of pride in our parks system because it showcases so beautifully what is unique about living in the Sonoran desert," said Chairman Steve Chucri,... Full story
I had the privilege this past week of touring Lake Pleasant in the company of Congressman Paul Gosar. Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S., is serving his fourth term in Congress as the Representative from Arizona's Fourth Congressional District. First elected in 2010, he came to Congress with no prior political experience. Gosar believes that the Constitution is the cornerstone of our Republic, and always pursues policies that allow for more individual liberty and less government involvement. -... Full story
The Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department initiated its annual fire ban on May 1. Now, the department is taking additional steps to protect the parks due to the extremely dry conditions. The first week in June, Parks and Rec also added this: Smoking in Maricopa County parks will be prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or at developed recreation sites such as parking lots, picnic ramadas or campsites. "We've added the smoking restriction to our fire ban in hopes of lessening... Full story
Each year as part of its highly successful program to manage and conserve bald eagles in the state, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) asks outdoor recreationists, aircraft pilots, drone operators and motorized paragliders to help this magnificent bird in Arizona. Various land and wildlife management agencies close areas around breeding locations during the birds' breeding season to protect the state's 67 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Some closure areas are located near popular... Full story
When I met John (decades ago!), I had never really fished much at all. My dad took my brother and me hunting and camping all the time, and we always did a lot of target shooting, but we never really fished. In fact, I hadn't even seen most of the lakes because Dad didn't go there. Too many people, he said. But John was both a hunter and a fisherman. And once he took me fishing, I was hooked. We went to Christopher Creek and caught trout. I had a blast. Bartlett Was Our Favorite Once we got... Full story
John and I went Coues hunting this year. We have a great 4-wheel-drive pickup, but while scouting and hunting we discovered that we needed more. Our little whitetails are spooky, and once the season opens, you have to get far away from the easy roads or you're just not going to see any. And although we could get over a lot of stuff in the truck, there always seems to be an impassable piece of road keeping us from where we want to be. I'm sure there are guys who insist they can get their trucks... Full story
SHOT Show officially starts tomorrow, but if you're lucky enough to get an invitation, the day before the show starts is Industry Day at the Range. This is the day when the manufacturers set up at the Boulder Rifle and Pistol Club, which is an excellent facility near Boulder City, Nevada with tons of room for the over 200 manufactures who let us handle their new products. This is the day for actually shooting the latest guns and checking out the great new optics and gear. If you've read John's g... Full story
Willow Lake Loop Trail: Arizona's Newest Premier Trail Recently named an Arizona State Premier Trail by Arizona State Parks, Willow Lake Loop is a must-do hike. This trail covers rocky steep terrain, moderate terrain and some relatively flat terrain. On the western shore, the trail is clearly mellow and rambling with a wide flat trail, grassy expanses, and reflective lake views. The eastern shore, by contrast, is rambunctious and playful with billowing boulders to scramble over, small hidden... Full story
