Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Buying a used boat is a great way to get into boating, and there are a lot of good bargains out there. When you check out a boat before buying, don't forget to examine the trailer. First, check to see if the trailer is NMMA-certified. That will mean that it meets industry guidelines for safety and quality. Then check the weight limit that the trailer can handle and make sure that the total weight of the boat, motor, and the gear you're putting in there doesn't exceed that number. Check the... Full story
There are so many opportunities to enjoy angling in Arizona. Here are a few to add to your tackle box. Editor's Note: Fishing is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Arizona; both tournaments and fun family angling events are available almost every month of the year. There is not room here to even begin to cover them all, but here are a few sites to check for upcoming events. Arizona Game & Fish Department Volunteer The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking volunteers to help buil... 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
Check out the river that runs "backwards" on this trip. We have a tendency to head north most of the time when we leave town, but we have learned the error of our ways. There are a lot of great places to visit in the southern part of the state, and the area around Sierra Vista is no exception. From a river that runs "backward" to creek preserves and mountaintop campsites, there are tons of things to see and do around there. Sierra Vista, Canelo, Elgin Loop Drive This one will take you most of... Full story
Take this four-question true-false quiz; rental beacons available. The proliferation of personal locator beacons (PLBs), whose diminutive size belie their enormous on-water safety advantage, are no longer thought of exotic rescue electronics. "PLBs are user-friendly and easy to maintain, and we are seeing more boaters using them as a mainstream rescue device," said BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water Assistant Director of Boating Safety Ted Sensenbrenner. However, do... 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
August 12, September 9: Fishing Regs Changes The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking public input on proposed changes to the 2023-24 Arizona fishing regulations. There are four proposed changes: Opening the upper portion of the south fork of the Little Colorado River to catch-and-release angling for Apache trout including a seasonal angling closure. Creating a catch-and-release only fishery for all fish species at Lower Goldwater Lake. Expanding the current catch-and-release section of... 
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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
Wild Arizona: 200 Captive Desert Tortoises Need Forever Homes For some, a dog or cat will do just fine. But for others who are considering adopting something truly unique to Arizona, say hello to your next family member: "Many people don't even consider opening up their homes to desert tortoises, but they make fantastic and personable pets," said Tegan Wolf, desert tortoise adoption program coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). "It's rewarding to hear stories from those... Full story
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
Go Fish Arizona! With summer temperatures heating up, anglers are starting to head to the cooler climate and great fishing opportunities in Arizona's high country. Below is a listing of five high country lakes that our Aquatic Wildlife Branch predicts will be good bets this summer: Big Lake Because of its size, productivity and visitor amenities, Big Lake is considered one of the best White Mountains fishing lakes. Fishing is excellent in summer typically before midday when water quality is... Website
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
AZGFD hatchery staff traveled to Colorado in early May to bring back 15,000 Snake River cutthroat trout from the Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery to be stocked in Luna Lake and ...... Website
The focus is on boating-centric inland lakes with distinction. There are 123,439 freshwater lakes – those water bodies generally larger than 20 acres – in the continental United States. Which ones may be best for recreational boating? BoatUS Magazine senior editor Rich Armstrong and contributing editor Fiona McGlynn consider the question in the magazine's February/March issue with the feature "Freshwater America," which highlights nine boating-centric lakes from New York to Washington. "Am... 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
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has introduced a new option that allows fishing and hunting license holders to have their licenses automatically renewed upon expiration. The feature is currently only available for the following licenses: Resident Hunt, Resident Fish, Resident Hunt/Fish Combo, Nonresident Fish, Nonresident Hunt/Fish Combo. To opt-in for license auto-renewal, customers must have an AZGFD portal account. Customers who have an existing portal account should use that... Full story
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
