Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Many lakes and ponds are off-limits to gasoline-powered boats. Fishermen, photographers and naturalists rely on eco-friendly Flover electric outboard motors to explore these peaceful waters. Flover provides whisper-quiet power for canoes and kayaks, inflatables and small fishing boats. Barely audible, the light and durable motors are ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who don't want to spook wildlife with noise or odor. They're also perfect for paddlers facing a headwind or long lake crossing. And... Full story
From Phoenix go north on I-17 100 miles to Cottonwood (Exit on 260), Dead Horse Ranch State Park is right in town, then north on 89A for 16 miles to Red Rock State Park. Staying on 89A, go through Sedona for 6 miles to Slide Rock State Park in Oak Creek Canyon and only 24 miles north to Flagstaff to visit Riordan Mansion State Historic Park. From Flagstaff, take the Lake Mary Road south 100 miles to Highway 87 (to Pine and Strawberry) and stop at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. Follow 87 to... Full story
For many, Labor Day signaled the end of summer, but at Arizona State Parks, it's just the beginning of your family adventures. Get away from the hectic fall schedule and travel to some parks and nearby communities. Create moments to share while exploring the beautiful State of Arizona. Here are the top picks of some parks and nearby communities, events and fun things to do on a weekend. • Lyman Lake State Park (St. Johns) - Stay in a rustic camping cabin by the lake and enjoy activities i... Full story
Beginning October 1, Maricopa County's Parks and Recreation Department will bring back the Buy One, Get One campaign! The campaign 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 at any of the County's desert parks during that same stay. "This is the seventh year the department has offered the Buy One, Get One promotion," said Chairman Steve Chucri, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, D... Full story
One of the things we have enjoyed most during our 10 years of publication is the variety of ways to savor the wonders of our outdoors. For example, shown are these two totally contrasting watercraft, each with a unique purpose and method of helping us enjoy our time on the waterways. The painting by our friend Debbie Huntsman, Lake Ponchatrain Women's Sailing Association, shows the quiet dignity and gentle pleasure enjoyed on sail craft. The other shows us (Jim and Carol Allen) aboard The... Full story
Arizona waterways are teeming with activity and the Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds all boaters to ensure a safe boating experience by remaining vigilant when out on the water. The reminder comes after a boat operator on Lake Mohave accidentally reversed the boat and struck a man with the boat’s propeller on Saturday. The man died of his injuries. “Our thoughts go out to the family of those impacted by this horrible accident,” said Josh Hoffman, AZGFD Boat Safety Education coord... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department recently held a life-jacket exchange event at London Bridge beach in Lake Havasu City. Boaters with tattered and worn ski-vest type III life jackets could exchange them for new ones at the lake. The program helps to ensure boaters head out onto the water with life jackets that will keep them safe while on the state's waterways. A Life - Perhaps Your Own - Could Be Saved "It's not enough to simply have a life jacket accessible; it must also still have enough b... Full story
Brothers Jackson (10, right) and Vance (8, left) caught some large stripers while fishing with bait along Lake Powell?s shady canyon walls first thing in the morning. Striper boils get the most attention now, but fishing with bait in the shade is a good way to spend time while waiting for evening boils to emerge.... Full story
http://www.wayneswords.com Striper boils reported last week were visited by more happy anglers this week. Stripers did not disappoint - if the proper rules were followed. Stripers feed on their own schedule when in these bonus days of high shad numbers. The prime feeding time over the length of the lake was the last two hours of daylight. Major feeding events were described by lucky anglers as "covering 20 surface acres, continuing for hours, full of big fish, and totally satisfying." Those who... Full story
Tip Of The Week Two "old reliable" summer high-country lakes are Kinnickinick and Ashurst lakes near Flagstaff. Kinnickinick Lake is spring-fed, but it is best fished from float tube, canoe or kayak this time of year. Ashurst may not provide the most scenic high-country escape, but it can be one of the more productive ones. It also has some pike (please catch-and-keep all you can to help this fishery). The Reel Deal Hot desert nights are made for bottom dwellers - catfish and carp. Relax on the... Full story
The West is finally getting a great tournament circuit with 100 percent payback, championships with prize boats, and television coverage of every tournament. It's about time! For years I've heard guys say that if you want to fish a decent circuit, Arizona is not the place to be. Well, they can't say that any more. The Wild West Bass Trail debuts in 2016, and per their Facebook page, "our objective is to provide anglers the ability to participate in elite bass tournaments with the highest... Full story
Tonto National Forest officials are changing recreation fees at campgrounds, day-use sites, boat launches, and shoreline areas beginning on January 1, 2016. In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) that allows the Forest Service to collect and retain 95 percent of fees at certain recreation sites and use those funds locally to operate, maintain and enhance these sites. To see what fees have been collected and how the fees have been spent, go to the Annual... Full story
CANYON LAKE, Calif. - There are a lot of different ways people celebrate their 50th birthdays, but water skier extraordinaire, Tony Klarich, did something that's never been done before. He planned to attempt to ski/ride on 50 different objects in a single day. Klarich is no amateur when it comes to incredible feats on-the-water. He is a 10-time National and World Champion on a kneeboard, wakeboard, and hydrofoil, but in recent years has become known as the guy who rides and skis on everything -... Full story
As an advocate for all wildlife, I found the recent furor over the horse situation in the Salt River Recreation area to be tremendously sad because of the lack of education of the general public. From State legislator Kelly Townsend to all of the horse lovers of America, the very idea of removing SOME of the horses from the Salt River area was akin to mass murder. The reality of the situation is that horses do some things very well and that is where the problem arises. They eat, they poop and... Full story
PAGE, AZ – The National Park Service (NPS) has received numerous inquiries from local residents and park visitors regarding the effects of the Gold King Mine spill on waters within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The incident is being managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Current information on the spill is available at www.EPA.gov/GoldKingMine. Contaminated wastewater from the Gold King Mine has not reached Lake Powell or the San Juan River within Glen Canyon. “We have not... Full story
The biggest concern that I have with the boating public is the lack of responsibility. What does that mean? When you sit behind the wheel of a boat, or on a personal watercraft or in front of the tiller of a sailboat, or in other words at the helm you are the skipper or the captain of that vessel no matter what size, shape or configuration that it is. That means that you have taken a position of responsibility. Just because you cannot see a traffic pattern, a white line, a yellow line or a stop... Full story
PHOENIX (August 17, 2015) – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today it has examined data provided by states upstream of Lake Powell and closer to the Gold King Mine spill. ADEQ’s analysis of data released by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality of samples collected about 100 miles from Lake Powell (closest Utah sample) shows that water quality conditions in the San Juan River upstream of Lake Powell are generally consistent with pre-spill conditions. “Based on what we’re seeing with the water flowing... Full story
We know the weather has been hot, but it's time to make fishing hot again in the Community waters. Our first catfish of the season will be coming the third week of September. Get the fishing poles ready, and check out the Sept-Oct. CFP stocking schedule. New community water coming to Casa Grande After months of working through required paperwork, we are on track to finalize an agreement with the City of Casa Grande to add Dave White Regional Park Pond to the Community Fishing Program. The park... Full story
A new floating convenience store and snack bar has arrived at the Halls Crossing Marina. Barges towed the store nearly 100 miles up Lake Powell to its new home on a journey that lasted four days. "We are pleased that our partner Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas has brought new services to the popular Halls Crossing boating destination in San Juan County, Utah," said Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Superintendent Todd Brindle. The store is already attracting boating visitors. The picnic... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is working to save lives by preventing drownings at Lake Pleasant with the installation of new Life Jacket Loaner Stations at the lake's four- and 10-lane boat ramps. "Boaters needing a life jacket may borrow one from the station, head out onto the lake and return it before they leave," said AZGFD Boating Safety Education Coordinator Josh Hoffman. "We want people to have a safe, fun time on the water and having enough life jackets on board is one of the best... Full story
From U.S. Coast Guard Eighth District External Affairs PANAMA CITY, Fla. – The Coast Guard is warning the public that pointing handheld lasers at Coast Guard boat and aircrews is dangerous and illegal. The Incident Watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Panama City received a report one evening last monthof a disabled 15-foot Jon Boat with four people on board, a 50-year-old father and his three children, who had lost communications with his wife on shore. The operator of the boat was a... Full story
What a great day spent learning about striped bass behavior, attitudes, and preferences. It was time well spent. We headed out from Wahweap as the sky began to glow in the east. We made it to the mouth of Navajo before sunrise in hopes of seeing the slurping stripers encountered there previously. I am not good at waiting, so we trolled while hoping for the first slurps to appear. That went well as we caught a 3-pound striper trolling a Lucky Craft Bevy Shad at 4 mph. As that fish was undergoing... Full story
A Summer Favorite One summer favorite for high country anglers is Bear Canyon Lake in the Mogollon Rim. This deep canyon lake has decent shoreline access, but don't expect to fish the bottom with your PowerBait. There is a steep drop-off along most of the shoreline. There is a slight hike into this lake, which keeps most people away. There's no store, no facilities (other than a bathroom in the parking lot), and it is only dispersed camping nearby - a good thing for minimalists. The Reel Deal... Full story
Day On The Lake The Day on the Lake program is the only adapted watersports program for those with physical and neurological disabilities offered in Arizona. Summer 2015 marks our 19th year of helping people who suffer from a neurological disability ride the waves at one of the most accessible waterside facilities in Arizona - Bartlett Lake Marina. The last of this year's Day(s) on the Lake for 2015 will be on Friday, Sept. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 12. Landis Event At Bartlett The following... Full story
Riordan State Park - Memories In A Mansion - Built in 1904 for two Riordan families, Riordan Mansion is an impressive reminder of gracious living in a small, territorial logging town. The historic building is an Arizona treasure - a remarkable example of Arts and Crafts style architecture featuring a rustic exterior of log-slab siding, volcanic stone arches, and hand-split wooden shingles. The expansive home has 40 rooms, over 13,000 square-feet of living area, and servants' quarters. The... Full story